Reggie Collier (2000) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Reggie Collier

Induction:
2000

It seems impossible now that Reggie Collier was a lightly recruited quarterback out of d’Iberville High School. Only Southern, Tulane and Alcorn State really showed much interest in him out of high school. But Coach Bobby Collins and his staff must have seen something in him that no one else did, because he was the perfect quarterback for the Southern Miss I-formation attack and propelled the Eagles into the national spotlight.
   As a freshman there was little doubt that Collier has the quarterback of the future, so while learning the Golden Eagle system, he backed up Dane McDaniel and held on extra points and field goals. He played sparingly during that 1979 season, but in the season finale against Arkansas State, Collier over early in the game and led the Eagles to a 14-6 victory. It was a starting job he wouldn’t give up for the next three years.
   The legend of Reggie Collier didn’t have to wait very long to begin. The 1979 season opener, and his first start, was televised by ABC-TV in the Superdome against the Tulane Green Wave. All Reggie did was lead the team down the field in the final minutes to set up Winston Walker’s game winning field goal to give Southern a 17-14 win.
   In fact Collier would led the team to wins in their first six games and a No. 20 ranking in the AP Poll.
The team would go on to an 8-3 record and as berth in the Independence Bowl, the school’s first post-season appearance since the late 1950s. Collier passed for 1,268 yards and rushed for 464 yards, and left Golden Eagle fans anxiously waiting the 1981 season.
   In 1981 the Golden Eagles behind Collier won its first four games then traveled to Birmingham to meet No. 7 Alabama. Trailing 13-10 with just minutes to go, Collier led the Golden Eagles down the field to set up a Steve Clark field goal and tie the Crimson Tide 13-13. That team would go on to finish 9-1-1, be ranked as high as No. 8 in the UPI poll and earn a berth in the Tangerine Bowl.
   Collier became the first player in NCAA history to rush for a 1,000 yards and pass for a 1,000 yards in a single season. He rushed for 1,0005 and passed for 1,004.
   The 1982 season was successful as well for Collier and the Golden Eagles, as they finished with a 7-4 record including a 38-29 win over Bear Bryant’s Alabama Crimson Tide, the first loss in Tuscaloosa by the Tide since 1962.
   He would end his Southern Miss career rushing for 2,304 yards and 26 touchdowns and pass for 3,662 yards and 16 touchdowns. His record as starting quarterback, 24-8-1.
   He was a third team All-America selection in 1981 and an honorable mention selection in 1982.
   Following his Southern Miss career he had a successful pro career with the Birmingham Stallions, Washington Federals and Orlando Renegades of the USFL and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL.
   Reggie Collier was ahead of his time and changed the game. No longer could defenses stand still and wait for the offense to make a move, because if you did Reggie would already have you beat.