Latest news with #MoreheadState
Reuters
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Morehead State renaming stadium after Phil Simms
June 25 - Morehead State is renaming its stadium for alumnus Phil Simms, who quarterbacked the New York Giants to a win in Super Bowl XXI. The official dedication will take place at the stadium in Morehead, Ky., during homecoming weekend on Oct. 18. Simms played for the program from 1974-78. The Kentucky native passed for 5,545 yards and 32 touchdowns during his career and was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 1977. "Phil Simms has remained loyal to MSU throughout the years," athletic director Kelly Wells said. "He has given MSU his time, talent, and treasure to MSU since his days as a college athlete. He has visited Morehead during the summers to host summer camps for young athletes and encouraged them to consider MSU. "He has mentored MSU coaches and players throughout the years. Most notable, he has hosted numerous fundraising events and personally contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the football program. This recognition is most deserving and long overdue." The Giants drafted him with the seventh overall pick in 1979 and he remained with the team through his final NFL season in 1993. The two-time Pro Bowl selection ranks second in franchise history in passing yards (33,462) and touchdown passes (199). He was named the MVP of New York's 39-20 win against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI, completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Simms earned a second ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XXV when his injury replacement, Jeff Hostetler, led the team to a 20-19 win against the Buffalo Bills. Simms, who turns 70 in November, returned to campus in 2015 to receive his bachelor's degree. The university also presented him with an honorary doctorate. Following his playing career, Simms spent three decades in the broadcast booth. --Field Level Media
NBC Sports
25-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Morehead State will name its football stadium after Phil Simms
The pride of Morehead State will be picking up another honor from his alma mater. Forme Giants quarterback Phil Simms, a top-10 pick from the small Kentucky school in 1979, will have the football stadium named for him in a ceremony on October 18. On that day, Layne Stadium will become Phil Simms Stadium. 'Phil Simms has remained loyal to MSU throughout the years,' Morehead State director of athletics Kelly Wells said. 'He has given MSU his time, talent, and treasure to MSU since his days as a college athlete. He has visited Morehead during the summers to host summer camps for young athletes and encouraged them to consider MSU. 'He has mentored MSU coaches and players throughout the years. Most notable, he has hosted numerous fundraising events and personally contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the football program. This recognition is most deserving and long overdue.' Simms won a pair of Super Bowls with the Giants. His number 11 has been retired by the Giants. And that particular honor became an issue earlier this year, when Giants rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter asked to have the number unretired. While Phil seemed to be willing, his family wisely intervened.
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Morehead State will recognize Giants great Phil Simms with honorary stadium naming
Morehead State University will rename its football stadium after one of its most famous alums, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms, on Oct. 18 (Homecoming Day).Simms was the first FCS player to be an NFL Draft pick in 1979. Retired New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms has had many an honor bestowed upon him in his long career in football. The 1979 first-round pick of the Giants has been enshrined in the team's Ring of Honor and had his No. 11 jersey retired. He was also the MVP of Super Bowl XXI and was the first player to utter the phrase, "I'm going to Disney World!" Now comes another honor. This time from his college alma mater, Morehead State. The school is renaming its football stadium, currently named Jayne Stadium, after Simms this fall. From MSU Athletics: Football fans at Morehead State University will soon have a new name for the stadium. One of Morehead State University's most famous alums, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms (Class of 2015), will have MSU's football stadium named in his honor. The official dedication ceremony will take place during Homecoming 2025. The naming ceremony for Phil Simms Stadium will be held outside the stadium at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, October 18. MSU invites the public to attend. Simms, a Springfield, Kentucky native, came to Morehead State from Louisville Southern High School in 1975. In 1977, he was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and finished his career at Morehead State with 5,545 passing years and 32 touchdowns passing. In addition to being named OVC Player of the Year, he was an All-OVC First-Team selection. Simms has not publicly commented on the honor as of yet. Morehead State was little-known to the nation before Simms got there. He put them on the map, so to speak. "Phil Simms has remained loyal to MSU throughout the years," said Kelly Wells (Class of 1995), MSU Director of Athletics. "He has given MSU his time, talent, and treasure to MSU since his days as a college athlete. He has visited Morehead during the summers to host summer camps for young athletes and encouraged them to consider MSU. He has mentored MSU coaches and players throughout the years. Most notable, he has hosted numerous fundraising events and personally contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the football program. This recognition is most deserving and long overdue." Simms is one of just eight MSU alumni to play in the NFL and just one of two to ever be drafted. The Giants also had one other MSU alum in their history, tight end Gary Shirk, who played for Big Blue from 1976-82.
