Dan Mastrean, a native of Foley, Ala., was an All-Conference and All-American player for Coach Holden (1957-59). He was a 185-pound center.

“Coach Holden contacted me through my exploits at Foley,” recalls Mastrean. “I wanted to play for Bear Bryant but Bear did not have a need for a 180-pound center. So Coach Holden asked me to come over and play football for Pearl River.”

Honors were common for the talented Mastrean. He was an All-State and All-American prep player at Foley. He also played in the Alabama All-Star game.

Playing for Coach Holden was a unique experience for Mastrean, who also played middle linebacker on defense.

“Coach Holden was definitely a taskmaster,” he said. “He expected you to give him 110 percent. He tried to be mean and tough at times, but underneath he was a pussycat. He probably could have coached anywhere he wanted. I know LSU talked to him, but he loved Pearl River.”

The 1958 Wildcats finished 8-2 and defeated Wharton (Texas) College 30-20 in the Hospitality Bowl. Mastrean, a business administration major at PRCC, was co-captain of the 1958 team.

Mastrean went on to play at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, where he earned second-team All-American and second-team All-Conference honors as a fullback. He had opportunities to try professional ball from Calgary and Winnipeg in Canada, as well as a tryout offer from the Houston Oilers, but did not take any of them.

He went into the Army for five years and flew helicopters in Germany and Vietnam before going into business.