Following an outstanding athletic career at Hattiesburg High during the early 1960s, Mike Waits figured his playing days were over.

He was a three-sport letterman for the Tigers and an All-State and All-Big 8 Conference center-linebacker. He also played in the Mississippi High School All-Star Game. But Waits had one “small” problem — he weighed less than 160 pounds.

“When I graduated from Hattiesburg, I was about 155...if I was soaking wet,” said Waits. “I didn’t have any scholarship offers.”

That’s when legendary PRC head coach Dobie Holden invited Waits for a tryout. 

“Coach Holden gave me a scholarship,” said Waits. “If he hadn’t given me that chance, I would have probably gone on to the army and then gotten a job.”

Waits attended PRC from 1963-65. The 1963 Wildcats finished 9-0-1 and won the state title. Waits was a starting linebacker on that team. In 1964, Waits played linebacker and wide receiver on a team that finished 7-3. He was the defensive captain and made the All-State Junior College first team.

His accomplishments on the gridiron earned Waits a place in the college’s Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted Oct. 20 during 2001 Homecoming festivities.

“This is a tremendous honor,” said Waits. “My time at Pearl River was the greatest experience in my life. When I went down there, I was an undisciplined player and student. But with folks like Dr. Marvin White, Dr. John Grant, and Walter Lowe down there, they disciplined me. I was in Mr. Lowe’s very first history class down there. Those people took an interest in me. They took an undisciplined kid and molded him into something.”

Waits was the only Hattiesburg Tiger to sign with The River in 1963. When he first reported for fall practice, things were quite different.

“The first shock was the equipment. At Hattiesburg, we had good gear, but the pads and such Coach Holden issued to us had patches all over them.”

Waits moved into the starting lineup in the second game in 1963 when the linebacker ahead of him broke his leg. That team recorded four shutouts, while the only blemish was a tie with Itawamba. 

Playing for Holden was a unique experience.

“Coach Holden was a master psychologist,” said Waits. “He would absolutely get 150 percent out of you. He knew how to get inside your head and you either took it or went home. He would run a play over and over...we’d practice the same play all week long so it would be absolutely perfect at game time.”

In 1964, PRC shutout five opponents, including arch-rivals Jones and Gulf Coast. 
Waits graduated from PRC in 1965 with an associate’s degree in engineering. He turned down football offers from New Mexico State and Millsaps to pursue an engineering degree at Mississippi State.

Said Waits, “The River gave me the foundation and the basics to succeed at State. Pearl River holds a special place in my heart.”