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| 1999 | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2000 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2001 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2002 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July |
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08/30/02 - The steel for the endzone bleachers arrived Wednesday. The bleachers should go up pretty fast now that the steel has arrived.
The award is named for Dave Rimington, college football most decorated offensive lineman, and will be presented Dec. 14, 2002.
Jones, a 6-2, 291-pounder, has played in 12 games since coming to MSU as a non-scholarship player in 1999. He earned a scholarship prior to his sophomore season and made six starts at the position to conclude that season.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/28/02 - Excerpts from yesterday's MSU press conference.
Opening comments by Coach Sherrill.
Season opener: "This is an exciting time of the year. Everybody in the country is getting ready to start the season. We are not only getting ready for this game, but for 11 more and hopefully, for 12 or 13 more."
Freshmen: "We will travel 19 freshman. That is redshirt and true freshmen. We will probably play 17 of them. Does that make you concerned? Yes and no. Yes because of the youth and inexperience. No, because these are not ordinary players. They will make mistakes, but they will also make plays and big plays."
Oregon: "We are playing a team that is very good, especially offensively at the skill positions. the running back, Onterrio Smith, is really an outstanding player. He is the big back they can give the ball to 15, 20, 30 times a game. Last year, he split time and still had 1,200 yards rushing. The receivers are excellent. They have three of them. One of them, Keenan Howry, is being pushed for the Heisman Trophy. He is a tremendous return specialist, who averaged 13+. They have two good kickers. Their field goal kicker kicked 51, 54 and 55 (field goals) in the scrimmage the other day. Their punter was good last year. They had some punts blocked. He is a three-step punter. Unless the snap is perfect, with the three-step punter, you have a chance to get quite a few of them blocked."
Oregon's Autzen Stadium: "It is the most difficult place to play in the PAC-10 because of the noise level and the people being on top of you. They have only lost 1 (home) game in the last 3 or 4 years and that was to Stanford last year. They lost that because of the kicking game. They had two punts blocked and a couple of kickoffs returned against them for good yards."
Departure time: "We will leave Thursday after practice. We will get there at 11:30 our time, which is 9:30 their time. We will work out Friday around 11:30. We have to be off the field at 1:30. The reason we will work out is to get accustomed to their turf. It is different. Hopefully, we can make that adjustment pretty quick."
What are the benefits of playing Oregon the first game of the season?
"The biggest thing is the exposure that you get. When you are able to be on national tv and you are playing a team that is interesting, meaning that Oregon draws the interest of people around the country. And so does Mississippi State. When they put that matchup together, that matchup was put together for the benefit of the tv audience.
"The second benefit is you get the opportunity to go play a team that is very well thought of, a very highly rated team. And quite frankly you are better off if you play somebody you get something out of regardless of the outcome. If you are playing somebody you don't get any benefits regardless of the outcome it is not very good. There are some teams that score 50 to 60 points against a team and it really didn't benefit them in any way other than a win."
How does their team speed compare to the team speed of schools in the SEC?
"They will have speed. There is no question that their receivers are fast. They had two cornerbacks last year that could really run. Both of those guys are playing in the next league. Everybody that has played them has said the one thing that is really a distraction is the uniforms. They are green and black and they don't make them look as big and fast as they are. They are a very quick football team.
"Defensively, up front, they are a team that has been able to stop the run. They will play eight people, sometimes nine. They put the two corners out there and let them go. They are having a hard time trying to match their corners that they had last year. They have taken a guy that played in the nickel package and put him at corner. They haven't really settled on the other one. They are still trying to find the player at the other corner."
Talk about the defensive line behind Kelly, Fields and Nash.
"Lennie Day has probably made the most improvement. We feel comfortable with Lennie Day. He has made a lot plays during two-a-days. You have (Greg) Jack who has moved back to defense. You also have Jadice Moore, who had really improved. We will line up with seven guys and rotate them."
Will it be PAC-10 or SEC officials?
"It is Pac-10 officials. Sometimes that is good, sometimes that is bad. Sometimes it is good because they are tougher on the home team than they are on the officials. You will always have to be better than the officials to win a game. I am not saying that in a derogatory manner. There are going to be calls on both sides of the ball."
