June 7th 2024.
The football community is mourning the loss of beloved HBCU coach, Doug Porter, who passed away at the age of 94. According to reports from The Associated Press, Porter, who was the oldest living member of the College Football Hall of Fame, died on June 5, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come. He had a long and successful career, coaching at various HBCUs including Mississippi Valley State University, Howard University, and Fort Valley State University, before retiring in 1996.
The National Football Foundation (NFF) paid tribute to Porter, expressing their condolences on social media. "NFF Mourns the passing of College Football Hall of Fame Coach Doug Porter, who headed the @MSValleyFB, @HUBISONFOOTBALL, and @FVSUATHLETICS programs," read the post, accompanied by a link to a tribute for Porter.
NFF chairman, Archie Manning, spoke highly of Porter, calling him a "remarkable person" who had an impressive career in coaching and athletics administration within the HBCU community. Manning also praised Porter's football knowledge and recruiting skills, as well as his genuine care for his players and their success.
Originally from Mississippi, Porter started his college career as a quarterback at Xavier of Louisiana before serving in the U.S. Army. He then began his coaching career at Mississippi Valley State in 1961 and stayed there until 1965. The following year, he joined the coaching staff at Grambling State University under the legendary Eddie G. Robinson, where he stayed until 1973. Porter then took on the role of head coach at Howard University from 1974 to 1978, before returning to Fort Valley State University where he had previously coached from 1979 to 1985. He then took a brief break from coaching before returning to Fort Valley from 1987 to 1996.
During his time at Fort Valley, Porter was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year an impressive seven times and served as the athletic director for 16 years. He was also heavily involved in football at the national level, serving as chairman of the Division II Football Committee and president of the National Athletic Steering Committee. In 2008, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and in 2009, he was inducted into the FVSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Porter's funeral service will be held on June 15 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Grambling. His passing is a great loss for the football community, but his legacy will continue to inspire and impact future generations. In related news, former Pittsburgh Steelers player, Jerome Bettis, recently earned his college degree after 28 years, proving that education is a lifelong pursuit.
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