On December 27, 1892, Biddle University defeated Livingstone 5-0 in Salisbury, NC. From that time forward, HBCU football has flourished. Some of the greatest players to ever play pro football attended HBCUs.

The North Carolina A&T Aggies are consensus HBCU football national champions. In honor of 125 years of HBCU football, boxtorow.com will highlight some of the most influential people in HBCU football. All persons highlighted played or coached at an HBCU. If a player, their influence could have taken place at the school or on the “next level.”

Today we look at former Mississippi Valley State wide receivers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.

Jerry Rice may be the greatest receiver. Ever. Back at Mississippi Valley State he was one half of the duo known as the Satellite Express, along with quarterback Willie Totten. Under head coach Archie “Gunslinger Cooley’s system Rice excelled finishing his career with 301 receptions for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns.

Rice went on to have a stellar 20-year career, most notably with the San Francisco 49ers where he won three Super Bowls. He was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1987 and 1993. Rice still holds the record for most career receptions (1,548), most career receiving yards (22,985), most career receiving touchdowns (197) and most multipurpose yards (23,546). Rice holds 36 NFL records.

He was known for his rigorous work ethic which included 2.5-mile uphill sprints.

In 2013, Rice appeared as a guest on FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW w/ Donal Ware. Listen to the interview below.

Each week, BOXTOROW will feature a new person, influential to HBCU football as we celebrate 125 years of HBCU football. Give us your thoughts. When on Social Media, use #HBCU125 Follow us on Twitter @boxtorow or Facebook box2row