Page 50 - Alcorn Magazine - Spring, 2019

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
Lawrence Pillers Achieves Dream, Graduates from Alcorn
In 1976, Lawrence Pillers got the chance of a lifetime when the New York Jets selected him in the 11th
round of the NFL Draft. Despite not nishing his degree program, Pillers jumped at the chance to turn his NFL dreams into reality.
“When I got drafted in 1976, I didn’t look back,” said Pillers, a Hazlehurst, Mississippi, native.
Over 40 years and two Super Bowl championships later, Pillers returned to Alcorn State University to contin- ue his studies, and on Saturday, May 5, he received a bachelor’s degree in recreation during Alcorn’s 2018 Spring Commencement Exercise. He thanks his family for the inspiration he needed to complete his education.
“I credit my wife and children for being a strong support system and encouraging me to enroll in school.”
Pillers spent four years with the Jets
before being traded to the San Fran-
cisco 49ers in 1980. He spent the
next four years there and was a part of
the 49ers’ Super Bowl XVI (16) and XIX (19) championship teams.
It was Pillers’ erce rushing attack in the 1981 NFL Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys that solidi ed the 49ers’ spot in the championship game. Pillers tackled Dallas Cowboys quarter- back Danny White and forced a fumble that the 49ers recovered to capture the victory.
As Pillers reminisced about that moment, he remembered how it felt to play a signi cant role in one of the team’s biggest games. “It felt amazing. Words can’t express that feeling. To be recognized as an unsung hero and get the opportunity to not only play in the Super Bowl but also to win it was remarkable.”
Becoming a two-time Super Bowl champion with one of the league’s most notable dynasties is something that Pillers will always cherish. He appreciates the bond that he formed with his teammates.
“Being a part of the NFL was amaz- ing. It was a feeling that was inde- scribable. While playing with Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott, we cre- ated a brotherly bond. We all had the same goal and ambition to win a Super Bowl, but we never imagined winning two.”
After hanging up his cleats and say- ing goodbye to the NFL, Pillers set out on another career journey that allowed him to care for the mentally ill at the Mississippi State Hospital in Whit eld, Mississippi. While em- ployed there, he developed a passion for helping others.
“From that time on, I’ve had com- passion for helping people with men- tal illness and developmental issues.
ings happen for a reason, and the inspiration is knowing you can be happy and improve your life.”
By reaching the nish line of his education, Pillers’ dedication to academic excellence is proof that achieving a degree at any age is possible. He plans to spread his message to others who strive to follow in his footsteps while continuing to set new goals for himself.
“My future goal is to tell others that they can be the best, and it’s never too late to get your degree. If the opportunity presents itself, I may pursue a career in coaching.”
48 #GOBRAVES