SENATOBIA – Northwest Mississippi Community College will induct six former student-athletes into its Sports Hall of Fame during Homecoming week Oct. 7-11 on the Senatobia campus.
The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. at the David M. Haraway Center. A reception and meet and greet will precede the ceremony from 3–4 p.m.
Kickoff against Coahoma is set for 7 p.m. that evening at Bobby Franklin Field.
Brothers and former Northwest football teammates Eddie and Ricky Blake, former men's basketball standouts Cecil Williams and Jason Rogan and first-time soccer inductee Tommy Robison make up this year's induction class, which also includes a posthumous honor for women's basketball legend Rhonda "K.K." Mikes. Alumnus of the Year Don Clanton (1961-63) will also be honored, along with a Golden Circle Recognition for the Class of 1969.
CECIL WILLIAMS, MEN'S BASKETBALL (1966-68)
As one of the earliest standouts of the Northwest men's basketball program, Cecil Williams played a vital role in shaping the Rangers for future success on the hardwood.
A 1966 graduate of Bruce High School, Williams started every game during his two seasons in a Ranger uniform, averaging 26.4 points per game during his sophomore campaign in 1967-68. Appointed as the team's captain during his sophomore year, Williams earned numerous accolades, most notably as a First Team selection to the Mississippi All-State Basketball Team.
Williams was known for more than just his success on the court, however. He earned the title of Mr. Northwest in 1968 while also serving as the president of the sophomore class. He garnered other accomplishments for academics as well, receiving recognition as a member of the Student Council, Phi Beta Lambda, and Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. Other recognition included Campus Leader and an award for Most Versatile on the court.
After earning an associate of arts in business, Williams took both his athletic and academic talents to Mississippi College from 1968-70. He spent two seasons on scholarship with the Choctaws' men's basketball program, playing under legendary coach James Q. Allen and left with a bachelor of science in business. From there, Williams continued his education at Delta State University, earning his masters in health and physical education in 1973.
It didn't take long for Williams to return to his Ranger roots, returning to Northwest in 1971 serving as the assistant director of financial aid and as an assistant basketball coach under Henry B. Koon. Collectively, Koon and Williams helped the Rangers to a 25-5 overall record, a perfect 16-0 slate in conference play and an MACJC Championship during the 1971-72 season.
Williams continued his employment at Northwest and held later stints as a recruiter and financial aid director until 1976, when he took a position as a frame supervisor at the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Houston from 1977-79. In 1979, he took another position handling data processing and networking at Houston Lighting & Power Company, a position he held for nearly 25 years.
In 2002, Williams returned to Mississippi and education serving as the headmaster and basketball coach at Winona Christian School until 2004, when he was hired at Itawamba Community College. At ICC, Williams served in various roles as the director of the Workforce Investment Act and as a continuing education instructor before retiring in 2011.
Even after retirement, Williams has remained close with the sport of basketball and recently took on a volunteer coaching role for the girls' basketball program at Calhoun Academy in Pittsboro.
Williams is married to his wife Ratchaneegorn (Tookta) Williams. The couple has one son, Justin, who continues to live in Houston.
RHONDA "K.K." MIKES, WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (1983-85)
Some records were never made to be broken and Northwest legend Rhonda "K.K." Mikes has plenty of those.
A graduate of Chattanooga City High School, Mikes made her way to Northwest in 1983 and like many others on this list, quickly made a statement. During her two-year stint in Senatobia, Mikes finished with eight 30-point games and continues to hold the top five single-game scoring records, including a program-best 52 points in the national tournament against Barton County (Kan.) on March 22, 1985.
Mikes helped Northwest and coach Harry Adair to back-to-back NJCAA National Tournament berths. After finishing as national runner-ups in 1984, the Lady Rangers compiled a 21-3 overall record and defeated Crowder (Mo.) 86-71 to win the program's only NJCAA national championship in 1985. In the two-year run to a national title, Mikes compiled 1,699 total points scored for an average of 31.5 points per game, two records that continue to stand today.
A two-time NJCAA and Kodak All-American, Mikes signed with the University of Georgia following her Northwest career.
Mikes is being inducted posthumously after passing away on April 21, 2018 in her hometown of Chattanooga.
RICKY BLAKE, FOOTBALL (1986-87)
Throughout the history of the Northwest football program, countless student-athletes have crossed paths through Senatobia on their way to stardom and success. Ricky Blake is no exception.
Hailing from Fayetteville, Tenn., Blake arrived at Northwest after graduating from Lincoln County High School in 1986, where he left as the school's all-time leading rusher.
