New college football fans might not know them now, but the now defunct Mississippi College Choctaws were a fixture in the state’s history on the gridiron. But thanks to a decision by a group of suits just two days after the end of Mississippi College’s 2024 season, the football program has been eliminated.
The Choctaws were never a true powerhouse on the football field, but the former Division II and Division III program was right in the thick of the college football landscape at the turn of the 20th Century. With the original Southeastern Conference headquarters being stationed down the road in Jackson, the pride of Clinton frequently played SEC schools during that time.
The team managed to win the 1989 Division II National Championship with a 3-0 win over Jacksonville State in the finals, but the NCAA vacated the title four years later due to violations within the program.
So the history of the 117-year program may not jump off the page, but it’s the South. Football is king, and there will always be room for America’s favorite sport in the region. At least there should be.
The players and coaches were evidently not given a fair enough warning that the university, now named Mississippi Christian University, was going to go this route. The now former head football coach Mike Kershaw didn’t mince words in what he said and reposted on X, the artist formerly known as Twitter, Monday.
"Sitting here (s)hocked would be an understatement of the news our team received today from our administration,” Kershaw said in a statement Monday. “It is horrible for these kids that because of poor decisions from people, now 105 kids and (coaches') lives are about to change.”
“Mississippi College football has just been killed this morning by an inept school administration,” Elliot Price Nixon, who served as a kicker and punter for the Choctaw football team, said on X Monday, which Kershaw reposted. “They failed not only the athletes but the legacy of players, coaches and a community that had stood behind this team for decades. The administration couldn't even show their faces.”
Trey Lamar, a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives and a Mississippi College alum, added, “The clear point is that Mississippi College can afford to have a football program if the administration wanted to. They obviously don't want to, and in my opinion, this decision is shortsighted. ... I am sad for the young men who will miss out on the benefit of this wonderful Christian education through the discipline of football. If it stands, this decision is a loss for the state of Mississippi.”
Sidenote: I understand that it’s a Christian university, but why change the name this late in the game? Was it bad enough that the Mississippi University for Women is already going through a criticized name change on the other side of the state? Mississippi College was a solid name that looked good on any resume. Will Mississippi Christian University look the same to most employers? It’s something that was worth discussing during the decision-making process.
But back to football, as I am the sports guy after all. My heart goes out to these players and coaches who now have to look for a new home and lifestyle. Though the university claimed it will honor the scholarships of the football players, that doesn’t change the fact that the players want to play. Countless Choctaws have announced their intention on entering the transfer portal, and I sure hope they can find a new team to be a part of.
But the sad reality is that many, if not a majority, have unwillingly played their last down of football. The players and coaches should have been allowed to voice their displeasure before the decision was made, not after, as many have stated.
While the national presence of the Choctaws may not have been there, the feeling of loss from the current players and coaches and alumni is justified. They were screwed.
