[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 62 (Saturday, April 8, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E494-E495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING WILLIE ``SATELLITE'' TOTTEN

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Saturday, April 8, 2017

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Willie Totten, who is a former professional football player and current 
college football coach. Totten played his high school football at J.Z. 
George High School in North Carrollton, Mississippi. Totten was a four-
year starter quarterback at Mississippi Valley State University from 
1981 to 1985. Totten set more than 50 Division I-AA passing records.
  The Delta Devils averaged 59 points a game during the 1984 season, 
with Totten throwing for a record 58 touchdowns and leading the Delta 
Devils to the Division I-AA playoffs in 1984. Archie Cooley, who was 
the head coach at MVSU from 1980 to 1986, was the architect of the 
pass-oriented offense that utilized the skills of Totten.
  Totten played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL) 
with the BC Lions (and Toronto Argonauts before moving on to the 
National Football League (NFL), as a replacement player for the Buffalo 
Bills during the strike-shortened 1987 NFL season. Totten played in the 
Arena Football League for the Chicago Bruisers, Pittsburgh Gladiators 
and the New Orleans Night.
  Totten earned his master's degree at Grambling State University, and 
was a graduate assistant on the coaching staff for head football coach 
Eddie Robinson. Totten returned to his alma mater and served as 
quarterbacks coach and running back coach during the 1990s before 
moving on to coach at the high school level for two years. He returned 
to the MVSU coaching staff in 2000, and was elevated to head coach in 
2001.Totten brought pride back to Mississippi Valley State, as he led 
the Delta Devils to back-to-back winning seasons in 2005 and 2006. 
Totten resigned after the 2009 season, and took an administrative 
position at MVSU in 2010. In 2013, Totten became quarterbacks coach at 
Albany State University in Albany, Georgia for one season before 
accepting the quarterback coaching position at Alabama A&M University 
under new head football coach James Spady.
  Totten is one of a few college football coaches ever to coach in a 
stadium named after him. The Delta Devils football team plays in Rice-
Totten Field, named for Totten and wide receiver Jerry Rice. He is a 
member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Totten is a member of Phi 
Beta Sigma Fraternity.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Willie 
``Satellite'' Totten, a professor football player and educator, for his 
dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American 
community.

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