TOMMY WATSON INTERVIEW:
Talk about how the offense is looking after a few weeks of practice?
Tommy Watson: "The offense has come a long, long way since that first scrimmage. The defense dominated us that scrimmage. In the scrimmage the following Saturday, we had a 15-play touchdown drive against all three defenses. That really helped our confidence. We are trying to build on that."

You are new to the center position this year. How has it been working out for you and Wayne as you adjust to each other?
Tommy Watson: "We have had one fumbled snap and it was the first play in two-a-days. I was so pumped that I threw it back to Wayne. Since then, I have been concentrating on getting the ball to Wayne."

Do you feel you are where you want to be as far as learning the center position?
Tommy Watson: "I don't think that I am that far away and we have another week to go. I have a few minor things that I feel need to be worked out."

You seem to have taken on a leadership role this year. Have you made a concerted effort to become more of a leader?
Tommy Watson: "Yes, that is part of the reason that I am wearing the black shirt. Coach Sherrill has given out these shirts to the players that are playmakers, all-conference type players. This is my last year and I'm trying to help make sure we go out with a bang. I am trying to help get the offensive line right."

I know from reading the posts on my website message board that Mississippi State fans are as excited as they have ever been about a football season. Are the football players feeling that same excitement?
Tommy Watson: "Yes, a few of us were talking about that in the locker room the other day. An example is Fan Day coming up this Saturday. There were about 5,000 people here last year and we were wondering how many people there would be this year due to the excitement. They have a good reason to be excited because we have a great team this year. We are just as excited as they are and can't wait to see what we can do on September 3rd."

How do you as a leader make sure that the excitement doesn't hurt the team when you play Memphis?
Tommy Watson: "I have been here going on two years now and I believe I can speak for everybody when I say no player, no fan, no coach is going to overlook Memphis. Another thing is we are going to try and carry this hard work that we have been doing over to the field."

You have played head to head against some of these new defensive linemen. What is your impression of them?
Tommy Watson: "I tell you (true freshman) Ronald Fields is definitely a great player. Ronald Fields is directly in front of me on every play. I played against some great ones last year but he is right up there with them, even as young as he is. I believe, before he leaves here, he will be one of the most talented defensive linemen to have ever played here. I really do. He is the real deal. I am glad he is on our side. I am glad that I don't have to block him on Saturday."

He is similar to you in the fact that both of you carry your weight well.
Tommy Watson: "He looks great. I bet he doesn't have more than 10 to 12% body fat. He is very quick on his feet. He probably runs a 4.8 or 4.9 (forty-yard dash). The other (noseguard) playing behind him is (juco transfer) Dannie Snyder. He is just as good. Snyder is kind of like a Willie Blade-type player. He is very quick with his first two steps. He is also hard to block. Blocking against both of them has made me better."

08/22/01 - Newcomers Update via watching practice (the redshirt info is my opinion only. I base it exclusively on what I have seen at practice and the needs we have at each position.):

Chris McNeil - Running 3rd/4th team. Looks like a redshirt year for him.
Kyle York - Running 4th team. Very likely redshirt.
Jeff Billings - Running 4th/5th team. Very likely redshirt.
Brandon Downing - Running 4th team. Very likely redshirt.
Rico Bennett - Running 4th team. Very likely redshirt.
Johnny Wadley - ACL injury. Set for a medical redshirt.
Coco Hodge - Set for a medical redshirt.
Clarence McDougal - Set for a medical redshirt.
Brad Weathers - Started out 3rd team but has moved between 1st and 2nd since Allen has been out. May still redshirt but it could depend on how quickly Allen recovers. If you want my opinion, I really see him playing this year no matter what Allen does.
Michael Allen - Running second team when he was injured. Could regain that spot once he gets healthy.
Richard Ball - Was running 3rd team CB. Moved up to 2nd team recently.
Corey Brown - Running 2nd team DE. Will play a lot this year.
Walter Burdett - Running 2nd team. Keeps getting better and better. Could be a starter before the season is over with. Has been very impressive at times.
Ronald Fields - Running 1st and 2nd team at times. Will play a lot this year.
Avery House - Running 3rd or 4th team. Will redshirt.
Tommy Kelly - Running 1st and 2nd team. Has shown a lot of raw talent in practice. Just needs to add stamina. He and Fields may be the two most talented D-linemen behind Dorsett Davis. Will play a lot this year.
Kahlil Nash - Running 2nd team most of the time. Has shown the ability to be a good pass-rusher at times. Will play a lot this year.
Kamau Jackson - Running 2nd and 3rd team. Could start before the year is out.
Michael Oyefesobi, Jr. - Running 1st and 2nd team. Will play a lot this year.
Dannie Snyder - Running 1st and 2nd team at times. Will play a lot this year.
Keith Walker - Running 4th team. Very likely redshirt.
Demetric Wright - Has been running 2nd team. Of late, has been hampered by a minor injury. Could end up starting before the year is out.

