Buddy Stephens East MS Community College Coach.

[Vott]

Was his firing warranted by calling the Board of Directors "Idiots" for changing the MS JUCO playoff system? This topic can be moved to the college topic if needed. I know more of us are more interested in high school

[coastball]

He should have probably used better wording to voice his displeasure.  Most people in authority positions don't respond well to name-calling publicly from persons under their influence. I think he felt bullet-proof from his previous history and didn't think much about it. Just my thoughts

[MSSportsGuy]

Honestly I'd love to see Juco football in Mississippi revamped. Let's be honest: the CC athletic programs don't bring in revenue, they are only expenses for the institutions. There is no TV money, limited sponsors, no merchandise revenue, etc. Yes, the same can be said for many small colleges, but our state doesn't have nearly as many as we have Juco programs.

 

Stephens did what happens to a lot of people: he spoke out of emotions and didn't use his brain. He can't criticize the administration of the state association (which is essentially the arm of the CC Presidents) and not face repercussions. 

[maroontide06]

Based off of what I've heard, he was upset with the fact that they replaced the one playoff game with a 10th regular season game.  If anything they should probably expand the JUCO playoffs because before it was only the top two from the North and South to get in and it's a 14 team league.  At least have the top 3 from each half get in and give the two 1 seeds a first round bye.  Have the 2 seed host the 3 seed the first round, then have the winner travel to the 1 seed for the semi-finals.

[coastfootballfanman]

8 minutes ago, maroontide06 said:

Based off of what I've heard, he was upset with the fact that they replaced the one playoff game with a 10th regular season game.  If anything they should probably expand the JUCO playoffs because before it was only the top two from the North and South to get in and it's a 14 team league.  At least have the top 3 from each half get in and give the two 1 seeds a first round bye.  Have the 2 seed host the 3 seed the first round, then have the winner travel to the 1 seed for the semi-finals.

Makes too much sense for this not to happen. 

[maroontide06]

4 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

Makes too much sense for this not to happen. 

Exactly.  That's why it won't happen LOL.

[coastball]

33 minutes ago, maroontide06 said:

Exactly.  That's why it won't happen LOL.

Touche

[MSSportsGuy]

How about let's just have 10 Juco programs who all play each other in a round robin, then the champion get a national playoff bid without an additional playoff? That makes too much sense. 

[BoKnows08]

2 hours ago, MSSportsGuy said:

Honestly I'd love to see Juco football in Mississippi revamped. Let's be honest: the CC athletic programs don't bring in revenue, they are only expenses for the institutions. There is no TV money, limited sponsors, no merchandise revenue, etc. Yes, the same can be said for many small colleges, but our state doesn't have nearly as many as we have Juco programs.

 

Stephens did what happens to a lot of people: he spoke out of emotions and didn't use his brain. He can't criticize the administration of the state association (which is essentially the arm of the CC Presidents) and not face repercussions. 

Love him or hate him Buddy's firing is a shame. The Board of Directors just like head coaches are paid to be in their positions to ACCEPT criticism and make tough unemotional decisions. To force someone's firing because they voiced displeasure in the way their job is being done is ridiculous whether it was public or not. Buddy obviously has some concerns about the current "playoff" system that is being used. Why couldn't the board set their displeasure with how something was said and rather focus on what was said and seed if their was anything to it or if they could improve on the current system. Knowing Buddy Stevens he generally speaks on behalf of all of the MACJC coaches and the issues that they discuss amongst themselves. Buddy is just the only one that has the "nerves" to say it out loud. Like Buddy or not he is one of the only reasons that the MACJC has not "tanked" it in football already. There is so much parody amongst JUCO teams it is hardly worth watching or paying attention to. MGCCC, NWCC, EMCC are so much further ahead of the others in terms of facilities and talent it is crazy. In North MS if NWCC has offered a kid other JUCO's don't even talk to them because they have 0 chance of him actually considering them. NWCC gets who they want. 

[HammerDown74]

Disagree that it’s not worth paying attention to. It’s as competitive as ever. Anybody can get beat any week. Last week, there were 7 games. 6 of them were decided by less than 1 score and 3 were 1 point games. 

[BoKnows08]

2 hours ago, HammerDown74 said:

Disagree that it’s not worth paying attention to. It’s as competitive as ever. Anybody can get beat any week. Last week, there were 7 games. 6 of them were decided by less than 1 score and 3 were 1 point games. 

