By Monica Irizarry
The experience of being a junior college athlete could essentially be summed up as the training montage in Rocky without running through the city of Philadelphia. —Unless you’re attending the Community College of Philadelphia—and that’s what training is usually like—the routine looks more like participating in class, attending practices, being strategic during game time, and maintaining a social life.
The balance of managing everything can become overwhelming, and if it becomes too stressful, any work toward a foundation can come crashing down like an impulsive toddler wreaking havoc on a Jenga game. Being at junior college is more than perfecting sports techniques to excel and transfer to a Division I university. It’s ultimately a discipline of perseverance.
Throughout America, there are more than 1,000 junior colleges (JuCos), commonly known as community colleges. Within those institutions, there are a variety of sports leagues that participate in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in sports such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, and football. The role of junior colleges is to be a stepping-stone for students. These institutions provide opportunities for student athletes to grow academically and through their craft. Sometimes athletes attend junior colleges because of academic issues, so they enroll in classes to help build their GPA. Other times, an athlete’s sport performance has been overlooked, and JuCos allow them a chance for recognition.
The reason junior college athletes strive to attend institutions with Division I (DI) programs is because DI athletics are in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Just like the NJCAA, the NCAA administrates various sports, but DI gives athletes recognition, through specific sports conferences. Playing in the highest level of intercollegiate athletics aids players who need scholarships for universities, or it helps players who strive to play professionally. Specifically, junior college football tends to be popular in relation to Division I because football is the most prominent NCAA sport.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has a Division I football program that attracts high school and college football players nationally. Two members on the current roster originally attended junior colleges and successfully transitioned to higher level of competition, and academics.
Tyrell Price, a running back, originally went to East Mississippi Community College (EMCC). The school is located in Scooba, Miss., and it has gotten national attention from featuring in Netflix’s show Last Chance U. Price’s success at EMCC eventually led to a scholarship at UTC.
Price described his junior college experience as a grind, because everyone is trying to put their best effort into their last opportunity to transition into a Division I school. Price also tried to capture his JuCo experience in one word, but his response was funny.
“Ooh, let me think for a minute,” Price says. “I’m not too good with all these big ole words, but if you could find a word that describes crazy and fun at the same time, y’all could just say I said that.”
Going to a junior college wasn’t a part of Price’s original plan. He wanted to go to a Division I university, but because he didn’t achieve the NCAA-required ACT score, he was unable to immediately go DI straight out of high school. During his second season at EMCC, he led the team to a national championship.
After Price transferred to UTC, his daily routine changed to practices in the mornings and more study hall hours. Even though his daily routine at East Mississippi was more relaxed than now, Price still had a support system to encourage him during his time there. Price talked about how his family would come to every football game and still tries to see him play now at UTC. Plus, his old teammates did all they could to help keep him positive.
“At East Mississippi, [the team] all bonded really well cause [Scooba] is small, and there’s nothing to do around there,” Price says. “I can say that’s the only place where I can really bond and meet new people and relate to them. If I don’t relate to them, you can always find some kind of bond.”
Dipping into the world of “what if,” Price talked about what he would be doing if he were unable to go to a DI university.
“I’m not sure,” he says, “but I would definitely go to school somewhere or work. I’m not the biggest fan of school, but I do it because I know I need to so I can get to where I need to go in life. Graduating would be my biggest accomplishment because not too many people in my family have graduated, but being successful is my biggest goal.”
Another previous JuCo player, Kanore McKinnon, transferred from Georgia Military College (GMC), located in Milledgeville, Ga. McKinnon is a junior receiver at UTC. McKinnon described his experience at the military junior college as different, because not only was it his first taste of college life, it added more expectations to his daily routine. There were dress codes to abide by, curfews, formations to learn, and parades to participate in, added onto his football schedule. In his football routine, there was practice after his back-to-back classes, then he went straight to study hall, then rushed back to his room to make it in time for his 9:30 p.m. curfew.
Despite veering from his original dream to immediately go to a DI school, McKinnon got the most from his time at GMC as he could, learning structure and discipline.
“I really didn’t know what JuCo was until the second half of my senior year,” McKinnon says. “I didn’t know that grades were that important at that time. It wasn’t my plan, but in my favor it worked out.”
McKinnon recalled that his favorite part of his junior college experience leaving—to finally achieve his goal of playing DI football. His experience at UTC feels more laid back than his daily routine at Georgia Military College, but he still has a structured schedule to follow. When McKinnon discussed his transition to UTC, he said putting in the effort to successfully transfer out was a rewarding experience. His family was his main support system during his first two years at GMC.
“I’m the second oldest of nine children, so my little brothers and sisters look up to me,” he says. “I had to go for them. It was for me too, but it was mostly for them, which impacted me a lot.”
If he hadn’t been able to transfer to UTC, McKinnon said that he would’ve continued his JuCo career or joined the military. Even though his transition to UTC was successful, there is one quality McKinnon is most proud of himself.
“I didn’t give up,” he says. “A lot of people came in with me at GMC, and half of them either didn’t make it or quit. I have to give it to myself that I didn’t give up.”
Price’s and McKinnon’s stories were typical in a show that highlights the junior college football experience Netflix’s Last Chance U. The first two seasons gives an exclusive inside access look at East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), the third and fourth seasons visit Independence Community College (INDY). The documentary, first released in 2016, follows JuCo football players and their last attempt to transfer to a Division I school. The featured players strive to excel in their sports career, but trying to keep up with their classes, practices, games and social life is a difficult balance. Some athletes feel unmotivated to put effort into their academics, but if they want to move on, success in the classroom is imperative.
Besides some players’ families, teammates and coaches, there is one woman in the first two seasons of the show who continually vocalizes herself as a resource and support system. Brittany Wagner, academic advisor at EMCC, tries to keep the players on track with their classes so they can become DI eligible. Wagner understands the pressures they face with the practices and games, but her attitude to keep players positive and accountable for their actions stands out in the show.
She is there when they need pencils or if they need to have a serious conversation. Wagner tries her best to give them the materials and resources to see them succeed and transition into DI universities. Last Chance U is more than just a reality TV show. You don’t need to be a football fan, or even a sports fan, sports connoisseur to be interested in this show; the meaning of it transcends football.
Most JuCo athletes understand the possibility of being ineligible to transfer to a Division I institution. Any effort made could fall short of being able to able to transfer, or a student athlete could flourish in academics and a sports career to level up in the system. Because junior college allows the opportunity to develop stringer skills, some players choose to remain determined, despite it not being their original plan.