| Years at Northeast: | 1980-82 |
| Sports: | Football |
| Occupation: | Student-Athlete |
Bruse Loyd's football journey brought him to the campus of then-Northeast Mississippi Junior College twice over the course of three years.
Loyd's original arrival in the fall of 1980 after graduating from Alcorn Central High School coincided with what is still one of the most successful seasons in modern-day program history.
The Tigers won nine consecutive games on the way to achieving a number one national ranking for the first time ever. Northeast defeated its opponents by an average margin of victory of 17 points.
Loyd's job as an offensive lineman was to protect quarterback Mike Steenson and open up holes for All-American running back Anthony Norman. He performed his duties well as Norman set the school record for rushing touchdowns in a single season with 12.
The list of firsts that Loyd and the Tigers accomplished that year also includes the inaugural north half championship, perfect division record and home state playoff contest.
Northeast finished with a 9-2 overall mark with final ratings of seventh from the Junior College Gridwire publication and 12th by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
The Tigers posted 35 or more points three times, including a season-high 45 points in a shutout win over Mississippi Delta Community College. Northeast bested rivals Itawamba Community College and Northwest Mississippi Community College by a combined score of 51-7.
Loyd transferred to Delta State University at the conclusion of his freshman campaign. However, he eventually accepted an offer to return to Northeast from legendary head coach W.B. "Bill" Ward after taking a redshirt while with the Statesmen in 1981.
The decision to rejoin the Tigers paid off for Loyd. The Corinth native ended up getting recruited by more than a dozen NCAA Division I institutions throughout his sophomore season.
Loyd chose Rice (Texas) University inside the now-defunct Southwest Conference (SWC) as his final destination on the gridiron. He was a two-year starter for the Owls that earned all-newcomer honors in 1983.
He made the Space City his permanent home after obtaining a Bachelor's degree from Rice. Loyd went to work for Xerox for five years before enrolling in the South Texas College of Law.
Loyd has been a practicing lawyer now for nearly three decades. His position has kept him involved in the sport he once played by representing athletes and staff members in both the NCAA and the NFL.
He has worked with national print and television outlets, including ABC, CBS, ESPN, USA Today, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, to ensure that his clients receive fair media coverage.
Loyd is also experienced in the areas of business, employment, fiduciary, gas, oil and whistleblower litigation. He is married to Margo and the couple has two children, Nicholas and Reese.
His philanthropic efforts include giving back to his alma mater. Loyd donated $5,000 towards the construction of the new Tiger Fieldhouse, which opened in 2013 and quadrupled the amount of locker and weight room space for Northeast's student-athletes.