Sherrill and his assistant coaching staff will introduce the players by position, and the Bulldogs will be available for photographs and autographs immediately thereafter.

In addition to the staff and players, MSU's cheerleaders and dance team will be in attendance. Face-painting and photos with Bully, a tour of the MSU locker room, and other Bulldog souvenirs will also be available.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Sports Media Relations Department

08/21/01 - MSU football news:

08/20/01 - MSU football news:

08/18/01 - Mississippi State head football coach Jackie Sherrill scaled back his Friday morning practice of two-a-day drills to just 90 minutes and the Bulldogs used the afternoon session to prepare for Saturday's final full-speed scrimmage.

Although scaled back, the practice was very physical at times. The hits were loud and, at times, the tackles were very spirited. Obviously, with the depth on the defense and the competition for a spot on the two-deep chart, the defensive players are making sure they give it their all.

Even with the physical nature of the team drills, offensive players were making plays. Running backs Dontae Walker and Dicenzo Miller made several good runs. In fact, Miller, after getting hit hard by one of the defensive backs, bounced off the hit, kept his balance, and headed for the endzone. Wide receiver Davey Crawley made an outstanding over-the-head reception with free safety Eugene Liger running step to step with him. In fact, it was such a good play, I overheard Coach Melvin Smith say those are the kind of plays that win games.

Once again punters Jared Cook and Robert Wallis were very impressive punting the ball during the punting drill, consistently kicking their punts in the 45 to 60 yard range. What is amazing about this is they are punting so well even though it is at the end of two-a-days when their legs have to be dead tired.

The team's absentee list continued to diminish as the amount of work was reduced. Defensive ends Mario Haggan (Clarksdale, Miss.), Tarus Morgan (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Corey Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.), cornerback Marco Minor (Natchez, Miss.), offensive guard Donald Tucker (Tupelo, Miss.), and Fred Reid (Tampa, Fla.) returned to the practice field. Defensive end Robert Spivey also returned to the practice field but was limited as he recovered from a knee sprain.

Still on the shelf were offensive guard Courtney Lee (ankle; Austin, Texas), offensive tackle Kenric Fairchild (knee; Greenville, Miss.), defensive backs Demetric Wright (Courtland, Miss.), Richard Ball (San Antonio, Texas) and wide receiver Ray Ray Bivines (Gautier, Miss.) all with hamstring injuries. Defensive back Milas Randle (turf toe; Indianola, Miss.) was also forced to the sidelines. Lee and Fairchild could scrimmage Saturday.

Part of this write-up came from the media relations.

08/17/01 - Here are the latest stadium expansion pictures. The pictures were taken Thursday, August 16th. As you will see, the club level seats are close to being completely installed. Click here to view them.

What are you doing to get Ray Ray back on the field?
Paul Mock: "We are doing treatments such as ultra-sound, electrical stimulation and exercise. We are having him exercise within the limits of his injury."

Do you have any idea how long it will take for him to recover from his injury?
Paul Mock: "I'm going to guess that it will take 2 to 3 weeks."

So you think in 2 to 3 weeks he will be able to play in a game?
Paul Mock: "I think he has a shot at it. Hamstrings are sometimes hard things to deal with."

