tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87533196755937984482024-02-19T10:29:52.512-06:00Ricks WritingsMSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-54359604419379458882012-11-20T18:09:00.001-06:002012-11-20T18:09:19.088-06:00The picks; or how the Egg breaks<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
The two old-timers picked some pretty clean cotton this past week. Orley Hood was 13-2, including that Stanford over Oregon pick, while Rick Cleveland went 12-3, despite ignorantly picking USM over UTEP. Hood and Cleveland head down the stretch all tied with 94-37 records.</div>
<h3 class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Orley's picks </h3>
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Mississippi State at Ole Miss:
Rick called earlier, asked me who I thought was going to win. Uh … I
don’t know, I told him. Still don’t. So, I’m going to do the other games
first. Maybe inspiration will strike by the
time I get to the Saints.</div>
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Southern Miss at Memphis:
Memphis has won three conference games. The Tigers scored a ton last
week. And they’re at home. So … It’s 0-12 for the Golden Eagles after
12-2 last season. Unbelievable. Memphis 30, USM 20.</div>
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LSU at Arkansas: Can the
Tigers recover from the Ole Miss game to kick around the Hogs on the
road? You laugh, but I’m not kidding. OK, they do and they do. LSU 38,
Arkansas 21.</div>
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Georgia Tech at Georgia: Lots
of these BCS analyzers seem to have forgotten Tech, which has a big-time
triple option running game and will play for the ACC championship
against Florida State because Miami is trying
to duck NCAA wrath. What if Tech beats Georgia and Georgia beats
Alabama in the SEC championship? Fugeddaboutit: Bulldogs 42, Jackets 31.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Auburn at Alabama: Parents, don’t let your children watch. Tide 52, Auburn 17. Call if you get work, Gene.</div>
<a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-picks-or-how-egg-breaks.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-90807120798587797692012-11-20T07:15:00.001-06:002012-11-20T07:16:53.934-06:00Archie had to choose two Egg Bowls<i><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">(Writer's note: This is the third in a series of Egg Bowl memories from the players, both from State and Ole Miss, who have made the game so special.) </span></i><br>
<br>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When it comes to picking his most
memorable Egg Bowl, Archie Manning can't choose just one.</span>
<br>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
No, he has to pick one as a player and
another as a father.</div>
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<br></div>
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Interestingly, both were played in
Starkville. And both games were played in rain.</div>
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<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“In 1969, my junior year, we had to
beat Mississippi State to go to the Sugar Bowl,” Archie says. “I
remember we played on Thanksgiving Day and I remember that it rained
pretty steadily all game long. If you look, I think you'll see we
were tied at halftime.”</div>
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<br></div>
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They were, 14-14.</div>
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<br></div>
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“And then we put it on them pretty
good in the second half,” Archie says. “I can't remember how many
we scored but it was a bunch.”</div>
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<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Final score: Ole Miss 48, State 22.
Manning threw two touchdowns and scored two on the ground. Ole Miss
scored the first 34 points on the second half, including 27 in the
fourth quarter.”</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div><a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/11/archie-had-to-choose-two-egg-bowls.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-79228070259914030002012-11-19T10:07:00.002-06:002012-11-19T10:09:13.971-06:00Here's the unedited version. . .<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"></span>(Writer's note: Here's the unedited version of the column that ran on <i>The Clarion-Ledger </i>op-ed page today. Thanks again to editors for the space: </span><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Hello, old friends. Nice to visit with
you again. More than half a year has passed since my columns appeared
on these pages. I'd like to begin with a sincere thank-you to the
editors of </span><i style="background-color: black; color: white;">The Clarion-Ledger </i><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
allowing me to tell you a small bit about my new job.</span></span>
<br>
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<br></div>
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For more than four decades I wrote sports stories and columns about
Mississippi's sports heroes, who also happen to be some of the
planet's most marvelous athletes. As executive director of your
Misssissippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, my job is to preserve
those sports legends for this and future generations.</div>
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<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Magnolia State has a sports legacy second to none. Let's put it
this way: Just during my sports writing career, I covered pro
football's all-time leading scorer and receiver Jerry Rice, pro
football's all-time leading passer Brett Favre, pro football's second
all-time leading rusher Walter Payton and the patriarch of America's
first family of football, Archie Manning. All hail from small-town
Mississippi. And that's just one sport. Mississippians have excelled
at many others.</div>
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<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you're like me, you read all the time about Mississippi being the
poorest, least educated and fattest state. At the Mississippi Sports
Hall of Fame and Museum, we display what Mississippians do better
than anyone. We celebrate what Mississippians do best.</div>
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<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
want to pick up where my good friend, the late Michael Rubenstein,
left off. This is, I have discovered, a daunting task. On July 4,
1996, the museum opened, a $4 million treasure chest of Mississippi's
sports history. It was billed as Mississippi's first museum for the
21</span></span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
century, and it was.</span></span></div>
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<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
More than 16 years later, what was once cutting edge technology is
now nearly obsolete. Just look at your cell phone. Look at what it
does now, and remember what your cell phone was like back in 1996 if,
indeed, you had one.</div>
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</div>
<a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/11/heres-unedited-version.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-79062222132761596352012-11-19T08:22:00.000-06:002012-11-19T08:22:47.457-06:00Glen Collins and 'that quarterback'<br />
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This is the second of a series of Egg Bowl memories of Ole Miss and State greats from yesteryear.</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Jackson's own Glen Collins, one of
Mississippi State's all-time great defensive linemen, played in four
Egg Bowls, all in Jackson.</span>
<br />
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<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Seems like we always played them on
a dreary or rainy day,” Collins says. “It was always gray.”</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And the games, says Collins, always
were competitive.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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His favorite?</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“That's a tough one, but it's got to
be my junior year (1980),” Collins says. “That was the year we
beat Alabama and went to the Sun Bowl. As I recall, Ole Miss wasn't
having that good a year, but they always played us tough.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Funny what I always remember most
about playing against Ole Miss was playing against that quarterback,”
Collins says.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
John Fourcade?</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You got it,” Collins says,
chuckling. “I just call him that quarterback. Never heard a guy
talk so much trash on the field. Man, that guy talked trash to his
own teammates, but he made the games interesting, I will say that.”</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Fourcade led the SEC in total offense
