CHANGES GOOD IF THEY MAKE GAME SAFER, KIFFIN SAYS
Florida Atlantic University defensive end Tim Bonner attended the 2017 Birmingham Bowl to watch former East Mississippi Community College teammate Dakota Allen and the Texas Tech Red Raiders, and chuckled at a question from a fan: Is FAU coach Lane Kiffin “a nut?”
“He’s just crazy,” Bonner told the fan. “He’s crazy as a (expletive). He’s fun, but he’s cool, though. I like him.”
Bonner’s reunion with Allen is one of the features in the new Netflix special “EMCC & Life After,” which serves as a spinoff of “Last Chance U ,” the critically acclaimed documentary series about powerhouse East Mississippi. Former FAU wide receiver John Franklin III appeared on the series’ initial season in 2016, which detailed the Lions’ 2015 season. Bonner and current Owls quarterback De’Andre Johnson appeared on the second season, which debuted last July.
After two years at EMCC, “Last Chance U” moved to Independence College of Kansas for the third season. To coincide with the new season’s premiere, Netflix also released an hourlong episode serving as a “where are they now?” special for some of the key characters from the first two seasons.
Johnson signed with FAU in December 2016, shortly after the school hired Kiffin. Bonner signed with the Owls two months later and Franklin, who joined Auburn after his stint at EMCC, transferred to FAU in August.
“It’s been a magical season, I can honestly say that,” Johnson said. “Team going from 3-9 for the past three seasons and just having coach Kiffin come in, change the whole identity, the whole culture.”
About seven minutes are dedicated to the three stars, detailing their 2017 seasons and their love of Kiffin.
Although Johnson and Bonner were viewed as transfers who could provide an immediate impact, Johnson missed most of the season with blood clots and Bonner was mainly a special teams player. Franklin, after switching from quarterback to wide receiver, caught seven passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. He carried 16 times for 229 yards and two TDs, mostly as a Wildcat quarterback.
Johnson was surprised when he learned Franklin was transferring to FAU, a move that came less than a month before the Owls began their season against Navy on Sept. 1.
“I’ ve watched him go through being in Florida State’s quarterback room to going to East Mississippi’s quarterback room, to then going to Auburn,” Johnson said. “And so when John went to receiver, I’m like, ‘How is he taking this?’ ”
“For my last year, I just really wanted to get a little experience before I got into the next level,” said Franklin, who signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent and will attempt to play cornerback in the NFL. “I ultimately knew if I wanted to play at the next level, I was going to have to make that change. I wanted to do it now before I got into the next level and it’s too late.”
Other topics explored in the special include former EMCC academic counselor Brittany Wagner’s 10 Thousand Pencils foundation, Lions coach Buddy Stephens celebrating a 2017 national championship, Allen’s redemption at Texas Tech, and running back Isaiah Wright’s legal issues. Wright is currently in jail for his ties to a 2017 homicide in Tennessee.
Johnson, currently fighting Oklahoma transfer Chris Robison for the starting quarterback job, praised Kiffin as a “dynamic play-caller.” Both Johnson and Bonner, who was one of the defense’s top players this spring, are expected to have major roles for the Owls this season.
As he did at EMCC, Bonner steals the show with one-liners, comparing Franklin at one point to the popular cartoon character Franklin the Turtle. While signing an autograph for a fan, Bonner makes reference to his nickname “Slim Boogaloo” and poses with young fans of the show.
“It’s cool to go to another state and city and they know who I am,” Bonner said. “I ain’t ever think it would come up like that, but they be realdeal liking me or something. It’s different, but I’m still myself, like I ain’t changed nothing.”