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By Clara Turnage
University of Mississippi
By awarding $95,000 in scholarships to freshmen this semester, the University of Mississippi has invested not only in the game, but also in sending careers.
John McDermott, director of esports programs, awarded 12 recruits who received scholarships from donors and the university.
The investment demonstrates Ole Miss’ commitment to the growing esports sector and business, said Associate Provost and Director of Outreach and Continuing Studies Tony Ammeter.
“When we say this field is growing, we mean at an extraordinary pace and in a variety of sectors,” Ammetri said. “At this point, it’s bigger than the Hollywood film industry, as well as the TV or radio industries.
“You don’t often find a field that is connected to so many academic disciplines. It offers many opportunities.
McDermott said the hires could include professional and former professional players, championship winners and leaders of the program.
Unlike many esports programs housed at smaller private universities, UM has a major R-1 university tuition draw to draw its players, McDermott said.
“When you look at a university like this, it’s easy to focus on helping these students not only get an education, but to follow their dreams,” he said. “There are opportunities here to break into the industry.”
Ammeter points out that professionals can also work in esports marketing, graphic design, management and online sports business. Contrary to the perception of past years – when online gaming was considered a hobby – it serves as a potential career field, Ammeter said.
The university, in turn, must prepare students for those careers.
New to eSports, a non-disciplinary academy is working through the Academic Council with the tentative goal of opening it to students this fall. That small, six-course business school that is pulling courses from other academic departments and a recent investment in online gaming talent shows the university is serious about outsourcing. Viable work, Ammeter said.
Scott Reynolds, junior in economics and one of the honorees, said the university’s esports programs were one of the reasons he chose to become a Rebel.
Before joining professional esports organization Team Liquid and playing at the pro level between 2020 and 2022, the Tallahassee native was on another university esports team in Florida. He said that when that team was there, a team that never got past the club level did not have the support of the university.
“I don’t understand why they didn’t see the potential,” Reynolds said. “To see a big school like Ole Miss Really invest in an esports team, which is one of the main things that made me believe that college esports is just getting started.
“It’s only a matter of time before this becomes something that every university wants.”
By attracting players like Reynolds and others in the recruiting department, Ole Miss will enhance its reputation as a premier esports facility and, in turn, recruit more students interested in the field, McDermott and Ammett agreed.
“As much as we want to win, we also want to use this opportunity to show students that they can pursue anything they’re interested in here,” Amemet said. “Every university has the goal of recruiting the best students we can teach. We are many things to many people, and this is an important thing for us to be.
McDermott echoed Reynolds’ point that college sending is still in its infancy and will only grow from here. As other universities try to catch up, McDermott said he wants Ole Miss to be at the forefront.
“Ole Miss was the first school in the SEC to fully sponsor and send back,” he said. “The SEC ranks first in academics and athletics. We have seen other schools follow suit, but we want to use this first step that the university has given us and build a program that our children and grandchildren can participate in.
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