Tom Goode always demanded excellence.
Goode earned All-America honors as a player at Mississippi State. He then played nine years of professional football and was part of the Baltimore Colts team that won Super Bowl V.
A 20-year coaching career followed at four Southeastern Conference schools. The West Point native closed a 50-year association with 12 seasons as head coach and athletic director at East Mississippi Community College.
“Coach Goode was a big influence on my career,” said Antowain Smith, who is from Millbrook, Alabama. “He really taught me how to play the game on a high level. He also taught me what it was like to be a professional and how to become a man.”
After one season at EMCC, Smith played at the University of Houston and later won two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots.
Goode and Smith are part of the star power in the 17-member 2014 Hall of Fame Class at EMCC. The newest members of the school’s Hall of Fame will be inducted tonight on the EMCC campus. The class also will be introduced at halftime of No. 1 EMCC’s game against No. 12 Jones Junior College at 2 p.m. Saturday.
EMCC will look to extend a 17-game win streak in a rematch of last season’s Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges state championship game, which EMCC won 61-24.
Smith wasn’t the only future NFL star tutored by Goode. Before J.J. Johnson won his way into the hearts of MSU fans, he was scoring touchdowns for Goode in Scooba.
“Playing at EMCC really meant a lot to me,” said Johnson, who is from Mobile, Alabama. “My time there will always be real special to me. Even though we didn’t win as many games as we would have liked, it was where we all really grew up. I found out how much football really means to me. I also found out the hard work it takes to succeed on a high level.”
Johnson signed with EMCC after a stint in the United States Naval Academy. After rushing for 909 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore, Johnson signed with MSU. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons at MSU and led the Bulldogs to the Southeastern Conference Western Division title in 1998.
Johnson was also won the Conerly Award that season, which is presented annually to the state’s top college football player.
“Football was always a first love, and I was really trying to find an identity,” Johnson said. “Coach Goode presented me the opportunity to put football back into my life. There are a lot of good memories from my time there.”
Smith was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the opening round of the 1997 NFL draft. His NFL career included stints in Buffalo, New England, Tennessee, and New Orleans. After rushing for 1,000 yards in his lone season at EMCC, Smith moved on to the University of Houston, where a 1,239-yard, 14-touchdown season earned him Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year honors.
“Junior college football in this state has always been great,” Smith said. “There is a rich tradition in this league, and I feel honored to be have been a part of that. There are so many players on this year’s team with a chance to move on and have great college and professional careers. I hope these guys are really relishing this opportunity and will take full advantage of it.”
Smith and Johnson will provide part of the professional flavor to the festivities. Current Pittsburgh Steeler LeGarrette Blount is also in the Hall of Fame class. Blount, a native of Madison, Florida, played at EMCC in 2006 and 2007. A two-time 1,000-yard rusher at EMCC, Blount had a 1,000-yard season in his one year at the University of Oregon. In the NFL, Blount also has played for Tampa Bay and New England. His NFL stat sheet also includes a 1,000-yard season with the Buccaneers.
The other Hall of Fame inductees are: Thomas Adkins, George Belvin, the late Orlando Bobo (also a former NFL player who played under Goode at EMCC), Ronnie Carter, William D. “Buddy” Conn, Lavertte Files, Jr., Rick Garner, John Mason, Don Massey, Steven Moore, Eddie Permenter, Rod Richards, and Tommy Smith.
State Representative Jeff Smith will receive 2014 Alumnus of the Year, while the late State Senator Terry Brown will be honored with the Distinguished Service Award.
The Hall of Fame weekend activities are part of another banner season for the EMCC football program, which is shooting for a third national championship in four seasons.
“Really looking forward to seeing this team play in person,” Johnson said. “What has happened the last couple of year really speaks for itself. It’s a dynasty.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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