07/26/01 - I know this first item has nothing to do with MSU football but it is for a worthy cause so please read it and, if you are able, help them out. This is the actual email that I received.

"I need your help spreading the word about this tournament. We are holding a memorial benefit tournament in Cleveland MS on Aug 10-12 in honor of Brett McClendon. Brett died tragically last year in a farm related accident. He was only 13. The proceeds of this tournament will go to an endowment fund at Delta State in Brett's name. To be successful, we need more teams (ages 11-12) and we need corporate support. Through genespage.com, you reach a lot of people. So, if you could just ask your readers to go to www.brettsclassic.com and take a look. I would appreciate it. Thanks for you help."

The policies spell out when and where parking is permitted and designate some exclusive picnicking areas in which vehicles will be excluded.

Generally, parking areas closest to the football stadium are restricted to either Bulldog Club pass holders or vehicles displaying a permit for the disabled. Several large lots are open to parking and tailgating by anyone for a $10 per vehicle fee. Lots on the east, west, and south periphery of the campus are free and open for parking and tailgating.

A number of landscaped grounds on the central campus, including the popular Bell Island area in front of Hull Hall and the lawns around the Lloyd-Ricks Building and Dorman Hall, will be roped off for "picnicking only" on a first-come, first-served basis. No vehicles or trailers of any kind will be allowed in these picnicking-only areas.

To reduce congestion and traffic delays, the new policy also establishes special vehicle routes to be in place after each football game. Officers of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, local law enforcement agencies, and the MSU Police Department will direct post-game traffic according to the plan.

The complete parking and picnicking policy, along with a color-coded map of the campus showing parking areas, picnicking areas, restricted areas, and traffic routes, is available on the Internet at msuinfo.ur.msstate.edu/parking/. Thousands of brochures including the regulations and map are being mailed to all season ticket holders and others.

Additional information or a copy of the brochure may be requested by telephoning (662) 325-9114 during Monday-Friday business hours or e-mailing mike@saffairs.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State's football season opens at home on Labor Day, Sept. 3, with a night game versus Memphis and ends on Thanksgiving night at home versus Mississippi. South Carolina visits on Thursday night, Sept. 20. The remaining four home games are on Saturdays.

The first-phase expansion of Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, including east-side club level seating and luxury skyboxes, is to be finished prior to the start of the season. The second phase addition of an east-side upper deck may be finished before the final game. When complete, the expansions will bring seating capacity, excluding the bleachers, to about 51,000.

Among highlights of the MSU football parking policy:

--Parking is permitted only in designated areas and not on islands, medians, berms, or the shoulders of streets and roads.

--Tailgating is allowed in all designated parking areas provided it does not obstruct traffic flow or infringe on another parking space. No tents are allowed in parking spaces.

--Both parking and picnicking areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Spaces may not be "saved" in advance.

--Parking and picnicking areas may be occupied starting at 7 a.m. on the day of a Saturday or holiday football game or five hours before the Thursday night game with South Carolina.

--All recreational vehicles must park in designated RV lots.

--Free parking is located at the Cooley Physical Plant Building and Auxiliary Plaza on Russell Street on the west side of campus; at the College of Veterinary Medicine and at the nearby Scales Building on the south side of campus; and in several large day student parking lots located east of Hardy Street and behind the Longest Student Health Center, Simrall and Bowen halls, and the Roberts Laundry.

Among highlights of the post-football game traffic plan:

--MSU's new north entrance road will be open by the Labor Day start of football season and will be the main egress from campus for northbound traffic to U.S. Highways 82 East and West. The north entrance road will be designated northbound one-way after each game.

--East Lee Boulevard from the eastern edge of campus to the Mississippi Highway Patrol Station on Hwy. 82 will be closed after each game. Vehicles previously using that route to Hwy. 82 now must take the new north entrance road.

--As in the past, Spring Street/Blackjack Road along the southern edge of campus will be one-way from Stone Boulevard west to handle traffic bound for Highway 25 South. Access to Blackjack Road will be from Hardy St. and Stone Blvd. Morgan St. and Magruder St. will be closed after each game.