Blake made an almost immediate impact on the field at Northwest as a freshman in 1986 but it was during the 1987 season where he left his biggest mark, rushing for over 1,500 yards in his sophomore campaign, which remains in the Top 5 all-time in that category. He averaged 166.7 rushing yards per game, good for second all-time.
Blake also holds other notable records and achievements with the Rangers, including 22 rushing touchdowns which remains the most in a single season and third in a career. He received First Team All-MACJC and NJCAA All-American honors for his efforts, while also guiding Northwest to a 10-3 overall record and the 1987 MACJC Championship. The Rangers would go on to the Jayhawk Bowl where they dropped a close 29-21 decision to Coffeyville (Kan.).
Following Blake's Northwest career, he transferred to Alabama A&M University before signing a free agent deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, making his pro debut in the 11th game of the 1989 season against the British Columbia Lions, tallying 20 carries for 92 yards. He then started six more games with his season-best totals coming against the Edmonton Eskimos, where he registered 17 carries for 107 yards and finished the season second on the team in rushing with 81 carries for 354 yards and a touchdown.
After suffering an ankle injury prior to the 1990 season, Blake was unable to set foot on the field again for Winnipeg. In the spring of 1991, he played for the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American Football, appearing in nine games while finishing third in the league with 554 rushing yards and five touchdowns. His best performance of that season came against the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks, where he set a single-game record of 140 rushing yards.
On July 18, 1991, Blake was signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. Despite spending the first four weeks of the season on injured reserve with a neck injury, Blake was activated on September 25 to backup future Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. Blake made his NFL debut against Cincinnati, rushing for 38 yards on six carries, which included a 30-yard touchdown run on his first rushing attempt.
Against the Phoenix (now Arizona) Cardinals, Blake posted a season-best nine carries for 42 yards but suffered a season-ending right hip fracture to finish with 80 yards on 15 carries. The injury persisted into the 1992 season where he was waived after missing the first six games of the season.
Blake would get another chance in 1993 after signing with the Seattle Seahawks but was released on August 26 before the start of the regular season. He signed with the Fort Worth Cavalry of the Arena Football League in 1994, spending time as a two-way player at fullback and linebacker. In Fort Worth, he was primarily a backup and rushed for 12 yards on four carries with a tackle.
In 1995, Blake went overseas to join the Barcelona Dragons of the World League of American Football, which would later become NFL Europe. He rushed for nearly 398 yards on 98 carries with the Dragons and tallied six receptions for 51 yards, later signing with the St. Louis Rams as a free agent in 1996.
Blake continued his career in 2002 when he signed with the Colorado Wildcats of the Federal Indoor Football League, spending 15 years with the franchise until his retirement in 2016. He finished as the league's leader in rushing yards, attempts, touchdowns, all-purpose yardage, scoring (non-kicker) as well as receptions and receiving yardage by a running back . He was named to the National Conference All-Pro Team in six consecutive seasons (2004-2009). He received the league MVP Award in 2006. and helped Colorado to a pair of consecutive FIFL Bowl wins (2005-06) and was the FIFL Bowl MVP in 2006. He received 48 Offensive Player of the Game awards and seven Offensive Player of the Week honors over his career.
Today, Blake is an owner-operator truck driver and resides in Murfreesboro, Tenn. with his wife, Tiffany.
EDDIE BLAKE, FOOTBALL (1988-89)
Much like his brother before him, Eddie Blake made quite the name for himself as well during his two seasons with the Northwest football program.
A native of Fayetteville, Tenn., Blake arrived at Northwest shortly after his older brother, Ricky, finished up his stint with the Rangers in 1988. Nicknamed "Earthquake", Eddie Blake played offensive guard for two seasons under Bobby Franklin, helping pave the way for First Team All-MACJC tailbacks Michael Crenshaw and Vince Powell.
During his sophomore season in 1989, Blake helped the Rangers to a 12-1 overall record, an MACJC championship and a Shrine Bowl victory against Kilgore College. For his efforts, he was named a First Team All-MACJC selections and a back-to-back J.C. Gridwire All-American.
After Northwest, Eddie Blake transferred to Auburn and helped guide the Tigers and legendary coach Pat Dye to an 8-3-1 overall record, a No. 19 national ranking and a 27-23 victory against Indiana in the 1990 Peach Bowl. During his senior campaign in 1991, the Tigers failed to make a bowl game but Blake still stood out on a national scale, earning All-SEC honors.
