![]() The next season he went to Canada to play professionally. He finished at Grambling State as the all-time passing career leader and the second all-time passing career leader in the SWAC with 13,530 total passing yards, 140 total touchdowns, and 38 interceptions in 1,657 pass attempts highlighted by 874 total completions.Īt the conclusion of his collegiate career, he entered the NFL after signing a free agent contract with his home team, the New Orleans Saints. In 2005, he led Grambling State (team averaged nearly 50-points per game) under the direction of head coach Melvin Spears, to its fourth SWAC title during a six-year time span.Įugene capped his senior season accounting for 56 touchdowns with only five interceptions. Eugene was selected as a Walter Payton Award Finalist twice and was also named the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year two times during his career. ![]() Eugene came into the contest and completed the game-winning touchdown pass and a chance to compete for a third consecutive SWAC title.Īs a revived starter, he led the Tigers to a championship game victory over Alabama A&M to close out the season. “My mom told me that I could become the biggest cheerleader ever, but I would stay at Grambling and finish school!”Įugene would once again humble himself and eventually found his way back on the field after starting quarterback Gary Cooper went out in the fourth quarter against Alcorn State. “I called home to my mom and expressed to her that I was done at Grambling,” said Eugene. After the first game of the season against McNeese State, he was subsequently benched and this became the turning point of his career. Going into his sophomore season, Eugene would get the nod to become the starting quarterback. Grambling State would win Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships in back-to-back seasons with Hines at quarterback. “Whether it was learning from his mistakes, the good or bad decisions he made during plays, or how he used he feet in and out of the pocket, I wanted to know how to be a great quarterback for my team,” said Eugene. With a unique drive and motivation, he spent countless hours watching old game film of former GSU quarterback Lynell Hayes. With a Grambling State legend at the helm in Doug Williams, and five potential starting quarterbacks in front of him, Eugene went into camp that summer with a lot to prove and undoubtedly a big chip on his shoulder.ĭuring his freshman season, Eugene redshirted behind the likes of Randy Hines, who was the starter, Michael Mays, J.J. After that contest, several notable college football programs (LSU, Arkansas, and Tulane) shifted attention away from recruiting him.ĭevasted by the injury but not discouraged, Eugene would turn down a scholarship offer from Texas Southern before he chose to pursue Grambling State as a preferred walk-on to the Tigers program. Before having to leave that game, he had passed for over 275 yards. Once he arrived at Cohen Prep, Eugene excelled and eventually became a two-year starter on the basketball team at point guard and a three-year starter at quarterback on the football team.ĭuring his senior season, he fractured his ankle during a routine screen play in the second quarter of a game. “But she told me that if I kept my grades up above a 3.5, and made sure that my education was a priority, then she was ok with it.” “My mom was so upset at me and surprised that I had asked my aunt to enroll me into that school,” said Eugene. ![]() Always wanting more for himself, Eugene asked his aunt to enroll him into Cohen College Prep High School where he made the basketball team and played football. Growing up Eugene played football, basketball, baseball, and attempted his skill set in track & field while attending McDonogh 35 College Preparatory High School. My mom worked tirelessly to make sure that my sister, brother and I were taken care of.” ![]() “She is a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan, so she knew her football. “My mom taught me how to play football,” said Eugene. He was determined to make a better life for himself along with his family which led him to focusing much of his attention on sports. Eugene grew up primarily in a single parent household with his mother and younger siblings. – Born in New Orleans, La., Bruce Eugene would go on to become one of the top National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-AA quarterbacks during his time in college.
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