Former McNeese standout quarterback and a 2000 inductee into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame, passed away on Sunday.
The first true dual-threat quarterback for the Cowboys and a Vinton native, Starring played for McNeese from 1979-82 and guiding the Cowboys to two Independence Bowl appearances, two Southland Conference championships, and an overall record of 32-12-2.
Playing alongside greats such as Leonard Smith, Theron McClendon, Keith Ortego and Buford Jordan, Starring was a two-time All-SLC selection (1979, 1980) and was named the league’s offensive player of the year in 1980 where he gained 1,980 total offensive yards with 974 of those coming in the rushing department, a number that stills stands as a single-season school record for rushing yards by a quarterback. His 234 yards rushing against Arkansas State in 1980 continues to hold as the fourth-most in a game among all rushers in school history.
Starring completed his career at McNeese with 3,083 passing yards and 1,906 rushing yards. In addition to his stellar football career, Starring excelled in track and field, winning three conference championships, two in the high hurdles and one in the long jump, and earned All-American honors.
He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1983 NFL Draft and played five seasons with the Patriots and one each with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, as a wide receiver and kick returner.
In 1986 he was the NFL’s seventh-leading kickoff returner with 1,012 return yards and was a member of the Super Bowl XX Patriots where he caught two passes for 39 yards and returned seven kicks for 153 yards. That game was played in New Orleans and against the Chicago Bears who had Starring’s former McNeese teammate, Keith Ortego, on the roster.
Starring finished his NFL career with 120 receptions for 2,029 yards and 11 touchdowns. He added 2,389 kick return yards.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
