October 1, 2020

NJCAA football kicks off in Mississippi

Charlotte, NC – Tonight, NJCAA teams will face off in head-to-head competition for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) will begin its 2020 football season with six games on the gridiron.

Thirteen NJCAA football programs in the state of Mississippi will participate in a six-game regular season schedule that will culminate in the MACCC Football Championship Game on November 19. Tonight's slate of games will mark a long-awaited moment for the association as close-contact sports return after a six-month hiatus. The last head-to-head competitions occurred on March 13 when the 2020 NJCAA DIII Men's and Women's Basketball Championships were played in Rochester, MN, and Rockford, IL, before the remainder of the 2019-20 sports seasons were canceled due to COVID-19.

On July 13, 2020, the NJCAA Board of Regents approved the 2020-21 NJCAA Plan of Action, detailing changes made to NJCAA sports for the 2020-21 academic year in response to COVID-19. Some of the most notable changes were the postponement of close-contact fall sports, including football, men's soccer, women's soccer, and volleyball, to the spring 2021 semester.

The 2020-21 NJCAA Football season will officially begin with practices starting March 1, 2021, followed by competition beginning March 25, 2021. NJCAA member colleges will be permitted to play an eight-game regular season schedule. During the fall semester, NJCAA member colleges are permitted 60 consecutive calendar days for practice and scrimmages between August 15, 2020, and November 15, 2020, with a maximum of three scrimmage dates allowed against outside competition.

Following the NJCAA Board of Regents' decision, and after many discussions with the NJCAA National Office and the NJCAA Football Committee, as well as coaches and administrators around the country, the MACCC made the choice to move forward with playing its football schedule during the fall semester. "This was a decision that was made with input from our coaches, athletic trainers, athletic directors, consultation with the Mississippi State Department of Health and ultimately decided on by our Presidents," stated Steve Martin, MACCC Commissioner and NJCAA Board of Regents member.

Under the agreement, MACCC member colleges participating in football during the fall semester must still certify that competing student-athletes are eligible under NJCAA bylaws. Those who participate in football during the fall semester will not be eligible for national rankings, All-America or other postseason awards, or the NJCAA Football Championship game which is slated for June 2021. Team statistics, individual statistics, and coaching records from the MACCC's fall 2020 season will be included in NJCAA historical archives.

Another caveat of the agreement involves the three scrimmage dates permitted against outside competition during the fall semester allowed under the 2020-21 NJCAA Plan of Action. If the MACCC or an individual institution cancels its 2020 fall football season after three or less games, those teams will still be eligible to compete in the official NJCAA football season held during the spring 2021 semester without any sanctions.

In an effort to promote health and safety amid the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, there will be noticeable differences in stadiums from Senatobia to Perkinston. "We are abiding by the Governor's Executive Order that outlines guidelines during games including 25% of seating capacity during games, social distancing, wearing of facemasks for sideline personnel, wearing of facemask upon entry and exit of facilities. We also have implemented pregame screening protocols for all student-athletes and coaches," Marin shared.

Despite not competing for a national title this season, Jack Wright, Mississippi Gulf Coast head coach, is thankful to have the opportunity to play football this fall. "There were several weeks this summer when we were unsure about even having a season. The disappointment is tempered by the excitement of having a season." In 2019, Wright led the Bulldogs to claim the national title with a perfect 12-0 record.

Historically, the state of Mississippi has been a powerhouse in the world of NJCAA football with seven of the past nine national champions hailing from the Magnolia State. "I know from my own experience having been in the league for several years, winning the state is a big deal. There's no question your goal is always to win a national title, but every team that's in this state, every coach that's in this state, every player in our league knows the importance to the state of Mississippi that this football conference has," expressed Wright.

Prior to Mississippi Gulf Coast's 2019 campaign, the East Mississippi Lions and head coach Buddy Stephens garnered back-to-back national champion titles in 2017 and 2018.

The MACCC 2020 football season will officially begin tonight as three games kickoff at 6:30 PM CT with three contests following at 7:00 PM CT.

For all NJCAA football schedules and results, visit: NJCAA Football Scores

MACCC Football Week 1 Preview https://t.co/mWFlqKATGU #MACCCFootball | #GreatnessBeginsHere pic.twitter.com/Vtf6pw1g7R
— Miss. Assoc. of Community Colleges Conference (@MACCCAthletics) September 29, 2020