July 3, 2019
The skull and crossbones and stars featured on the East Mississippi Community College
football team’s uniforms and helmets hark back to the time when the college’s legendary
coach, Robert Victor “Bull” Sullivan, ruled the gridiron. 
A U.S. Marine who served during World War II, Sullivan was the sole survivor of a fierce battle in Okinawa in which he lost five of his wartime buddies.
Sullivan ordered jerseys emblazoned with five stars as a way to pay tribute to those he served with who died during that battle. The jerseys are still in use today. When Sullivan died in 1970, a sixth star was added to the front left shoulder of the jerseys in his honor.
The skull and crossbones on the football team’s helmets is also attributed to Sullivan, who believed the hard, modern helmets in use today caused as many injuries as they prevented.
As a result, EMCC’s football players were among the last in the country to stop using
leather helmets. Sullivan had his wife, Virginia, paint a skull and crossbones across
the front of the leather helmets as a way to intimidate opponents. The skull and crossbones
was eventually retired but was brought back in 2011.
The skull and crossbones in use today was drawn by the football team’s former offensive coordinator, Marcus Wood, who now serves as the executive director of College Advancement. The letters “MPW” are incorporated into the jawbone of the skull in honor of Wood’s three sons, Marc, Parker and Will.
"Being a first-generation student at EMCC is not a limitation, it's an opportunity to rewrite my family's story. Every class I attend, every assignment I complete, is a step towards a brighter future. I am a pioneer, and my determination will light the way for those who follow."
“I chose EMCC because it gave me the best opportunities coming out of high school. I got plenty of scholarships because the school offered so many. I would not have been able to do half of the things that I have done if i didn’t come here. First generation students are already at a disadvantage. If you are able to you should get an education to break the generational curse and create generational wealth for your family. Education is the most powerful tool.”
“As a first gen student, I feel that it is important to obtain a college education because it gives me the opportunity to break barriers for the next generation of my family. I choose EMCC because of the opportunity to get a great education and to make a difference on campus, in the community, and in my family.”
1512 Kemper St., Scooba, MS 39358
662.476.5000
8731 South Frontage Rd., Mayhew, MS 39753
662.243.1900
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