The Gridiron Legacy of East Mississippi Community College Football
East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), a public community college located in Scooba, Mississippi, boasts a rich history that extends beyond its academic programs into the realm of athletics, particularly football. Serving Clay, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Noxubee, and Oktibbeha counties in east central Mississippi, EMCC has grown from its humble beginnings as Kemper County Agricultural High School to become a prominent institution with a significant impact on the landscape of junior college football.
From Agricultural Roots to Collegiate Expansion
The story of EMCC begins in 1927, when Kemper County Agricultural High School took a pivotal step by adding the 13th grade, effectively laying the foundation for the present-day college. This marked the start of its evolution into a comprehensive community college. In 1929, John C. became associated with the institution, further solidifying its early development. By 1932, Noxubee County joined in the support of Kemper-Noxubee Junior College, leading to an increase in enrollment to 155 students, signifying the growing appeal and importance of the college within the region.
Campus Evolution and Expansion
While the Scooba location has served as the primary campus since the college's inception, EMCC has strategically expanded its reach and offerings over the years. The Golden Triangle campus, established in 1968 in Mayhew, has experienced significant growth since the 1990s. This campus is situated 10 miles east of Starkville, 10 miles south of West Point, and 12 miles west of Columbus.
The original campus in Scooba occupies 25 acres of the college's 287 acres of land. It is strategically located on U.S. Route 45 and Mississippi Highway 16, positioning it 35 miles north of Meridian and 50 miles south of Columbus. The central administrative office for all of EMCC's locations is in the Thomas L. Davis Jr.
Key buildings on the Scooba campus include the F.R. The college provides housing for nearly 600 students through six residence halls and thirty cottages. Gilbert-Anderson Hall, the main residence hall for women, accommodates 170 students. Men's residence halls include Lauderdale Hall (78 students), Noxubee Hall (84 students), and Sullivan Hall (60 students).
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The Golden Triangle campus features several important facilities:
- Thomas Douglas Building: Originally a vocational education center, this building has expanded to house classrooms for academic and technical instruction. It also houses the Counseling Center, classrooms and laboratories for career-technical programs, computer applications, IT, Administrative Computing, ABE-GED, and developmental education.
- Center for Manufacturing Technology Excellence: Located on the west side of the campus, the CMTE is home to EMCC's Manufacturing Technology & Engineering Division, providing workforce training for industries in the Golden Triangle area. This facility is slated to be replaced by a larger "Communiversity" in 2018.
- Math and Science Building: This building provides classrooms and office space for faculty, recruiting staff, and the dean of students. It houses three science laboratories used for chemistry, physics, and biology classes.
- Humanities and Fine Arts Building: Opened in 2008, this facility includes classrooms and offices for faculty, as well as the campus art studio.
- Student Union: A new 76,000-square-foot Student Union, opened in fall 2016, houses a full-service cafeteria with a large open dining room and a larger bookstore, with lounge areas and additional retail space.
Extension Campuses and Workforce Development
EMCC further extends its reach through extension campuses at Columbus Air Force Base (CAFB) and Naval Air Station Meridian. The CAFB extension campus, established in 1972, offers daytime, evening, and online classes, allowing military students to complete associate degrees or transfer credits. The Naval Air Station Meridian Extension, operating since 1989, provides similar opportunities for military students.
EMCC is committed to workforce development, offering a range of career-technical programs at its Scooba and Golden Triangle campuses, as well as Lions Hills Center and the West Point-Clay County Center. Students can earn vocational certificates or Associate of Applied Science degrees. The Manufacturing Technology & Engineering Division provides workforce training tailored to the needs of the Golden Triangle area's high-tech industries.
The college established a Workforce Development program in 1993, which now collaborates with over 70 industrial and business partners. In 2018, EMCC opened the "Communiversity" in the Golden Triangle area, replacing the CMTE. This 140,000-square-foot facility accommodates credit and non-credit courses related to advanced manufacturing. EMCC also offers non-credit workforce classes in various fields.
A Football Program Forged in Competition
East Mississippi Community College's athletic program, particularly its football team, has garnered significant attention and success over the years. As members of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC), the EMCC Lions compete at the NJCAA Division I level in football and basketball, and at the Division II level in baseball, softball, and men's golf.
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Over the past decade (beginning with the 2008-09 season), East Mississippi Community College's athletic teams have achieved remarkable success, including four NJCAA national championships, 10 NJCAA national postseason appearances, nine NJCAA Region 23 championships, four MACJC state championships, and 16 MACJC North Division regular-season titles. Individually since 2008-09, EMCC has had a composite total of 30 NJCAA All-Americans in football, men's basketball, women's basketball and men's golf combined.
Notable Figures and Last Chance U
Several notable individuals have been associated with EMCC, including Sen. D. J. George Cummings, guitarist and songwriter; founder of Dr. C. J. Donald C. Simmons, Jr. Rep.
The EMCC football program gained widespread recognition through the Netflix documentary series "Last Chance U," which chronicled the team's pursuit of championships and the stories of its players. The series provided a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of student-athletes striving for success on and off the field.
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tags: #east #mississippi #community #college #football #history
