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Just a few years ago, students at Mississippi State’s men’s basketball games could be heard chanting for Seth Cannon to shoot for two. While that phrase translated into points on the hardwood, in the world of academics, it took on an entirely new meaning.

Cannon came to Mississippi State to study mechanical engineering, but soon he found his free time dominated by basketball fever, which through his determination led to a walk-on position on MSU’s squad. However, winning SEC tournaments and divisional titles didn’t leave much time for the study of thermodynamics or fluids, so like many student athletes, he had to choose – let academics pursuits suffer for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play SEC basketball, or change to a less demanding major.

“For me it was tough trying to balance the time constraints of playing basketball and carrying an engineering course-load. I knew I had to do something,” Cannon explained. “I took the advice of an academic advisor and changed my major to mathematics. It was close to mechanical engineering and slightly less demanding on my time, but once I started in math I had to see it through. I didn’t want to start that degree just to flip-flop again.”

He finished a two-year run as a basketball fan favorite with championship rings and memories that he will hold forever. He then used his remaining NCAA eligibility to help MSU cheerleaders bring spirit to the Bulldogs, and complete his degree in mathematics in 2006. For most, that would be considered a fruitful college career, but for Cannon it wasn’t enough. He wasn’t going to leave State without a degree in mechanical engineering.

“It’s what I came here to do. I am a mechanical engineer, I just got off track,” Cannon noted. “I work as a mechanic at home and I grew up on a farm with machinery all around. Hopefully, through mechanical engineering I can make that life easier through innovations and inventions.”

Cannon is on track to graduate, again, in 2008 allowing him to cross off another lifelong dream. From dribbling down court to solving equations to being the base of a pyramid or working in the machine shop, his college experience has been unconventional, but as he sees it he scored big and has enjoyed every minute of it.

“If I had to make the same decision over again, I would. You can always come back and complete a degree, but the experience of playing basketball was something you can’t get back,” Cannon said. “Now, I am getting to focus all my energy on engineering and can prove that anything can be accomplished through hardwork, persistence and faith in Christ.”