As the season unfolds the same 3 teams will be left standing as are every year. Week 1 is “always” like that because new coaches means new systems that others coaches aren’t prepared for. I wouldn’t expect someone that just checks a scoreboard to know that. 
 

Colin, Gulf Coast, EMCC, and Northwest will be the final say with maybe a Hinds showing up every blue moon. 
 

Week 1 & 2 scores are usually close and that’s about it. I won’t watch another game and I will bet you now that the eventual champion will be in the group

i sent. 

Real Competitive. 

2025: Northwest Mississippi

2024: Northwest Mississippi

2023: East Mississippi

2022: East Mississippi

2021: Northwest Mississippi

2020: Northwest Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2019: Mississippi Gulf Coast (also NJCAA National Champions)

2018: East Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2017: East Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2016: East Mississippi

2015: Northwest Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2014: East Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2013: East Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2012: Copiah-Lincoln (Co-Lin)

2011: East Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

 

[BoKnows08]

2 hours ago, HammerDown74 said:

Disagree that it’s not worth paying attention to. It’s as competitive as ever. Anybody can get beat any week. Last week, there were 7 games. 6 of them were decided by less than 1 score and 3 were 1 point games. 

I will add this also. Of those “close” games week 1 that you stated. Go and see how many of those teams had new head coaches and or coordinators. Hard to prepare for someone when you have no clue what they will line up in. As the year goes on I bet those CLOSE games disappear. It happens every single year. 

Edited 23 hours ago by BoKnows08

[Bulldogs4]

Certainly have mixed feelings about his firing.

Not sure that his outburst warranted being fired but obviously there is more to this story.

Instead of calling the Board idiots he should have said what they have done is idiotic. 
 

One thing is for sure, EMCC will never match the success they had under him again.

But they did Bull Sullivan the same way over 50 years ago. 
 

Will be interesting to see where he lands. He is a winner and knows how to coach difficult players in a way that creates success. 

[Eagleman1228]

This was probably the straw that broke the camels back in regards to his criticism. EMCC has ran a major deficit financially for football and I would imagine they will adjust their budget significantly soon. Plus he has a full MSPERS pension and is 59 years old with not the same success as in his past as of late. He was hired at PRCC in 2001 and has 25 years in with the state. $124k salary and will collect around $62k a year until the day he dies. Plus with new NCAA recruiting and nil rules the talent is harder to come by for EMCC. IDK if anyone has ever been to Scooba but there is not much to do there. 

[HammerDown74]

21 hours ago, BoKnows08 said:

As the season unfolds the same 3 teams will be left standing as are every year. Week 1 is “always” like that because new coaches means new systems that others coaches aren’t prepared for. I wouldn’t expect someone that just checks a scoreboard to know that. 
 

Colin, Gulf Coast, EMCC, and Northwest will be the final say with maybe a Hinds showing up every blue moon. 
 

Week 1 & 2 scores are usually close and that’s about it. I won’t watch another game and I will bet you now that the eventual champion will be in the group

i sent. 

Real Competitive. 

2025: Northwest Mississippi

2024: Northwest Mississippi

2023: East Mississippi

2022: East Mississippi

2021: Northwest Mississippi

2020: Northwest Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2019: Mississippi Gulf Coast (also NJCAA National Champions)

2018: East Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2017: East Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2016: East Mississippi

2015: Northwest Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2014: East Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2013: East Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

2012: Copiah-Lincoln (Co-Lin)

2011: East Mississippi (also NJCAA National Champions)

 

Since UGA and Alabama have won 11 of the last 12 SEC Championships, does that make the SEC less interesting? I just simply think that the gap between #1 and #14 isn’t as huge as it used to be. Heck MS Delta beat Co-Lin. Anybody can beat anyone any given Thursday. 

[Vott]

36 minutes ago, HammerDown74 said:

Since UGA and Alabama have won 11 of the last 12 SEC Championships, does that make the SEC less interesting? I just simply think that the gap between #1 and #14 isn’t as huge as it used to be. Heck MS Delta beat Co-Lin. Anybody can beat anyone any given Thursday. 

I enjoy MSJUCO football. Lets me get a head start to a weekend of football. And being from Hattiesburg I have PRCC Jones and MS Gulf Coast within 40 miles to go watch a game. Tomorrow is the only week where all 3 are on the road at the same time. After that my Thursday night are booked as one of them will be at home for the rest of the season.