Miami Herald
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Nearly neighbors and teammates, Johni Broome, Walter Clayton Jr. share Final Four stage
Florida coach Todd Golden had just been hired and was armed with a vision to sell. Bruce Pearl had an established program at Auburn and could offer transfers a chance to play with future draft picks Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler. Advantage, Auburn, which landed Morehead State transfer Johni Broome before the 2022-23 season in a race closely contested by Golden and Florida. On Saturday night, Broome takes the floor with the Tigers and Golden tries to show him what he's missing. "We were excited at the opportunity to get him to be a Gator. Obviously because of his success (at Morehead State), was recruited by pretty much every big-time program around," Golden recalled Friday in San Antonio of his early pursuit of Broome. "We were fortunate enough to get in the mix, to get in the final two. I think we did a good job in a short period of time of kind of explaining our vision and kind of introducing him to our staff and kind of what we had going on. "Bruce had been at Auburn, had been solidified as well. They do a great job as well. He decided to go be a Tiger. Obviously he's had a great career and been really impactful in terms of their success. Knock on wood for us. We've been able to do pretty well also. We'd have been happy to have him. I'm happy for him at Auburn and the success that he's had." Broome is a central figure in the Final Four as an All-American who impacts the game on both ends of the court. He said the benefit of Morehead State was immense and forced him to grind to improve his lateral quickness, agility and produce numbers that would attract a big-name program or two. "Certainly benefited from the experience at Morehead, no question," Pearl said Friday. "He's got a combination of an inner confidence and a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. I think the biggest thing is -- he's always been second-guessed. Whether it was out of high school, even in the OVC. Coming to Auburn he wasn't fast enough, quick enough, didn't jump high enough, the game wouldn't translate, his lack of athleticism ... they're wrong." Transfers are vital for the Southeastern Conference rivals with Florida sporting three double-digit scorers who were Golden imports: Walter Clayton Jr. (Iona), Alijah Martin (Florida Atlantic) and Will Richard (Belmont). Auburn has its own stash of additions from the transfer portal with Broome, Miles Kelly (Georgia Tech) and Denver Jones (Florida Atlantic) all in vital roles. "I think valuing guys that have been overlooked, you bring them into a place like Auburn," Pearl said. "Here is the deal. I spoil my kids, but I will slap the rotten right out of them. I spoil my players, but I will slap the rotten right out of them. When you get a guy that is overlooked and you spoil him, he's more appreciative and grateful for the opportunity. He goes to work every single day trying to prove people wrong." When Broome hits the floor for a second matchup this season with Florida -- the Gators beat Auburn in February -- he'll see a couple of other familiar faces. One will be a portal win Golden did score, Clayton, who grew up 20 miles away from Broome and then started his college journey under Rick Pitino. He was the MAAC player of the year as a sophomore before Pitino took his current job at St. John's. Clayton said this week he "clicked right away" with Golden, who had the advantage of not being in the role two years earlier and overlooking him. Both are averaging over 18 points per game in their final college seasons and have everything to do with why their teams are still alive. Golden jumped ahead of Pearl in pursuit of Clayton with an assist from the player's mother, who was eager for her son to play close to home rather than following Pitino to St. John's. So he took one final swing at bringing him to Gainesville. "I guess one of the benefits of being Jewish is that we don't celebrate Easter," Golden said. "I got a plane that afternoon, flew up, met with Walt on Easter Sunday evening. Me and Coach Korey McCray. Had a great meal talking through everything with him. Before we left that night, he let us know he was going to come home. I think that extra effort, going up there and sitting with him, reconfirming our vision for him, what our program would be like was really important. Obviously, I'm really glad we got on that plane. It was really well worth it." --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Reuters
