Nov. 22, 2013
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore athletic program is pleased to announce that its sixth featured Hall of Fame member to be spotlighted in 50 Shades of Maroon and Gray is Vernon "Skip" McCain. The spotlight on McCain continues UMES' countdown to the 2014 Hall of Fame induction on Feb. 14. He is the sixth of 50 Hall of Fame members to be highlighted over the next three months.
McCain is the most successful coach in the history of the Hawk athletics. His employment with the university went farther than just as a coach, though, where he was also a mathematics professor, head basketball coach and athletic director. The Langston University All-American quarterback was enshrined into the Hawk Hall of Fame in 1973, eight years before he was named to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in 1981. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
It was ability to lead that made him standout. He coached the football team to 103 wins, 16 losses and four ties in his 17-year coaching tenure. The Enville, Oklahoma native was at the helm for six undefeated seasons, four of which were also perfect seasons (1949, '50, '52, '55). As a basketball coach, he led MSC to a record of 76-11 from 1948-1952. He finished his basketball and football coaching career at MSC with a total record of 179-17-4.The effort gave him a winning percentage of 83-percent.
McCain coached a plethora of famous athletes during his 17 years in Princess Anne. The group is headlined by Art Shell, who was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and National Football League (NFL) Hall of Famer member. He also led such Hawks as Earl Christy, Johnny Sample, Emerson Boozer and Charles Stukes, all of which played in the Super Bowl III.
It was McCain's knowledge of the game that propelled the Hawks to so many wins. He was known to put in countless hours studying his opponents and attended many coaching clinics to enhance his ability to lead. McCain was known to get the most of out his student-athletes as evidenced by the way so many of his players respected him. He believed that in order to be a good athlete, you must first be a successful student.
Prior releases of "Fifty Shades of Maroon and Gray" (click link to open)
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