Two of the most prominent figures in the East Oktibbeha County High School and West Oktibbeha County High football rivalry agree this should be the last game between the teams.
Sleepy Robinson and Adam Lowrey said they supported the State Department of Education taking over the Oktibbeha County School District last October after a pattern of poor test scores on standardized state testing. Their opinion has nothing to do with athletics because they both still care deeply about the kids at the schools.
“This should’ve happened years ago,” Robinson said. “I don’t really care if this affects a football rivalry. I’m concerned about the academic opportunity these kids can have at a Starkville High School.”
Robinson, who played quarterback at Mississippi State from 1990-92, is back at his alma mater as a recruiting specialist. MSU coach Dan Mullen hired Robinson to capitalize on his 16 years of high school coaching experience and his ability to identify talent at the small schools in the state of Mississippi.
Robinson passed for 1,486 yards and 10 touchdowns in two years at MSU. More importantly, he earned a degree from the school after graduating from Wingfield High in Jackson.
“My ultimate goal was beyond the football field, and that’s what I tell people when I’m asked to speak anywhere around the state about my experience,” Robinson said. “I grew up without a father in my life and knew the most important thing was getting a college degree. It wasn’t my time on the football field in high school or college.”
While the Oktibbeha County School District is under conservatorship, neither school will be eligible for Mississippi High School Activities Association postseason play in all sports. The ban is to cover three schools years and is expected to extend through the summer of 2015. Each football team is limited to its nine-game region schedule.
“I think it’s obvious the students have a better opportunity to get into college at a Starkville High than where they are right now from an academic standpoint,” Robinson said. “That’s what we should be talking about it and nothing else.”
The MHSAA ban, and the opportunity to work at West Point High, is a major reason Lowrey left West Oktibbeha County High after an eight-win season in 2012 and a 2011 playoff appearance.
“Everybody at West Point has welcomed me and my family with open arms, and I take pride in the fact we’re preparing one of the best ninth-grade teams in the state to contribute very soon to Chris Chambless’ varsity program,” Lowrey said.
Lowery won 27 games in five seasons at West Oktibbeha. He was the orchestrator of a passing attack that allowed quarterback Von Smith to throw for 9,380 yards and 92 touchdowns in his four-year career.
“After one of my first games at West Oktibbeha, we lost and I went home and told my wife I wouldn’t have paid to see that,” Lowery said. “I had to stop my thought process and try to emphasis the qualities of the athletes we had.”
Lowery said he still has a rooting interest for the students at West Oktibbeha County High on and off the athletic surfaces.
“I still look back at my time there and what we accomplished with a smile,” Lowrey said. “I feel good about what we taught the kids there on and off the field. I also feel good about what I learned about being a coach.”
Whether tonight’s game in Crawford is the last game between the schools, Robinson and Lowery are more than willing to preach there’s more important things than sports.
“I truly believe everything has its pros and cons, and the key is to have a great attitude about the future,” Lowrey said. “Those in power have made a decision, and that decision is quite honestly over my head as a football coach. I do know I want what’s best for those kids. If that decision is it, I support it.”
Follow Matt Stevens on Twitter @matthewcstevens.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.