08/16/01 - Desoto Co. Preseason Kickoff Party- Tuesday, August 28th, at JW Miller's in Hernando beginning at 6:30. David Murray from Dawg's Bite will be the guest speaker and will give us an in-depth preview of the season. Admission is $5 and will cover the appetizers.

State's defense held the offense to three-plays-and-out in seven of the 11 full-field scrimmage situations and allowed just six first downs in those series. MSU's offense found its rhythm only during short field and goal line situations during the second half of camp's first scrimmage.

"This was not a scrimmage per se," MSU head coach Jackie Sherrill said. "We were more interested in seeing who was going to make plays and who wasnąt. Despite that fact, there is no reason for the offense not to execute.

"It appeared that the defense played very well, but I'll have to look at the film," Sherrill said. "I know we're glad to have the guys we have over there. There's no question that our defensive depth will be a factor."

After the defense's early success, the offense scored eight touchdowns when faced with shorter field conditions. Starting quarterback Wayne Madkin threw three touchdown passes and Kevin Fant added one, and the offense scored four times on the ground.

The defense, in addition to throwing a blanket over the offense early, scored a safety late and added a pass interception (Julius Griffith).

MSU played without offensive guard Michael Allen (dislocated finger), wide receivers Antonio Hargro and Ray Ray Bivines, and defensive end Conner Stephens (hamstrings), offensive guard Courtney Lee (ankle), tailback Fred Reid (knee) and linebacker Robert Spivey (groin). The team welcomed back linebacker Kamau Jackson and offensive tackle Derrick Thompson from the injured list. Hargro, Stephens and Reid are expected back at practice Thursday.

SCORING
Jus.Griffith 7 run
Safety
Jenkins 18 pass from Madkin
Grindle 40 pass from Madkin
D.Walker 2 run
Miller 2 run
D.Walker 1 run
Wonsley 1 pass from Fant
Lee 2 pass from Madkin

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Wonsley 9-45, Miller 9-36 TD, Jus.Griffith 5-21 TD, Judge 2-13, Walker 7-10 2TD, D.Jones 3-9, Fant 4-7, Kemp 2-4, Goodman 1-2, Madkin 1(-7), York 2-(-9), Team 5-(-15).
PASSING--Madkin 10-19-0-115 3TD, Fant 3-12-0-13 TD, York1-4-1-7, Kemp 0-2-0-0.
RECEIVING-Grindle 2-49 TD, Miller 2-18, D.Lee 2-16 TD, Wonsley 2-8 TD, Jenkins 1-18 TD, Jus.Griffith 1-9, Parker 1-9, Butler 1-4, Lumpkin 1-3, D.Walker 1-1.
TACKLES--Bell 5, Fields 4, D.Davis 3, S.Davis 3, Day 3, Haggan 3, T.Morgan 3, Nash 3, Prather 3, Stowers 3, Bennett 2, Bryant 2, Byrdsong 2, Clark 2, Ezekwe 2, Hambrick 2, K.Jackson 2, Liger 2, Mawhinney 2, Ball 1, Billie 1, Brown 1, Burdett 1, Childress 1, N.Jackson 1, Minor 1, Mooneyham 1, J.Morgan 1, Oyefesobi 1, Randle 1, Robertson 1, Rogers 1, Snyder 1, G.Wallace 1.
INTERCEPTIONS--Jul.Griffith 1-1.
PASS BREAKUPS--Randle 2, Byrdsong 1, Clark 1, G.Wallace 1, Wright 1.
SACKS--Billie 1-9, Burdett 1-9, Bryant 1-6, Fields 1-6.
TACKLES FOR LOSS--S.Davis 2-5, Fields 1-7.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athetic Department

08/15/01 - Monday and Tuesday practice updates:

After a stalemated but spirited inside team drill between the offensive and defensive linemen Monday afternoon, the offensive line won the inside drill battle Tuesday afternoon, making hole after hole. At times, the offensive linemen were talking it up like defensive linemen normally do. Offensive guard Donald Tucker has had a couple of days of good inside drill work. I overheard offensive coach Terry Lewis tell the offensive linemen "it shows what you can do when you play together and are all on one page."

