Sylvester Croom became the first African-American head football coach in the 70-year history of the Southeastern Conference Tuesday when he accepted the task of taking a struggling football program and returning the Maroon and White to its former glory.
“Our first job here is to lay a solid foundation,” Croom said at his inaugural press conference. “We could do a quick fix job, but at some point the walls would come tumbling down. We are going to build a solid foundation that will last not only through the next few years, but far into the future.”
The hiring of Croom also makes him the first African- American head coach of any Bulldog team, but to Croom it is not about that.
“I want to make sure everybody understands,” Croom said. “I am the first African-American coach in the SEC, but there isn’t but one color that matters here- and that color is Maroon.”
After those words the students and alumni on hand roared in excitement. Some, like junior Jeffery Ellis rang their cowbells.
“I thought Coach Croom spoke very well,” Ellis said. “He showed Mississippi State, the state of Mississippi and the nation that race is not an issue when it comes to hiring a head football coach.”
The 49-year-old Tuscaloosa native comes to Mississippi State from the Green Bay Packers where he’s served as running backs coach since 2001. Croom said that he will balance his duties with Green Bay and MSU because of contractual obligations until the Packers’ regular season is finished.
Croom faces a massive rebuilding process. He inherits a team that won eight games in three years and an NCAA investigation in its supposedly closing stages. President J. Charles Lee seemed confident with Croom’s selection.
“He knows the challenges of being a part of championship teams,” Lee said. “He has a keen sense about winning. We are convinced that Coach Croom will be an involved member of the university community and a role model for the young people of Mississippi and the nation.”
Croom began his coaching career under Bear Bryant at Alabama where he spent 10 years coaching the linebackers. The Crimson Tide captured two national championships during that time. Croom first enjoyed achievement at Alabama as a player under Bear Bryant, starting two years at center (1973-74), and helped the Tide to a 22-2 record.
Along the way, Alabama captured three straight SEC titles and the national championship in 1973. As a senior, Croom earned All-SEC and Kodak All-American honors, as well as the ‘Jacobs Award’ as the best offensive lineman in the conference.
After Croom’s coaching tenure at Alabama, he entered the NFL as running backs coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987. He coached there for four seasons before spending one year (1991) in the same role with the Indianapolis Colts. Croom then moved on to the San Diego Chargers where he tutored the running backs for four years.
Before being named running backs coach at Green Bay, Croom served as offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions for four seasons.
Croom is reputed to be a stickler about attending class and making good grades.
Lee said that while an assistant at Alabama, Croom personally escorted student athletes to class to ensure their success.
“(The players’) success off the field will be key with me,” Croom said. “Their education I prize greatly.”
Croom said he will install the Packers’ offense and leave the defense to the defensive coordinator that he selects.
“A lot of the defense will be determined by the defensive coordinator,” Croom said. “The offensive system we’re going to run is exactly what we’re running at Green Bay. The same terminology and everything–which means it may be the hardest class the players have on their schedule.”
Croom is already putting the wheels in motion at MSU. The newly hired head coach said that some improvements have already been talked about.
“We want to improve the areas where the players spend a great deal of time. Plans will be in the work in the near future to do that,” Croom said. “We want (our players) to be in a first-class environment. We expect first- class effort from them in the classroom and on the football field.”
Director of Athletics Larry Templeton said Croom is a worthy candidate.
“Sylvester Croom met all of the criteria we laid forth for the selection of a new head football coach at Mississippi State,” Templeton said. “We went after the best football coach and we’re confident we found that individual in Sylvester Croom. We’re excited to welcome him to the Mississippi State family.”
In regard to arrangements for assistant coaches, Templeton said, “We’re going to give him the freedom to select his staff.”
Croom said he had talked with a few colleagues but had not selected assistant coaches yet.
Croom’s address to the Bulldog nation illustrated his colorful personality, along with his passion for the game of football.
“In closing, I just want to say to the Mississippi State football family-I’m glad to be home. Home is where the heart is, and in my heart I’m a Bulldog.”