MSSU announces 2021 football promotional schedule, gameday information

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Lions will play six home games this year at Fred G. Hughes Stadium under the leadership of first year Head Coach Atiba Bradley and the Missouri Southern Athletic Department has announced its list of athletic promotions for the fall.

This season's promotions include free giveaways and fun theme games and events. Fans are also invited to join us for a pre-game tailgate each home game beginning four hours before kick-off.

New to this year will be the Pride Walk. The Southern Football team will meet at Young gym and walk down Victory Lane and down to the field 2 hours and 15 minutes before each game. The team will be joined by the Lion Pride Marching Band, MSSU Cheerleaders and want to welcome all tailgaters to cheer them on along their walk. Gates will open one hour before kick-off and, as always, kids 12 and under will be admitted for free for all home football games.

All away games will also be featured again this season at our Official Away Game Watch Party Destination, Gusano's Pizza, at 3929 E 7th Street, STE E, in Joplin. Below is the promotional schedule and important gameday information will follow that.

2021 Promotional Schedule

September 11th vs. Northeastern State University - 2 pm

The Lions will kick-off the 2021 season with the Gold Rush game. We will have 1,000 free Gold Rush t-shirts to the first 1,000 fans in attendance and are encouraging all fans to wear their Lion gold! We will also be handing out rally towels to the first 500 fans in attendance. The home opener will be sponsored by Freeman Health System.

September 25th vs. Fort Hays State University - 2 pm

Join us as the Lions take on the Tigers for our annual Homecoming game! The homecoming parade will begin at 11 am on campus with the game following at 2 pm. This contest will also serve as our All-Class football alumni game. This years' Homecoming game will be sponsored by KOAM-TV.

October 2nd vs. Pittsburg State University - 2 pm

This years' Spirit Day will feature 500 "rival game" t-shirts to the first 500 fans in attendance. Today's game will be sponsored by The Joplin Globe.

October 16th vs. University of Central Missouri - 4 pm

This is our annual Pink Game! We have partnered with the American Cancer Society and their annual event "Real Men Wear Pink" as well as the local organization Home4You. Hope4You is an acronym for help, outreach, prevent and educate. We will be selling Pink t-shirts and all proceeds will go to Hope4You breast cancer foundation. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a pink Lion tumbler as they enter the stadium on game day! Our Pink game will be sponsored by FOX-14/CW TV.

October 30th vs. Missouri Western State University - 2 pm

Join us as we host our 2021 Hall of Fame inductees; Steve Forbis (1982-1984 Football), Chuck Pittman (1989-92 Baseball), Kimi (Shank) Reed (2006-10 Women's Track & Field/XC) and Jamie Burnham (Track & Field/XC Coach), as well as the 1986 and 1990 softball teams. We will have a recognition for the inductees at halftime. This year's Hall of Fame game will be sponsored by KODE TV.

November 6th vs. Northwest Missouri State University - 2 pm
To celebrate Senior Night and Military Appreciation Day we will be giving out
Southern Football patriotic lion t-shirts first 500 fans in attendance! Any current or former member of the Armed Services who shows their military ID will receive free admission to the game. The final regular season home contest will be sponsored by KSN-F TV.

Covid protocols are still in place at Missouri Southern. There will be no capacity limits at this year's games, but social distancing and masks are highly encouraged for all unvaccinated individuals.

There have been changes to field-level access this year. Only credentialed gameday workers, as well as players and coaching staff will be allowed on the field and sideline. This change has been made due to NCAA rules and regulations guiding field access, as well as safety for the players and coaches. Access to the field/sideline will be strictly enforced. Fans wishing to come on the field can do so after a ten-minute period following the game.

Doors to the North Endzone Facility will be locked at the start of the third quarter. All access to the building at that point is for authorized personnel only or those already in the building.

The Pride Walk is something special and fans are encouraged to be a part of it at every game. Come out and support your Lions every home game. Be loud and proud!

MSSU Athletic Department saddened by death of former women's basketball coach Jim Phillips

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern athletic department is saddened to hear of the passing of former women's basketball coach and MSSU Athletics Hall of Famer Jim Phillips.

Phillips, 78, passed away on Friday, August 20, with his daughters at his side. A native of Douglasville, Ga., Phillips was born on August 9, 1943 in Mayfield, Ky.

Phillips was inducted into the Missouri Southern Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. He is the second-winningest coach in Missouri Southern women's basketball history. His career mark of 129-72 from 1981-88, served as the most wins in Southern history until Maryann Mitts broke the record in 2008-09.

Phillips was the NAIA District 16 Coach of the Year when he helped the Lions to a second-place finish in the national tournament in 1982, the highest finish in school history. He was also an Area IV and National Coach of the Year Finalist in that same year.

He was also named the District 16 Coach of the Year in 1984 and he was the Central States Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year in both 1984 and 1985. He served on the NAIA District 16 national committee from 1982-88 and was the chair from 1982-84. Prior to Southern, Phillips also served as the head women's coach at Virginia State University from 1975-79. He helped the team to its highest-ever finish nationally (fifth, 1978). From Southern, Phillips went on to coach at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee.

Phillips' 1985-86 team went 25-7 and the 25 wins is tied for the second-highest total wins in a women's basketball season at Southern. He helped coach three different CSIC players of the year (Pam Brisby, Margaret Womack and Anita Rank), and two freshmen of the year, while coaching the NAIA District 16 player of the year in 1982 (Brisby).

Phillips earned a bachelors degree in English from Austin Peay and completed his masters degree in education from Utah State University. He earned a doctorate in health, physical education and recreation from Middle Tennessee State University. He is survived by his daughters Melody (Logan) Creasy and Jamie (Jason) Durant; grandchildren: Gracen, Paisley, Samantha, Judson, Hayden, Freeman, and Piper, and numerous friends.

A celebration of life service will be held today at 1:00 pm at Shackleford Funeral Directors located at 104 Hill St, Waynesboro, TN 38485. Visitation will be August 24th from 12:00 pm until the hour of service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the Go Sports Ministry of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1796, Douglasville, GA where he was a member.

Roughrider Scholarship Rodeo scheduled

(From Crowder College)

The 9th Annual Roughrider Scholarship Rodeo will be held August 20 and 21, 608 Field Avenue, Neosho. Gates open at 6pm with the rodeo starting at 7:30pm.

Tickets are available in advance: $10-Adults, $8-children ages 6-12; 5 and under are free; and may be purchased at Crowder College Bookstore, First Community Bank locations, and Eric Norris-State Farm Insurance.

Tickets may be purchased at the gate for an additional $2 each. This event is a scholarship fundraiser for student in the agriculture program.

Top rodeo contestants will compete in nine different events which is ACRA/IPRA sanctioned. 

Local vendors and concessions will also be available. Sophie Duch,14 year old trick rider will perform her specialty act that is sure to entertain. This event is sponsored in part by RiverBend Casino and Hotel, Wyandotte, OK as well as many local sponsors.

For more information please call 417.455.5720.