Newcomer defensive noseguard Ronald Fields, running on the first-team defense if practice is any indication, exhibited very good quickness and strength in the drill. A couple of times he easily got by his man with his quickness. On one play, he not only easily blew by his man but also threw another offensive lineman to the ground in an effort to get to the running back.

In the passing team drill, the defense had a little better time of it than they did earlier in the inside drill. While Wayne Madkin completed a few passes and ran for yards on several occasions, the defense had some excellent hits on the receivers. Josh Morgan laid a hit on wide receiver Darius Tubbs that drew a lot of oohs and aahs from the other players. To Tubbs' credit, he immediately got up and ran back to the huddle.

During the Monday afternoon practice, punters Jared Cook and Robert Wallis had excellent practices, booming 45 and 55 yard punts consistently. Not only were they long punts but they also had excellent hang time.

The defensive backs and wide receivers have also had some excellent one on one battles. Both units have had good plays on both sides of the ball. Newcomers Walter Burdett, dog safety, and Demetric Wright, cornerback, have made the most of their opportunities and are currently running second-team. Newcomer cornerback Richard Ball is currently running third-team.

08/12/01 - While waiting for practice to start yesterday, MSU team chaplain Ken Smith was nice enough to be interviewed by me. (BTW, practice wound up being canceled due to lightning.)

Talk about how it came about that you are now at Mississippi State as their Team Chaplain.
Ken Smith: "It probably came about because of Keffer McGee's death. I was in the area working as Chaplain for the University of South Carolina. When Keffer drown, Coach Sherrill was aware that South Carolina had a Chaplain so he called Brad Scott who was head coach then. I was in Ackerman, Mississippi at the time and less than an hour after Coach Sherrill called Brad I was here. He and I developed a friendship after that. Since then, I have spoken to the team and at football banquets.

"After we all got fired (at South Carolina), I moved back to Florida and I thought I was through, but Coach Sherrill kept insisting that I was looking to come back home to Starkville."

Weren't you born and raised in the Starkville area?
Ken Smith: "I was born and raised in Starkville. I've got a brother who is an attorney in Jackson, a little brother here in town and a sister that lives in Macon. My Mom is still here. I played football at Starkville High School and came back and coached at Starkville High School in 1966 and 1967."

What are your plans for the football team now that you are here? Did Coach Sherrill give you some things he wanted to do or did he give you the option to decide what you would do?
Ken Smith: "Some of both. He talked to me about the fact that the players have all kind of dimensions such as athletic, academic, socially and spiritually. Jackie told me that he would like to see me help develop a spiritual life for our kids. I think Jackie surprises a lot of people because he cares so much about a kid's overall development. We bounced ideas off of each other. I'll do some motivation things and teaching things to develop leadership. I have an undergraduate degree in counseling from Mississippi State. I'll work with Dr. Ellis in the Psychology Department. We are going to do some community projects with the kids in this area."

I touched on the last thing you mentioned a little on my page yesterday. How about talking a little more about that.
Ken Smith: "We are going to do two or three things on a regular basis. We are going to be in the hospitals Monday and Thursday afternoon. We will be at the Starkville and Columbus hospitals but we hope that we can develop the program to expand further than that. I would love to be a contact person...if you are a parent, teacher, coach or anybody else who has a kid who is struggling you can call me at the football office through Pam Love's office. I would hope that we could encourage kids throughout the state of Mississippi and across the South. We have already received a couple of letters from people telling us about injuries to kids and we have responded to those."

What exactly will you do, go to wherever the kids are?
Ken Smith: "We will go to the hospital with some of our players and take posters that we will autograph for the kids. Basically, I want to let the (players) see that the world doesn't revolve around them. One of the mistakes we make in college athletics is make the kids think the world revolves around them. There are a lot of people who don't do football and do some other battles. I want our kids to see that and know that and contribute to help kids be better people."