in 1980 and led the Rebels to a fourth quarter touchdown that gave
them a 14-13 lead. This was the first Egg Bowl played in expanded
Veterans Memorial Stadium, before 62,500 fans, and half of them were
going wild.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But John Bond then took State on a
touchdown drive for a 19-14 victory.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I remember hitting that quarterback
so many times but it was always after he had thrown the ball,”
Collins says. “He'd throw it in the stands and then get up
laughing. But I finally got him, and <i>The Clarion-Ledger</i> ran a
picture of it. I've still got that paper somewhere.”</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<br />
</div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-11124936103025718882012-11-18T13:59:00.000-06:002012-11-18T14:11:12.998-06:00Egg Bowl memories: Deuce leads off<div class="separator" style="background-color: black; clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;">
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<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Today we'll begin a week-long Egg Bowl series, involving former players on both sides of the rivalry, and their favorite memories from Egg Bowls past.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
We begin with Deuce McAllister, who almost became a Mississippi State Bulldog before he went to Ole Miss.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
"My cousin, Michael Davis, was a great player at Mississippi State, and I had a good relationship with Coach Sherrill," McAllister said Sunday. "I probably visited Mississippi State and spent more time of their campus than I did Ole Miss."</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
But McAllister chose Ole Miss and became one of the Rebels' all-time greats, before going on to a productive career with the New Orleans Saints.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
His best Egg Bowl memory?</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
"Got to be the last one (a 45-30 Ole Miss victory in 2000)," McAllister said. "That was the last time I ever walked off my homefield at Ole Miss and I walked off knowing we had won, we had beaten our arch-rivals and that I had left everything I had on the field."</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Boy, did he . . . <b></b>McAllister rushed for three
touchdowns and passed for another to lead Ole Miss to a Thanksgiving night victory. On Senior Night at
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, McAllister hit his good friend and fellow fourth-year
Rebel Romaro Miller on a 20-yard halfback option touchdown pass and
finished with 121 yards rushing on 24 carries. State had won the previous two Egg Bowls.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
"I've got so many memories from those games," said McAllister, who finished 2-2 in his career against State. "My first one was when Cory Peterson caught the two-point conversion and we won."<br />
<br />
Tomorrow: Mississippi State great Glen Collins. </div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-89426657548563863162012-11-18T11:07:00.000-06:002012-11-18T11:07:06.085-06:00C Spire Conerly nominees shine<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Six
of the 10 C Spire Conerly Trophy nominees played Saturday and all
played well. In alphabetical order:</span>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mississippi
State cornerback Johnthan Banks: All American candidate Banks had
another outstanding game in State's 45-14 crushing of Arkansas. In
man-to-man coverage, he gave up only one catch for five yards and
that was to Biletnikoff semifinalist Cobi Hamilton. (Hamilton had six
catches for 83 yards and a touchdown otherwise.) Banks was also a
force against the run, recording five tackles.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Alcorn
State offensive lineman Cornelius Brown: “Had another really solid
game for us,” said Alcorn coach Jay Hopson said after the Braves'
37-11 loss to Jackson State. “Our staff voted unanimously he was
our most outstanding player for the season.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Southern
Miss defensive end Jamie Collins: Make seven solo tackles, one
assist, two tackles for losses and one quarterback sack in USM's
34-33 loss to UTEP. Collins continues to lead C-USA in both sacks and
tackles for losses.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Jackson
State wide receiver Rico Richardson: Caught four passes for 54 yards
and a touchdown and recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown in JSU's
37-11 victory over arch-rival Alcorn State.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mississippi
Valley State defensive tackle Robert Simpson: Had six tackles, two
for losses and 1.5 sacks in Valley's 34-3 victory over Texas
Southern.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ole
Miss quarterback Bo Wallace: Ran 11 times for 54 yards and two
touchdowns and completed 15 of 35 passes (three intercepted) for 310
yards and two touchdowns in Rebels' 41-35 loss to LSU.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
other four C Spire Conerly nominees — Delta State offensive tackle
Kendall Hunter, Millsaps quarterback Garrett Pinciotti, Missisisippi
College defensive back Keith Villafranco and Belhaven
cornerback/kick returner Isiah Wiley — were off Saturday.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ballots
will go out early this week to a panel of more than 50 statewide
media members. The C Spire Conerly Trophy Awards Banquet will be held
Nov. 27 at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. For
tickets, call 601 982-8264. Banquet tickets are $100. Mezzanine
seating will be available for $25.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-54535452705010916762012-11-15T15:46:00.003-06:002012-11-15T15:46:27.094-06:00Un-team always will be remembered<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVe8cUdnJqMtZMKVaWoWsPaXQG42AtmDLAaewHNfAD5RA21tfT0WHBtbFpzn2QLsTdQPj-ttFu6ZCU9C-3qS4ZzZqj0ktioN-KF37owgiEs4BmkY-IIJicOiga_mGXy22h0If2576NmUc/s1600/lake+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVe8cUdnJqMtZMKVaWoWsPaXQG42AtmDLAaewHNfAD5RA21tfT0WHBtbFpzn2QLsTdQPj-ttFu6ZCU9C-3qS4ZzZqj0ktioN-KF37owgiEs4BmkY-IIJicOiga_mGXy22h0If2576NmUc/s400/lake+photo.jpg" width="400"></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: small;">The Un-team from Lake (undefeated, unscored upon)...Photo Courtesy of Chris Allen Baker, Scott County Times</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1 class="western" style="background-color: black;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Author's note: In the summer of 2011, I went to Lake to do a column on the 1974 lake football team that not only went undefeated but was un-scored upon. That's right: They didn't give up a point. I was amazed that there was no sign or anything to commemorate such an amazing feat. That omission was corrected recently when the team was recognized with a plaque at the new ticket booth.)</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Here's the piece from July 3, 2011, courtesy of The Clarion-Ledger.</span></span><br>
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br> </span></span></h1>
<h2>
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> A team to remember</span></span></h2>
<br>
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> In the tiny town of Lake, they are known and revered simply as the UN-team. They were the 1974 Lake High School football Hornets, UNdefeated, UNtied, UNchallenged and UNscored upon.</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Th</span>at's
right. Thirty-seven years ago, a band of 29 mostly lean, raw-boned,
rough-as-a-corn-cob country boys - led and inspired by a bright,
cocky and maniacally demanding 26-year-old coach, Granville Freeman -
finished 11-0. They scored 321 points, allowed zero. None. Nada. Null
set.</span><div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1maW0__bwyq1oL3epzDCV9F-CIAD5CfpWlhevbi_9W1tkLZ_B-JgwXKp5m3qwFQsqWh3CDnbVaR2cRrtVbuDY6AlTQ6fgtq1OxwvbeqnRP75pSIeGvOC0dKMW4MS-UJq_j594TGJ5K0/s1600/mugshot+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1maW0__bwyq1oL3epzDCV9F-CIAD5CfpWlhevbi_9W1tkLZ_B-JgwXKp5m3qwFQsqWh3CDnbVaR2cRrtVbuDY6AlTQ6fgtq1OxwvbeqnRP75pSIeGvOC0dKMW4MS-UJq_j594TGJ5K0/s200/mugshot+copy.jpg" width="144"></a></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">The
Hornets trounced 10 straight opponents and then discretion won out
over valor and the 11th opponent, French Camp, opted not to play. Can
you blame them?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">"When
I went to Lake in 1973, I told them we were going to have a team that
when opponents got ready to play us, they were going to be shaking in
their shoes," Freeman says. "I'd say we accomplished that
in 1974."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">That
Lake team was led by linebacker/offensive tackle Freeman Horton,
recruited by every college in the state and Alabama and Bear Bryant,
as well. And this will tell you something about Granville Freeman.