Blake was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft as the 43rd overall pick. Injuries kept him off the field for most of his tenure in Miami, leading to his release in 1994. After a brief stint with Green Bay as a free agent signing, Blake would follow in the footsteps of his older brother and join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in 1996, appearing in nine games.
Following his stint with Winnipeg, Blake spent two years playing in Germany with the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League of American Football from 1996-97, before returning to the U.S. to play with the New York CityHawks of the Arena Football League.
In 1998, Blake returned to the Blue Bombers organization before playing for the Mobile Admirals of the semi-pro Regional Football League in 1999, helping the team to the league championship. He would then spend one final stint in the AFL with the New England Sea Wolves in 2000 before retiring as a member of the Blue Bombers in 2001.
Since leaving the game of football, Blake has been very active as an entrepreneur, opening promotions and security companies in Winnipeg and a radio station as well. In 2004, Blake began a stint as a professional boxer, going 3-0 in the ring. He has since retired.
JASON ROGAN, MEN'S BASKETBALL (2000-02)
Nearly 20 years since he concluded his Northwest playing career, former Ranger guard Jason Rogan's mark on the record books still stands today.
A native of Portland, Tenn., Rogan averaged 27 points per game as a senior at Portland High School and helped lead the Panthers to the region semifinals, while receiving all-district and all-state honors. He also earned Mid-State and district Player of the Year honors while also being selected to the Nashville area's Super Five team.
Playing under coach Bubba Skelton from 2000-02, Rogan immediately became a part of the Rangers' starting five as a freshman and helped guide Northwest to national prominence during the 2000-01 season. That year, Northwest finished 27-7 overall, winning North Division, MACJC and NJCAA Region 23 championships before finishing eighth overall in the 2001 NJCAA National Tournament. The success was due in part to Rogan's stats, where he averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game, earning First Team All-MACJC and third team NJCAA All-American honors.
Although Northwest was unable to fully replicate that run in the 2001-02 campaign, Rogan helped Northwest to the postseason once again with an 18-9 overall record and a trip to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.
Perhaps the biggest moment of his Northwest career came on February 18, 2002 in a 96-78 win against Northeast. Rogan needed just 14 points to reach the 1,000-point milestone but instead scored 32 and made 13 of his 21 shots from the field, grabbing seven rebounds, five steals and four assists.
Rogan concluded his two-year stint in Senatobia by leading the team in scoring both years, compiling a career total of 1,156 points for 19.3 points per game, good for sixth all-time in average scoring. He also continues to hold records in field goals made (447; 3rd), free throws made (204; 4th) and assists (262; 5th).
From Northwest, Rogan signed to play Division I basketball at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he spent two seasons with the Mocs from 2002-04. He received Southern Conference Player of the Week accolades as a junior and helped UTC to a combined 40-20 overall record and two runner-up finishes in the Southern Conference Tournament.
After college, Rogan went on to play overseas in Holland. He currently lives in Nashville and is the owner of RoShow Personal Training, HYPE Mentoring and serves as a basketball trainer at Performance Excellence Athletics.
Rogan is also the older brother of two-time NCAA champion and 13-year NBA veteran Corey Brewer.
TOMMY ROBISON, MEN'S SOCCER (2002-03)
It didn't take long for Northwest to burst onto the scene in the early days of MACJC soccer and Tommy Robison was a big reason why.
A native of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Robison led the team with 24 goals and eight assists as a freshman in 2002, finishing seventh in the NJCAA in scoring. His efforts helped guide former coach Peter Jarjoura to a 12-6-1 overall record in the Rangers' inaugural season of competition. Northwest finished the year 8-2 in the conference but fell in the MACJC Playoffs to Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Robison continued his tear as a sophomore, netting 26 goals and seven assists in 2003, once again helping Northwest to a 10-7-1 overall record. For his career, Robison totaled 50 goals, a program scoring record that continues to stand to this day. He was also twice named an NJCAA All-American while earning two All-MACJC and team Most Valuable Player honors.
After leaving Northwest, Robison competed at the Division II level with the University of Montevallo, garnering a role as the team's starting forward. As a senior in 2004, Robison led the team with 16 goals and three assists while helping the Falcons to the Gulf South Conference tournament championship and to the program's first NCAA Division II National Tournament berth.
At Montevallo, Robison ranked 23rd nationally in goals per game, 27th in points per game and was a First Team All-GSC and NSCAA/Adidas All-Region team selection.
Today, Robison resides in Fort Walton Beach and has remained active in soccer as a player, coach and mentor. He is a landscape designer and management server for major construction projects. He is the first men's soccer inductee into the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame.
