Dashing through the bowl season

By Pat Forde

Updated: Dec. 20, 2005, 3:51 PM ET

ESPN.com

The Priest, The Stick, The New Orleans Bowl

When bowl season starts with a story like this attached to the very first game, you know it's going to be a fun few weeks.

Check the Southern Mississippi (1) sidelines during the (Not) New Orleans Bowl, live from not New Orleans (relocated this year to Lafayette, La.). Look for the guy in the Roman collar holding a stick in the air during dozens of plays. Yes, you heard The Dash correctly: Look for the father wielding the Mother of all Motivational Tools.

He's Father Tommy Conway (2), the Golden Eagles' team chaplain and keeper of the unofficial team talisman. It's an Irish walking cane -- not a shillelagh, the padre is quick to point out. It was plucked from a blackthorn hedge and given to Conway by an old man when the priest left his native County Galway in Ireland to do missionary work in Mississippi 19 years ago.

Today it is the "I Believe Stick" (3) in Golden Eagles terminology, now in its third year of work in sideline symbolism.

"I hold it up early in the game for each play," Conway explained, in a rich Irish brogue, "so the offensive and defensive players can see it and believe in themselves. It's just a little fun on the sidelines."

The fun started in 2003. That was Conway's first year as Southern Miss' team priest, and in that role he offers faith-based motivational words to the team before each game. In November of that year, the TCU Horned Frogs came to Hattiesburg 10-0 and ranked 10th in the nation, so Conway figured he'd better break out the good stuff.

Seizing upon an amphibian motif, Conway read the team the scripture in Exodus that described the plague of frogs God sent down upon Egypt to convince the Pharaoh to let Moses and the Jews go free.

"In the end the frogs all died, and they put them in a big pile and they began to stink," Conway said. "I told the team, 'We're not going to let these stinking frogs come in here and beat us. Now, I'm not Moses and I'm not Jesus, but I do have my own staff. Every time you take the field, I want you to look at the staff and believe in yourselves.'"

Sure enough, Southern Miss shocked the stinkin' Horned Frogs, 40-28. And a tradition (superstition?) was born. Ever since then, Father Football and his stick have been a sideline presence.

"[The cane] travels with the rest of the team equipment at this stage," Conway said.

Conway had never seen American football when he arrived in Hattiesburg, but the wife of one of the USM coaches took him to a game and answered his endless questions. The pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas was quickly hooked. He's even been a guest of St. Thomas congregant Brett Favre for a Packers game in Green Bay.

Conway, who has that endearing Irish quality of quick and infectious laughter, says his assignment to Mississippi was "punishment for all the sins I committed before the age of 20." But he's come to love living in Hattiesburg.

"It's challenging these days, with the hurricane and all that has come with it," he said. "But it's a great place to be."  

Father Tommy Becoming National Sports Celebrity

By Alan Hinton of the Hattiesburg American

Originally published December 26, 2005

Father Tommy Conway, the priest at St. Thomas Catholic Church, has been a local sports celebrity for several years, as he is the team chaplain for the University of Southern Mississippi football team and he goes to as many games of all kinds that he can.

Now, Conway has turned into something of a national sports celebrity. Last month, ABC cameras showed him standing next to Deanna Favre, wife of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett, at a Monday Night Football game.

Last week, Conway and his "stick" that he holds on the sideline of Southern Miss football games were the feature of an ESPN.com story by Pat Forde.

Conway talks about his recent celebrity status and sports in general in a question-and-answer format.

Question: How did the trip to Green Bay come about?

Answer: When Brett and Deanna are in Hattiesburg, they go to either Sacred Heart or St. Thomas. Last year, when Brett was going for his 200th straight start, I called Deanna. She said, "I promise you next year if they play a Monday Night Football game, you can go with me to Green Bay." She didn't forget her promise.

It was awesome. A jet picked us up in Hattiesburg. We flew up there 2 1/2 hours, spent two nights, went to Brett's steakhouse the night before the game, and had a great time.

The highlight, before the game, Brett had two security guys took me to the middle of Lambeau Field for a photo with him. I was the envy of a lot of people in the stands.

I haven't got the photo yet, but I'll get him to sign it, and I'll frame it, and put in my house or office.

Q: How did the fans treat Favre?

A: Brett is like a god in Green Bay. Every place I went I was wearing Southern Miss stuff. They would stop me, and say, "Oh you're from Brett's school." The night of the game, the cheer he got compared to other players was unreal. They love him.

Q: What did you think when ESPN.com came to you?

A: Pat Forde called me to chat. I had no idea he was going to write an article about me. He said he had seen me at several games with the stick. I haven't read the whole thing yet.

Q: What sports did you play in your younger days?

A: Growing up in Ireland, my college was very small. We played Irish football, a little bit of soccer.

I did little bit of road running, cross country. I ran the Dublin City marathon in November, 1985.

Q: Do you participate in any sports now?

A: I play a little racquetball now. (USM basketball) Coach (Larry) Eustachy says we need to play. I tell people I'm not old enough for golf.

Q: You're seen at practically every home Southern Miss football, basketball and baseball game. Do you have a favorite sport?

A: Softball, soccer, I like all of them. I know some people on every team. I love all sports. I know the coaches and some players. I love the ministry of being a chaplain of the football team.

Q: This time of year there is something more important than sports. In this Christmas season, what are your thoughts?

A: We talk about Mary and Joseph waiting. It's very much like waiting for FEMA trailers. Those thoughts run through my mind. Hattiesburg is getting in better shape but we have to keep our eyes focused on the coast and New Orleans. That's very much on our minds.

We still have families in Iraq and Kuwait. I do a service at 2 at Camp Shelby every Sunday. We can't forget about them.

Q: You lead a very active life, don't you?

A: When my head hits the pillow, I sleep well.

Stick story

Pat Forde of ESPN.com wrote about Father Tommy Conway's "stick," which began when USM hosted No. 10 TCU in 2003. Here is an excerpt from the story: Seizing upon an amphibian motif, Conway read the team the scripture in Exodus that described the plague of frogs God sent down upon Egypt to convince the Pharaoh to let Moses and Jews go free. "In the end the frogs all died, and they put them in a big pile and they began to stink," Conway said. "I told the team, 'We're not going to let these stinking frogs come in here and beat us. Now, I'm not Moses and I'm not Jesus, but I do have my own staff. Every time you take the field, I want you to look at the staff and believe in yourselves." Sure enough, Southern Miss shocked the stinkin' Horned Frogs, 40-28. And a tradition (superstition?) was born.