Ken Donahue, Bryant's right-hand man and defensive coordinator,
stopped by Freeman's office one day to watch film on Horton, who
played right outside linebacker, and later started four years at
Southern Miss.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">"Coach,
I have one question," Donahue said. "Why would you not take
your best and biggest athlete and put him at middle linebacker
instead of on the outside?"</span></div>
<a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/11/un-team-always-will-be-remembered.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-8246748215282558222012-11-13T21:15:00.001-06:002012-11-13T21:17:45.201-06:00Youth vs. experience, sort of<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 24pt;">
In Mississippi's World Series of college football prognosticating, Rick Cleveland took a one-game lead over the older, more experienced Orley Hood this past week. Young Rick posted a 10-4 showing, compared to wily veteran Hood's 9-5. That gives the much-wetter-behind-the-ears Cleveland an 82-34 season record, slightly better than the grizzled Hood's 81-35.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 24pt;">
"Everything I know about this prognosticating business I owe to Orley," Cleveland said. "He's forgotten more than I'll ever know. I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me to be a game ahead of such a knowledgeable, veteran football expert headed into the last three weeks of the season." </div>
<h3 class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 24pt;">
Rick's picks</h3>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 24pt;">
Ole Miss at LSU: Could've, would've, should've. That's the Rebels' mantra after Vandy. LSU is a different animal. Could've? Should've? Won't. LSU, 34-24.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXe8mHfIRrFIQ2fGJ8gTPnP3RseJDDF0kDWc8BL_VjLRICXUfG0PEMq2UoKc3LtSvuZ15Ipvpk-ALou1VtItTqmo1XqpV9zY55Wpp_EjobieQyS8ts3VSZAd1WP17I7tIlqZK9pe0u94/s1600/mugshot+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXe8mHfIRrFIQ2fGJ8gTPnP3RseJDDF0kDWc8BL_VjLRICXUfG0PEMq2UoKc3LtSvuZ15Ipvpk-ALou1VtItTqmo1XqpV9zY55Wpp_EjobieQyS8ts3VSZAd1WP17I7tIlqZK9pe0u94/s200/mugshot+copy.jpg" width="144"></a>Arkansas at Mississippi State: Time for Mississippi State to get well and add to Razorbacks' misery, but it won't be easy. 27-20, MSU.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
UTEP at USM: Go ahead, laugh. I deserve it. USM 27, UTEP 26.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State:
Oklahoma State can score. So can Tech. Cowboys score more, 42-35.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Northwestern at Michigan
State: Northwestern should have beaten Michigan and will beat Michigan State. Well, maybe. Wildcats, 26-24.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Southern California at UCLA: Whenever it's a close call, I am morally and ethically bound to pick against Lane Kiffin. UCLA, 28-24.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Central Florida at Tulsa: I am continually amazed at how Tulsa, such a small school, plays such good football. Tulsa, 31-24.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Duke at Georgia Tech: Did I mention last week how much I enjoy watching Tech's offense operate? I do. Tech 38, Duke 31.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Wake Forest at Notre Dame: Notre Dame, 35-17. Sorry, Bama.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
<br>
</div><a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/11/youth-vs-experience-sort-of.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-52087584216123403592012-11-12T10:38:00.000-06:002012-11-12T10:38:15.630-06:00Deuce talks about Saints, Ivory<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">So, I was talking to Deuce McAllister
this morning and the conversation turned immediately to the Saints'
31-27 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.</span>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: black; clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFtffg3eSDEFhWokdvhaZSiZ-yF8mGqrLpaCYYCT8tyTVXFSy3p4lRRzzftqf-hXqyNKWfiE0a19-KSfQGcPz2O9NRGoRNWyGOEG3RgvK4OtMnmGV59M0ECS5YjLJ6T4fL49TGDpWPEI/s1600/mugshot+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFtffg3eSDEFhWokdvhaZSiZ-yF8mGqrLpaCYYCT8tyTVXFSy3p4lRRzzftqf-hXqyNKWfiE0a19-KSfQGcPz2O9NRGoRNWyGOEG3RgvK4OtMnmGV59M0ECS5YjLJ6T4fL49TGDpWPEI/s200/mugshot+copy.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I told Deuce I hadn't seen anybody in a
Saints uniform run like Chris Ivory did Sunday since Deuce himself.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You are not the first to mention
that,” Deuce said. “I take that as a compliment. Ivory is running
angrily and violently. That one run was special. He showed speed,
agility and power. You can tell he was running with a chip on his
shoulder.”</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Deuce was talking about Ivory's 56-yard
run for the Saints's first touchdown after the Falcons had taken a
10-0 lead. Ivory made Falcon defensive backs look like toy soldiers
on that run, breaking several tackles.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was the Saints longest touchdown run
since, well, since Deuce went 57 yards against the Bucs in 2006.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The victory knocked the Falcons from
the unbeaten ranks and raised the Saints to 4-5 on the season. It
also has rekindled some talk of the Saints somehow reaching the
playoffs.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Such talk, McAlister says, is
premature.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“The Saints have got to win some
games, period,” he said. “Win these next two, beat Oakland at Oakland
and San Francisco at home, and then they can be part of the
discussion. But they've dug themselves a deep, deep hole. This isn't
going to be easy.”</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My take: 9-7 might get the Saints a
wildcard berth. A 10-6 record would for sure, but that would require
the Saints to win six of their last seven. It's possible, but not
likely.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sunday's game showed how important it
is for the Saints to run the ball successfully, to take some of the
load of both Drew Brees and the defense. Ivory gave them a spark and
a badly needed one at that.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-88719015071061462802012-11-09T09:32:00.001-06:002012-11-09T11:33:01.888-06:00Darrell Royal's Mississippi connections<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHIyQ9YnzO6jiBpjbRriq3Dln4tBqJuOpBV5ilnJeZtXMd-YPdU-Chg8bt2-XUZiU_avl2QGsqyZf9sm6kqhCwn1TtTg9Nb8_KWJXN0ZA72Zsi9Lfd8brSeTMBJbM1MXuhXySD_GUFeU/s1600/darrell2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHIyQ9YnzO6jiBpjbRriq3Dln4tBqJuOpBV5ilnJeZtXMd-YPdU-Chg8bt2-XUZiU_avl2QGsqyZf9sm6kqhCwn1TtTg9Nb8_KWJXN0ZA72Zsi9Lfd8brSeTMBJbM1MXuhXySD_GUFeU/s640/darrell2.jpg" width="498"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Darrell Royal, at Mississippi State in 1954.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Royal made his mark in the Magnolia State.</span></i></h3>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: black; clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtzZeN8Ow8m62HJsGeMzJ1KqT_b8rIQ5cfA6rwdVrH1-P5L6foe7y0_IBSqx3ghXbIYnFMuihkzWr_2JLggFq6-RFrUF_xB0NMJcIOw1HIGyuGKux2zHLB6qe9yOwmhyM5OO8aDaLV9U/s1600/mugshot+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtzZeN8Ow8m62HJsGeMzJ1KqT_b8rIQ5cfA6rwdVrH1-P5L6foe7y0_IBSqx3ghXbIYnFMuihkzWr_2JLggFq6-RFrUF_xB0NMJcIOw1HIGyuGKux2zHLB6qe9yOwmhyM5OO8aDaLV9U/s200/mugshot+copy.jpg" width="144"></a></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The death of the renowned football coach
Darrell Royal deserves more than passing notice here in Mississippi
where Royal honed his legendary coaching skills.</span><br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Actually, there are many connections
between Royal and Mississippi, which we will examine here.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
An Oklahoma native who starred for Bud
Wilkinson at Oklahoma, Royal first came to Mississippi in 1952 as the
backfield coach for Murray Warmath at Mississippi State. Those
Bulldogs had a 5-4 record.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Royal left after one season to coach
the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, but returned to
Starkville in 1954 as head coach of the Bulldogs. He stayed two
seasons, coaching State to 6-4 records in both 1954 and 1955. He was
2-0 against Alabama, 0-2 against Ole Miss and Johnny Vaught. He was
1-1 against LSU.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
His 1955 Bulldogs won six straight
games and rose into the Associated Press Top 20, before a three-game
losing streak ended the season. Royal left following that season to
take the head coaching job at the University of Washington.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jimmy Lee Dodd of Starkville played
center and linebacker for those Royal-coached State teams.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“He was a great, great head coach,”
Dodd remembers. “He was very hands on, extremely organized. The players
loved him. We all thought the world of him.”</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The relationships lasted for years.
