Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) has been a place where athletes have been able to grow within their athletic careers. Over the years, MSSU’s football program has allowed players to showcase their skills and create personal growth. For Larry Perry, a former football player at MSSU, his football journey at MSSU ultimately led him to winning the The Most Outstanding Individual Performance of 1970.
Larry originally started his football career at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) in Miami, Oklahoma. After over-hiring, NEO let go of several players, including him and numerous other freshmen. Coach Ruben Berry, a football coach at MSSU, recognized this and offered Larry and others full four-year scholarships to play at MSSU. Larry expressed his immense gratitude for Coach Ruben Berry, stating that he was “a second father to him and many others on the team” and that Coach Ruben Berry drove the team’s athletic success and overall growth.
During Larry’s time at MSSU, he lived in trailers on campus, each having two bunk beds, two closets, and a shared bathroom. Furthermore, he stated that he often had to get food at a local motel on the weekends. Despite these rough living conditions, this ultimately led him to become closer to his team and build lifelong friendships. “When you’re living in trailers with paper-thin walls and limited showers, the team becomes your family,” Larry stated. In particular, a lifelong friendship that formed was with his roommate Mike Arot, and even after many years later, they still talk to each other to this day, and their sons are close friends.
On the field, Larry played free safety, a position then known as “rover,” during his freshman year before transitioning to running back as a sophomore. During his sophomore year it became his
career highlight, as that year Larry set a new record. Students would vote for the MSSU football team’s MVP of the year, and the school would award a trophy to the MVP of each game. Larry’s standout performance during his sophomore year led to him being voted as the team’s MVP and ultimately winning the first and only Most Outstanding Individual Performance of 1970, awarded by The Chart. Larry describes the game where he broke the record and stated that he had no idea that he broke the record at the time. “I had no idea until after the game when the coach gave me the award. It felt like winning the Heisman Trophy.” Larry credits the collective team effort for helping him win this award, from the offense and coaches’ rigorous training. Larry credits Ruben Berry as a significant factor in growing in his football career. “Coach Ruben was always positive,” Larry stated. “He pushed us hard but in a way that made us better as individuals and as a team. He truly deserves more recognition for what he accomplished.”
After Larry’s football career at MSSU from 1969 to 1971, he served in the air force and then soon returned to MSSU in order to complete his degree. Afterwards, he began coaching at East Junior High in women’s volleyball. Today, Larry stated some advice for current students and athletes at MSSU.
“First and foremost, get your education. Enjoy yourself, meet new friends, and do things that will be memorable. Don’t do anything reckless but create experiences you’ll cherish for a lifetime.”
Overall, Larry’s story wouldn’t be complete without honoring Coach Ruben Berry, who passed away from cancer. “Coach Ruben was like a second father to so many of us,” Larry says. “He made us feel like hard work would pay off, both on and off the field.” For Larry, his football career and school record weren’t the only memorable things at MSSU but also his relationships, memories, and bonds.