Aren't you and Mississippi State football having an area-wide service on the 19th of this month? Ken Smith: "Yes, we are actually doing two things. Last Sunday and this Sunday we will be doing worship service with the players here at Shira Fieldhouse. Next Sunday we will have a community-wide service in the Hump and invite churches all over the area. We would also love to have the MSU students there. I am going to speak and some of the kids are going to speak. We are going to have light refreshments and sign autographs after it is all over with. We are hoping to have a couple thousand people next Sunday."

08/11/01 - Mississippi State head football coach Jackie Sherrill sent his Bulldogs through another pair of practices Friday, the squad's second day of two-per-day work in shorts and headgear.

State's players again caught a weather break in its second full-squad session of the 2001 preseason camp. Overcast skies and an occasional sprinkle of rain kept the late summer temperatures at a reasonable reading. Still, MSU's head coach kept player hydration at the forefront of his precautionary post-practice discussion with his players.

"I told them that they shouldn't be fooled by the weather we're having," Sherrill said. "You can still lose an awful lot of fluids out here. It's important to make sure that you have plenty of water in you before, during and after practice."

Two days into camp, the heat and humidity had not too adversely affected the Bulldogs. Sophomore offensive guard Donald Tucker (Tupelo, Miss.) was the only Bulldog who developed cramping problems. He sat out the afternoon practice.

Sherrill was without the services of senior wide receiver Clarence Parker (Natchez, Miss.) during Friday's two practices. Parker suffered a slight groin pull Thursday and MSU head athletic trainer Paul Mock held the 6-2, 203-pounder out as a precautionary measure. Conner Stephens (Ackerman, Miss.) did not practice Friday afternoon after tweaking a hamstring in the morning.

State finishes its pre-pad work Saturday with a pair of drills. The Bulldogs don full gear for the first time Monday.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

08/10/01 - MSU sports and other notes:

The steady soaking the Golden Triangle received during the morning session brought mixed reactions from the Bulldog players and coaches. Most were glad to forego the heat and humidity that has hung over the area for the past several weeks, but the rain also hampered footing and ball handling.

"We caught a break on the weather," Sherrill said. "Actually, it's kind of a plus and a minus. The rain cut the heat, but by the end of the practice most players were carrying an extra 10 pounds."

Despite the damp conditions, most of the assistant coaches spoke highly of their group's work during the morning drills, which was observed by former National Football League star and Mississippi native Hugh Green.

Green, who played defensive end for Sherrill at the University of Pittsburgh, played high school football in Natchez at North Natchez HS.

State's full squad was back on the field for another two-hour, 30-minute session during the late afternoon, a workout that was less hampered by rain. Individual drills and team work duplicated the morning practice.

Following the evening workout, the team was addressed by Dr. Malcolm Portera, President of Mississippi State University.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

08/09/01 - Jackie Sherrill, August 8, 2001 Preseason Press Conference excerpts

JACKIE SHERRILL
"I don't know if our players or I am more excited. We will start (Thursday) morning in sweats, then get Sunday off, then go next week and scrimmage two days."

"All of our players reported. We have four players who will not be able to participate this year due to medical reasons. Clarence McDougal had a knee injury in the all-star game practice. Coco Hodge is not medically ready to participate. McKinley Scott tore an ACL three weeks ago. Also Johnny Wadley, a young man who will not be able to participate due to an ACL. He was diagnosed last year with an MCL but he really had an ACL (injury). (Dr.) Rusty (Linton), during the medicals, tested his knee. We did an MRI and he has an ACL. Will Prosser will enroll in January. We talked to Will and his father. He just turned 17. It looks like he is going to be a very good football players. What this does is give him an extra year."

Hodge and McDougal: "(Coco Hodge and Clarence McDougal) will be (at MSU this semester). Clarence will not be able to do anything physical for the next six weeks. Coco will be able to start running. Coco had a broken leg and also had some nerve damage which has caused some problems."

Johnny Wadley: "(The doctor) misdiagnosed it. Unless you are really accustomed to really big guys, it is not easy to find these injuries. We are very lucky to have (Dr.) Rusty (Linton). He is probably in the top 10% in the world."

Pig Prather: "He is fine. He could have played at the end of spring if we had been playing. He has gone through all the summer conditioning and has not missed a beat."

