1984 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1984 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football Southwestern Athletic Conference SWAC 9–2 6–1 Archie Cooley 5th Magnolia Stadium NCAA Division I-AA First Round L 19–66 vs. Louisiana Tech The 1984 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils team represented the Mississippi Valley State University as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Archie Cooley, the Delta Devils played their home games at Magnolia Stadium—now known as Rice–Totten Stadium—in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Mississippi Valley State finished the season with an overall record of 9–2 and a mark of 6–1 in conference play, placing second in the SWAC. The team qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, losing to Louisiana Tech in the first round. With an offense led by quarterback Willie Totten and wide receiver Jerry Rice, the Delta Devils scored 628 points on the season, averaging more than 57 points per game. Schedule 1984 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Central September 1 w y y 1984 Kentucky State Thorobreds Kentucky State Alumni Field Frankfort, KY 86–0 1,300 Kentucky State is mauled 86-0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81727328/the-courier-journal/ The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky September 2, 1984 C6 July 18, 2021 Newspapers.com September 15 w y y 1984 Washburn Ichabods Washburn Moore Bowl Topeka, KS 4,000 77–15 Richardson Bill Mississippi Valley State cuts through Washburn 77-15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81726109/the-kansas-city-star/ The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri September 16, 1984 231 July 18, 2021 Newspapers.com Miss. Valley 77, Washburn 15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81726174/clarion-ledger/ The Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi September 16, 1984 14D July 18, 2021 Newspapers.com September 22 w y T–18 Jackson State Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS 49–32 50,337 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122352958/valley-chews-up-jackson-state-4932/ The Clarion-Ledger Valley chews up Jackson State 49–32 September 23, 1984 April 5, 2023 Newspapers.com September 29 w y Southern 11 A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA 63–45 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122353068/mississippi-valley-63-southern-45/ Alexandria Daily Town Talk Mississippi Valley 63, Southern 45 September 30, 1984 April 5, 2023 Newspapers.com October 13 w y Grambling State Hoosier Dome Indianapolis, IN Circle City Classic 48–36 40,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121183458/qb-totten-tosses-for-4-tds-as-devils-rol/ The Indianapolis Star QB Totten tosses for 4 TDs as Devils roll October 14, 1984 March 19, 2023 Newspapers.com October 20 w y 8 Texas Southern Robertson Stadium Houston, TX 55–42 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122353473/totten-throttles-tsu/ Victoria Advocate Totten throttles TSU October 21, 1984 April 5, 2023 Newspapers.com October 27 w y 5 Prairie View A&M Magnolia Stadium Itta Bena, MS 11,341 71–6 Nance Roscoe No pity: Valley 71, PV 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81726888/clarion-ledger/ The Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi October 28, 1984 1D July 18, 2021 Newspapers.com Nance Roscoe No pity (continued) https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81726939/clarion-ledger/ The Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi October 28, 1984 7D July 18, 2021 Newspapers.com Miss. Valley 71, Prairie View 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81726956/clarion-ledger/ The Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi October 28, 1984 16D July 18, 2021 Newspapers.com November 3 l y 5 Alcorn State 4 Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS 28–42 63,808 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122353715/qualls-captures-spotlight-as-braves-rip/ The Commercial Appeal Qualls captures spotlight as Braves rip Delta Devils November 4, 1984 April 5, 2023 Newspapers.com November 10 w 8 Alabama State Magnolia Stadium Itta Bena, MS 49–7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122353799/miss-valley-rips-alabama-state/ The Montgomery Advertiser Miss. Valley rips Alabama State November 11, 1984 April 5, 2023 Newspapers.com November 17 w y 8 1984 Langston Lions Langston Magnolia Stadium Itta Bena, MS 83–11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122353895/valley-flood-rips-langston-in-8311-rout/ The Daily Oklahoman Valley flood rips Langston in 83–11 rout November 18, 1984 April 5, 2023 Newspapers.com November 24 l y y 6 Louisiana Tech 9 Joe Aillet Stadium Ruston, LA NCAA Division I-AA First Round 19–66 17,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80679134/la-tech-ravages-valley/ The Clarion-Ledger La. Tech ravages Valley November 25, 1984 July 2, 2021 Newspapers.com Individual accomplishments As a senior in 1984, Jerry Rice broke his own NCAA Division I-AA records for receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,845). His 27 touchdown receptions in that 1984 season set the NCAA mark for all divisions. Rice caught 17 passes for 199 yards against Southern, 17 for 294 against 1984 Kentucky State Thorobreds Kentucky State, and 15 for 285 against Jackson State, in the first win for Mississippi Valley over the Tigers since 1954. He scored five touchdowns twice that year. Rice was named to every 1984 College Football All-America Team, including the Associated Press squad, and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy balloting. In the Blue–Gray Football Classic all-star game played on Christmas Day, he earned MVP honors.https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Rice_Jerry.html ESPN Classic - 49ers era was Rice era Rice finished his college career with 301 catches for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns. His NCAA record for total career touchdown receptions stood until October 7, 2006, when New Hampshire Wildcats wide receiver David Ball, recorded his 51st career receiving touchdown.https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/149201 David Ball Stats, News, Bio Team players in the NFL Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils Player Position Round Pick NFL club Jerry Rice Wide receiver 1 16 San Francisco 49ers Willie Totten played for the Buffalo Bills in 1987.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TottWi20.htm Willie Totten Stats References Mississippi Valley State Category:Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football seasons Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football Mississippi Valley State