McNair's advice guided OSU's Price

Dec 30, 2009 - 8:12 AM By JEFF LATZKE AP Sports Writer

STILLWATER, Okla.(AP) -- As he was growing up and learning the game of football, Jermiah Price could always depend on the advice of a former NFL MVP.

And when he started his college career at Oklahoma State, Price could still pick up the phone and Steve McNair would be on the other end.

"Over the years, just continuously playing football, we talked and he would tell me to do this and he would tell me to do that," said Price, a starting defensive end for the 21st-ranked Cowboys. "We talked a lot."

Price was McNair's second cousin, related through his mother's side of the family, and constantly used the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback and former NFL MVP as a resource.

"He taught me a lot about football and he kept me going, telling me different types of things," Price said.

McNair was shot and killed by his 20-year-old mistress on July 4 as part of a murder-suicide. The man Price considered to be a role model is gone.

"I called and I talked to his mom and all of that stuff but I really couldn't do anything about it," Price said. "I prayed and we got through it."

Price may not be where he is today if not for McNair's guidance. The native of Collins, Miss., got into football on his own, but credits McNair - who starred in Mount Olive, Miss., 15 years earlier - for providing pointers along the way.

In high school, Price played tight end and defensive end, but when he got to Jones County Community College it was time to make a choice. He was pushed in the direction of defense because a tight end who was 6-foot-6, five inches taller than Price, stood in his way.

But he also relied on McNair's counsel.

"He said, 'Whatever you want to do, you need to be your best at it,' because that's what you're going to be the best at if that's what you want to play," Price said.

When he gave it some thought, the choice was obvious. The reason he got into football wasn't because he liked to catch passes or block.

"I love contact and that's the only sport you can play where you can have contact and not get in trouble," Price said. "I love hitting and all that stuff. That's why I'm on defense."

He played well enough at Jones County to get noticed by Oklahoma State, a school he admits he knew nothing about before the recruiting process started. After joining the Cowboys (9-3), he's been the team's sack leader each of the past two seasons.

"He's not the biggest guy in the country but he plays really hard and he's got really good quickness and speed off the edges," said Bill Young, OSU's defensive coordinator who also serves as Price's defensive line coach.

To complete his college career, Price will get a Cotton Bowl showcase against Mississippi (8-4) on Jan. 2, and he expects a "majority" of his family to be at Cowboys Stadium to watch him go up against his home state Rebels.

When he found out his Cowboys would be playing Ole Miss, he had to call his mother to tell her. Her advice was simple: Go all out.

"This is my last college football game," Price said. "This may be my last football game ever. Who knows?"