Jackson Free Press

Jerry Rice not only has greatness but the type of personality that lights up a room. Even coming down the stairs with Gov. Phil Bryant, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and several members of the Mississippi legislature including Sen. John Horhn, Rice commanded attention.

As the governor spoke at a press conference on Sept. 30, it was hard to keep your eyes off Rice as he stood waiting to receive a plaque that proclaimed that day as Jerry Rice Day. The former San Francisco 49ers receiver’s personality and greatness was worthy of his high standing.

Rice didn’t mind taking friendly jabs at both the governor and lieutenant governor. He took a good-natured jab at Bryant after he finished reading his list of accomplishments, telling Bryant that he got each one right.

He stopped Reeves twice, once to tell him how much he loved beating Reeves’ beloved Saints when both teams were in the same division and again to correct Reeves, saying that he wasn’t he just the greatest wide receiver in football but “the greatest football player of all-time.”

Rice can brag because he owns so many NFL records that the amount of records he owns is an NFL record in itself. But really, he was just joking with our state leaders and the fans and media in attendance.

Later that night, a crowd of people were waiting on Rice at the upper level of the Jackson Convention Center in a VIP room. People talked and visited as they waited the NFL Hall of Fame player to enter the room.

When he made his entrance, every person stopped their conversation, and all eyes fell on Rice as he strolled across the room. As he walked around, the fans looked like kids on Christmas morning, with wide eyes and surprise.

Those who wanted Rice’s picture, to shake his hand or just to talk with one of the best football players quickly mobbed him. Senator Horhn set up a line for everyone to get their picture taken with Rice, and he stood and talked with each person a bit before they took the picture.

Richard Schwartz, the title sponsor for the event said “it was a no-brainer when the opportunity arose to bring Rice back to Mississippi.”

“Jerry Rice is a hero and he inspires us with the way and the things he did as a football player,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz said he uses Rice as an example when speaking to high schools across the state. “I use Jerry Rice as a personal inspiration and to explain goal setting. (Rice) was the greatest natural athlete, but he worked hard and didn’t let anything stop him as he became the greatest athlete,” he said.

Rice signed jerseys, footballs, pictures and took more pictures as the night in the VIP lounge went along. He never stopped smiling or laughing with each person. It was amazing watching someone that famous so at ease with the throng of people around him.

Later, everyone went downstairs to a banquet to continue to celebrate Rice’s greatness. People made several presentations at the dinner, and Rice himself got up to speak.

He spoke about how much he loved Mississippi and that every time he stepped on the field, he felt like he represented this state. He hoped his success helped other players in Mississippi and in the SWAC specifically.

He touched on working with his father, Joe who was a bricklayer, hard work, discipline, and the love of his mother and family. Rice said his brother Tom directed from Jackson State University because they ran the wish-bone, a run heavy offense, and it wouldn’t be a good fit for Rice as a wide receiver.

That helped Mississippi Valley State land him after high school. At the banquet, he talked about Archie Cooley, Willie Totten and his days with the Delta Devils.

“Even after playing in the NFL 20 years that he can still run and he is still better than some of the guys playing today,” Rice said.

On today’s NFL, he said: “I cannot believe football today; it’s almost like touch football. Back in my day, anything could happen. You got hit on every play, and you can’t do that today.”

He touched on his first Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals, having 80 family members at the game, not being able to sleep the night before, going into the “zone” during the game-winning drive and joked that if teammate John Taylor had made a block, he would have scored the winning touchdown.

Rice also showed that he can still run. He glided up and down the ballroom with his feet lightly touching the ground. It was as graceful and as powerful as when he used to play the game.

Rice also touched on the 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s current protest of the national anthem.

“I can appreciate what Colin Kaepernick is doing,” Rice said. “He is bringing awareness to some of things we need to address. That is why I said we all need to come together. Now for me, I have always stood for the national anthem. What my forefathers, what they did, out of respect for them and when I stood for the national anthem, I always held one finger up because I wanted them (his forefathers) to know because without them we wouldn’t have freedom of speech. So I like what Colin is doing, but I have always stood for the national anthem, and I’m going to continue to do that.”

Rice had some tough words for current Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman. Previously Rice went on the radio in San Francisco and responded to a question about Sherman being able to cover him.

“Let me tell you guys something, I realize that defensive backs are the best athletes on the field,” he said. “Darrell Green and Deion Sanders (both in the NFL Hall of Fame), they couldn’t check me. I would kill them. Because of my conditioning, I would eventually wear them out. Now this Richard Sherman, there’s no way. I would come to the line of scrimmage with a mission. A lot of these receivers don’t have a plan when they come to the line of scrimmage. I was one of those guys who always wanted to initiate contact. So I would hit (Sherman) in his mouth.

“First play of the game that is how you establish yourself, you hit the defensive back right in his mouth. After that, it is all about having double moves, triple moves, setting him up and wearing him out. That Richard Sherman, he talks a lot, but just don’t know. He doesn’t know but I think he should know (that) I caught 1,549 receptions, 22, 895 receiving yards, 197 receiving touchdowns and 208 total touchdowns.”

Before the Mississippi Valley State v. Jackson State game on Saturday, Rice spent time with the Delta Devil players. Some of his greatness must have touched the MVSU players, as they played their best game of the season even if they came up short 16-14 to the Tigers.