2014 Game Day Program
September 27 vs. Coahoma Community College, 3 p.m. Tiger Stadium, Booneville, Mississippi
Tiger
Football
Letter from the President Dear Friends of Northeast:
Thank you for your support of the athletic efforts of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Each coach and each athlete has worked hard to ensure that our teams are ready to give performances that make you proud to be a “Tiger Fan.� Northeast exists to provide educational, recreational and social resources for students and supporters to grow and enjoy their accomplishments. While you are on campus, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable visit. I trust you will use this opportunity to get to know our students, coaches and staff. We are always ready to assist you to enjoy your time with us. Thank you for everything that you do to encourage and support our efforts. We are always glad to have you on our campus. Sincerely, Johnny L. Allen President
Board of Trustees
T. Jack Ramsey
Chairman Tenure of Service: 1983 Tishomingo County/ Banker
Randle Downs
Tenure of Service: 2012 Prentiss County Superintendent of Education
Tracie Langston
Tenure of Service: 2004 Prentiss County Businesswoman
Bill Breedlove
Vice Chairman Tenure of Service: 1999 Prentiss County Businessman
Tonya Butler Farris
Tenure of Service: 2012 Alcorn County Businesswoman
Sam McCoy
Tenure of Service: 1988 Prentiss County Businessman
John O. Cunningham Secretary Tenure of Service: 1995 Prentiss County Businessman
Troy Holliday
Tenure of Service: 1964 Tippah County Businessman
Gina Smith
Tenure of Service: 2012 Alcorn County Superintendent of Education
Ken Basil
Tenure of Service: 2008 Union County Superintendent of Education
Christie Holly
Tenure of Service: 2014 Tishomingo County Superintendent of Education
Luzene Triplett
Tenure of Service: 2002 Prentiss County Retired Educator
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Alvie Blakeney
Tenure of Service: 2011 Tishomingo County Retire Businessman
Douglas Jackson
Tenure of Service: 1995 Tippah County Retired Educator
Vance Witt
Tenure of Service: 2007 Union County Businessman
Tiger
Football
NEMCC Football Coaches Ricky Smither
Greg Davis
Head Coach
Offensive Coordinator
Kareem Moore
Dustin Jones
Defensive Backs Coach
Charles Lee
Volunteer Coach
Linebackers Coach
Kenny Jackson
Defensive Coordinator
Joe Horn
Volunteer Coach (Wide Receivers)
Brady Allen
Student Assistant
Athletic Support Staff David Robbins
Dean of Students Athletic Director
Matt Werner
Athletic Facilities/ Head Equipment Manager
Jeremy Kennedy
Voice of the Tigers NEMCCTV
Kent Farris
Assistant Athletic Director
Blake Long
Sports Information Director
Don Knowles
Operations Manager Sodexo, USA
Joye Farris
Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Students/ Athletic Director
Hope Kingsley, ATC Head Athletic Trainer
Karri Davis
Cheerleading Coach
Phillip Moore (left) Marvin Ozbirn (right) Bus Drivers
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Tiger
Football
2014 Northeast Tiger Football Roster Head Coach: Ricky Smither (7th year - Delta State University) Offensive Coordinator: Greg Davis (3rd year - Texas Christian Univ.) Defensive Coordinator: Kenny Jackson (1st year - Univ. of Mississippi) Linebackers: Dustin Jones (2nd year - Liberty University) Defensive Backs: Kareem Moore (1st year - Nicholls State Univ.) Volunteer Coach (Wide Receivers): Joe Horn (1st year - Itawamba CC) Volunteer Coach: Charles Lee Student Assistant: Brady Allen Head Equipment Manager: Matt Werner (2nd year - Northeast CC) Managers: Jarard Williams, Tanner Burress, JeMiller Handy, Kerdevin Thomas, Je’Tavious Turner President: Dr. Johnny L. Allen, Ed.D. (10th year - Mississippi State Univ.) Athletic Director: David Robbins (2nd year - Millsaps College) Assistant Athletic Director: Kent Farris (1st year - Univ. of North Alabama) Sports Information Director: Blake Long (2nd year - Univ. of Mississippi) Athletic Trainer: Hope Kingsley (3rd year - Univ. of Southern Miss.) Student Trainers: Mercedes Carter, Pedro Clay, Johnathan Green, Yahmere Williams 4
# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 28 29 30 34 38 44 45 48 50 53 54 56 59 62 68 71 73 74 78 79 80 81 90 92 93 94 97 98 99
Name Position Jason Carr DL Corbin White RB Ralph Green DB Joe Horn, Jr. WR Marcus Robinson LB Jonathan Bobo DB LaVontis Smith WR Johnny Smith DB Dontayvius Stapleton DB Brady Smith DB Woodrow Prince DB Brett Thompson QB Tadarious Clinton WR Matthew Belue TE Micah Sparks DB Trace Lee QB Donta Armstrong WR Rashad Turner WR Jaylon Fair WR Mario Virges LB Darius Whitty DB Chester Lewis RB Jamel Dennis LB Jacoby Smith DB Jaylynne Robinson WR LaDerrick Martin DB Cesar Resendiz P Orlandous Davis LB Isaac Bails RB Tray Woody LB Chris Matthews DL Antonio Ryland LB Andrew Ashe LS TraeVon Sharp DL Lakendrick Preston OL Martize Mitchell OL Damien Rayford OL Rowdy Williams OL Dayon Davis OL Ivy Ware OL Jeremiah Dent DL Justin Barksdale OL Sean Rogers OL Cole Strawn OL Ross Smith OL Chandler Dexter TE Khalid Kornegay WR Terrance Lindsey DL Jalen Hadley DL Darrion Abston DL Justin Williams DL Jacob Meeks K Nhigel Phillips DL Lemetrius Hollins DL
Class So. So. So. Fr. So. So. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. So. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. So. So. Fr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. So.
