Brian Mitchell

[Turbine]

Brian Mitchell has been the NFL's ALL-TIME yardage gainer for 54 straight weeks. 18 NFL weeks

In week 11 of the 2004 NFL season Jerry Rice had a big day with 3 catches for 86 yards. He now Trails Brian Mitchell by 66 yards.

[1stTake]

Brian get back to work your job ain't done.

[AirBill]

He and James Hasty were on Cold Pizza yesterday morning, talking about the Hall of Fame. Nice to see him get his props. He deserves it. One of the all-time good guys and a true team player. He makes all USL/UL grads proud.

[LLcoolway]

I love Brian a true hall of famer

[NewsCopy]

Not having the opportunity for conference play or bowl game participation didn't hold Brian Mitchell back. All he did during his football career was set NCAA records at UL and go on to become the NFL's all-time career leader in five different kick-return categories. "All those guys you see playing on Sunday, they didn't all come from USC, Notre Dame or Ohio State," Mitchell said Monday. "A lot of them are from smaller schools - schools that aren't in the major conferences and playing for the national championship." Mitchell's message was aimed at the Southern Mississippi and Arkansas State squads during Monday's annual New Orleans Bowl luncheon at the Heymann Convention Center. The former Ragin' Cajun and NFL standout was guest speaker for the event, part of the buildup for today's 7 p.m. game at Cajun Field that kicks off the bowl season. "When I was in school, we didn't have a conference," Mitchell said. "That's why I'm proud of these two teams. They're growing and making something of themselves, and you (the players) have great possibilities in front of you." The Plaquemine native took advantage of his opportunities to become UL's all-time leader in rushing and scoring, becoming the first player in NCAA history to pass for more than 5,000 yards and rush for more than 3,000 in a career. He was drafted by the NFL Washington Redskins in 1990 and was on that club's Super Bowl XXVI championship team. He is second in NFL history in combined yardage, ahead of Walter Payton and behind only Jerry Rice - two examples of players from smaller colleges he used during Monday's talk. "Guys from USC and those places used to laugh when I told them I played at USL," Mitchell said. "I told them, 'When I step on the field, I will show you where I'm from.' Out there, it's a level playing field for all of us, and you can reach the goals you set. You just have to be willing to work harder than those guys." Mitchell also used the opportunity to talk to the players about taking advantage of educational opportunities at their schools. "I always believed in that," said Mitchell, who had a 3.8 high school grade point average and a 28 ACT score. "When I came to visit here (UL), the whole day I never saw anything athletic-related. It was all academic, and I told my mom on the way home that I was coming here. "I love the fact that I came to USL. It gave me a chance to be a great person, not just a great athlete," he said. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Southern Mississippi coach Jeff Bower didn't take kindly to Monday's New Orleans Bowl luncheon, especially parts of Brian Mitchell's keynote address. Mitchell made several references to collegiate players from "smaller schools" who have become NFL standouts, using himself as an example after his University of Louisiana and 14-year NFL career. "To me, that was a slap in the face," Bower said after USM's final walk-through workout Monday prior to today's New Orleans Bowl at Lafayette. "That's bull ____. Our guys pretty much got that message. "That football team we're playing (Arkansas State) isn't small time, and neither is this one." Mitchell specifically mentioned NFL all-time greats Walter Payton (Jackson State) and Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State) along with Southern Miss product Brett Favre and Arkansas State's Ray Brown, a 20-year NFL veteran, in Monday's address. "All those guys didn't go to the biggest schools," Mitchell said during his talk. "These two schools are growing and making something of themselves. I'm proud of you and I want to see both of you on the next level." ASU coach Steve Roberts said he didn't get a negative tone from Mitchell's address. "I'm pretty easy-going on that kind of thing," he said. "It didn't bother me." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[Crowley Cajun]

Bower needs to get over himself.

[CDeb]

AWWWWW! Poor Jeff's girl parts are swollen!!

[Zeebart21]

Whhooaaa!!! Could this guy Bower be a bigger douche..bag???

Now I really hope stAte throttles this moron...

Z.

PS...Mitchell had a classic..."These two schools have one thing in common," he said. "I whipped both of you at least once."

[Crowley Cajun]

PS...Mitchell had a classic..."These two schools have one thing in common," he said. "I whipped both of you at least once."

Maybe that's what he's mad about. LOL!