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On Saturday June 1st downtown Mount Olive will be filled with the sounds of music … guitars and dobros and singing and football.
Whaaattttt???? Football????
Yes … football is really similar to music … both demand talent, timing, coordination and a strong-leader presence in a conductor.
And Mount Olive can claim her native son as the Master Football Conductor! Of course, we are talking about FRED MCNAIR!
Fred was born and raised in Mount Olive by his mother Lucille McNair. He played quarterback on the Mount Olive Pirate football team and graduated from Mount Olive High School in 1986.
McNair began his college football career as a wide receiver at Alcorn State University in 1986 before moving to quarterback his junior season then finishing fifth in Division 1-AA in passing efficiency his senior year and being named to the All-SWAC second team in 1989. He received his bachelors degree in 1992 and furthered his education with a masters degree in 1996 from Alcorn State University.
McNair coached at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi for four years. During his tenure at Millsaps, they won two Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Championships
Prior to McNair’s return to Alcorn State, he was coach and athletic director at Collins High for one season. That was after winning state championships in each of his two seasons as offensive coordinator at his alma mater Mount Olive High.
McNair was named Alcorn State University 21st head football coach on February 2, 2016. He previously worked at Alcorn as the quarterbacks coach for three seasons.
In three seasons, Fred McNair has coached the Braves to three SWAC East Division titles and the 2018 SWAC Championship. McNair brought his team to the 2018 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl after earning SWAC Coach of the Year honors.
During the summer months, Fred works as a football camp director for Mercedes Lewis in Long Beach, California; Jerrius Norwood in Brandon, Mississippi; Brett Favre and Adailus Thomas, both in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He is also a Dixie Youth baseball coach and commissioner in Covington County as well as a youth football coach.
As if that is not enough, coach McNair is also a motivational speaker at churches, schools, and social events throughout Mississippi. He is definitely a man on the move with a vision seeking anyone that he can help.
Football is many things: a showcase of athletic prowess, a hard-hitting game of strategy and struggle, a sport with stories of perseverence, determination, and triumph on and off the field. This is the story about Fred McNair’s journey. The world will continue to be his stage as he orchestrates both the music of football and the music of life.
On June 1st at 10:15 am the Town of Mount Olive will proudly present a “Key to the City” to Fred McNair on the Music Off Main stage in downtown Mount Olive. He may not sing or play an instrument that day but he will certainly wow the crowd and make each and every one there beam with pride!
