Southeastern Oklahoma State University Athletics

Football (1986-88)

Greg Neece was the quarterback for the Southeastern Oklahoma State University football tam during one of the most exciting times in Savage football history. He earned his place among the outstanding players in the history of Southeastern sports.

Neece was born March 11, 1967 in Garland, Texas and moved to Edmond, Oklahoma as a young boy. He was an outstanding athlete at Edmond High School where he was a point guard, right fielder, and an All-State quarterback for Coach Jon Lantz.

He played his freshman year at Pittsburg State (Kansas) then transferred to Southeastern when Jon Lantz became the Savages head coach in 1986. Greg became the starting quarterback during his sophomore year, and in his career, helped lead the team to a 21-9-2 record. In 1988, the Savages finished the season undefeated and ranked third in the nation. They played Central Arkansas, also undefeated and the nation’s top ranked NAIA team, in the first round of the national playoffs. A packed stadium at Paul Laird Field saw Southeastern defeat UCA 21-14 in overtime. Neece sustained a shoulder injury in the game and struggled in the following game as the Savages lost to Adams State in the semi-finals of the NAIA national playoffs.

Greg was a quarterback who could both run and throw effectively. He passed for 4,207 yards and had 831 rushing yards in three seasons. He was a good leader, and a tough athlete who had a line backer mentality for contact.

Neece was selected to the All-Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference Team and the NAIA All-District Team in 1987 and 1988. He was the District 9 Player of the Year in 1988. He was named an Honorable Mention NAIA All-American in 1987 and 1988 and was Southeastern Athlete of the Year his senior year.

Greg Neece’s success on the gridiron brought recognition to himself, the Savage football program, and Southeastern. The university honored him with membership in the Southeastern Athletic Hall of Fame on February 23, 2002.