Brian Mitchell

[RCAJUN90]

There are other great athletes with great character, but there is only one Brian Mitchell. He was never set to go to LSU. LSU was among many schools that wanted Brian, but not at QB. Brian wanted to be a collegiate QB, and Stokley told Brian he would be our QB. Four years of unbelievably great football. He was an incredible runner, but his passing is what amazed me, for a guy of his size and structure. He is a rare athlete.

We also got four great years out of Jake Delhomme. And he and Brian have few similarities, except they are quality people with a lot of tenacity. Whatever comes of our future QBs is always a mystery.

We'll see if "Tenacious MD" or "TD MD" or "Doctor MD" or "Mad Dog" or whatever we call him will light up a new era next year. His mama will just call him Michael.

I like Mad Dog! I thought and perhaps it was just a rumor that he seriously considered LSU but like you indicated they weren't going to use him as a QB and we offered him the spot.

[NewsCopy]

NATCHITOCHES - Brian Mitchell and Stan Humphries have crossed paths several times during their athletic careers, the most recent coming here Thursday when the two took part in opening activities of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. But it was a football game nearly two dec-ades ago that remains memorable for both - and for very different reasons. Humphries may still have the soreness from it. That's normally what happened when Reggie White applied a big hit. Mitchell has the memories - those of him taking a snap as a quarterback in an NFL game. "It was the first time, and one of my last times," Mitchell said Thursday. "That's a whole different kind of pressure." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Induction time for sweet reflections

NATCHITOCHES -- Of course, they'll remember this. After all, being inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame is a one-time experience. But for those being honored tonight, the process of getting here contained a treasure trove of memorable moments. For Brian Mitchell, who exited the NFL as the league's career kickoff- and punt-return yardage leader and played on a Super Bowl-winning team with the Washington Redskins, it was his final game as a quarterback at Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette). The Ragin' Cajuns trailed Arkansas State 28-21 in a 1989 game, and Mitchell had just thrown an interception that seemingly ended his team's chances. "People started leaving the stands," Mitchell recalled. "It's a hurting feeling when you look up and everybody's trying to get to their cars." But USL got the ball back, and after completing a fourth-and-10 pass to keep the drive alive, Mitchell faced another do-or-die situation with the Ragin' Cajuns from the Indians' 8. "Coach (Nelson) Stokley called me over and said we're going to run the quarterback draw," Mitchell said. "I knew if I didn't make it, the game was over -- but somehow I did." The Ragin' Cajuns then went for the victory, but a two-point conversion pass to Corey Williams was negated by a penalty. Same play, albeit from 5 yards farther back, and this time Williams caught Mitchell's pass with one foot inbounds. "I'm walking off the field with just my pants on because I'd thrown everything else in the stands," Mitchell said. "What a great way to go out." Mitchell is one of eight persons being inducted tonight, including two other former NFL players, ex-Saints linebacker Pat Swilling and quarterback Stan Humphries. Also being inducted are former LSU track standout Esther Jones, prep basketball coach Joel Hawkins, three-sport Tulane star Warren Perkins and two posthumous inductees -- National Baseball Hall of Famer Willard Brown and women's basketball player Kim Perrot. The rest of the story Ted Lewis Time Picayune tlewis@timespicayune.com (504) 232-5071.

[MiamiCajun32]

_ _

My memory may be fuzzy but my memory says that Mitchell was not yet actually returning kicks regularly for the Redskins going into that game, but was on the special teams doing other things. I also thought it was a lot earlier in the season than a few weeks before those teams met in the playoffs. I remember it being about week 4 or 5 or so. But memory is funny sometimes...

[Just1More]

_ My memory may be fuzzy but my memory says that Mitchell was not yet actually returning kicks regularly for the Redskins going into that game, but was on the special teams doing other things. I also thought it was a lot earlier in the season than a few weeks before those teams met in the playoffs. I remember it being about week 4 or 5 or so. But memory is funny sometimes... _

I'm like you on the details. I watched that Monday night football game. I can't remember if he was actually returning kick-offs, but he was on special teams. He crushed people on special teams. As nice a guy as he is, I mean to tell you, he leveled many a football player on special teams (and liked it). He was also almost always in the backfield for 4th down "punt situations". The Redskins were very apt to go for it on 4th using Mitchell. That night he came in as QB, after all the injuries, the announcers were saying "this guy played as a college QB, but he's a running back... he won't throw the ball, he'll just run it or hand off". He did throw, and they were nice passes.

The wisdom at the time was that he was too short and muscled to be an NFL QB. There are many NFL teams today that Brian Mitchell could have been the starting QB. He was far better than Doug Flutie and he has a much better head on his shoulders than Michael Vick. Brian had a great arm as well as his gifted athleticism. It turned out he had a tremendous NFL career regardless. But, he also would have made things happen at QB in the NFL. He was ahead of his time.

[MiamiCajun32]

_ I'm like you on the details. I watched that Monday night football game. I can't remember if he was actually returning kick-offs, but he was on special teams. He crushed people on special teams. As nice a guy as he is, I mean to tell you, he leveled many a football player on special teams (and liked it). He was also almost always in the backfield for 4th down "punt situations". The Redskins were very apt to go for it on 4th using Mitchell. That night he came in as QB, after all the injuries, the announcers were saying "this guy played as a college QB, but he's a running back... he won't throw the ball, he'll just run it or hand off". He did throw, and they were nice passes.

The wisdom at the time was that he was too short and muscled to be an NFL QB. There are many NFL teams today that Brian Mitchell could have been the starting QB. He was far better than Doug Flutie and he has a much better head on his shoulders than Michael Vick. Brian had a great arm as well as his gifted athleticism. It turned out he had a tremendous NFL career regardless. But, he also would have made things happen at QB in the NFL. He was ahead of his time. _

seems like some reports just make up things as they go along... ;-) I remember it being about week 4 or so and Mitchell had not yet returned kicks but was an up man on the return team and also on the kick off and punt teams.

[Turbine]

But, he also would have made things happen at QB in the NFL. He was ahead of his time. _

An unarguable understatement.

[RaginCajun77]

It was great to see him get honored on Saturday. He really wanted to see this crowd get fired up. Anyone know if he has thought about coaching football?

[IHateLaState]

_ It was great to see him get honored on Saturday. He really wanted to see this crowd get fired up. Anyone know if he has thought about coaching football? _

It was great to see him.....

I think I like the idea but not sure if BM has that desire.... IF we make a change Im still looking for the young aggressive "I'm going to use UL as my springboard" guy........ Never had a huge budget to work with and doesn't care....

[CajunProud]

I think the first step is to see who the new President will be and see what their intentions are for the football program. If they are just a clone of the good Dr. A, then we can forget about getting somebody decent.