For information about work-related game-day parking for faculty and staff, see
www.ur.msstate.edu/news/announce/staff_parking.asp.

Prather, a 6-2, 195-pounder from Falkner, Miss., is a consensus preseason first-team, all-Southeastern Conference candidate. He was named to the 2001 preseason Playboy All-America team in April.

Prather was a semifinalist for the National Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2000 by Football News magazine, despite missing the final three games of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He also earned second-team, all-America honors last fall by The Sporting News magazine. Prather garnered first-team all-SEC recognition by the Associated Press and Football News magazine. He was named second-team, all-SEC by the league's coaches.

Prather becomes the second-straight Bulldog defensive back to receive lofty consideration from the Thorpe Award voters. MSU cornerback Fred Smoot was one of three finalists for the Thorpe Award last fall, earning a trip to the College Football Awards Show in Orlando, Fla., last December.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

07/25/01 - Thought you guys would enjoy seeing a couple of pictures of the players working out. The first picture is of defensive lineman Dorsett Davis and the second picture is of defensive lineman Jake Hambrick.

Picture 1
Picture 2

07/24/01 - There was a rumor on an Ole Miss message board last week that said MSU kicker John Michael Marlin had left MSU. I saw John Michael at State yesterday. He knew nothing about the rumor.

07/23/01 - Here are a few excerpts from my premium site interview with Provine HS's outstanding defensive tackler Otis Riddley.

Otis Riddley is a 6-3, 305-pound, senior defensive tackle from Provine High School. Here is an interview that I did with him Sunday night.

What are schools recruiting you as?
Otis Riddley: "Right now they are recruiting me to play defense."

What is your maximum bench press and squat?
Otis Riddley: "300 pounds on the bench and 535 pounds on the squat."

What were your stats last season?
Otis Riddley: "I think I had 78 total tackles, 4 sacks and 1 fumble recovery."

Did you receive any calls from coaches during the spring of your junior year?
Otis Riddley: "I had about 25 to 30 calls. I was pretty pleased with that."

Where did you camp this summer?
Otis Riddley: "I only did Ole Miss and Mississippi State this summer."

What schools are you most interested in at the moment?
Otis Riddley: "Right now, at the beginning of the process, it would be Mississippi State, Auburn, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Tennessee. And West Virginia. Really, they are one of my top schools because they have really recruited me hard. Those are the schools that I have cut it down to but it could jump up any time."

Are you leaning to any school at the moment?
Otis Riddley: "I am leaning big-time to Mississippi State but I have not committed."

07/22/01 - I learned Friday night that MSU football commitment Scott Shurden, made the Sprint Factory Magazine Pre-Season High School All-American Team. Scott, who played for Noxapater HS last year, will be the place-kicker for Neshoba Central HS this coming season.

07/19/01 - Keep an eye out for these two junior offensive linemen. Both youngsters camped at the recent Ole Miss and MSU camps.

07/18/01

Mississippi State University's Central Mississippi Alumni Chapter will host its 24th Annual Summer Extravaganza on Thursday, July 19, 2001 at the Mississippi Coliseum. Coach Jackie Sherrill and several football players will be present at the event, and the MSU Cheerleaders will perform. Conference Call will also broadcast its show live from the coliseum during the event. Food and soft drinks will be provided to all, and a cash bar will be available. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased ahead of time and will also be available at the door. Tickets are $7 for adults and free for students.

Coach Jackie Sherrill will be honored at this year's Summer Party for obtaining the most wins by any football coach at MSU. A special presentation will be made to him recognizing his achievements. Speakers for the event will include Dr. Malcolm Portera, Larry Templeton and Coach Sherrill. Vendors selling Mississippi State merchandise will have tables set up prior to the program. A children's area will also be available where they will receive free "goodie bags," ice cream and face painting. Entertainment will also be provided for them.

For more information about this event, please contact Natalie Gibbs, Summer Extravaganza Chairman at 853-2874.

