Jerious Norwood, Inc
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:55 am
July 29, 2005
Norwood's plan: Branding success
# Tailback rushing MSU's delivery
By Ian R. Rapoport
irapopor@clarionledger.com
Mississippi State running back Jerious Norwood isn't content to just let last year's numbers — 1,100 yards rushing and seven touchdowns — do the talking."Somebody might see my interview and say, 'Hey, he's a pretty cool guy," Norwood said during SEC Media Days Thursday.
Jerious Norwood Inc.
The running back's numbers highlighted an otherwise lackluster year for MSU:
Att. YPC Yards TD Rec. Yards
195 5.4 1,100 7 11 37
HOOVER, Ala. — The president and chief executive officer of Jerious Norwood Inc., held a board meeting while sitting at his media podium fielding questions and soaking up the attention.
Each answer was measured, each word spoken while looking at the reporter who posed the query, each remark sprinkled with a smile and often a laugh. One of the more high-profile players at this week's SEC Media Days, Mississippi State's star running back was doing his best to sell the one, most valuable commodity he owns — himself.
"This could play a role if I don't make it in football," said Norwood, while swarmed with media members at his table. "Somebody might see my interview and say, 'Hey, he's a pretty cool guy.' "
That's part of the plan.
When coach Sylvester Croom sat him down before his appearance here, he told Norwood that simply being a productive runner on the field is not all he can do. Croom told him that — because the spotlight would shine so brightly on him — he needed to take full advantage of his current opportunities.
"I want our players to understand that every time they step in front of that camera, every time they get an interview, they are advertising for their company — themselves," Croom said. "I want them to conduct themselves accordingly because never again will they get this free advertisement that they are getting right now."
Thus, Croom dubbed the enterprise: Jerious Norwood Inc.
While he hadn't previously thought of treating interviews and public appearances in such a way, Norwood said he's made a point to take his coach's advice. And how is the selling going so far?
"It ain't that hard," said Norwood, drawing laughs from the media. "I ain't got no problem with it."
Norwood has always been a standout.
At Brandon High, he was named a Parade high school All-American after a wildly productive career that also gained him boatloads of other honors. At State, he has rushed for 2,086 yards — 5.5 per carry — with nine touchdowns in his three seasons.
Last year was different than the previous two. Highlighted by a 37-yard game-winning touchdown run in MSU's upset win over Florida, Norwood burst onto the SEC radar screen. By the time he finished with 1,050 yards on 195 carries with seven touchdowns, he had been named a second-team All-SEC pick by the coaches.
This season, the league's coaches tabbed Norwood as a first-team All-SEC player. Croom chose him to represent the Bulldogs in Hoover on Thursday, making him one of just 27 players to represent the SEC's 12 teams.
Thursday's frenzy was an introduction to the kind of media attention Norwood could attract all season.
"I know I'm the running back, the starting running back, I'm first-team All-SEC," Norwood said. "(The attention) is all part of it. It's something I got to deal with positively."
Croom knows. At last year's Media Days all anyone wanted to talk about was Croom's historical significance as the first black head football coach in the SEC. He dealt with it, thrived in it, and MSU made national news at this time last year.
Now, he's happy to hand off the attention to his running back.
"He has earned this opportunity to be in the spotlight," Croom said. "He'll handle it with no problems at all. That's what any great talent does. And that's what college football does for them."
There will be attention on the field, too. Defenses will key on him, stack the line against him, and make their game plans around him.
"For the Mississippi State game, we know what kind of running back we're facing," Georgia defensive tackle Gerald Anderson said. Anderson recalled watching the Florida upset on TV. His team visits Norwood and the Bulldogs on Sept. 24.
"(Norwood)'s the real deal," Anderson added. "That's what it used to be like facing Auburn, when you had (current NFL players) Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. He's like that. When facing that offense, we're going to make sure we stop him first."
It's a philosophy Norwood will encounter each time he puts on the maroon jersey this season. If quarterback Omarr Conner can achieve the level of consistency Croom thinks he can, that may ease Norwood's task. Croom said he intends to stretch the field with deep passes this season, moreso than last year.
Downplaying thoughts of a stacked line, Norwood said he won't worry about it. When he gets the ball, he'll just carry it, and that's that.
Of course, some of the pressure falls on an inexperienced offensive line, led by center Chris McNeil.
"We're going to be able to get the job done," said McNeil, who claimed he looks forward every week to seeing just how many yards Norwood will gain. "I want it for Norwood as a person. And, it makes us look good. The more yards he gets ... somebody's opening up those holes."
Said Norwood: "To be honest, I ain't worried about the line."
Croom recently sat down with Norwood to talk about his NFL future. Scouts have called the MSU office asking about the 6-foot, 204-pounder, Croom said.
The coach asked Norwood not to worry about details like finding an agent or thinking about his NFL career because all that comes as a result of continued production on the field. But he does think that putting forth a solid image, being himself, and representing the university positively will pay dividends wherever Norwood's future lies.
McNeil, his next-door neighbor, agrees.
"Even if football doesn't work out for him," McNeil said. "He's going to have success in the future."
