Jerry Stovall
Encyclopedia
Jerry Lane Stovall is a former All-American running back and head football coach for LSU
. He was also a star defensive back
in the NFL
for the St. Louis Cardinals
.
After graduating West Monroe High School
, Stovall went to LSU, succeeding Heisman Trophy
winner Billy Cannon
as the Tigers' running back
. Stovall was named an All-American at that position in 1962, and was the runner-up for the 1962 Heisman Trophy
. He finished 89 votes behind Oregon State's Terry Baker
. Stovall was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 2010.
Stovall was the second overall pick in the 1963 NFL Draft
, selected by the St. Louis Cardinals
. The Cardinals converted him to full-time defensive back. During his nine seasons with St. Louis, Stovall had 18 interceptions in 97 games, and was selected to the Pro Bowl
after the 1966, 1967, and 1969 seasons.
After his NFL career, Stovall became a college football assistant coach. He eventually returned to LSU, as an assistant for head coach Charlie McClendon. Stovall became LSU's head coach as an emergency hire after new head coach Bo Rein
died when his plane depressurized and disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean
.
In Stovall's four years with the Tigers (1980–1983), LSU finished 7–4, 3–7–1, 8–3–1, and 4–7. Only one of Stovall's teams appeared in the final AP Poll
: the 1982 team. That team finished the season ranked #11 after it beat #4 Florida, #8 Alabama, and #7 Florida State
and earned a spot in the Orange Bowl
, where LSU lost, 21–20, to a #3 Nebraska
team led by Tom Osborne. As a result of his performance in 1982, Stovall was named the National Coach of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation
.
In 1983, Stovall's success of 1982 came unraveled. The Tigers went 0–6 in the SEC, including an embarrassing 45-26 loss at home to Mississippi State
, leaving Stovall 0–4 for his career against the Bulldogs, who more often than not have been a doormat in the SEC.
Unfortunately, Stovall's tenure is most remembered for his 2–2 record against Tulane
. To date, the Tigers have only lost to Tulane on two other occasions since 1948, both under McClendon. 1982 is the Tigers' only home loss to Tulane since 1948. LSU played Tulane annually until 1994 and has resumed the rivalry on a yearly basis beginning in 2006. The Tigers also beat the Green Wave in Baton Rouge
in 1996 and 2001.
Stovall's dismissal by athletic director Bob Brodhead
was approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors on December 2, 1983, despite an impassioned plea from former Louisiana Governor John McKeithen
, who had been appointed to the board by then-Governor Dave Treen, for Stovall to keep his job.
After his head coaching stint at LSU, Stovall went on to take a job in banking before becoming athletic director at Louisiana Tech University
from 1990 to 1993. Afterwards, Stovall became the president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation, an organization dedicated to securing sporting events for the Baton Rouge area.
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
. He was also a star defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
After graduating West Monroe High School
West Monroe High School
West Monroe High School is a high school in West Monroe, Louisiana, United States. It is administered by the Ouachita Parish School Board.It is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school's mascot is the Rebel.-Band:...
, Stovall went to LSU, succeeding Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Billy Cannon
Billy Cannon
William Abb "Billy" Cannon is an All-American, 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and one of the American Football League's most celebrated players.He was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and moved...
as the Tigers' running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. Stovall was named an All-American at that position in 1962, and was the runner-up for the 1962 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
. He finished 89 votes behind Oregon State's Terry Baker
Terry Baker
For the Canadian football player of the same name see Terry Baker .Terry Wayne Baker is a former quarterback for the Oregon State University football team. He played for them through the 1960-1962 seasons. He is most notable for winning the 1962 Heisman Trophy and playing the Final Four in the...
. Stovall was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 2010.
Stovall was the second overall pick in the 1963 NFL Draft
1963 NFL Draft
The 1963 National Football League Draft was held on December 4, 1962.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
, selected by the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The Cardinals converted him to full-time defensive back. During his nine seasons with St. Louis, Stovall had 18 interceptions in 97 games, and was selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
after the 1966, 1967, and 1969 seasons.
After his NFL career, Stovall became a college football assistant coach. He eventually returned to LSU, as an assistant for head coach Charlie McClendon. Stovall became LSU's head coach as an emergency hire after new head coach Bo Rein
Bo Rein
Robert Edward "Bo" Rein was an American football and baseball player and football coach. He was a two-sport athlete at Ohio State University and served as the head football coach at North Carolina State University from 1976 to 1979, compiling a record of 27–18–1...
died when his plane depressurized and disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
In Stovall's four years with the Tigers (1980–1983), LSU finished 7–4, 3–7–1, 8–3–1, and 4–7. Only one of Stovall's teams appeared in the final AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
: the 1982 team. That team finished the season ranked #11 after it beat #4 Florida, #8 Alabama, and #7 Florida State
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and earned a spot in the Orange Bowl
1983 Orange Bowl
The 1983 edition of the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the LSU Tigers.The game suffered from poor attendance due to riots in the Miami area as well as the game having no impact on the national championship, since No. 2 Penn State defeated No. 1 Georgia earlier in the day in the...
, where LSU lost, 21–20, to a #3 Nebraska
1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
team led by Tom Osborne. As a result of his performance in 1982, Stovall was named the National Coach of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation
Walter Camp Football Foundation
The Walter Camp Football Foundation is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also presents various awards.-Awards:*Walter Camp Player of the Year*CT Player of the Year...
.
In 1983, Stovall's success of 1982 came unraveled. The Tigers went 0–6 in the SEC, including an embarrassing 45-26 loss at home to Mississippi State
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, leaving Stovall 0–4 for his career against the Bulldogs, who more often than not have been a doormat in the SEC.
Unfortunately, Stovall's tenure is most remembered for his 2–2 record against Tulane
Tulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
. To date, the Tigers have only lost to Tulane on two other occasions since 1948, both under McClendon. 1982 is the Tigers' only home loss to Tulane since 1948. LSU played Tulane annually until 1994 and has resumed the rivalry on a yearly basis beginning in 2006. The Tigers also beat the Green Wave in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
in 1996 and 2001.
Stovall's dismissal by athletic director Bob Brodhead
Bob Brodhead
Bob Brodhead was the Athletic Director at Louisiana State University from 1982-1987. He is also the author of Sacked! The Dark Side of Sports at Louisiana State University Brodhead attended Duke University where he played quarterback on the football team...
was approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors on December 2, 1983, despite an impassioned plea from former Louisiana Governor John McKeithen
John McKeithen
John Julian McKeithen was the 49th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1964 to 1972. A Democrat from the town of Columbia, he was the first governor of his state in the twentieth century to serve two consecutive terms...
, who had been appointed to the board by then-Governor Dave Treen, for Stovall to keep his job.
After his head coaching stint at LSU, Stovall went on to take a job in banking before becoming athletic director at Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
from 1990 to 1993. Afterwards, Stovall became the president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation, an organization dedicated to securing sporting events for the Baton Rouge area.