The Mississippi High School Activities Association took a major step concerning the fall sports season Tuesday.
But it may not be the last one.
While MHSAA elected to officially postpone the start of seasons across all fall sports for two weeks, several Golden Triangle area coaches fear the season itself could be eventually be canceled with Mississippi COVID-19 numbers continuing to rise.
Should the nuclear option be utilized, major recruiting shockwaves will be sent throughout the state for athletes hoping to play at the next level.
“(College coaches) can’t get out and recruit, so kids will get missed,” West Point football coach Chris Chambless said. “It’s a sad situation.”
For football players going the junior college route, there are 14 JUCOs in the state affiliated with the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges. Each of those teams is allowed to offer 55 scholarships.
Chambless’ West Point team alone placed 12 players on East Mississippi Community College’s roster in 2019, and the Green Wave sent off nine more seniors to play college football this spring.
But Columbus High School coach Joshua Pulphus said should the high school season not be played this fall, college recruiters will be in a bind trying to scout prep players they’ve never seen before or whose film is too old to paint an accurate picture.
“It’ll make the collegiate guys’ job a little bit harder,” Pulphus said.
New Hope coach Wade Tackett pointed out that if nothing else, junior college recruiters might have a little more time on their hands. The National Junior College Athletic Association officially announced Monday that it will move all fall sports, with the exception of cross country and half marathon championships, to the spring semester.
But after the NJCAA’s announcement, the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges released a statement that painted a more wait-and-see approach than JUCO’s governing body indicated.
While the looming decision will be impactful for every JUCO in the state, how each specific coach is handling their recruiting for future years despite a possible cancelation of the prep season varies.
Jones College coach Steve Buckley said his staff already knows the class of 2021 recruits the school is targeting and doesn’t anticipate offering any more scholarships any time soon.
“We’ve already made our offers for next year,” Buckley said. “We’ve already done the evaluations, and we know the exact numbers. As far as recruiting for the next year, we’re fine because we’re a year ahead.”
For others, there will be some scouting adjustments.
“We’re going to have to do a good job of projecting kids off what we saw in their junior year,” Copiah-Lincoln Community College head coach Glenn Davis said. “We’ll think of the kids we have here and how they improve after their freshman season here. We’re going to have to do a good job with that. It’s really going to have to be a new normal that we get used to and study. There’s all kinds of unknowns out there.”
Another coach seems to think his particular school could have its pick of the litter should Mississippi high schools elect not to play in 2020.
“I don’t think (finding players is) going to be that difficult,” said an MACJC head coach who spoke with The Dispatch only on the condition of anonymity. “There will be lots of kids that don’t have an opportunity that will be looking to play in that scenario.”
Tackett said he isn’t sure if those opportunities will present themselves to players who have yet to make a name for themselves at the high school level. Athletes poised for a breakout might never get the chance.
“I have seniors who are really good football players and who have the ability and the talent to play at the next level, but if they didn’t have a football season, they wouldn’t get looks,” Tackett said. “That’s scary that they wouldn’t have that opportunity.”
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.