COLUMBUS – Entering his 16th year at the helm for East Mississippi Community College, head coach Buddy Stephens discussed the value of truth in the current landscape of college athletics at the Columbus Rotary Club’s weekly meeting on Tuesday.
As the Lions prepare to embark through another season in Scooba, Stephens told the crowd that building a foundation of honesty with his staff and players is of the utmost importance in the world of college football in 2024.
“With us, I’m going to make sure that I provide (the) truth to our guys,” Stephens said. “For our guys to hear the truth about whatever it is, it’s important to them because it’s one of the few times they get to hear it. They (also) have to be truthful with themselves.”
Stephens’ philosophies on and off the gridiron seem to be paying off. Former Lions in the NFL made an estimated $123.8 million last season, which is a testament to the talent – but also the development of that talent – that comes through Scooba each year.
In 16 years, Stephens has transformed the Lions into an ultimate JUCO powerhouse. Out of 346 total players to attend four-year programs after EMCC, 162 went to FBS schools. The Lions have also succeeded in the classroom – receiving the NJCAA Academic Team of the Year honor three times in the last six years.
Amongst the many programs who have had former EMCC talent come through, the Lions strongest relationship is with the SEC university up Highway 45 in Starkville.
“The things that are going at Mississippi State (and) the things that are going on at East Mississippi Community College, they run deeper than just football and throwing up the ball on Thursday and Saturday nights,” Stephens said. “We’ve got six of our former players (that) have gone on to Mississippi State, and then gone on to the NFL. That’s a very close tie for us (and) the new coaching staff is very good at coming down and checking on us and our kids. Every kid that we’ve sent to Mississippi State has graduated with a degree, which is phenomenal.”
Like many coaches across the country, Stephens recognizes the growth of name, image and likeness in college football and the impacts, both positive and negative, that growth is having on the sport.
Stephens believes that with NIL comes an opportunity for athletes to learn how to be responsible and gain integral knowledge for their future.
“One of the things that has been so good about college football and where it’s going now is with the NIL,” Stephens said. “The NIL is teaching these young men, for the better part, how to deal with money. When you have an opportunity to give to an NIL or be a part of that, that’s a big thing. It’s a good thing, I think it’s a real good thing.”
EMCC will seek their sixth national championship when the Lions kick off the 2024 season at home against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on at 7 p.m. August 29th.
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