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The annual MC Athletics Dinner has become the most important night of the year for the athletic department, helping to raise over $2,000,000 over the past 15 years, including over $160,000 at last year’s event. Past speakers to headline the event include Mike Bianco, Gene Stallings, John Smoltz, Clark Kellogg, Tim Brown and Buck Showalter.
“Two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin remains one of the icons of the college football world and is beloved among Ohio State Buckeyes everywhere,” said Thompson, who recently came to serve as MC’s 20th president after several years at OSU. “During my nine years as a vice president on the Columbus campus, it was my privilege to work alongside Archie when he served as president of the Ohio State Alumni Association.”
Along with the distinction of being the only student-athlete in college football history to win two Heisman Trophies, Griffin is also one of a select group of Buckeyes to be named a three-time All-American during his playing days from 1972-75. A member of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame and current board of directors, he is also a member of the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and was named the All-Century Player by the Tournament of Roses Association during the centennial celebration of the Rose Bowl in 2014. He is one of just two players in NCAA history to start in four Rose Bowls.
Legendary Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes famously said of Archie Griffin, “He’s a better young man than he is a football player, and he’s the best football player I’ve ever seen.”
“As tremendous as he was at football – and he ranked among the absolute best – he’s an even better person,” Thompson went on. “I admire him for his character, deep faith and service as a humanitarian. I’m honored this extraordinary Buckeye will serve as the keynote speaker at MC’s annual Athletic Dinner. His appearance will help MC boost support for the university’s athletic programs for years to come.”
This is an exciting time at Mississippi College as the Choctaws completed their transition back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference prior to the 2016-17 academic year. The money raised at this event has always made a huge impact on the athletic department, and the support will continue to be vital as the Choctaws and Lady Choctaws look to continue to compete in the GSC and on a national level. The softball team won the 2017 GSC Championship, while the baseball team came back with a GSC title in 2018. The women’s soccer team has played for championships in 2016 and 2017, while the women’s tennis team was in the championship match in 2018.
Major improvements and enhancements have been made through renovations of offices and facilities, including building the Robert W. Girling Field House for our soccer teams, the Rice Field House for the baseball team and major renovations to the MC Softball Complex.
“Our athletic department at Mississippi College owes much of our success directly to the Athletics Dinner,” said Mike Jones. “We are blessed to have the level of support we receive from our friends and alumni, and with two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin headlining the event, things can only continue to move forward.”
The event is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6th in the B.C. Rogers Student Center / Anderson Hall. The meal begins at 6:30 p.m. with the program immediately afterwards. All proceeds from the event go to support the Mississippi College athletic department.
For more information on how you can be involved in the Mississippi College Athletics Dinner, please contact Assistant Athletic Director for Development Tim Fritts at 601-925-7826 or tfritts@mc.edu.
Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2018-19 academic year.
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.
