Larry McCloud, one of Marshall UniversityƵs more-feared players on the football field and more-loved off it, died Sunday. He was 50.
A 2009 inductee into the Marshall Hall of Fame, McCloud was a linebacker known as a ferocious hitter. His stick of Mississippi tight end Rufus French in the 1997 Motor City Bowl when McCloud was a senior still is replayed on ESPN and other networks for its perfect form.
McCloud died of colon cancer.
ƵLarry was one of our greatest football players but an even better person,Ƶ former Thundering Herd coach Bobby Pruett, who coached McCloud in 1996 and 1997, said. ƵWe loved him and his family. IƵm heartbroken.Ƶ
McCloud was an NCAA Division I-AA All-American in 1996 when he helped Marshall to a 15-0 record and a national championship. He was an All Mid-American Conference selection in 1997 when he led the Herd with 143 tackles.
McCloud excelled at Marshall pro day in the spring 1998, with the San Francisco 49ers in particular expressing great interest in him. He wasnƵt, however, selected or signed after teams looked at his medical charts.
ƵThe only reason Larry didnƵt play in the NFL is because of all the concussions he had,Ƶ Pruett said. ƵHe certainly had the talent. No one doubted that.Ƶ
Praise poured in for McCloud as news of the former Buffalo-Wayne High School standoutƵs death was revealed. McCloud led the Bison to a Class AA state championship in 1992 when the Bisons defeated Magnolia 7-3. McCloud was named the West Virginia player of the year.
ƵI had an apartment on his side of town, and he was nice enough to give me a ride home from practice most days,Ƶ former Herd wide receiver Mark Wicks said. ƵNot many words were exchanged. Just me, him, his truck ad country music on the radio. When I got out it was just, Ƶsee you tomorrow, Marky.Ƶ Ƶ
Brad Helton, director of video services at the University of Central Florida, was in a similar role at Marshall during McCloudƵs playing days.
ƵLarry McCloud is one of the best humans IƵve ever had the pleasure to know,Ƶ Helton said. ƵI never saw him raise his voice. He earned respect. He was the definition of a man, a role model that kids, fans, coaches and staff all respected.Ƶ
Former Herd player T.C. Beaver marveled at McCloudƵs ability to be so gentle off the field and competitive on it.
ƵLarry McCloud was one of the most-intimidating players ever to play for Marshall,Ƶ Beaver said. ƵƵ intimidating as he was on the field, he was an all-around great man off. It didnƵt matter who you were and what your status on the team, he treated everyone with respect. He made you feel important.Ƶ
Former Herd defensive back and current assistant coach Shannon Morrison said heƵll miss McCloud.
ƵIƵm at a loss,Ƶ Morrison said. ƵLarry was one of the best people I know. IƵm grateful we were able to reconnect over the last year. He was my friend. He was my brother.Ƶ
The hit on French might be the most-talked-about of McCloudƵs career, but former Herd All-American Aaron Ferguson recalled another. McCloudƵs tackle of Army fullback Joe Hewitt caused a fumble that defensive tackle Ricky Hall returned for a touchdown in a 1997 game at West Point. The crash of helmets sounded like a rifle shot all the way up in the Michie Stadium press box and left Hewitt unconscious on the turf with a broken arm.
ƵIt was way more devastating of a hit,Ƶ Ferguson said, comparing it to the one McCloud laid on French. ƵLarry is and always will be the best middle linebacker to play at Marshall. You know youƵre a devastating tackler when the coaches wonƵt let you compete in the spring game because theyƵre afraid youƵre going to injure one of your teammates.Ƶ
McCloudƵs former teammate, running back Doug Chapman, played five seasons in the NFL. He said he never was hit harder than by McCloud in practice.
ƵWe rarely went ones versus ones in practice,Ƶ Chapman said. ƵDuring one of those sessions, I took the hardest hit I ever had in my life from my brother Larry McCloud. Yes, harder than (Brian) Urlacher, (Ray) Lewis or any other linebacker I dealt with in the NFL.Ƶ
McCloud is survived by Stephanie, his wife of 27 years; son Austin; daughter Karli; and son Branson, a pitcher on the Marshall baseball team.
Visitation is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Reger Funeral Home in Huntington. The funeral is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the 26th Street Church of Christ.