Seven Southeastern Conference teams were ranked in the magazine's preseason top 25. Florida, Tennessee, LSU, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia joined Mississippi State in the publication's ranking.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

07/17/01 - Here are a few names of senior Mississippi players who were at the recent MSU camp and have expressed an interest in Mississippi State.

07/15/01 - Here are the latest stadium expansion pictures. The pictures were taken Saturday, July 14th. Click here to view them.

07/13/01 - After being at MSU's football camp from early morning to late into the night, here are a few tidbits from the camp. I will have much, much more in a day or two.

I roughly estimated that there were between 900 to 1,000 campers in attendance. Most of the top players in the state of Mississippi were in attendance. Here are a few Mississippi seniors that were at the camp.
DeAngelo Dantzler - QB, Starkville HS.
Stephen Dyess - QB, Northeast Lauderdale.
Kenji McNair - QB, Pelahatchie HS.
Brett Morgan - QB, Warren Central HS.
Chris Smith - QB, Gulfport HS.
Bo Baxter - FB, Tupelo HS.
Kevin Horne - RB, Northeast Lauderdale HS.
Jerious Norwood - RB, Brandon HS.
Kerry Clark - WR, Greenville HS.
Josh Crump - WR, Amory HS.
Brian Wyms - WR, Indianola Academy.
Richard Burch - OL, Brandon HS.
Monty Collins - OL, Provine HS.
Glenn Mason - OL, Ackerman HS.
Kevin Pughsley - OL, Madison Central HS.
Jermaine Spencer - OL, Madison Central HS.
Michael Evans - DL, Olive Branch HS.
Markell McKinley - DL, Weir HS.
Otis Riddley - DL, Provine HS.
Chris Booker - MLB, Northwest Rankin HS.
Kenneth Kern - LB, Clarksdale HS.
Deljuan Robinson - LB, Hernando HS.
Curtis Keyes - DB, Mize HS.
Stephen Arant - DB, Indianola Academy.
Tucker Bullard - DB, Pillow Academy.

Just about every top senior kicker in the state of Mississippi was also at the camp. Here are a few names.
Scott Shurden - Senior, Neshoba Central HS.
Stephen Gostkowski - Senior, Madison Central HS.
John Skelton - Senior, Madison Central HS.
Bryan Walker - Senior, Northwest Rankin HS.
Chris Beckman - Senior, Grenada HS.
Brooks Crabtree - Senior, Starkville HS.
Parker Mullins, Jr. - Senior, Starkville Academy.

More later!

07/11/01 - The Mississippi State football coaching staff is putting the final touches on preparations for its final high school camp, a two-day session beginning Friday, July 13.

The Bulldog coaches expect more than 1,200 high school student-athletes on the campus this weekend, a number that will be comprised of campers from at least eight states. It would also bring to more than 2,000 the number of young football players on the State campus this summer. More than 700 campers attended State's June session and over 100 junior campers (third through eighth graders) participated in their three-day camp.

The combination camp is open to both high school teams and/or individuals interested in improving their games. The two-day clinic is comprised of three separate divisions ­ a seven-on-seven passing camp, fundamentals for offensive and defensive linemen, and a kicking camp. Respective high school coaches will work in the passing area, MSU coaches will instruct the linemen, and Bulldog head coach Jackie Sherrill will work with the kickers, punters, snappers and holders.

State's coaching staff has structured this camp as a prelude to the beginning of the high school practice period, a teaching session to kick off high school preparations for the fall.

Interested individuals or teams should pre-register before Friday by contacting Jane Ballard in the football office (662-325-2534), although walk-ups will be accepted.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Admission is FREE and some events scheduled are:

07/10/01 - Southaven HS senior linebacker Hunter Williams will be attending MSU's camp this weekend. Hunter, who is 6-2, 230, has led the Chargers in tackles the past two seasons. plays linebacker. He has attended camps at Southern Miss and Ole Miss and will also camp at Memphis and Arkansas. He has received numerous letters from colleges. Hunter has a great heart and attitude, according to my source.

07/07/01 - Former MSU linebacker Barrin Simpson will be the starting middle linebacker for British Columbia of the Canadian League.

