SCOOBA — The East Mississippi Community College football program isn’t looking to be the favorite program in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges.
Instead, the Lions would be happy with being less hated.
Large margin of victories, aggressive recruiting, and a drive for perfection has left a bad taste in the mouths of some around the state. However, at EMCC, it has led to unprecedented success, including four MACJC state championships and three NJCAA national championships.
“There is always public and private perceptions in anything in life,” EMCC President Dr. Thomas Huebner said. “We want people to know about the good things going on here. We want people to know about our many, many successes that are not related to wins and losses.
“We have personal lives that are changed for coming through here. It concerns me because of the perception that one might have based on an incident on the field. Our program is more than that. It can be defined by that.”
EMCC finished 8-1 and won its fifth straight MACJC North Division championship. However, the 2015 season also included coach Buddy Stephens being suspended two games after an altercation with an alternate official. The final regular-season game — a 48-0 win at Mississippi Delta C.C. — was called early due to a benches-clearing brawl.
The day after the fight, the MACJC suspended EMCC from postseason play. The move kept the Lions out of the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
“We are not going to change our program or our philosophies,” said Stephens, who is 76-11 at the school. “Are there things to be done differently? Yes. However, that is the case after every season. I felt the need to change things after the three national championships. Each team is different.
“I am not going to apologize for who we are. We recruit high-character young men. We bring them in here and help prepare them to play at a senior college, or to be successful in life after football. Our track record of sending players to the next level is outstanding.
“There is disappointment (on the ban). That doesn’t mean you go in and change everything. We have more players who want to come here. We have coaches who want to send their players here. We will be fine.”
Stephens believes his team wouldn’t get a fair shake from the MACJC in the aftermath of the fight in Moorhead. However, he added it isn’t his job to worry about receiving a fair shake. He feels like his job is to place the program in a position where a benefit of the doubt isn’t necessary.
EMCC Athletics Director Mikey Stokes said a strained relationship around the state has been several years in the making.
“A lot of this is our own fault,” Stokes said. “There are things that have occurred for several years. There are things that have come up we could have handled better. I don’t think we have been treated unfairly. I do think there are a series of things we could have done better. Those things cause hard feelings sometimes.
“I hope (those hard feelings) don’t have an impact (on the treatment of the school). However, I will admit there are things over the years we could have handled better. We could have done our part to keep these hard feelings down.”
Stokes believes the school gets an unfair label as well because of its immense success. EMCC had one playoff appearance before Stephens arrived and took the program to new heights.
“I want us to have a good image,” Stokes said. “I want all of our programs to represent our college well. Things like (the brawl) do hurt our image. We learn from it and overcome it. We have to make ourselves better. We have to portray a better image. I think we are taking the right steps to make sure going forward that that happens.
“A lot of the things that have happened to cause the dislike is because you are winning. When that happens, you paint a target on your back. You see that on every level. I don’t think it means the opposition hates you. I think it means they respect you and they want to play their best game to try to beat you. There is a little of that going on. Personally, I want our image to be good. The deal is if you win and win consistently, people are going to have it out for you. That is the nature of what we do.”
Huebner took over for Dr. Rick Young prior to this school year. With no past dealings with the MACJC or NJCAA, he is learning as he goes. Huebner is concerned about his football program’s image. However, he said he is comfortable with the leadership in place and is excited about continuing to improve relations.
“You can’t let on-the-field incident define your program,” Huebner said. “You can interview a lot of people whose lives were changed from going to school here. Those are the untold stories. It concerns me when one incident does not adequately reflect the character of our players.”
Stephens said he will continue to recruit high-quality individuals. He and his assistants have always believed they can sign anyone in the state wanting to come. He said the school will work hard to better educate players about the right thing to do in situations like the actions that led to the brawl. While the image of the school and its football program might be tarnished, Stephens is more concerned about the 2016 football season.
“Our program is not for everyone,” Stephens said. “We know the negative recruiting that is going on around the state. We know what others are saying about our program. You can’t be consumed by that. With the one exception of the brawl, this team has always done things the right way. We will continue to do that.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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