Emmitt Wilson grew up on a ranch in central Texas near the small town of Sparta. He attended school at Sparta high school. The enrollment in the entire district was 155 students with only 67students in the high school. The limited enrollment was one of the lowest in the state league organization and meant that Sparta was automatically classified as a six-man football team. Sparta was a small town consisting of a cotton gin, a cedar post yard, and only eleven houses. In addition to the students who lived in town, many students who lived in the rural area also attended Sparta schools.

Six-man football was a major attraction for the members of the community who enthusiastically supported the team. Emmitt played in the position of quarterback in his sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school showing exceptional ability all three years.