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Nearly neighbors and teammates, Johni Broome, Walter Clayton Jr. share Final Four stage
April 4 - Florida coach Todd Golden had just been hired and was armed with a vision to sell. Bruce Pearl had an established program at Auburn and could offer transfers a chance to play with future draft picks Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler. Advantage, Auburn, which landed Morehead State transfer Johni Broome before the 2022-23 season in a race closely contested by Golden and Florida. On Saturday night, Broome takes the floor with the Tigers and Golden tries to show him what he's missing. "We were excited at the opportunity to get him to be a Gator. Obviously because of his success (at Morehead State), was recruited by pretty much every big-time program around," Golden recalled Friday in San Antonio of his early pursuit of Broome. "We were fortunate enough to get in the mix, to get in the final two. I think we did a good job in a short period of time of kind of explaining our vision and kind of introducing him to our staff and kind of what we had going on. "Bruce had been at Auburn, had been solidified as well. They do a great job as well. He decided to go be a Tiger. Obviously he's had a great career and been really impactful in terms of their success. Knock on wood for us. We've been able to do pretty well also. We'd have been happy to have him. I'm happy for him at Auburn and the success that he's had." Broome is a central figure in the Final Four as an All-American who impacts the game on both ends of the court. He said the benefit of Morehead State was immense and forced him to grind to improve his lateral quickness, agility and produce numbers that would attract a big-name program or two. "Certainly benefited from the experience at Morehead, no question," Pearl said Friday. "He's got a combination of an inner confidence and a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. I think the biggest thing is -- he's always been second-guessed. Whether it was out of high school, even in the OVC. Coming to Auburn he wasn't fast enough, quick enough, didn't jump high enough, the game wouldn't translate, his lack of athleticism ... they're wrong." Transfers are vital for the Southeastern Conference rivals with Florida sporting three double-digit scorers who were Golden imports: Walter Clayton Jr. (Iona), Alijah Martin (Florida Atlantic) and Will Richard (Belmont). Auburn has its own stash of additions from the transfer portal with Broome, Miles Kelly (Georgia Tech) and Denver Jones (Florida Atlantic) all in vital roles. "I think valuing guys that have been overlooked, you bring them into a place like Auburn," Pearl said. "Here is the deal. I spoil my kids, but I will slap the rotten right out of them. I spoil my players, but I will slap the rotten right out of them. When you get a guy that is overlooked and you spoil him, he's more appreciative and grateful for the opportunity. He goes to work every single day trying to prove people wrong." When Broome hits the floor for a second matchup this season with Florida -- the Gators beat Auburn in February -- he'll see a couple of other familiar faces. One will be a portal win Golden did score, Clayton, who grew up 20 miles away from Broome and then started his college journey under Rick Pitino. He was the MAAC player of the year as a sophomore before Pitino took his current job at St. John's. Clayton said this week he "clicked right away" with Golden, who had the advantage of not being in the role two years earlier and overlooking him. Both are averaging over 18 points per game in their final college seasons and have everything to do with why their teams are still alive. Golden jumped ahead of Pearl in pursuit of Clayton with an assist from the player's mother, who was eager for her son to play close to home rather than following Pitino to St. John's. So he took one final swing at bringing him to Gainesville. "I guess one of the benefits of being Jewish is that we don't celebrate Easter," Golden said. "I got a plane that afternoon, flew up, met with Walt on Easter Sunday evening. Me and Coach Korey McCray. Had a great meal talking through everything with him. Before we left that night, he let us know he was going to come home. I think that extra effort, going up there and sitting with him, reconfirming our vision for him, what our program would be like was really important. Obviously, I'm really glad we got on that plane. It was really well worth it."
