Larry Boyd (1990) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Larry Boyd

Induction:
1990

Larry Boyd is unique in the history of athletics at Southern Miss. Although he will never be recognized as one of the all-time greats in one particular sport for the Golden Eagles, he did start, he did excel, in not one but three sports in his career.
   Boyd came to Southern Miss from Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia, where he was a versatile player as well. In basketball he had earned a berth on the all-state team, while averaging 23.0 points six rebounds and six assists a game. He earned four letters each in basketball and baseball.
   Boyd's career at Southern Miss began as a basketball player during the 1979-80 season. In his first year with the basketball team he saw action in 21 games and even started one. Although he averaged just 2.4 points in his rookie season it was obvious that with a little experience and maturity that he would be ready to make big contributions.
   The following year (1980-81) Boyd would become a valuable reserve on a team that would finish the year with a 20-7 record and earn the school's first ever berth in the national Invitational Tournament. That season the 6-3, 186 pound guard would be utilized for his ball handling and defensive skills as a backup to starters Edgar Eason, Curtis Green and Donald Stinchcomb.
   Boyd would begin to see some starting assignments on the 1981-82 team. He played in 19 games that season and started eight. He averaged 5.7 points a game and was third on the team in assists with 58.
   In 1982-83 Boyd would serve as co-captain of the team along with Green and help guide the Golden Eagles into their first season in the Metro Conference. Boyd would start all but one game that season, average a career high 9.1 points a game and led the team in assists with 101. He also was the best free throw shooter on the team, making 81.1 percent that year. One of the highlights of the season was capturing the IPTAY tournament at Clemson with wins over Furman and the host Clemson Tigers.
   Boyd would play the 1981 season with the Golden Eagle baseball team as one of the starting pitchers for Coach Pete Taylor. Although he joined the team late because of his basketball responsibilities, he still managed to post a 3-2 record and one of the lowest earned run averages on the team at 3.09. The right-hander pitched 23.3 innings that season and struck out 18, while allowing just eight earned runs.
   Because he had never been red-shirted, Boyd had a year of eligibility left to play football and the 1983 Golden Eagle team needed a punter. So Boyd, who had been spotted kicking in the intramural leagues, walked on to kick. He would handle all the punting duties for the team that year, kicking 60 times for a 40.5 yard average. During that season Boyd was very consistent and helped keep Southern Miss opponents pinned back deep in their own territory all the time.
   He was truly Mr. Versatility for the Golden Eagles from 1979 to 1983, and because of that he earned a unique spot in the Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame.