CLINTON, Miss. --- The 2015-16 Mississippi College athletics season was full of extraordinary moments both on and off the fields of play.
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The Office of Athletic Communications, comprised of
David Nichols and
Kyle Lewis, along with a week-long Twitter poll, came together to compose a list of the "Top 10 Moments" on the court, field and track.
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While there were many moments this season that had Mississippi College alumni, students and fans proud of their Choctaws and Lady Choctaws, here's the list of the absolute best.
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No. 6 ---Â Mississippi College Choctaw sports fans embraced a new on-field personality on Saturday, November 14 as Tom A. Hawk was revealed prior to kickoff of the MC-Delta State football game at Robinson-Hale Stadium.
Wearing a Blue & Gold jersey with #99 and Choctaws across the chest, the big bird posed for dozens of pictures with Choctaw fans of all ages. MC will keep the nickname Choctaws as has been the case since the early 1920's.
It was pushed by members of the MC Student Government Association for a year, as SGA president Mary McRae was delighted to see the Hawk's initial appearance.
"Our hope is that having an on-field personality will promote even more school spirit and increase support for our athletic teams," said McRae. "Tom will be a great asset for students, families and fans that attend MC sporting events!"
While MC eventually lost a hard fought Gulf South Conference contest to the Statesmen, 37-29, students are happy the hawk is here to stay.
Mary Elizabeth Stringer, president of Nenamoosha Social Tribe, is delighted to welcome the new character into the MC family.
"Having it interact with the students has been so successful and is a great way to increase the school spirit on campus," said Stringer.
"We still embrace our mascot as the Choctaw,'' said Jim Turcotte, vice president for enrollment services and dean of students. "The students requested that we provide an on-field personality to help with school spirit.''
Last year, then SGA-president Chip Wilson of Memphis led student leaders to tackle the topic. The students worked with MC staffers like Jonathan Ambrose and Sharia Brock, who took the lead for the college. Together, they decided on the character they call Tom or Tommy A. Hawk.
The student wearing the outfit for the first time in November was chosen by the SGA executive council, McRae said. The name of the student is being kept private, officials say.
The MC athletic department will work with MC cheerleaders to hold auditions and select several students to wear the costume. It figures to be too demanding of a job for one student to take on, Turcotte added.
"We are very pleased that our students care about school spirit and that they are so enthusiastic about supporting our college,'' says Turcotte, a Clinton resident, MC alumnus and former Choctaws football player."The Choctaw remains our mascot as always, but this new symbol will add even more to sporting and other public events.''
Stay tuned on Monday, June 20 when the number five moment is released.
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For any comments, opinions or thoughts on the list, get the conversation going on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages by searching ChoctawSports.
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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is currently in transition to Division II and the Gulf South Conference, optimistically looking toward July when they will find out about clearing the final hurdle of transition and being full members for the 2016-17 academic year.
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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.
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For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact
David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or
nichols@mc.edu.
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