Says Dodd, who spent 35 years as an electrical engineering professor
at State: “We would have a team reunion every two years and Coach
Royal came back to those reunions on several occasions. I think the
last time he came was in 2000.”</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div><a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/11/darrell-royals-mississippi-connections.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-73384620481381701902012-11-07T17:40:00.000-06:002012-11-07T17:40:07.089-06:00We're dead even, not brain dead<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">So, Cleveland and Hood both picked 11 winners and 4 losers last week and remained tied on the season with 72-30 records. The upset of the week was that Orley actually picked the Saints correctly. You've heard of the Blind Hog theory that even a blind hog occasionally finds the acorn? This was the Blind Hood theory at work.</span><br>
<br>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Hood picked Ole Miss over Georgia, which was almost as bad as Cleveland picking USM over UAB. Actually, both missed on USM and both have vowed to not let that happen again.</span><br>
<h3 class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Orley's picks </h3>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZVysRT6RNZb6yjw-mBHZ5-zEWA79EJXuSfkkl9FuUzLvBbysbuRWPy6zNwDr4Te_UCF2L4yBrcoNSXdPJhYx7ZJqNqTjQ_iu-YKGOP18RFdWxXwu0gDwhzRU2OWrPgth41m_IUIzGag/s1600/orley+mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZVysRT6RNZb6yjw-mBHZ5-zEWA79EJXuSfkkl9FuUzLvBbysbuRWPy6zNwDr4Te_UCF2L4yBrcoNSXdPJhYx7ZJqNqTjQ_iu-YKGOP18RFdWxXwu0gDwhzRU2OWrPgth41m_IUIzGag/s200/orley+mug.jpg" width="136"></a>Mississippi State at LSU: One
could hardly go down to Baton Rouge at a more propitious time,
considering Alabama ripped the Tigers’ hearts out last week. But LSU
lethargy may not be enough for State, busted flat the
last two weeks by Bama and A&M. LSU 24, State 17.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Vandy at Ole Miss: Joker
Phillips was most certainly done before last week, but Vandy surely
finished him off with a 40-0 victory in Lexington. Can the Comms go into
Oxford and hammer Ole Miss, too? Nope. Bowl eligibility
is at stake for Ole Miss. It won’t be easy. Rebels 30, VU 27.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
USM at SMU: I’m done wishin’ and hopin’ for the Golden Eagles. They may finish oh-for-2012. SMU 35, Southern 17.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Arkansas at South Carolina: Before the season, oooh, really big game. Now? Routine. Chickens 38, Hogs 28.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Texas A&M at Alabama: Big,
big, big. A&M gets better every week. Alabama comes off an
emotional victory at Tiger Stadium. Danger? Absolutely. But this is the
week that Johnny Football runs into big bad linebackers who
can scramble his brain pan. Alabama 38, A & M 24.</div>
<a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/11/were-dead-even-not-brain-dead.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-73735030805770036442012-11-04T10:30:00.001-06:002012-11-04T10:30:41.439-06:00Musing about Manziel, Bama & more . . .<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
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Sunday morning coffee:</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: black; clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObC8meh9NyjIhaH82AFsxxINHoevSZNF2b2qzra3xn11ft8AbzAucL2rB6AHJRwuz1ATKw76VTpEiyIujtetGu3lihsDZuMDj9tYDH76f4ugyoC6R3UExg4wGor-5U3NRHf6IRFaWGnQ/s1600/mugshot+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObC8meh9NyjIhaH82AFsxxINHoevSZNF2b2qzra3xn11ft8AbzAucL2rB6AHJRwuz1ATKw76VTpEiyIujtetGu3lihsDZuMDj9tYDH76f4ugyoC6R3UExg4wGor-5U3NRHf6IRFaWGnQ/s200/mugshot+copy.jpg" width="144"></a></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Don't know about you, but I wore out my
remote control Saturday. And then I dreamed about college football
last night, mostly about what might happen when Manziel takes his
Johnny Football show to Tuscaloosa this Saturday. Listen, I'm not
counting the kid out. He is the truth.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am left with these three impressions
from Saturday:</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
• There is no reason, none
whatsoever, Texas A & M's Johnny Manziel should not be a leading
candidate, if not the leading candidate, for the Heisman. The award
goes to the most outstanding player in the country and it says
nothing about the most outstanding upperclassman player. The kid has
it all, including instincts that remind at least this writer of Joe
Montana.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
• The luck of the Irish has returned
to South Bend, Ind. No way Notre Dame was supposed to win that game
against 4-5 Pitt. The Irish are a really good team. Brian Kelly is an
outstanding coach, and, yes, Notre Dame is still in the national
championship hunt. BUT, the Irish aren't in the same league with
Alabama — or LSU for that matter. The speed differential is
obvious.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/11/musing-about-manziel-bama-more.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-10968445311230789282012-11-03T19:35:00.000-05:002012-11-03T19:35:55.265-05:00A hole-in-one for the (old) ages<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGp1UuYCGefWCdKNLPilHzz00mD-a5xJRkTU4eLkmW7VR4R-9rhBDUBXvf6DlLrVBPddUOK3A5heMjA53FQDemXE0ht1dPZoFbO-AnwpZkdHLRl-pOwchEW6LdlGuIS5uSCCBmiiBjlk/s1600/Age+90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGp1UuYCGefWCdKNLPilHzz00mD-a5xJRkTU4eLkmW7VR4R-9rhBDUBXvf6DlLrVBPddUOK3A5heMjA53FQDemXE0ht1dPZoFbO-AnwpZkdHLRl-pOwchEW6LdlGuIS5uSCCBmiiBjlk/s400/Age+90.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete Buttross, on his 90th birthday.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Ted Williams, the great baseball
slugger, once famously said: “By the time you know what to do,
you’re too old to do it.”</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfizwP7rRZQfA78tvpGWCJS3Lmsg3sR20p7Q0rzFl1GdAE4nVWfaF8oLsmqciVSAquyX3BSR_RNMLOXeaiurFIXFKiSIw8yEZ4hun-Yl0yc2M0jjq4bEyUVfYISdFg92TTISAbn0UoMpI/s1600/mugshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfizwP7rRZQfA78tvpGWCJS3Lmsg3sR20p7Q0rzFl1GdAE4nVWfaF8oLsmqciVSAquyX3BSR_RNMLOXeaiurFIXFKiSIw8yEZ4hun-Yl0yc2M0jjq4bEyUVfYISdFg92TTISAbn0UoMpI/s200/mugshot.jpg" width="144" /></a>Try telling that to Natchez golfer Pete
Buttross, who took up golf at age 72 when his wife bought him a set of clubs upon his retirement.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One month after turning 93, Buttross
made a hole-in-one, using a 5-wood to ace the difficult 132-yard
seventh hole at Beau Pre Country Club. It was Buttross's third career
hole-in-one, but, <i>only </i>his first since turning 93.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The seventh at Beau Pre is a
challenging par-3 that requites a carry over a deep ravine. Buttross
made his ace in tournament play on the second day of the Beau Pre
Fall Four Ball.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The odds against a hole-in-one have
been calculated at 3,500-to-one; however, no computer has calculated
the odds on a 93-year-old accomplishing the feat. Might not be
possible.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Buttross apparently is not the oldest
golfer to ever make an ace. In April of 2007, a woman named Elsie
