Hand Remembered

Ole Miss is quickly developing a reputation as Defensive Line U. Greg Hardy, Kentrell Lockett and others have helped form a fearsome line that has put the Rebels routinely near the top of the NCAA in TFLs. However, long before Peria Jerry and Jerrell Powe were disruptive forces, another set of massive tackles dominated the line of scrimmage. A pair of 300-pounders named Norman Hand and Tim Bowens had ruled the Mississippi JUCO ranks for Itawamba in the early 90s and recreated that magic in Oxford in 1993. Half of that tandem left us Friday, as Hand passed away in his hometown of Walterboro, S.C. After two great seasons in the Red and Blue, Hand went on to a successful 10-year NFL career. However, Norman was more than just an intimidating nose tackle, as the Seattle Times wrote about in this 2003 article while he was a member of the Seahawks. Perhaps Hand's best pro years were in a New Orleans Saints uniform, and the Times Picayune paid its tribute to the great Rebel today.

New Orleans Saints' Norman Hand remembered as 'one of the good guys'

Retrospective: Norman Hand was driving force for New Orleans Saints