The countdown is on.
East Mississippi Community College has made its fair share of history in Buddy Stephens’ first seven seasons as head coach.
Now, the Lions can realistically go where no other National Junior College Athletic Association team has gone.
Earlier this month, EMCC released its 2015 schedule. The Lions will play four games at Sullivan-Windham Field.
We could talk challenges throughout the schedule, but then again are there really such things with his program?
So instead, let’s talk about some of the history on the line.
EMCC begins the season with 24 straight victories. That is the longest win streak in the history of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges.
The previous record in the state was 23 wins set by Pearl River Community College in the mid-2000s.
EMCC topped the mark by defeating Iowa Western Community College 34-17 to win the Mississippi Bowl.
It was the second straight year EMCC won the national championship inside its own state boarders as the 2013 Lions beat Georgia Military College 52-32 to also win the Mississippi Bowl.
EMCC became the first MACJC institution to win three national championships and they did it in the space of four seasons.
Winning ways
Overall, EMCC became the fourth school to win back-to-back national championships. However, no school has ever won three straight.
It is our understanding the longest NJCAA win streak of all time is 27 games. However, that has not officially been confirmed by the national office and the record book is “less than helpful.”
So spinning it forward … Will we see more history?
EMCC opens with Southwest Mississippi Community College.
Since EMCC has won the last two meetings, 69-0 and 52-14, let’s not worry about that one.
Then in Week 2, is it when it turns real interesting.
EMCC won 54-15 at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in the state championship game.
This season, the second week of the year EMCC heads back to Stone Stadium.
Co-Lin is preseason No. 1 in the nation by the Rivals/JuCoGridiron poll, while EMCC is No. 7.
EMCC is preseason No. 1 by The Sporting News.
The official NJCAA rankings will come out in August.
Either way, the second week of the season should determine the win streak and will also keep one team alive in the national championship hunt.
A virtual scrimmage against Coahoma Community College follows, before EMCC goes to Northeast Mississippi Community College in Week 4.
Always winning
EMCC will be looking for a fourth undefeated regular season in five years.
Besides Co-Lin, Jones Junior College appears the only legit obstacle to that.
EMCC could win its seventh MACJC North Division title in eight seasons in an Oct. 15 home game with Northwest Mississippi Community College.
In other words, overall, not much to see here.
EMCC will again be the class of the north, most likely the class of the state and until concrete evidence is produced to refute it, the class of the nation.
However, there is lot more history on the line this season.
Should make for a fun ride.
Scott Walters is a sports reporter for The Dispatch. He may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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