Height Weight Hometown High School 6’6” 305 Memphis, Tenn. White Station 5’11” 230 Nettleton Nettleton 6’4” 205 Ripley Ripley 6’0” 175 Atlanta, Ga. Peachtree Ridge 6’4” 240 Memphis, Tenn. Memphis East 6’3” 195 Bruce Bruce 5’10” 170 Maben West Oktibbeha 5’11” 180 Starkville Starkville 6’1” 155 Tunica Rosa Fort 5’11” 175 Batesville South Panola 6’0” 180 West Point West Point 6’5” 215 Olive Branch Lake Cormorant 5’10” 170 Tunica Rosa Fort 6’1” 265 Golden Red Bay 6’2” 195 Pontotoc North Pontotoc 6’2” 205 Columbus Columbus 5’10” 150 Pittsboro Bruce 6’4” 185 Bruce Bruce 5’9” 160 Amory Amory 6’1” 255 West Point West Point 6’0” 180 Jacksonville, Fla. First Coast 5’10” 185 Gluckstadt Germantown 5’11” 210 Oxford Lafayette County 5’10” 215 Starkville Starkville 5’10” 195 Crestview, Fla. Crestview 6’0” 175 Gulfport West Harrison 5’10” 160 Horn Lake Horn Lake 5’10” 195 Baldwyn Baldwyn 6’2” 240 Ripley Ripley 6’1” 190 Falkner Falkner 6’6” 245 Olive Branch Olive Branch 6’0” 245 Brooksville Noxubee County 6’2” 265 Pontotoc Pontotoc 6’4” 265 Orlando, Fla. Maynard Evans 6’7” 285 Gulfport West Harrison 6’0” 270 Macon Noxubee County 6’4” 325 Batesville South Panola 6’5” 350 Water Valley Water Valley 6’3” 280 Byhalia Byhalia 6’2” 315 Pontotoc Pontotoc 6’4” 325 Columbus Tupelo 6’3” 290 Courtland South Panola 6’2” 280 Batesville South Panola 6’1” 315 Pontotoc Pontotoc 6’6” 315 Booneville Booneville 6’5” 255 Iuka Tishomingo County 6’3” 180 Tulsa, Okla. Union 6’0” 285 Olive Branch Olive Branch 6’2” 260 Saltillo Saltillo 6’2” 265 Olive Branch Olive Branch 6’1” 275 Starkville East Oktibbeha 6’1” 200 Kossuth Kossuth 6’4” 365 Griffin, Ga. Griffin 6’0” 285 Madison Madison Central
Tiger
Football
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Tiger
Football
Belue overcomes hunting accident to finish career strong Coahoma (Clarksdale) Date: September 27
Northeast-Coahoma History Series: Northeast 30-5 Last 10 meetings
2013 - Northeast, 27-17 2012 - Northeast, 21-17 2011 - Northeast, 29-13 2010 - Northeast, 31-17 2009 - Coahoma, 20-14 4OT
Matthew Belue The fact that Matthew Belue is able to get out of bed each weekday morning and walk to his classes on the beautiful campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College is a miracle. Belue’s ability to suit up and take the field with the Tiger football team during the 2014 season is even more wondrous after his world was temporarily turned upside down last spring. The Golden native is an avid outdoorsman. He and members of his family often make trips into the plenteous wooded areas of the Magnolia State and nearby Alabama in order to hunt wildlife. Belue was successful on this hunt and killed a deer. Unfortunately, that is where his good fortune came to a sudden and lifethreatening end. “I didn’t put (the gun) back on safety and I went to put it over my shoulder. My draw string caught the trigger guard and it went off,” said Belue. “(The bullet) went into my lower thigh and out the bottom of my knee. “Luckily, my uncle was there. We got to my four-wheeler and he got me to the road. I ended up flying to Tupelo medical center and had surgery that night.” The muscles in that portion of Belue’s leg were completely disintegrated. Fortunately, the bullet missed the main artery or the damage could have been much worse. However, the threat of amputation was a legitimate possibility in the mind of Belue’s physicians and a deep concern for his loved ones. “The doctor walked up and told me that I need to be praying this whole time,” Belue said. “He said for the extent of the injury, he didn’t know if he could clean up all the nerves 6
