Every sport has its stars. Some wear helmets and shoulder pads. Others lace up cleats or step onto the court. But there are also legends whose impact comes from behind the scenes. In Mississippi, one of those legends is Langston Rogers.
For more than 50 years, Rogers helped shape how the world sees college sports. He was not just a Sports Information Director. He was a builder, a mentor, and a voice for athletes and schools across the country.
Rogers grew up in Calhoun City. Life was not easy. His mother passed away when he was young, and his father served in the military. Raised by his grandparents, he learned toughness, faith, and resilience.
Sports were always part of his story. At Calhoun City High School, he played football, basketball, and baseball. He was a starter on championship football teams from 1958 to 1961. He was a competitor, but also a storyteller. At just nine years old, he had his first byline in a newspaper. That passion for sharing stories would define his career.
After high school, Rogers went to East Mississippi Junior College, now EMCC. He was not just a student. He was student body president, newspaper editor, and even the student sports information director. He played baseball under the legendary Bob “Bull” Sullivan, a coach who demanded toughness and discipline. Those years gave Rogers the foundation to blend leadership, athletics, and media.
Years later, EMCC named him Alumnus of the Year in 2011 and inducted him into its Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
Rogers continued his education at Delta State University, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. He played baseball for Hall of Famer Dave “Boo” Ferriss and worked as a football manager.
More importantly, Delta State gave him his first full-time job. He became the school’s first Sports Information Director. He served 17 years and set the standard for the role. One of his proudest achievements was promoting the Lady Statesmen during their run of women’s basketball national championships in the 1970s. At a time when women’s sports often lacked coverage, Rogers gave them the spotlight they deserved.
Delta State honored him with induction into both its Alumni Hall of Fame and its Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1998, he also received the Distinguished Statesman Award.
In 1981, Rogers started his new job at Ole Miss. What began as a Sports Information Director role turned into a 29-year career. He rose through the ranks, eventually serving as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations.
At Ole Miss, he built a department that went far beyond game notes and press releases. He promoted players for national awards, built long-term relationships with media, and became a trusted resource for coaches and athletes.
He also connected deeply with the Rebel family. His relationship with the Manning family is well-known, beginning with Eli Manning’s college career and growing into a lasting friendship with Archie Manning.
When Rogers retired in 2010, Ole Miss did not let him go far. He continues to serve as Special Assistant to the Athletics Director for History. Today, he is the keeper of Rebel athletics history, making sure the past is preserved for future generations.
Rogers’s influence extended beyond Mississippi. In 1980, he became the youngest president in the history of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Over the years, he won the group’s highest honors, including:
- The Arch Ward Award for outstanding contributions to the profession
- The Trailblazer Award for championing diversity in sports information
- The Lifetime Achievement Award for his career-long impact
CoSIDA also named its $10,000 postgraduate scholarship in his honor. The Langston Rogers Postgraduate Scholarship is awarded to minority or female professionals in athletics communications, carrying on his work in mentoring and opening doors for others.
Rogers’s legacy has been recognized across the nation. He is a member of eight Halls of Fame, including the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame, and the CoSIDA Hall of Fame. His most recent honor came in 2025, when the National Football Foundation gave him its Legacy Award.
| Year | Honor |
| 1990 | College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame |
| 1997 | MS Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame |
| 1998 | Delta State University’s Distinguished Statesman Award |
| 1999 | All-American Football Foundation’s Elmore (Scoop) Hudgins Sports Information Directors Award |
| 2001 | CoSIDA’s Arch Ward Award |
| 2008 | Delta State’s Alumni Hall of Fame |
| 2008 | CoSIDA’s Trailblazer Award |
| 2010 | East Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame |
| 2010 | CoSIDA’s Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 2011 | Naming of CoSIDA’s Langston Rogers Postgraduate Scholarship |
| 2011 | East Mississippi’s Alumnus of the Year |
| 2012 | Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame |
| 2013 | Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame |
| 2014 | Delta State’s Athletics Hall of Fame |
| 2017 | Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame |
| 2018 | University of Mississippi’s Nathaniel Northington Trailblazer in Athletics Award |
| 2023 | University of Mississippi Alumni Association Honorary Alumni Award |
| 2025 | National Football Foundation Legacy Award |
Rogers’s story is not just about awards and titles. It is about values. Loyalty. Passion. Mentorship.
Even with all his success, Rogers often points back to his roots. He calls Calhoun City a great place to grow up. He has always said he has been “blessed with a very supportive family.”
Rogers is proof that legends are not only found on the field. He showed that telling the story of athletes is just as important as scoring the touchdowns or hitting the home runs.
From Calhoun City to Delta State to Ole Miss, and all the way to the national stage, Rogers built a career that changed the profession of sports information. His influence will live on in every athletic department that values media relations as a key part of success.
Langston Rogers is a Hill Country Legend.
GORESPORTS.net 
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