Norwood's plan: Branding success
# Tailback rushing MSU's delivery
By Ian R. Rapoport
irapopor@clarionledger.com
Mississippi State running back Jerious Norwood isn't content to just let last year's numbers — 1,100 yards rushing and seven touchdowns — do the talking."Somebody might see my interview and say, 'Hey, he's a pretty cool guy," Norwood said during SEC Media Days Thursday.
Jerious Norwood Inc.
The running back's numbers highlighted an otherwise lackluster year for MSU:
Att. YPC Yards TD Rec. Yards
195 5.4 1,100 7 11 37
HOOVER, Ala. — The president and chief executive officer of Jerious Norwood Inc., held a board meeting while sitting at his media podium fielding questions and soaking up the attention.
Each answer was measured, each word spoken while looking at the reporter who posed the query, each remark sprinkled with a smile and often a laugh. One of the more high-profile players at this week's SEC Media Days, Mississippi State's star running back was doing his best to sell the one, most valuable commodity he owns — himself.
"This could play a role if I don't make it in football," said Norwood, while swarmed with media members at his table. "Somebody might see my interview and say, 'Hey, he's a pretty cool guy.' "
That's part of the plan.
When coach Sylvester Croom sat him down before his appearance here, he told Norwood that simply being a productive runner on the field is not all he can do. Croom told him that — because the spotlight would shine so brightly on him — he needed to take full advantage of his current opportunities.
"I want our players to understand that every time they step in front of that camera, every time they get an interview, they are advertising for their company — themselves," Croom said. "I want them to conduct themselves accordingly because never again will they get this free advertisement that they are getting right now."
Thus, Croom dubbed the enterprise: Jerious Norwood Inc.
While he hadn't previously thought of treating interviews and public appearances in such a way, Norwood said he's made a point to take his coach's advice. And how is the selling going so far?
"It ain't that hard," said Norwood, drawing laughs from the media. "I ain't got no problem with it."
Norwood has always been a standout.
At Brandon High, he was named a Parade high school All-American after a wildly productive career that also gained him boatloads of other honors. At State, he has rushed for 2,086 yards — 5.5 per carry — with nine touchdowns in his three seasons.
Last year was different than the previous two. Highlighted by a 37-yard game-winning touchdown run in MSU's upset win over Florida, Norwood burst onto the SEC radar screen. By the time he finished with 1,050 yards on 195 carries with seven touchdowns, he had been named a second-team All-SEC pick by the coaches.
This season, the league's coaches tabbed Norwood as a first-team All-SEC player. Croom chose him to represent the Bulldogs in Hoover on Thursday, making him one of just 27 players to represent the SEC's 12 teams.
Thursday's frenzy was an introduction to the kind of media attention Norwood could attract all season.
"I know I'm the running back, the starting running back, I'm first-team All-SEC," Norwood said. "(The attention) is all part of it. It's something I got to deal with positively."
Croom knows. At last year's Media Days all anyone wanted to talk about was Croom's historical significance as the first black head football coach in the SEC. He dealt with it, thrived in it, and MSU made national news at this time last year.
Now, he's happy to hand off the attention to his running back.
"He has earned this opportunity to be in the spotlight," Croom said. "He'll handle it with no problems at all. That's what any great talent does. And that's what college football does for them."
There will be attention on the field, too. Defenses will key on him, stack the line against him, and make their game plans around him.
"For the Mississippi State game, we know what kind of running back we're facing," Georgia defensive tackle Gerald Anderson said. Anderson recalled watching the Florida upset on TV. His team visits Norwood and the Bulldogs on Sept. 24.
"(Norwood)'s the real deal," Anderson added. "That's what it used to be like facing Auburn, when you had (current NFL players) Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. He's like that. When facing that offense, we're going to make sure we stop him first."
It's a philosophy Norwood will encounter each time he puts on the maroon jersey this season. If quarterback Omarr Conner can achieve the level of consistency Croom thinks he can, that may ease Norwood's task. Croom said he intends to stretch the field with deep passes this season, moreso than last year.
Downplaying thoughts of a stacked line, Norwood said he won't worry about it. When he gets the ball, he'll just carry it, and that's that.
Of course, some of the pressure falls on an inexperienced offensive line, led by center Chris McNeil.
"We're going to be able to get the job done," said McNeil, who claimed he looks forward every week to seeing just how many yards Norwood will gain. "I want it for Norwood as a person. And, it makes us look good. The more yards he gets ... somebody's opening up those holes."
Said Norwood: "To be honest, I ain't worried about the line."
Croom recently sat down with Norwood to talk about his NFL future. Scouts have called the MSU office asking about the 6-foot, 204-pounder, Croom said.
The coach asked Norwood not to worry about details like finding an agent or thinking about his NFL career because all that comes as a result of continued production on the field. But he does think that putting forth a solid image, being himself, and representing the university positively will pay dividends wherever Norwood's future lies.
McNeil, his next-door neighbor, agrees.
"Even if football doesn't work out for him," McNeil said. "He's going to have success in the future."