THOMSON --- Ray Guy's return visit to his old hometown is going to be a brief one.

Guy came back to Thomson High School on Thursday for the first of his two-day Prokicker.com Academy. With about 100 campers in tow, the former NFL great provided his tutelage in the classroom and on the field.

Guy made his first public appearance in Thomson since taking a job with his college alma mater, University of Southern Mississippi, on Nov. 15. His official title is special projects manager.

"I'm doing what I do best," he said. "I run my mouth. I'm pretty good with that."

Guy is leaving the place where he first made his mark on the gridiron. He said making the transition from Thomson to Hattiesburg, Miss., was not a difficult one.

"I'm never around anyway," Guy said. His wife, Beverly, is a teacher at Thomson High School and will join him at the end of the school year.

"I still have a lot of family and friends here. But I have a lot of friends out yonder. So it's going to be good to get back with them."

While in Mississippi, Guy will learn his fate regarding the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is one of 26 semifinalists. Last year, he was a finalist before getting snubbed.

"If it happens, it happens," said Guy, a seven-time Pro Bowl member and three-time Super Bowl champion with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders. "That position in general, whether it's me or somebody else, we need to get that position recognized. It needs to be a part of the hall."

"He should definitely get in," said camper Eric Osteen, a junior all-state kicker at Richmond Academy. "He's the best punter ever."

Guy is a busy man these days. He'll participate in another kicking camp this weekend in Dallas, followed by one a week later in Jacksonville, Fla.

He'll then head back to college where he's working in a variety of capacities, which include administrative duties, alumni relations. marketing and public relations.

One of the main things he's working on is the school's centennial in 2010. He's also helping with the school's campaign to get 20,000 new alumni members by 2010.

He will also help in some capacity with the football team. Southern Mississippi finished fourth in Conference USA this past season and finished at 7-6. The Golden Eagles recently lost to Cincinnati in the Papajohns.com Bowl.

Guy was an assistant on the Southern Miss team from 1987-89, but saw his role as a volunteer coach become a full-time venture. He said he will help out again, but on his time.

"We want to get to a point where we can compete for a BCS bowl," Guy said. "It's going to take a little work."

Southern Miss averaged fewer than 27,000 fans in six games this past season. Guy said that number needs to increase by 10,000 to 15,000. The school's current venue, M.M. Roberts Stadium, is undergoing a renovation which will add 5,000 seats and expand capacity to 38,000.

"We'll have the seating capacity," he said. "We just need to get them in there."