McLean, 101 years young, used a driver to ace the 100-yard fourth
hole at Bidwell Park Golf Couse in Chico, Cal.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was McLean's first-ever hole-in-one
— at 101 or any age.</div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-65950270649886322072012-11-02T12:04:00.004-05:002012-11-02T12:06:03.433-05:00Roll Tide or Geaux Tigers?<br /><div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Surely, you, as I, will
be glad when next Tuesday's election is over and all the
trash-talking and cheap shots return to the football field and
message boards rather than the nightly news.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">But you, as I, also might be
surprised to learn that Tuesday's election could well hinge on the
outcome of Saturday night's Alabama-LSU game. How so?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89OjGHu-6WbEZMMTdkUTDyDPopnvG7gQRD2yNJpY-OcDG0g8QEvwzxGXEX6zWETOqSVn1DxYob712EX099mH14lF9hnyJNZHd1bdgSUBNBYRSgrupkzzogy97zeNilHe7SFSTbpgj37w/s1600/mugshot+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89OjGHu-6WbEZMMTdkUTDyDPopnvG7gQRD2yNJpY-OcDG0g8QEvwzxGXEX6zWETOqSVn1DxYob712EX099mH14lF9hnyJNZHd1bdgSUBNBYRSgrupkzzogy97zeNilHe7SFSTbpgj37w/s200/mugshot+copy.jpg" width="144" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;">As Paul Myerberg of <i>USA
Today </i> reports, the Tide-Tiger outcome has foretold which party
would claim the White House in every election since 1984. You could
look it up. Myerberg did. And here's what he found:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Over the last seven
elections, an LSU win has meant a Republican president, while an
Alabama victory has meant a Democrat in the White House. You would
think, considering the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot, it would be other way
around. It's not.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<b>1984</b>: LSU 16, Alabama 14. Ronald Reagan (R) routs Walter
Mondale (D).</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<b>1988</b>: LSU 19, Alabama 18. George H.W. Bush (R) defeats
Michael Dukakis (D).</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<b>1992</b>: Alabama 31, LSU 11. Bill Clinton (D) defeats George
H.W. Bush (R).</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<b>1996</b>: Alabama 26, LSU 0. Clinton (D) defeats Bob Dole (R).</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<b>2000</b>: LSU 30, Alabama 28. George W. Bush (R) defeats Al
Gore (D).</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<b>2004</b>: LSU 26, Alabama 10. George W. Bush (R) defeats John
Kerry (D).</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<b>2008</b>: Alabama 27, LSU 21. Barack Obama (D) defeats John
McCain (R).</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Should the trend hold an Alabama victory Saturday would mean an Obama
reelection; an LSU win would mean a victory for Mitt Romney. Who you got?</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-38581329328651197882012-11-01T10:56:00.000-05:002012-11-01T10:56:49.312-05:00A life-changing experience. . . <style type="text/css"> <!--
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<span style="font-size: medium;">This is my first football
season in 46 not working for a newspaper. So people ask me
constantly: Do you miss the games?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFztmctVYHd9BOe7IjtMJUGP_N_Eu6pvTpfe9awHnW6qtGf_kZdQ5cd2Yefoj7N9i_eKHXHP6Xd1L_-OTfzowUqS2B2voDkalEmtq_JEGudI5DrJowlY3ehDdF7juOA6gx0kDdo6vH2c/s1600/mugshot+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFztmctVYHd9BOe7IjtMJUGP_N_Eu6pvTpfe9awHnW6qtGf_kZdQ5cd2Yefoj7N9i_eKHXHP6Xd1L_-OTfzowUqS2B2voDkalEmtq_JEGudI5DrJowlY3ehDdF7juOA6gx0kDdo6vH2c/s200/mugshot+copy.jpg" width="144"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">Good question — and
there's no easy answer. What I miss most, without question: Seeing
my sports writing and broadcasting friends every Saturday. It is a
fraternity of folks who love what they do, even though they never
fail to complain about the industry, the deadlines, the editors back
at the office, the TV timeouts and the press box fare. I really do
miss that camaraderie.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">What I miss least are those
rides home, after midnight, dodging deer and fretting over whether:
1) I got the score right; and 2) I did the game justice.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I have gone to games on
three weekends this year. I could have gone to more, but I really
wanted to see how the other 99 percent spend fall Saturdays. The
truth is, I've watched an awful lot of TV football. I've worked in
the yard, gone for walks, barbequed, played golf once (poorly) and
spent one Saturday totally void of college football (TV, radio or
Internet). That was strange. I didn't much like it.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Some observations:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I miss the pageantry of it
all, sitting high above the scene and taking it all in.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I don't miss TV timeouts
when deadline is looming and the game is on the line.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-life-changing-experience.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-58088759485260434372012-10-30T17:59:00.002-05:002012-10-30T17:59:56.559-05:00We're headed into November, all tied<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
You've heard of a blind spot? If not, I'll give you a sample. Orley Hood has a blind spot. They are called the New Orleans Saints. I can't tell you the last time Orley forecast a Saints game correctly. His heart gets in the way of his head. </div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
That blind spot is all that keeps Big O from running away with this picks competition the way Bama keeps running away from everybody the Crimson Tide plays. If Orley could pick the Saints right, he'd be six or seven games ahead, coasting into November.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWteAZWCOeC3iElbFMbO-oSVMWrCUT2ftoJ0PzFAs-qmEujbn-vItiDIYL8Df3wCo06Jq-SaFQb8x9HxUOGLhVjpkWJA4C9bZaN0uyKI_vRKdkfcYvqUPycTeRHViAkSUqNRaoMsk3Ak/s1600/orley+mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWteAZWCOeC3iElbFMbO-oSVMWrCUT2ftoJ0PzFAs-qmEujbn-vItiDIYL8Df3wCo06Jq-SaFQb8x9HxUOGLhVjpkWJA4C9bZaN0uyKI_vRKdkfcYvqUPycTeRHViAkSUqNRaoMsk3Ak/s200/orley+mug.jpg" width="136"></a>Instead, Orley and Rick are tied with 61-26 records on the season. It's closer than the Presidential election, although nearly not as contentious.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
So, without further adieu . . .</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
<br><h3>
Orley's picks </h3>
Ole Miss at Georgia: Big win
for the Rebels last week in Little Rock, even bigger for those Hairy
Dawgs, who jumped the Gators in Jacksonville. Ole Miss gave Arkansas a
lesson in the two-minute drill … twice. Georgia
played terribly but forced Florida to play even worse. No turnovers or
dumb penalties in Athens makes me think the Rebs have a realistic shot.
But … Georgia 24, Ole Miss 21. No, no, no! Turn it around! Ole Miss 24,
Georgia 21. Whew. I’m worn out all ready,
and haven’t even gotten to ...</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Texas A&M at Mississippi
State: Two questions: Can State wake up from the Tuscaloosa nightmare?
