Former MSU coach Jackie Sherrill earns Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award
How Super Bowl Footballs Are Made
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WJTV) – Former Mississippi State University (MSU) football coach Jackie Sherrill was awarded the Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award.
Awarded by the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, the distinction honors his time as head coach of the Bulldogs.
The Bear Bryant Awards said those who receive the accolade must meet the following criteria:
Integrity both on and off the field above reproach.
Leadership, dedication and example in the development of character, integrity and sportsmanship of young people on and off the football field.
Inspiration and instruction in the development of skills of the game and physical fitness in his players.
According to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Sherrill began his collegiate career at the University of Alabama, where he was recruited by Bear Bryant.
While playing under Bryant, Sherrill played on two national championship teams in 1964 and 1965 and played seven different positions from 1962 to 1965, including fullback, tailback, center, guard, tight end, defensive end and linebacker.
Sherrill began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for Bryant in 1966. From there, he would earn head coaching stints at Washington State in 1976, Pittsburgh from 1977 to 1981 and Texas A&M from 1982 to 1988, before becoming head coach of the MSU football team from 1991-2003.
Former Mississippi State football coach Jackie Sherrill looks for a seat prior to the memorial service for the late Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach, in Starkville, Miss., Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Leach died, Dec. 12, 2022, from complications related to a heart condition at 61. He was in his third year as head coach. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
FILE – In this April 14, 2010, file photo, Jackie Sherrill is shown during the Cotton Bowl induction ceremonies at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The NCAA and former Mississippi State University football coach Jackie Sherrill have settled a lawsuit in which Sherrill accused the college sports governing body of damaging his reputation. The agreement was reached Wednesday, July 17, 2019, in Mississippi’s Madison County Circuit Court. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes. File)
Mississippi State head football coach Jackie Sherrill, left, explains what a football is to Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk before practicing for the Peach Bowl in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Dec. 31, 1994. Mississippi State will take on North Carolina State New Year’s night. (AP Photo/Tannen Maury)
Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill and his wife, Peggy, are escorted off the field after Mississippi’s 31-0 win Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003, in Starkville, Miss. For Sherrill and the Bulldogs, the season ended with a sixth-straight lopsided loss. Since the 60-year-old coach announced his retirement on Oct. 17, the Bulldogs have been outscored 267-57. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle)
Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill walks off the field surrounded by a Mississippi Highway Patrol detail following his team’s 24-12 loss to Mississippi, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio Solis)
Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill, left, confers with running backs coach Glenn Davis, right, during the fourth quarter against Tennessee Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002 in Starkville, Miss. Tennessee won 35-17. (AP Photo/Rogelio Solis)
Mississippi State football coaches Jackie Sherrill, left, Joe Lee Dunn, center, and Curley Hallman, right, direct the Mississippi State defense during the first quarter against Kentucky, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002, in Starkville, Miss. Kentucky won 45-24. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle)
Mississippi State head football coach Jackie Sherrill argues a call with linesman Billy Schroer, Sept. 19, 2002 in Starkville, Miss. Sherrill was reprimanded Friday, Oct. 11, 2002 by the Southeastern Conference for publicly criticizing officials. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle)
Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill slaps a high-five as he is carried off the field following a 23-22, come-from-behind victory over Kentucky, Nov. 4, 1999, in Starkville, Miss. Sherrill hopes a revamped offense will complement his always-tough defense in the 2000 season. (AP Photo/Rogelio Solis )
During his tenure as the Bulldogs’ head coach, Sherrill led MSU to their only SEC championship in school history in 1992, where they would lose to the eventual national champion in the University of Tennessee.
During his entire head coaching career, Sherill would have an overall record of 180-120-4, leading teams to 14 bowl games and winning eight.
Sherrill’s previous awards include winning Southwest Conference Coach of Year in 1985, 1986, and 1987, and Walter Camp National Coach of Year in 1981. Sherrill was also inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
The award will be formally presented to Sherrill at a ceremony on January 27, 2027, in Houston, Texas.
Back
Back
Top
