Sports Blog

Fletcher Cox Bobblehead Must-Have for MSU and Philadelphia Eagles Fans

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Winning a Super Bowl surely brings the phrase “to the victor go the spoils” for the players and the fans. The spoils will certainly go to the Philadelphia Eagles after they won their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Eagles players will sport some new bling such as T-shirts and hats when they receive their Super Bowl rings before the start of the next season. But Eagles fans, and also Mississippi State University fans, will probably seek after one specific commemorative item: the bobblehead for Yazoo City, Miss., native and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Cox was a major force for the team’s defense and was instrumental in making key plays in the final minutes to help Philadelphia seal the win. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

Dan Mullen to Florida Not As Crazy As It Sounds

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Jim McElwain didn’t endear himself to the powers that be several times since he became the head coach at the University of Florida. He started things off by knocking the facilities at the university for being poor, which was true, and he compounded his problems when he said his dog could run his offense at a high level. His offense didn’t run at a high level in the two and half seasons when he was head coach, and the Gators had plenty of off-the-field problems, with several suspended this season. Last week, he made vague references to death threats that the school seemed unable to confirm. Then add a 42-7 defeat to rival University of Georgia, and things went downhill quickly for McElwain, as he and the schools said they were “mutually parting ways.” It is surprising that the head coach for Florida is the first head coach in the SEC to be relieved of his coaching duties this season. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

Defense Saved the Day in Saints’ Fifth-Straight Win

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The New Orleans Saints’ defense deserves the credit for the win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Oct. 29. The Saints’ biggest liability over the last few seasons has been the reason that they have now won five games in a row. It has been a long time since New Orleans has been able to rely on its defense to help win games instead of worrying that it would let games get away. In fact, it was the offense that nearly lost the game, with running back Mark Ingram fumbling twice on consecutive positions in the fourth quarter, nearly helping Chicago get the win. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

JSU Wins, MSU Ranked, UM and USM Stumble, and More

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It was an interesting week of ups and downs for fans of Mississippi football. While some teams were able to climb out of a rut, others fell deeper in. On Saturday, Oct. 28, a winless Jackson State University faced an early 0-3 deficit against Mississippi Valley State University after the first quarter before jumping out to a 10-3 lead at the break—a rarity for JSU this season. Jackson State added to its lead with a touchdown in the third quarter for a commanding 17-3 lead. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

C-USA’s Basketball Preseason Predictions

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Conference USA spent two weeks releasing its Preseason All-Conference USA men’s and women’s basketball team. Unfortunately for Mississippi sports fans, neither the University of Southern Mississippi men’s team nor the women’s team landed a player on that list. In addition to selecting standout players from the upcoming season, coaches from the conference voted on the order that teams would finish, predicting favorites for the upcoming season. The Southern Miss men’s team fell in 10th place in the 14-team league, as the program continues to rebuild after NCAA sanctions. Middle Tennessee State University was the coaches’ pick to win the conference title this year with eight first-place votes. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

Midseason Conerly Trophy Favorites

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This might be the most wide-open season for the Conerly Trophy, which goes to the best college-football player in Mississippi each year. There are plenty of great athletes in our state this year, but no player has overwhelmed the rest of the field. There are still plenty of games left for someone to take the lead on the field. University of Mississippi quarterback Shea Patterson’s season-ending knee injury on Oct. 1 has made the Conerly landscape even less clear. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

Saints Win Fourth Straight to Top NFC South

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There is a surprise team sitting atop the NFC South standings this Monday, Oct. 23. Many fans might expect the Carolina Panthers or Atlanta Falcons to be leading the division, but instead, the 4-2 New Orleans Saints are the frontrunners just seven weeks into the season. New Orleans has bounced back nicely after losing its first two games this year. The Saints entered Sunday’s contest against Green Bay on a three-game winning streak but looked shaky early on at historic Lambeau Field. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

Patterson Out, USM and MSU for Bowl Eligibility, and More

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This is quickly becoming a lost season for the University of Mississippi. The NCAA, cell-phone records and injuries have taken turns derailing this season for the Rebels. The NCAA investigation and the cell-phone records of former head coach Hugh Freeze coming to light are both well documented. The problems with the NCAA led to a bowl ban this season, and Freeze resigned after evidence of him calling escort services surfaced. Things haven’t been much better on the field, either. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

Preseason SEC Basketball Predictions

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College basketball took centerstage in the Southeastern Conference this week. The men’s teams had their media day on Oct. 19, and women’s teams had media day on Oct. 18. During the events, members of the media predicted SEC Preseason Players of the Year, All-SEC teams, and the order in which teams will finish. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

MVSU Freshman Quarterback Betts Shows Youth for Delta Devils

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Mississippi Valley State University might have found a quarterback to be the cornerstone of its massive rebuilding project. Freshman quarterback Dewayne Betts originally committed to Kansas State University in March 2016 but decommitted that December due to the number of quarterbacks on the Wildcats roster. Betts, a star at KIPP Memphis Collegiate High School in Memphis, Tenn., was known by his nickname “Baby Cam” in honor of current Carolina Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton. He put his duel-quarterback skills on display during his junior season, throwing for 1,760 yards with 26 touchdowns and just three interceptions, and ran for 380 yards and five touchdowns in 2015. As a high-school senior he passed for 1,340 yards with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. Continue Reading