Can State deal with Johnny Football, who laid 63 on Auburn on the Plains
last Saturday? It is a monster test for Dan Mullen’s
team. Tyler Russell has to fill the skies with touchdown passes. Dogs
45, A&M 42.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
Alabama at LSU: Monster on monster, again. Trade quarterbacks, and maybe LSU’s monsters would have a shot. Tide 31, LSU 14.<br>
<br>
</div><a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/10/were-headed-into-november-all-tied.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-51641561328597385452012-10-29T17:36:00.002-05:002012-10-29T17:44:31.330-05:00Who's laughing now?<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
As most folks know, I graduated from Southern Miss, so, in a way, I am telling this on myself.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMI4HpJzZfQMO-bn8V-0pe1NJR4epXrtEsmPGMaCUlp_L5m7J7qeINlZKYV5k1WYDn7vyU_rVDVJIDhkDMYdOFUW7ExAjf7IbwrbaNDdUNFR-Dg0_piXjB7QOv1G4UH8VUjdXusMnPjQ/s1600/mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMI4HpJzZfQMO-bn8V-0pe1NJR4epXrtEsmPGMaCUlp_L5m7J7qeINlZKYV5k1WYDn7vyU_rVDVJIDhkDMYdOFUW7ExAjf7IbwrbaNDdUNFR-Dg0_piXjB7QOv1G4UH8VUjdXusMnPjQ/s200/mug.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
As my friends, from all schools know, I appreciate a good joke, especially a clean one.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
So, a really good Ole Miss friend of mine asked me today did I know the perfect solution for what Mississippi State fans can do with their "I believe, 8-0!" signs and posters from last week.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
I said, no, but I figured he did.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
I was right.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Said he, "All they have to do is give them to their USM friends and tell them to turn them upside down."</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<i>Ba-da, ba-da bing! </i><br />
<br />
Now then, to all my Ole Miss friends, I would point out that Hugh Freeze is a 1992 graduate of Southern Miss, so he must have learned something at the school down south. I would also point out that USM owed Ole Miss for producing College Football Hall of Famer Thad "Pie" Vann, the great USM coach, and Roland Dale, the highly successful USM athletic director and Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer.<i> </i></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-19905724260835855612012-10-27T15:36:00.000-05:002012-10-27T15:36:11.198-05:00Freeze's Rebels are coached sky-high<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<style type="text/css"><!--
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--></style><span style="font-size: medium;">Back in August a certain guy who
has made a living watching football for more than four decades wrote
this:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWViYEghW_QitmVje3_ZTO1Z6_ohHui0O_toG2ZUICVEUX-rQicFYEDQoXfxSWvOtceUczesepVJxRBwcMA5s8hZaV2NJykSt9QLXilwv5VsT7i013ZVPUT52Bk_7zyJ8zc0LUwaz4LRI/s1600/mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWViYEghW_QitmVje3_ZTO1Z6_ohHui0O_toG2ZUICVEUX-rQicFYEDQoXfxSWvOtceUczesepVJxRBwcMA5s8hZaV2NJykSt9QLXilwv5VsT7i013ZVPUT52Bk_7zyJ8zc0LUwaz4LRI/s200/mug.jpg" width="144" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>If Hugh Freeze were to
win five games, he ought to be Coach of the Year. If the Rebels win
six, they should go ahead and commission a statue. Unfortunately, I
think the Rebels are destined for 3-9. Freeze inherits a mess. This
is going to take some time.</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I stand corrected, but
only about the record.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Freeze's Ole Miss Rebels
defeated Arkansas 30-27 at Little Rock Saturday to advance to 5-3 on
the season. Coach of the Year is certainly not out of the question,
because Freeze surely did inherit a mess.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">What's really amazing is
that the Rebels could just as easily be 6-2 and already bowl eligible
had they closed the deal against Texas A & M. By any measure,
Freeze and his staff have done a masterful job of coaching up a
ballclub that bears little resemblance to last year.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Freeze beat a team that
had superior athletes Saturday. That's coaching. The Rebels play hard
all the time. That's coaching. They play disciplined and efficiently.
That's coaching. They do the little things right. That's coaching.
They get the ball in the hands of their playmakers. That's coaching. </span>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">What impressed me most
about Saturday's effort was the blocking of the Ole Miss wide
receivers. They were knocking down Razorbacks like bowling pins.
That's coaching and effort. Yes, Jeff Scott sure is fast, but his
wide receivers gave him plenty of room to show off that speed. Grant
Heard, the Ole Miss wide receivers coach, has coached his guys up.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The Rebels are 5-3 with
four games remaining: at Georgia, at home against Vanderbilt, at LSU
and at home against Mississippi State. They should get six and they
may get more.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-23414914341275982042012-10-26T15:09:00.001-05:002012-10-26T15:09:39.449-05:00Notes, quotes and you know what. . .<i style="background-color: black; color: white;"><b>Notes, quotes and an opinion or two. . .</b></i>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Peyton Manning and David Cutcliffe fans — and there are many of
both in Mississippi — will enjoy this <a href="http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/10/post_235.html">piece</a> by Jeff Duncan of <i>The
Times Picayune </i> in New Orleans. It gives you some idea of the
Manning family's high regard for Cutcliffe and an even better idea of
Peyton Manning's dedication to detail. Love this quote from Archie Manning: "Cut is so humble and
down to earth. He's just good people.”</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5oREiG6alLb6jhjLJvuoXj3Q2xP7PAyi96gUAnAbWdQOvzgaP6b8AQEv0v-8gnYbjjzGvyeIIhqZLzibsS-ZJvutmGJb46vfZlibYOgmeSEmm7r8v5O7vnqgzQp5L0tFUoCor3UCSKI/s1600/mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5oREiG6alLb6jhjLJvuoXj3Q2xP7PAyi96gUAnAbWdQOvzgaP6b8AQEv0v-8gnYbjjzGvyeIIhqZLzibsS-ZJvutmGJb46vfZlibYOgmeSEmm7r8v5O7vnqgzQp5L0tFUoCor3UCSKI/s200/mug.jpg" width="144" /></a>Duke's 33-30 victory over North Carolina and Larry Fedora last
Saturday lifted the Blue Devils to 6-2 and 3-1 in the ACC.
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<i>The Clarion-Ledger</i> this week listed it's 10 most anticipated Mississippi football games in the last 30 years. Here's my list of the five most memorable football games since
1980:</div>
<ol style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<li>State 6, Bama 3 (1980).<br />
</li>
<li> USM 7, State 6, (1981).
