Philadelphia names Anderson head coach

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
May 26, 2004
PHILADELPHIA Brian Anderson has wanted to be a head football coach for several years and now he's getting that opportunity.
Anderson will be the head football coach at Philadelphia High School this fall, replacing Mike Brown, who left to take an assistant's job at Ackerman High School.
Anderson played center at Mississippi State from 1992-95. He was a second-team Coaches All-SEC pick in 1994. In 1995, he was selected to the SEC Good Works Team and was a three-time (1993-95) Academic All-SEC pick. He was chosen for the 1996 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
He was an assistant at Philadelphia under head coach Steve Cheatham in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The Tornadoes were 7-3-1 in 97 and 10-3 in 98.
Anderson also was an assistant at Neshoba Central in 1996 under Jim Rhodes. The Rockets' 6-4 showing that fall is their last winning season.
Anderson spent the last two years under Ed Stanley at Meridian and under Bill Sartin at Meridian before that.
Anderson's wife, Lee Ann, is a Neshoba Central graduate.
Meridian's anticipated success this fall made Anderson's decision more difficult. Meridian is expected to be ranked second behind South Panola in the 2004 preseason poll.
Over the last 25 years, the Tornadoes have had only two losing seasons. During that same period, Philadelphia has made 14 playoff appearances and two bowl appearances.
Philadelphia defeated Northeast Lauderdale in a spring game.
The Tornadoes were 8-3 last fall under Brown, losing 16-0 in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs to Gulfport St. John. Philadelphia was the Region 5-2A champion, going 5-0 in the league.