July 28, 2007

JACKSON, Miss. -- Jackson State All-American Robert Brazile, a seven-time NFL All-Pro selection with the Houston Oilers was inducted into the Bancorp Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Friday, July 27.

Brazile was rated as the premier collegiate linebacker in 1974 while playing at Jackson State. He started his collegiate football career as a tight end, but switched to linebacker during his sophomore year.

Brazile was called "Mr. Versatile", a moniker he earned because of his ability to excel at either the inside or outside linebacker slot. While at JSU Brazile helped the Tiger finish with a 9-1-1 record in 1971; an 8-3 mark and a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 1972; 9-2 and another SWAC championship in 1973; and 7-4 in 1974.

During the '74 season Brazile set a school record of 129 solo tackles and 79 assists, and he led the SWAC in interceptions with nine. He was a consensus All-SWAC selection and a Sheridan Black College All-American. Brazile was also chosen to play in the Senior Bowl.

The Mobile, Ala. native was a first round draft pick of the Houston Oilers in 1975 and went on to be named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and the American Conference's top rookie. During his professional career he earned seven consecutive Pro Bowl appearances (1977-83) and was also named to the All-NFL first team five times.

As an Oiler Brazile was know to his fans as "Dr. Doom". During his rookie year, he was tossed out of a game for hitting Redskin legend Billy Kilmer in the head. Four years later, he bulldogged Dallas' Tony Dorsett by the facemask.

Due to his outstanding collegiate and professional careers Brazile was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Jackson State Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

Four other inductees will be honored with Brazile on Friday. Troy Ricks, the 87-year old basketball coaching legend from Wheeler, MS; former SWAC and NFL great Jerry Rice, who set collegiate receiving records at Mississippi Valley State University that still stand more than two decades later; championship amateur women's golfer and Coach Lou Hart from Meridian, MS; and Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer George "Boomer" Scott of Greenville, MS complete the class of 2007.