<br />
</li>
<li>Ole Miss 24, State 23 (1984).<br />
</li>
<li> Alcorn State 42, Mississippi Valley State 28 (1983).<br />
</li>
<li> Arkansas 58, Ole Miss 56 seven overtimes (2001). (Toughest
deadline I ever had to make.)<br />
</li>
</ol>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
The first annual Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Roast, featuring
Coach Jack Carlisle, was a huge success. Master of Ceremonies Skipper
Jernigan and six different roasters all had approximately 200
attendees laughing and reminiscing. The Roast raised badly needed
money to help in various refurbishing projects and new exhibits for
the museum.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
The Roast will be aired in the Jackson metropolitan area on
Comcast (Channel 17) and AT&T U-Verse (channel 51) this coming Monday and
Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. It will be a 1 hour, 45-minute broadcast.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Also professionally recorded DVDs of the Roast, produced by Anderson Productions, are
available from the museum for $40. . . .</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Traffic for this website has steadily grown over the past two
months, and we appreciate each and every reader. Our website has been
a work in progress and we are nearing completion in the next couple
weeks. The completed and expanded website will include detailed information on all
Mississippi Sports Hall of Famers, museum news and updates, as well
as blogs and columns from me, Orley Hood and occasional guests. If
you like what you see, bookmark us and tell your friends. Advertising
space will be available on the various website pages. Call 601
982-8264 for more information or email me at <a href="mailto:rcleveland@msfame.com">rcleveland@msfame.com</a>.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /><br />
</div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-65358160981703998892012-10-25T13:10:00.000-05:002012-10-25T13:10:31.822-05:00Is Bama that much better?<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Alabama opened as as a 24 point favorite over Mississippi State. The betting line has moved to 22.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
There's a lot of misconception about what all that means.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
The first misconception is that Las Vegas oddsmakers believe Alabama is 24 points better than MSU.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Xwe_29468gXhe57FmetXL_3rEPeZylOB5il_T5IL7pK3knvC3XvV3JD0VMaKoJ6dUEUEEAsZJBsgx2DM2U9EKAMalxqbrYjCUbHji-p9MYRJt9XKsIHCVQszFZ7aU6QqJQCBN6Khvwg/s1600/mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Xwe_29468gXhe57FmetXL_3rEPeZylOB5il_T5IL7pK3knvC3XvV3JD0VMaKoJ6dUEUEEAsZJBsgx2DM2U9EKAMalxqbrYjCUbHji-p9MYRJt9XKsIHCVQszFZ7aU6QqJQCBN6Khvwg/s200/mug.jpg" width="144" /></a>Not true. Oddsmakers believe that the betting public perceives Alabama is 24 points better than State. Oddsmakers are hoping to set the betting line to where there will be equal money bet on both teams. That way, the house (the bookie or casino) can't lose because of the 10 percent house advantage. The bettor has to bet risk 11 dollars to win 10 or a 110 to win 100.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
When the line goes down, as this one has, it means that considerably more money is being bet on Mississippi State than on Alabama. The line is moved in hopes of enticing more bets on Bama.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
You should know than 24-point underdogs win almost every week of the season. State was a 20-point underdog when it beat Alabama in 1980.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
The formula for that magnitude of upset usually includes several turnovers by the favorites and some big plays in the kicking game by the underdog. It happens, not all that often, but it happens.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
I happen to think Bama would win nine times if they played 10, but this might be the one. It helps State that Bama plays LSU next Saturday. There's no doubt about that. </div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-85416327634844881642012-10-23T17:57:00.002-05:002012-10-23T18:08:04.471-05:00My man, Strib. . . a Mississippi treasure<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_fLlPIdmDK33vSNGZaTEtDrQgAAY8czlGxshv0djj5JaNBq9YHZp_FFLQeCLY3kJWW5a_JQ64dRBCGwCjPGnMEXXZr5Pz1LyHcFlrrNBQ2qEAjnphZNffOJSQBGgClRSF328c3RP_5I/s1600/strib+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_fLlPIdmDK33vSNGZaTEtDrQgAAY8czlGxshv0djj5JaNBq9YHZp_FFLQeCLY3kJWW5a_JQ64dRBCGwCjPGnMEXXZr5Pz1LyHcFlrrNBQ2qEAjnphZNffOJSQBGgClRSF328c3RP_5I/s400/strib+.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lafayette Stribling and me at the MHSAA State Tournament in 2010.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal;">
</h2>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>This is a </i>Clarion-Ledger<i> column I wrote on Lafayette Stribling back in February, 2004, when he was coaching at Mississippi Valley State. Strib retired from Tougaloo Tuesday after a truly remarkable 55-year career in coaching. Strib is a Mississippi treasure.</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal;">
<style type="text/css"><!--
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</style>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: serif; font-size: large;">ITTA
BENA − Fifty−one years ago, Lafayette Stribling, the son of poor
Leake County sharecroppers, graduated
from Harmony Vocational High School in Carthage. He had to borrow a
friend's suit for the ceremony.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: serif; font-size: large;"> He
has never forgotten.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: serif; font-size: large;"> "I
promised myself, 'One day I'm gonna have me a suit of my
own, and I'm not going to have to wear
somebody else's clothes,' " Stribling said Monday afternoon in
the living room of his Greenwood home.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: serif; font-size: large;"> Boy,
did Lafayette Stribling − Mississippi Valley State's basketball
coach and Strib to his friends − ever keep that
promise.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: serif; font-size: large;"> No
visit to Stribling's Greenwood home is complete without a visit to
his "closet." The closet is actually a converted
bedroom containing approximately 200 mostly tailored suits of all
cuts and colors, 12 tuxedos, nearly
200 pairs of shoes, about 50 top hats and one mink coat that cost
more than Stribling used to make in a year.</span></div>
<!--more-->MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-80194122017797811022012-10-23T13:56:00.001-05:002012-10-23T13:56:41.487-05:00Orley cain't figure out his Saints<div class="Normal" style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-top: 12pt;">
My pal Orley can't seem to get his Saints right. He picks 'em to win, they lose. He picks 'em to lose, they win. Me? Man, I been watching those guys since I was 13. I got 'em figured out. Yeah, right. . . . The Saints' not-so-convincing win over Tampa Bay Sunday gave me a one-game lead in a two-man picks race. I was 9-2 last week, compared to O's 7-4. For the season, I am 52-20. Orley is 51-21. <br>
<br>
So here we go again. . .<br>
<br>
<h3>
Rick's picks</h3>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">
Mississippi State at Alabama: I covered this one — State 6, Bama 3 — in 1980 when the Tide was a 20-point favorite. This time, Bama is a 24-point pick. If anything, Nick Saban's bunch seems even more invincible than Bear Bryant's 32 years ago. (Come on, has it really been 32?) State can win but will have to have help from Bama, and the Tide doesn't seem to want to help anybody. In fact, Saban's guys seem like well-trained assassins. Bama, 34-13.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKaVfBG2PS5zFa8K4rzk5C-bZx-U6hT_qnM-96pRGzhyphenhyphenytOcMRq3HcCkMPnhGJoQZKLTWXr06c2i9l5N45lU_mLB9YyqP0sAI-1MZNj0PX-lhQSK9CVn4PL4EgoEh9G3f9eHCDAc_i7Y/s1600/mugshot+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKaVfBG2PS5zFa8K4rzk5C-bZx-U6hT_qnM-96pRGzhyphenhyphenytOcMRq3HcCkMPnhGJoQZKLTWXr06c2i9l5N45lU_mLB9YyqP0sAI-1MZNj0PX-lhQSK9CVn4PL4EgoEh9G3f9eHCDAc_i7Y/s200/mugshot+copy.jpg" width="144"></a>Ole Miss at Arkansas: Huge game for Ole Miss, which needs two more victories to get to six. This one is a possibility, although Arkansas is starting to look more like we thought Arkansas was going to be. Hogs, 31- 24.<br>
<br>
USM at Rice: How much worse can get this get? Winless and down to their fourth quarterback, the Golden Eagles are underdogs to Rice. For good reason. Rice 27, USM 17.<br>
<br>
Tennessee at South Carolina: After LSU and Florida, Gamecocks need a break and a home game. They get both. South Carolina, 31-17.</div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">
Florida-Georgia at
Jacksonville: Both teams can score but only one can defend. Gators, 38-27.<br>
</div></div><a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/10/orley-caint-figure-out-his-saints.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-20964493384325630122012-10-23T07:33:00.001-05:002012-10-23T07:33:43.602-05:00Ray Glier: The SEC is Goliath<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<i>Note from Rick Cleveland: Ray Glier, the hardest working sports journalist I know, will sign his book </i>How the SEC Became Goliath <i>Wednesday afternoon beginning at 5 p.m. at Lemuria. I've read it. SEC football fans will love it. I asked Ray to write a short essay from the book for our website and it follows....</i></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
By Ray Glier</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
Archie Manning knew the right question to ask
Hugh Freeze in the interview process for the Ole Miss football coach.