Richard Ball: "Richard Ball can run. He ran an electronically timed 10.2 100 meters."

Corey Brown: "He is a defensive end/outside linebacker who can run a true 4.5."

Ronald Fields: "He can run. I am kind of anxious to see him play. We evaluated him two years ago and, at that time, he weighed 260. He made tackles everywhere. He looked like he could run a 4.7 back then. To play in our defensive scheme, you have to be able to run and tackle."

Talking about competition between the new guys and the veterans: "The best guy is going to play. They know that. You are not building a football team; you are building a program. You know that you are going to have competition at your position everyday. Two years ago, when we led the nation in defense, we had two groups and they played the same number of snaps. It didn't bother the older group. In fact they relished it because it gave them time to rest."

Dorsett Davis: "(He is similar to) Randy Holloway who played at Pittsburgh. He has his ability to run. The strength that Dorsett has isn't phenomenal but the endurance that he has is. If you watch him on every snap, it doesn't matter if the ball is 20 or 30 yards down the field, he is going to go to the ball. During the summer, if you asked Mike (Grant) who was the best conditioned player, it would have been Dorsett. He is not a normal athlete."

Michael Allen: "He can give us depth (on the offensive line) because he can play guard. We will have two deep on the offensive line."

Derrick Thompson: "He is very talented. He played very well last year. He has the ability to be an outstanding player. He is not as far along as Pork Chop was at this stage, but Pork Chop had more snaps in high school as an offensive lineman."

Discussing the hype surrounding this team: "This team has won 26 games in the last three years. There are very few teams in the country that has done that. They deserve the recognition. The key to (the hype) is whether they can stay in there. We will put them in position but they have to perform. It is a lot harder to stay there than it is to get there. You work just as hard to explain things to them. And you work with them psychologically."

Talked about having every signee qualify this year: "I think that we understand and study it. I don't know if any other coach looks at the record of a kid all the way back to the first grade. We may have an advantage there."

08/08/01 - MSU football news:

08/07/01 - Click here to check out a few pictures from yesterday's practices.

08/05/01 - The newcomers to Mississippi State's 2001 football team worked for the first Saturday, drilling for just over one hour during the afternoon. The freshmen and junior college transfers were to be back on the Shira Athletic practice fields again late in the evening.

The MSU coaching staff spent most of the afternoon workout teaching basic concepts to the brand-new Bulldogs and culminated the reduced roster for only a few minutes of full-team work.

"There is a lot of talent here," State head coach Jackie Sherrill said. "This group tested extremely well yesterday, so we know that it is an athletic, strong group. We saw speed and explosive strength, and they appear to be in good condition."

The newcomers sailed through the abbreviated work without incident despite heat and hot sunshine during most of the period. Overcast skies and a strong breeze greeted the team to close the practice. Only junior college defensive end Corey Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.) was affected by the weather conditions, and he was slowed just the slightest. After a visit by training personnel, he resumed his work with the Bulldog defense.

The newest Bulldogs will take Sunday off before returning to the practice field for a pair of practices Monday.

"There are players in this group, no question about that," Sherrill said. "We need to put them in positions to perform and our coaches do a great job of that. We've won 26 games in the last three years here, and there are not many schools in the country that can say that."

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

08/04/01 - According to the Clarion-Ledger , Brandon HS offensive lineman Richard Burch has committed to Mississippi State. Click here to read about the commitment. Richard, who is listed on PepStar's Spring Top 350 player list, is the 8th player on the Clarion-Leger Preseason Top 40 Recruit list to have committed to MSU. Other players who have committed to State are OL Monte Collins, LB Kenneth Kern, DL Markell McKinley, QB Brett Morgan, RB Jerious Norwood, DL Otis Riddley, and PK Scott Shurden.

08/02/01 - Academic Update: It now appears that all of the MSU football signees will academically qualify. One thing all of you should remember, just as in the past, some junior colleges' second summer sessions are not over until after the MSU newcomers are to report. Therefore, even though a few players might not come in this Friday, that does not mean they did not qualify. It just means that they will be coming in a few days late.