Jeff Lebby’s era of Mississippi State football has arrived.
The Bulldogs are on their third coach in as many years as Mike Leach’s tragic passing opened the door for defensive coordinator Zach Arnett’s debut as head coach last year. That experiment failed before the year even ended for State and now it’s Lebby’s turn to take the wheel.
While there is always a risk in hiring first time head coaches, Lebby brings to Starkville an exciting offensive scheme that has been productive everywhere he’s been. The coach has also brought with him some swagger that has the fanbase ready to see what’s next.
Over the course of the next 100 days, we will take a look at Lebby’s roster and even some fun historical rewinds that will bring back memories for Dawg fans of all ages.
Today, we remember a Bulldog great and the impact that he had in Starkville and beyond.
100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 60 Days – Remembering MSU great Tom Goode
There aren’t many men like Tom Goode around these days. Goode experienced life and football to the fullest and he gave back when his playing days were over.
A native of West Point, Goode was a multi-sport star for the Green Wave before he came to MSU, and that versatility led to him being a valuable member of the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball. As a sophomore, Goode became a starter at center and linebacker and was a second-team All-SEC player as a junior in 1959. But 1960 was Goode’s year.
In ’60, Goode became a first-team All-SEC member and the school’s first KODAK All-American. There wasn’t much to write home about for the Bulldogs’ team that year, but Goode certainly did his best to help out what would be a two-win team. In fact, his teams only won a combined seven games in his three years on the varsity.
Goode transferred that work with the Bulldogs on to the professional football radar. Thanks to the Blue-Gray All-Star game, Senior Bowl and All-American game, Goode’s stock continued to rise, and he was ultimately drafted by the Houston Oilers in the AFL in the second round of the draft. The Detroit Lions also drafted him in the 17th round in the NFL Draft.
After playing four years with the Oilers, the Miami Dolphins drafted Goode in the expansion draft in 1966. After one year, Goode earned the MVP award for the team in 1967 and added the Iron Man Award in 1969. He was a Pro Bowler in ’69 as well. Goode’s most memorable moment might have come in his final play of his career in 1970 with the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V.
The long snapper for the Colts, Goode snapped the game winning kick by Jim O’Brien leading the team to the victory. With that, Goode bowed out of his football career about as well as a player could. He went into coaching from there.
Along the way, Goode would become the offensive line coach for his Alma Mater at MSU for four years followed by a stint as the offensive coordinator for the Calgary Stampeders, Vanderbilt Commodores and Ole Miss. In 1983, Goode coached the offensive line at Alabama before returning back to MSU for another six years and back to Vanderbilt for a couple of years to coach the line.
Goode finished his coaching career as the head football coach and Athletic Director at East Mississippi Community College from 1991-2003. He lived out the rest of his life in the Golden Triangle before passing away at the age of 76 in 2015.
He was a beloved father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, coach, teammate and friend by all that knew him. He certainly left his mark not only on MSU but the state of Mississippi.
Most Popular
Comments / 0