George Brice has learned many lessons since hanging up his cleats for the Natchez Bulldogs. The USM freshman has found that patience is truly a virtue during a red-shirt season.

Brice played offense and defense during his tenure with Natchez. He was a tight end and defensive end.

During his 1999 senior season, Brice and his father, George Brice Sr., compiled clips of his best plays and sent highlight tapes to different colleges.

Before long, the colleges were interested in Brice. Aside from&160;USM, he received calls from Jackson State, Louisiana Tech, Grambling, Louisiana-Lafayette, NLU and Alabama A&M.

&uot;At first, I was real enthusiastic about all the attention,&uot; Brice said. &uot;But the constant telephone calls began to wear me down.&uot;

Former USM coach Steve Buckley made the first contact with Brice.

The elder Brice remembers when USM head coach Jeff Bower visited their home.

&uot;They (Bower and Buckley) called and said they would visit the day after the Humanitarian Bowl,&uot; Brice said. &uot;I hung up the phone and said ‘yeah right.’ Sure enough the next day coach Bower was sitting in my house talking to me about wanting my son at USM.&uot;

When time came to choose a new team, the decision wasn’t that hard.

&uot;The main reason I&160;chose USM is their attitude,&uot; Brice said. &uot;They aren’t afraid to play anyone. Coach Bower’s attitude is: suit up and let’s play. USM has a reputation of playing the tough teams.&uot;

When Brice arrived in Hattiesburg during the summer, he found out that he would be red-shirted.

&uot;At first, I really didn’t like it,&uot; Brice said. &uot;It took sometime for me to get used to not playing for a year.&uot;

The reason for the red-shirt is simple. The coaches want the 19-year-old to get bigger. Brice currently weighs 238 pounds. The coaches want Brice to put 265 pounds on his 6-4 frame.

That means plenty of eating and weight-room work for Brice.

&uot;I&160;had to change my mindset and get a new attitude. I know that the opportunity is going to come. That is the light at the end of the tunnel,&uot; he said.

Life as a red-shirt athlete means time spent on the scout team. Brice is currently listed three spots behind starting lineman, Cedric Scott.

Brice found a friend in Scott. &uot;The coaches assign a big brother to the freshman players. My big brother is Cedric. He has looked out for me while I&160;was wet behind the ears,&uot; Brice said.

Scott has proved to be a good role model and shared some of the same challenges Brice faces. USM signed Scott two years ago from Gulfport High School. Scott was a talented defensive player but was a skinny 200 pounds. Scott beefed up to 280 pounds and has become of defensive star for USM.

Brice is looking forward to this week’s festivities at the&160;Liberty Bowl. The game makes his first opportunity to travel to with the team.

&uot;We accomplished most of our goals this year. Winning the Liberty Bowl would help us take another step to become a new champion,&uot; Brice said. &uot;I’m looking forward to what lies ahead for myself and the team.&uot;