Amanda Knapp
Netflix's 'Last Chance U' is an American documentary series that follows the football program at East Mississippi Community College, featuring athletes who have struggled with finding structure. The series later transitions to Independence Community College in Kansas, and then to Laney College in Oakland, California, for its final season. The basketball-focused Last Chance U: Basketball follows the East Los Angeles College Huskies, led by head coach John Mosley, as they pursue a California state basketball championship. However, it is unclear if they won the championship due to the coronavirus pandemic, which effectively canceled the state tournament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the show | Last Chance U |
| Type | American documentary television series |
| Streaming platform | Netflix |
| Number of episodes in the first season | Six |
| Sport | Football |
| College | East Mississippi Community College |
| Coach | Buddy Stephens |
| Team | EMCC Lions |
| Year | 2015 |
| Championship status | Did not win |
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What You'll Learn
EMCC Lions' 2015 season
The EMCC Lions' 2015 season was documented in the first season of the Netflix series Last Chance U. The show follows the football program at East Mississippi Community College, which features several collegiate athletes who have struggled with finding structure in their lives. The players are required to perform at the junior college (JUCO) level under the stewardship of coach Buddy Stephens.
The 2015 season began with the Lions aiming to capture their fourth JUCO national title. The preseason No. 1-ranked and two-time reigning NJCAA Champion Lions scored 42 unanswered points in the second half to cruise to a 69-20 season-opening home victory over Southwest Mississippi Community College. The team continued to perform well throughout the season, with a record of 8-1, and they appeared dominant for much of the year.
However, their season took a turn for the worse when a brawl broke out during their game with Mississippi Delta. The EMCC Lions were disqualified from the 2015 MACJC football playoffs following the bench-clearing brawl, which was captured on video and aired on national media sites. The entire EMCC football team was suspended for two games, including a semifinal playoff game and, for returning players, the first game of the 2016 season. The Lions' chance to defend their national championship title was also put in question due to this incident.
Despite the setbacks, the Lions of East Mississippi Community College continued to showcase their football talent, with eight players earning second-team honors on the 2015 MACJC All-State Football Team.
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Their fourth JUCO national title attempt
In 2015, the EMCC Lions basketball team were featured on the Netflix documentary series, Last Chance U, as they attempted to capture their fourth JUCO national title. The series showcased the players' academic struggles, many of whom came from disadvantaged backgrounds, and their attempts to graduate on time with the help of academic advisor Brittany Wagner.
The team was dominant for much of the year, but their season took a turn for the worse after a brawl broke out during their game with Mississippi Delta. As a result, EMCC was disqualified from the state playoffs and lost their chance to compete for the national championship.
The following year, in 2016, Netflix returned to follow the team once again as they pursued their national championship aspirations. However, they faced another setback as only 32 of their players were eligible for their opening game with Jones County Junior College due to suspensions from the previous season's brawl. The Lions lost that game, 27-25, marking their first season-opening loss since 2010. Despite winning the rest of their games, they were ultimately left out of the national championship game, finishing the season ranked third.
Although the EMCC Lions showed promise and determination, they fell short in their fourth attempt at the JUCO national title. The team faced challenges both on and off the court, impacting their ability to compete at the highest level and ultimately falling short of their championship goal.
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Coach Buddy Stephens
Wofford Oran "Buddy" Stephens Jr. is an American junior college football coach and the head football coach at East Mississippi Community College (EMCC). He is known for his appearance as the head coach in the first two seasons of the Netflix series Last Chance U.
Stephens has a proven track record of success at EMCC, with an impressive winning percentage of 86% as the head football coach. He has won five NJCAA National Football Championships, nine Mississippi Association of Community College Conference/NJCAA Region 23 titles, and 11 MACCC North Division crowns. His teams have also achieved two back-to-back national football titles, a feat only one other NJCAA member school has accomplished.
Stephens' coaching career began in 2001, and he spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Pearl River Community College. He then moved to East Mississippi, where he took over a program that had historically underperformed. During his 15 seasons at EMCC, he has accumulated a remarkable overall record of 143-24, including a dominant mark of 82-8 in regular-season division games.
Stephens' success has not come without controversy, however. His struggles with controlling his temper have been well-documented, and he has faced criticism for his behaviour towards players. Some have accused him of being a "narcissistic asshole" and a "bully", while others have defended his passionate approach, crediting him for giving players second chances.
Despite the mixed opinions on his character, Stephens' results speak for themselves. He has produced numerous NJCAA All-Americans and NFL Draft picks, and his teams have consistently performed at a high level.
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2016 season: suspensions and a loss
The 2016 season of Last Chance U saw the show return to Scooba to follow the East Mississippi Community College Lions' football program. The team faced a major setback as only 32 of their players were eligible for their opening game with Jones County Junior College. This was due to suspensions relating to a brawl that occurred in the previous season. The Lions lost that game, 27-25, marking their first season-opening loss since 2010.
The brawl in the 2015 season had derailed the team's chances of capturing their fourth JUCO national title. EMCC was disqualified from the state playoffs and lost the opportunity to compete for the national championship. The consequences and suspensions carried over into the 2016 season, impacting the team's performance.
Despite the initial setback, the Lions went on to win the rest of their games in the 2016 season. However, they were ultimately left out of the national championship game, finishing the season ranked No. 3 in the polls. The team faced challenges not only on the field but also off the field, with players struggling with academic issues and the pressure of performing at the junior college level to prove themselves and return to Division I.
The 2016 season of Last Chance U highlighted the redemption and coming-of-age themes that characterized the show. It showcased the struggles and triumphs of a group of men fighting for their last chance to find their place in the competitive world of college football.
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No national championship game
The Netflix documentary series Last Chance U follows the football program at East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), featuring athletes who have struggled with finding structure. The series' second season returned to Mississippi, focusing on the EMCC Lions' 2015 and 2016 seasons.
In 2015, the EMCC Lions were vying for their fourth JUCO national title. However, their season took a turn when a brawl broke out during their game with Mississippi Delta, resulting in their disqualification from the state playoffs and any chance at the national championship game.
The following year, in 2016, the team faced another setback. Only 32 of their players were eligible for their opening game with Jones County Junior College due to suspensions from the previous season's brawl. They lost that game, marking their first season-opening loss since 2010. Despite winning the rest of their games, they were ultimately left out of the national championship game, finishing the season ranked No. 3.
Thus, during the seasons documented in the series, the EMCC Lions did not advance to the national championship game, falling short due to both disciplinary issues and their ranking.
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Frequently asked questions
The East Los Angeles College Huskies, led by head coach John Mosley, were chasing a California state basketball championship in the Netflix series. However, the state tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, so it is unknown if they won.
Last Chance U: Basketball is a Netflix docuseries that follows the East Los Angeles College Huskies as they compete for a state basketball championship. The series focuses on former D1 recruits and powerhouse athletes trying to prove themselves in a last shot at fulfilling their dreams.
Last Chance U: Basketball is filmed in Los Angeles, California, primarily at East Los Angeles College (ELAC).