07/06/01 - More news on several players coming to next weekend's MSU football camp.

07/05/01 - Indianola Academy's outstanding senior DB/WR Stephen Arant will be at MSU's football camp the middle part of this month.

If any of you know of other players that will be at the upcoming camp, please let me know.

07/04/01 - Just thought you guys would like to know that Jack Cristil got home Monday morning. His sister is staying with him this week. Although sore and weak, he is doing fine.

07/03/01 - Here are the latest stadium expansion pictures. These pictures are all from within the expansion, including club level seating, the club level lounge, both skybox levels, and the upper deck (includes the upper deck itself and the upper deck concourse). There are 36 pictures, therefore it will take quite a while to look at all of them. I made so many because I wanted to take pictures from just about every angle to satisfy the curiosity of as many folks as possible. The next time there won't be so many pictures. The pictures were taken Monday, July 2nd. Click here to view them.

P.S. Make sure you don't miss the The Central Mississippi Chapter's 24th Annual Summer Extravaganza on July 19th at the Mississippi Coliseum. It is always the MSU party of the summer. This year it is very special because it is honoring Coach Sherrill's becoming the winningest football coach in MSU history.

The Central Mississippi Chapter of the MSU Alumni Association will be hosting the 24th Annual Summer Extravaganza on July 19th at the Mississippi Coliseum. This event is the largest Mississippi State alumni gathering in the state. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Coach Jackie Sherrill will be honored at this year's "Summer Party" for obtaining the most wins by any football coach at MSU. A special presentation will be made to him recognizing his achievement. Conference Call, a radio broadcast program covering all the schools in the Southeastern Conference, will also broadcast their show live from the coliseum during the event. Coach Sherrill along with several MSU football players will be signing autographs that night. The MSU Cheerleaders and pom squad will be performing during the Extravaganza, and Bully will also be on hand. So be sure to bring your whole family as well as your cameras!

The speakers for the event will include Dr. Malcolm Portera, Larry Templeton and Coach Sherrill. Food and soft drinks will be provided to all and a cash bar will be available. Vendors selling Mississippi State merchandise will have tables set up prior to the program. A children's area will also be set up where children will receive free "goodie bags", balloons, ice cream and face painting. Entertainment will also be provided for them.

Tickets may be purchased ahead of time or will be available at the door. They are $7.00 for adults and all students get in free. We encourage all MSU alumni and friends to plan to attend for a night of good food, fun and fellowship, Mississippi State style! Also, please come and show your support for Coach Sherrill and his preseason Top-10 football team.

07/02/01 (11:45 a.m.) - A national on-line service devoted to college football has selected Mississippi State as its favorite to win the Southeastern Conference's Western Division.

In preseason predictions announced by www.collegefootballnews.com, Mississippi State is picked to finish 9-2 overall, 6-2 in the SEC. The Bulldogs were selected to finish one game better than Alabama and LSU in the conference standings. Arkansas was expected to finish fourth, Auburn fifth and Mississippi sixth.

The on-line site also selected State senior tailback Dicenzo Miller (Weir, Miss.), senior defensive tackle Dorsett Davis (Cleveland, Miss.), junior linebacker Mario Haggan (Clarksdale, Miss.) and senior defensive back Pig Prather (Falkner, Miss.) to its preseason all-SEC squad. Haggan and Prather were selected the fifth- and sixth-best players in the league, respectively, regardless of position.

In unit rankings released by the website, MSU's running backs were honored as best in the SEC, the quarterbacks were third-best, while the receivers and offensive line were awarded sixth-, and seventh-best, respectively. On the defensive side, Bulldog linebackers were third in the league, the secondary was fourth overall and the line was sixth-best.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

07/01/01 - MSU has received a commitment from Brandon HS running back Jerious Norwood. Jerious, who is considered one of the top five ruining backs in the country, will do for MSU recruiting this coming recruiting season what current running back Dontae Walker did for MSU recruiting when he committed early prior to his senior year.

BTW, according to two excellent sources of mine, Jerious has a reputation of being a fine student and an exceptional young man.