and stuff.” The star tight end did not think about his personal well-being in those first few hours, though. Belue’s thoughts were on his football career and the fall campaign that was quickly approaching at Northeast. “The first thing that went through my head really was the upcoming season and all the opportunities I had,” Belue said. “That flashed through my brain. It was kind of nerve racking knowing that it all could end. “Somewhere in the back of my head, I never thought that I wouldn’t be able to hit the field again. I always knew that I’d somehow come through it and get back with my guys and finish out the year.” Tigers head coach Ricky Smither heard Belue’s optimism in the hospital, but was more worried about his personal well-being and future than just a game that everyone will eventually retire from. “The whole time he’s telling me how he’s going to come back and play,” said Smither. “I was worried about how far up the leg that they’re going to have to amputate it.” Belue does not recall much about his surgery, but it was a success. Surgeons were able to close 98 percent of the wound without the need for a skin graft. “It was cold,” Belue said, then paused. “I can’t really remember much. They just said I would have to be there for two weeks because they had to watch for infection.” An infection, which also could have caused doctors to amputate the leg, never developed and Belue was released. Within one day, he was back in the fields hunting once again. “It was my mental therapy to get away, get out of the bed and move around,” said
2008 - Coahoma, 28-25 2007 - Northeast, 36-6 2006 - Northeast, 44-16 2005 - Northeast, 30-14 2004 - Northeast, 43-13
Belue. “It made me feel real good.” Belue was back in the weight room and squatting 600 pounds only eight weeks after surgery. That mark was more than he ever did before what was nearly a tragedy. “He is an incredibly tough young man both mentally and physically,” Smither said. “You hear a lot of talk about how they don’t make kids tough anymore. That kid breaks the mold.” The Red Bay (Ala.) High School graduate was Northeast’s second-best returning rusher from last season behind only Corbin White with 25 carries for 103 yards at fullback. Belue also added a pair of touchdowns in wins against Northwest Mississippi Community College and Coahoma Community College. Belue has been used in more of a blocking role to protect the Tigers’ quarterbacks this season, but does have four touches for 16 yards and one catch for four yards. He has received looks from multiple schools at the NCAA Division I level, including Northwestern State (La.) University, Troy (Ala.) University and the University of Central Arkansas. Belue could have easily forsaken his dreams of a future gridiron career after such an extraordinary accident, but he fought through the adversity and should have a home once his last campaign is complete in the City of Hospitality. “Matt is the type of guy that you want to coach,” said Smither. “He’s where he’s supposed to be, takes care of business and a joy to be around.” “It’s a real good feeling coming back,” Belue said. “There isn’t anything really stopping me.”
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Game Sponsor
If you would like to become a game sponsor, please contact Patrick Eaton at (662) 720-‐7165 or by email at peaton@northeast.ms
Tiger
Football 2014 Football Schedule
Aug. 28 7 p.m.
Miss. Gulf Coast L, 41-8
Sept. 4 6:30 p.m.
Hinds L, 31-12
Sept. 11 6:30 p.m.
Northwest* W, 25-19 OT
Sept. 18 7 p.m.
East Mississippi* L, 65-7
Sept. 27 3 p.m.
Coahoma* (Homecoming) Booneville
Oct. 2 7 p.m.
Miss. Delta* Moorhead
Oct. 9 7 p.m.
Itawamba* Fulton
Oct. 16 6:30 p.m.
Pearl River Booneville
Oct. 24 6:30 p.m.
Holmes* Booneville * Denotes MACJC North Division
WWW.NEMCCATHLETICS.COM 8
Northeast Mississippi Community College