It wasn’t just what kind of offense you are going to run. It wasn’t
who is going to be the offensive coordinator and how are you are
going to keep players inside the state of Mississippi.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcXQMc5VelkCTFDsrSxVto_mhlyH71V1xa4VOA8Cx3cI6w3_gJgSrGrYs0Eg25oahD1xiuSsyjKaaXJC-SBwBB-XuypeTczpxx_tAbV6-CtWe_pE_nzBRImJByVoXxAtw_Wws5a2F1Ew/s1600/Rayglier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcXQMc5VelkCTFDsrSxVto_mhlyH71V1xa4VOA8Cx3cI6w3_gJgSrGrYs0Eg25oahD1xiuSsyjKaaXJC-SBwBB-XuypeTczpxx_tAbV6-CtWe_pE_nzBRImJByVoXxAtw_Wws5a2F1Ew/s200/Rayglier.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ray Glier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
The committee, Manning said, asked Freeze, “Who
is going to be you strength and conditioning coach?”</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
“A Tommy Moffitt guy,” Freeze said.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
“Which one,” the committee asked.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
“Any of them,” Freeze said.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
Freeze hired Paul Jackson, who worked for
Moffitt at LSU, as his strength and conditioning coach.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
This is all in the book, How The SEC Became
Goliath. I am signing it at Lemuria at 5 on Wednesday. The chapter is
called “Muscle Matters” and it is important because the SEC has
won national championships from the inside out, tackle to tackle. The
SEC is a line of scrimmage league. Big people beat up little people.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
Moffitt makes $300,000 a year. Scott Cochran,
the Alabama strength coach, makes a tick more than that. It’s
important. Just look on the field before the game. Look at the
personnel groups of Bama and LSU. NFL-ready bodies.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
The NFL scouts even marvel at the muscle of the
kickers in the SEC.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
There are some other interesting chapters in
the book, if I do say so myself. Alabama’s theories on recruiting
are detailed in a 7,000-word chapter. There is the tale of Lane
Kiffin at Tennessee and a chapter on defensive linemen. I get into
the rebuilding of LSU by you know you and how one coach begged off on
the LSU job in 1999 allowing Saban to be hired.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
The book is built around the six national
championships, but it also looks at the population quake in the south
and culture and money.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
I’ll talk about it with anyone on Wednesday
at Lemuria.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-60345435304598742762012-10-22T11:14:00.001-05:002012-10-22T11:14:22.292-05:00State's 6-3 victory over Bama still resonates<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"> <i>The following was a column I wrote for </i>The Clarion-Ledger <i>Nov. 2, 2005, 25 years after State's monumental 6-3 victory over Alabama and Bear Bryant at Veterans Memorial Stadium. With undefeated State a 24-point underdog to No. 1 Alabama this Saturday, now seems as good a time as any to remember what can happen. . . </i></span></div>
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<br></div>
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<br></div>
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<br></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Kent
Hull played on teams that won four American Football Conference
championship games. He played in four Super Bowls. He played for a
Buffalo Bills team that once won a game after trailing 35-3 at
halftime.</span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: black; clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-08EE4Slyvwi4rVDIxtFTqOfzJA579m4IERBXF4YGrLteCRzETReRulePwimyYaWe3zIB-UtfC811lvt13b5UyyXdtPlHRKHfrtvvxI0SpqWCsk2rYx0Mo_Av7I03-r4cHanR06KE38I/s1600/mugshot+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-08EE4Slyvwi4rVDIxtFTqOfzJA579m4IERBXF4YGrLteCRzETReRulePwimyYaWe3zIB-UtfC811lvt13b5UyyXdtPlHRKHfrtvvxI0SpqWCsk2rYx0Mo_Av7I03-r4cHanR06KE38I/s200/mugshot+copy.jpg" width="144"></a></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Tyrone
Keys and Johnie Cooks played on teams that won Super Bowls.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">But
all three will tell you - and so will most of their former
Mississippi State teammates - they never played in another game so
magical or so meaningful as the one they played in 25 years ago
Tuesday.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">A
quarter of a century later, the most improbable of scores remains:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">State
6, Bama 3.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Yes,
and if you listen closely on a quiet evening at Mississippi Veterans
Memorial Stadium, you might still hear the faint echoes of cowbells
clanging around the horseshoe. Never in this reporter's memory have
so many stayed so long and cheered so loudly after the deed was done.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">But
then, seldom have fans anywhere had such reason to cheer.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Bear
Bryant's Crimson Tide, ranked No. 1 in the national polls, was a
20-point favorite. Mighty Alabama had won 28 consecutive games, 26
straight Southeastern Conference games and had defeated Mississippi
State 22 straight times. Not a single Bulldogs player that day had
been alive the last time State had beaten Bama.</span></div>
<a href="http://hofrw.blogspot.com/2012/10/states-6-3-victory-over-bama-still.html#more">Read more »</a>MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753319675593798448.post-43171454737354300152012-10-21T15:44:00.001-05:002012-10-21T15:44:11.912-05:00The Saints: after further review<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Nothing comes easily for these New Orleans Saints. As the announcers signed off on the Saints' 35-28 victory over Tampa Bay Sunday, one asked the question: "Can the Saints get back in this NFC South race?"</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
My take: Not unless the defense plays better, much better. They were better in the second half Sunday, but better than abysmal is not saying much.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0yhoTTFc4D3SY6xpSc6Q3-SZvkwun5zeRv3luNhyphenhyphenri3UYjNvREBFl1JzCpVvTqMA2qFDv4xqG4y7AeatHJnu4_-DHd31Wk03_Ft2pQuJytDCW9YpKbupXILwZ0mYfh_LJtwNXGjPDMw/s1600/mugshot+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0yhoTTFc4D3SY6xpSc6Q3-SZvkwun5zeRv3luNhyphenhyphenri3UYjNvREBFl1JzCpVvTqMA2qFDv4xqG4y7AeatHJnu4_-DHd31Wk03_Ft2pQuJytDCW9YpKbupXILwZ0mYfh_LJtwNXGjPDMw/s200/mugshot+copy.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Before going further: The game ball definitely should have go to safety Malcolm Jenkins. His hustle play to save a Bucs touchdown was the difference in the game. He made up 20 yards in 70 yards on a speedster.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Still, the Saints must improve defensively to make any kind of run. They've got Denver Sunday night at Denver. You think Peyton Manning won't salivate when he watches the lack of pass rush and coverage the Saints have displayed all season?</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Drew Brees will get his against Denver's leaky D, but the Saints may have to score 50 to win.</div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
The Saints' other big problem is that they are chasing the undefeated Atlanta Falcons, who do play defense and run the football well enough to keep opponents' offenses off the field for long periods of time. </div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white;">
The Saints have a long, long way to go, but Jenkins' heroic tackle and Brees' impeccable passing have kept them in the discussion for another week.</div>
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<br /></div>
MSHOFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983716123434113572noreply@blogger.com0