Last Chance U

[Zulu]

Last Chance U -- Anybody else watching this on Netflix? It looks like it just came out this weekend, but I stumbled across it last night and ended up binge-watching the first four (of six) episodes. It's a "fly-on-the-wall" documentary about East Mississippi Community College's 2015 season. For those who don't know (and I didn't), EMCC had won three of the prior four JUCO national championships, and their specialty is recruiting players who were either kicked out of D1 football, or couldn't make it into D1, due to "issues." Both Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly of Ole Miss are former EMCC players. It's worth a watch.

WARNING -- Do NOT watch it with the kids. The locker room talk is completely uncensored.

 

[Zulu]

I guess it's not surprising that the college employs a person full time to make sure the football players have pencils when they go to class.....

I think that gal has the toughest job in the program. It frustrates me -- a couple of these kids have real talent, but she has to practically take a cattle prod to get them to go so class so they can stay eligible to play. It's not like they're at Harvard, it's East Mississippi Community College --if they just go to class and make an honest effort at the work they'll pass.

I have never in my life even heard of a ref getting ejected from a game, but one sure does get ejected on this series.

That was the funniest scene in the series. I was laughing so hard my wife had to come in and see if I was okay. Do you know what kind of ref that was? He was wearing a different uniform -- I'm thinking a stats guy or maybe chain crew. Whatever his position, it was hilarious.

 

[Zulu]

I have mixed feelings on the coach.

Me too. I think there's a reason that despite all his success he's still coaching at the JUCO level.

 

[PalsPal]

I think that gal has the toughest job in the program. It frustrates me -- a couple of these kids have real talent, but she has to practically take a cattle prod to get them to go so class so they can stay eligible to play. It's not like they're at Harvard, it's East Mississippi Community College --if they just go to class and make an honest effort at the work they'll pass.

Those were my exact thoughts. I would sure hate for my job success to hinge on my ability to persuade 18-20 yr old males to get up in the morning and attend class; who, mostly, are at that school because of problems they encountered elsewhere.

I'm also not sold on the coach either, but that type personality is probably what is needed for those type of players. There really isn't any other way to get their attention than the drill sergeant approach. But, hey, he did make an excellent point about splitting a hotel room 3 ways and only costing them $15/ea as opposed to the $300 fine they might receive otherwise !

 

[PalsPal]

I just finished it.

Wow, what a way to end the season. I must be living under a rock, because I was unaware of the brawl.

I almost wonder if the filmmakers didn't somehow payoff that other team to bait them into the fight, because they sure were in the right place at the right time !

 

[Zulu]

Yeah, that producer definitely picked the right team to follow.

 

[Strict]

Mississippi has 14 JUCOs. Until 2011 each school had a protected zone of a few counties where they exclusively recruited 45 players and then they were allowed 10 out of state signees. The 10 out of staters are blue chip academically ineligible or behaviorally challenged players that are often placed in JUCO by big time Division 1 programs.

A Mississippi team has won the national championship 4 out of the last 5 years. For perspective, last years national champion Northwest lost to East MS 49-16 and had four other in state games where it won by 7 points or less. They won the National championship game 66-10 after leading 35-0 at halftime.

After 2011 the state eliminated the protected areas and it's now a free for all for recruits statewide. I liked it better the old way. More community pride in your local players.

 

[PalsPal]

Mississippi has 14 JUCOs. Until 2011 each school had a protected zone of a few counties where they exclusively recruited 45 players and then they were allowed 10 out of state signees. The 10 out of staters are blue chip academically ineligible or behaviorally challenged players that are often placed in JUCO by big time Division 1 programs.

A Mississippi team has won the national championship 4 out of the last 5 years. For perspective, last years national champion Northwest lost to East MS 49-16 and had four other in state games where it won by 7 points or less. They won the National championship game 66-10 after leading 35-0 at halftime.

After 2011 the state eliminated the protected areas and it's now a free for all for recruits statewide. I liked it better the old way. More community pride in your local players.

Good info.

 

[WORM82]

I just finished it and really liked the show. I hope they do a 2nd season this year. IMO I think that QB Wyatt Robertson was a better QB than James Franklin was. Franklin had 1 good game and that was with him running the ball most of the time. I was hoping Robertson would have gotten a D1 offer.

 

[Zulu]

I just finished it and really liked the show. I hope they do a 2nd season this year. IMO I think that QB Wyatt Robertson was a better QB than James Franklin was. Franklin had 1 good game and that was with him running the ball most of the time. I was hoping Robertson would have gotten a D1 offer.

Robertson definitely fit in their scheme better than Franklin, but physically he looked too short, too slow, and lacked the big arm to make it in D1 (particularly FBS). Franklin was definitely the better athlete -- right now he looks to be the front runner in Auburn's quarterback competition. I don't see him as a qb in the NFL, but he's athletic enough to maybe make it as a WR or CB.