Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame
D.C. Leech
- Induction:
- 1973
D.C. Leech was one of the most versatile players to have ever played for the University of Southern Mississippi and was one of the first true football stars that the school ever produced.
Playing during the 1923 and 1924 season Leech did about anything a player could do to try to put his team in position to win. He saw action in the offensive and defensive line, played end on both offense and defense and played offensive and defensive halfback as well. Leech also kicked on occasion when called on.
By virtue of his success on the football field, it wasn’t surprising that Leech was one of the most popular players of the era. When you watched him play you could tell he was playing a game that he loved. He always seemed to have a smile on his face, but defenders that might have mistook his easy going manner as a chance to make an easy tackle or run over a potential tackler, quickly paid the price.
Leech was a player who was focused on the game and his task at hand. He was a student of the game and looked for the weaknesses in an opponent as a way to gain an advantage.
Playing for Coach O.V. Austin in 1923 Leech’s versatility was used to the team’s advantage. If Austin needed a solid blocker or tackler on the front line, then Leech more than likely would be seen playing up on the line in the trenches. If it was a situation where Austin needed someone to block and catch passes and defensively put pressure on the quarterback, then more than likely Leech would be playing at end. Or if he was looking for someone with elusive moves running the football and who could play good pass defense, Leech probably would line up at halfback.
That 1923 team would go on to finish the year with a 3-3 record in what was truly an up and down season. After winning the season opener 26-0 over Purvis High School, they lost the following week to Millsaps 31-0. They bounced back to beat Seashore Camp Ground 52-0, but lost a 7-6 heartbreaker to Gulf Coast Military Academy and 66-0 to Southwestern Louisiana. The team would rally to win the season finale 6-0 over the Mississippi College Freshmen
Leech’s final season with Southern Miss would be in 1924 with Herschel Bobo now the head coach. The 1924 team would finish the year 3-3-2 with wins coming over Clarke Memorial College (27-0), Marion Military Institute (7-6) and Louisiana College (13-12). The losses that year where to Loyola of New Orleans (32-7), Pearl River Junior College (26-6) and Stetson (48-6). The ties were against Gulf Coast Military Academy (14-14) and the Mississippi State Freshman (14-14).
Leech was one of the pioneers of Southern Miss football and through his dedication to the school and the program, the football team made great strides during his two seasons.
He also played basketball at Southern Miss during the 1920-21 season.
Leech joins his brother Fred (Coon) Leech in the Southern Miss Hall of Fame.
Playing during the 1923 and 1924 season Leech did about anything a player could do to try to put his team in position to win. He saw action in the offensive and defensive line, played end on both offense and defense and played offensive and defensive halfback as well. Leech also kicked on occasion when called on.
By virtue of his success on the football field, it wasn’t surprising that Leech was one of the most popular players of the era. When you watched him play you could tell he was playing a game that he loved. He always seemed to have a smile on his face, but defenders that might have mistook his easy going manner as a chance to make an easy tackle or run over a potential tackler, quickly paid the price.
Leech was a player who was focused on the game and his task at hand. He was a student of the game and looked for the weaknesses in an opponent as a way to gain an advantage.
Playing for Coach O.V. Austin in 1923 Leech’s versatility was used to the team’s advantage. If Austin needed a solid blocker or tackler on the front line, then Leech more than likely would be seen playing up on the line in the trenches. If it was a situation where Austin needed someone to block and catch passes and defensively put pressure on the quarterback, then more than likely Leech would be playing at end. Or if he was looking for someone with elusive moves running the football and who could play good pass defense, Leech probably would line up at halfback.
That 1923 team would go on to finish the year with a 3-3 record in what was truly an up and down season. After winning the season opener 26-0 over Purvis High School, they lost the following week to Millsaps 31-0. They bounced back to beat Seashore Camp Ground 52-0, but lost a 7-6 heartbreaker to Gulf Coast Military Academy and 66-0 to Southwestern Louisiana. The team would rally to win the season finale 6-0 over the Mississippi College Freshmen
Leech’s final season with Southern Miss would be in 1924 with Herschel Bobo now the head coach. The 1924 team would finish the year 3-3-2 with wins coming over Clarke Memorial College (27-0), Marion Military Institute (7-6) and Louisiana College (13-12). The losses that year where to Loyola of New Orleans (32-7), Pearl River Junior College (26-6) and Stetson (48-6). The ties were against Gulf Coast Military Academy (14-14) and the Mississippi State Freshman (14-14).
Leech was one of the pioneers of Southern Miss football and through his dedication to the school and the program, the football team made great strides during his two seasons.
He also played basketball at Southern Miss during the 1920-21 season.
Leech joins his brother Fred (Coon) Leech in the Southern Miss Hall of Fame.
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