STARKVILLE — Rockey Felker feels older.
Saturday night, that feeling was exacerbated, as he was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in Jackson following a standout playing career at Mississippi State and a coaching career that has lasted parts of five decades.
“I guess it means you’re getting a little old when you’re selected to the Hall of Fame,” he quipped. “But it is something that the Felker family is very excited about.”
Felker, a former quarterback at MSU, led the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record and a Sun Bowl win in 1974 under the watch of coach Bob Tyler. The Nashville Banner named him SEC Player of the Year after helping MSU to its most wins since 1946.
“We helped turn the history of Mississippi State football in the right direction,” Felker said of the 1974 team.
Following his playing days, he became the youngest head coach in the country when he took over the MSU program at age 33. In four years at the helm he guided the Bulldogs to a 21-34 record before being replaced by Jackie Sherrill.
“I take a lot of pride in that we laid a good foundation for coach Sherrill when he came in,” Felker said.
Following his stint in Starkville, he became an assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Arkansas and Tulsa.
Felker returned to MSU in 2002 as the coordinator of football operations and running backs coach under Sherrill. He is currently the director of player development for coach Joe Moorhead and has spent nearly 18-straight years on staff in Starkville.
“I haven’t missed pressure of coaching and play calling and scoring touchdowns and winning football games,” Felker joked. “I have enjoyed being a part of the Mississippi State family just serving in whatever role that I’ve been asked to be a part of. I’m very thankful for all those opportunities.”
Joining Felker in the class of 2019 are former Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt, high school football coach Ricky Black, golfer Cissye Gallagher, former NFL running back Wilbert Montgomery and former Ole Miss football player Richard “Possum” Price.
“There’s so many great players in the Hall of Fame and will be,” Felker said. “So I’m just humbled and thankful and I had a lot of help along the way from family members to teammates of mine that worked just as hard as I did to try to win and be successful.”
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
