After months of standing idle and motionless, Morehouse College's B.T. Harvey Stadium came to life last week with the arrival of newly appointed head coach Terance Mathis, who took control of the Maroon Tigers football team.
The program needs a revival. As the the workouts began across the street from the prestigious campus where the legacy of MLK inspires future greatness, and the aura of President Benjamin E. Mays still lingers, Coach Mathis has a vision.
"So far, it's been amazing," Coach Mathis commented. "It's what I've been wanting for almost 10, 11 years to run my own program. And then, at a historical institution like Morehouse, what more can you ask for?"
ET FACTA EST LUX - AND THERE IS LIGHT FOR THE MAROON TIGERS
After weeks of speculation, interviews, alumni angst, and overtures to coaches, Morehouse College chose Terance Mathis as its new head football coach after releasing preview coach Gerard Wilcher. After growing up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, Mathis is familiar with Morehouse and the Atlanta area.
Coach Mathis almost threw in the towel weeks after interviewing with athletic director Harold Ellis. After praying and waiting, I told my wife, "Baby, if I don't get hired, If I don't get a head coaching job in this cycle, I'm done with the coaching business." But an early Sunday morning text from Ellis answered his prayers. The two met at lunch, and he was offered the job.
Mathis shared what transpired later that week. "I met with the president Friday. We had a great conversation about an hour and a half. I signed my contract and met with the team at 3 o'clock on Friday, and that's how it happened. On the way home, I said to myself, "There was nothing but God.""
ABOUT COACH MATHIS
Coach has indirectly connected with Morehouse since playing professional football with the Atlanta Falcons, less than 10 minutes from Morehouse's campus, from 1994 to 2001. He was a hard worker and star athlete opposite Roddy White for many a year. During his NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl career, he ripped through defensive secondaries for 689 catches, 8,809 receiving yards, and 63 touchdowns. The Maroon Tigers must realize that they have a coach with experience playing the game at its highest level, as well as a record-setter.
Mathis set a Division I record for having 250 receptions, 4,000 receiving yards, and over 6,000 total yards in his collegiate career at New Mexico Lobos.
COACH MATHIS' PASSION AND INSPIRATION
The past and current journey for Coach Mathis invokes a sense of inspiration and underscores the importance of patience and perseverance from the college. However, he's not going to wait.
"If you're not in this business to win now, why are you coaching?" Mathis passionately noted. "If you're not trying to be successful now, why are you coaching? Why are you stealing money for 2 or 3 years to try to build a program?"
His commitment to achieving success immediately at "Da' House" is self-evident. Coach Terance Mathis believes his players and assistant coach are starting to grasp that "winning today" is the philosophy of Maroon Tiger football in 2024 and from now on.
"At the end of the day, we can't be successful if everyone hasn't bought in, if everyone is not supporting, if everyone is not speaking life into this program. It's Morehouse. We are family. We support each other," Coach Terance Mathis commented.
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