[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 23, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E422-E423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JACKIE SHERRILL

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 23, 2004

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
distinguished 13-year coaching career of Jackie Sherrill at Mississippi 
State University, where he has served as head coach since 1991. With 
his retirement at the conclusion of the 2003 season, Coach Sherrill 
exits as a quarter-century coaching institution after serving at eight 
different universities. His trailblazing efforts as a coach and player 
have netted him two national championships as a player, countless 
accolades as a coach, and the satisfaction of driving three major 
programs to unparalleled heights on the college grid scene.
  At the time of his retirement he was the dean of Southeastern 
Conference football coaches and the face of Mississippi State 
University football. During his tenure as coach of the Bulldogs, Coach 
Sherrill:
  Recorded back to back winning seasons during his first 2 years at 
MSU. Prior to that time the Bulldogs had produced only one winning 
season in the previous nine before him.
  Directed the Bulldog program to six postseason berths, recurring 
prosperity unmatched in the school history. He is only the second head 
coach ever to take the institution to more than two bowl games and the 
first to lead the school to two consecutive postseason victories.
  Retired as the most winning football coach in MSU history. Over his 
13-year span at the helm of the Bulldogs he won 74 games, lost 74 
games, tied 2 games and had 7 winning seasons. For the span from 1997-
2000, Coach Sherrill's teams won 33 games, of which 20 were SEC games, 
lost 15 games, won the Western Division Championship, and participated 
in three consecutive bowl games. No school in the SEC West had a better 
five-year regular season mark during that time.
  Bulldog fans responded. Coach Sherrill rallied a fractured fan base, 
producing record amounts of giving and attendance. He gave Bulldog fans 
a winning attitude and elicited emotion and passion for the program 
like no one else. The number of fans grew, as did appreciation for 
Mississippi State football on the State, regional, and national level.
  Twenty-three of the top 25 crowds--including the top 14 ever to see 
the Bulldogs play at MSU's Scott Field, have come during Coach 
Sherrill's tenure. In addition to the sell out throngs, he has made the 
Bulldog football program attractive for national and regional 
television network audiences. MSU football has been televised 70 times 
during his 140 games as head of the program.
  All that success on the field, at the turnstiles, and in achieving 
national rankings and postseason bowl berths, has fueled success in the 
construction and improvement of football facilities. Coach Sherrill 
oversaw the refurbishing of State's entire football complex. New or 
renovated weight training facilities and sports medicine areas, modern 
equipment and locker rooms, full team meeting rooms and individualized 
teaching cubicles were just the beginning of a stronger program's 
modern infrastructure. In 1996, MSU completed the John H. Bryan Sr. 
Athletic Administration Building that holds all the football coaching 
offices. A $30 million enlargement of Scott Field's east side in 2001 
added 50 luxury skyboxes, an additional 1,700 club level seats, and 
7,600 seats in the upper deck. The stadium hosts completely remodeled 
dressing rooms for both home and visiting teams, and a new recruiting 
lounge for Bulldog football prospects.
  Coach Sherrill has been loyal to Mississippi State, even when at the 
height of his success larger universities called, he always reminded 
fans that he planned to retire at MSU. For Coach Sherrill, it isn't 
just about football. You will see his fevered enthusiasm at the Bulldog 
basketball games as well. Coach Sherrill is a fan, not just of Bulldog 
football or even basketball, but of Mississippi State University and 
all the students that make up the MSU family.
  His support is not surprising; after all, his arrival as State's 30th 
head coach was a homecoming of sorts for Coach Sherrill in Mississippi. 
Though born in Duncan, OK, Jackie Sherrill spent his youth in Biloxi 
where he starred on the football team at Biloxi High School. He played 
on two Shrimp Bowl teams and as a senior earned high school all-America 
distinction and most valuable player honors before graduating in 1962.
  From Biloxi, Jackie moved to Tuscaloosa to play for the legendary 
Paul ``Bear'' Bryant. Jackie played seven different positions for the

[[Page E423]]

Crimson Tide from 1962 until 1965. He lettered 3 years at Bama and 
played on Bryant's 1964 and 1965 national championship teams.
  Upon earning a bachelor of science degree with a major in general 
business and a minor in social science at Alabama in 1966, Jackie 
launched an assistant coaching career that included stints on not only 
Bryant's staff, but those of respected coaches Frank Broyles at 
Arkansas and Johnny Majors at Iowa State. He followed Majors to 
Pittsburgh where Jackie served as Assistant Head Coach until launching 
his own head coaching career at Washington State in 1976. He returned 
to Pittsburgh when Majors departed for the University of Tennessee, and 
Coach Sherrill continued his storied career at Texas A&M and finally at 
Mississippi State University.
  Coach Sherrill's record extends beyond MSU, and we are proud he 
concluded his career in his home state. Coach Sherrill is number No. 4 
behind Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden and Lou Holtz as the NCAA's Most 
Winning Active Coach by wins; and No. 22 by win percentage.
  Coach Sherrill is one of a select group of head coaches in NCAA 
history to take three different schools to postseason bowl competition. 
Jackie Sherrill joins Lou Holtz, Ken Hatfield, Dennis Franchione, John 
Makovic and Mack Brown as the only active head coaches with that 
distinction. Coach Sherrill is one of only two Division 1-A head 
coaches ever to lead three different schools to 10 wins or more in a 
season.
  Over 100 of Coach Sherrill's pupils have advanced to careers in 
professional football and over 80 percent of his student-athletes have 
graduated during his career. Currently, 20 Mississippi State players 
coached by Jackie Sherrill play in the National Football League.
  Away from reporters and public relations experts, Coach Sherrill 
would quietly visit hospitals dressed and painted as a clown to cheer 
up sick children. He would hear about a terminally ill State fan in the 
hospital and routinely and discretely visit the fan. He would take 
children with cerebral palsy, cancer, mental disorders or other 
afflictions to games with the team, or to eat meals with the players.
  Jackie Sherrill has become a leader in supporting the Leukemia 
Society of Pittsburg, the Boys Club, the Shriners Children's Hospital 
of Houston, the Boy Scouts, and the Palmer Home for Children in 
Columbus, Mississippi--where my wife Leisha serves on the Board. Jackie 
is a popular motivational speaker, missing few opportunities to address 
student and campus groups, alumni gatherings, and civic organizations.
  Coach Sherrill was always gracious in victory giving full credit to 
his team. In defeat he took the high road and accepted the blame. His 
relationship and commitment to the players began during recruiting and 
remained steadfast through graduation. He stood by his players when 
some fans or sports writers would criticize. He was supportive and 
loyal and faithful to his players. He loved them and they played their 
hearts out for him.
  Coach Sherrill's future is still undecided. He wants to spend more 
time with his wife Peggy and his children Elizabeth, Kellie, Bonnie, 
Justin, and Braxton. He has said he may coach his grandson's little 
league team or help out in junior high or high school. He says he looks 
forward to actually being able to play golf in season, but we expect to 
see him every football Saturday in the stands dressed in Maroon and 
White with a cowbell in his hands.
  Mississippi State University will miss Jackie Sherrill, but his 
legacy at MSU will never be forgotten.

                          ____________________