How is Dontae Walker?
"Dontae run well yesterday. I expect Dontae to play well."
What will (Juco transfer) kicker Brent Smith do in the game?
"Brent will definitely kickoff. On the day of the game, if John Michael Marlin is kicking like he has been kicking, then he will start off kick the short field goals. Of course, Brent will handle the long ones. If (John Michael) is not kicking well that day, then Brent will handle all of it."
Has Brent surprised you?
"Yes, he has tremendous strength in his leg. He is very, very talented. Sometimes, when you ask kickers to change things, they can't. You can tell he has played a lot of soccer, because he has great balance and he can do some things with the football that a lot of people can't."
Do you have any injured players that won't play during the game?
"(Juco backup cornerback) Odell Bradley will not play. He is the only one that would have made the trip and played."
How many players will you play?
"You would like to play all of them because that means you are playing well.
"Offensively, I think we will play eight offensive lineman. Receivers-wise, we will probably play eight. At running back, we will probably play all four of them. We will play all three of the fullbacks. We will play both quarterbacks. We will play three tight ends in different capacities.
"Defensively, we will probably play, in some capacity, everybody that is on the two-deep."
Who do you compare their running back, Smith, to?
"Jamaal Lewis, the one who played at Tennessee. They are very similar.
"Their little receiver (Keenan Howry) is like Jack Jackson, the (former wide receiver) out of Florida."
How has starting offensive left tackle Donald Tucker done during the preseason?
"I am really pleased with Tucker because he has demonstrated over the last few days that he is able to play a lot of plays. As a matter of fact, in the conditioning yesterday, he was like the first one."
Will true freshman Marvin Byrdsong middle linebacker or on the outside?
"It all depends on how we line up."
How do you prepare for a quarterback that you haven't seen?
"We really don't know that much about him. We know he is bigger, taller and thicker than Harrington. And they are saying he is faster than him. You prepare for the offense and make adjustments during the game."
Playing a team of this caliber, have you seen your team focus much quicker in practice?
"Yeah, the focus has been there."
When I asked about what officials will call the game, I was mainly getting to the fact about how the officials would call the game. Since they are Pac-10 officials, have you and your staff studied the Pac-10 officials to see how they call games?
"Sure. Do they call pass interference the same? Do they call roughing the quarterback the same? Do they call holding the same? There are a lot of things, if you are a throwing league, they are going to accept. There are a lot of things, if they aren't a throwing league, they won't accept because they see it all the time."
08/22/02 - Practice update:
STARKVILLE, Miss. With two-a-days concluded and game week still a few days away, Mississippi State head football coach Jackie Sherrill and his staff spent a little extra time with their younger players Wednesday, hoping to unveil additional help as the 2002 season looms.
State again practiced just over two hours, working the offense and defense on separate fields against scout team opposition. Wednesday's practice, however, ended with a 15-minute scrimmage between young players on both sides of the ball.
"We wanted to give those guys some extra reps," Sherrill said. "We were looking for some guys to make plays, and some of the players who stood out in full-team scrimmages, were again playmakers."
Sherrill called out true freshman tailback Nick Turner (Atlanta, Ga.) and classmate wide receivers Tee Milons (Starkville, Miss.) and Brandon Wright (Memphis, Tenn.) on offense, and linebacker Marvin Byrdsong (Longview, Texas) on defense, for their work in the abbreviated scrimmage.
"I think this scrimmage gave them a little encouragement, showed them a little attention," Sherrill said. "I think we're pretty well settled on the players that will make the trip (to season opener Oregon)."
Bulldog players continue to mend from two-a-day wear and tear. Red-crossed from contact Wednesday were offensive guard Michael Allen (Dundee, Miss.) with an aching knee, wide receivers Ray Ray Bivines and Antonio Hargro (Gautier, Miss.), who continue to battle nagging hamstring and groin discomfort, respectively, and tailback Jerious Norwood (Brandon, Miss.) who has an abdominal injury. On defense, cornerbacks Demetric Wright (Courtland, Miss.) and Korey Banks (Boynton Beach, Fla.), have forearm and ankle injuries, respectively.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/21/02 - Practice update:
A part of Ron Polk's first recruiting class at MSU, Showalter set a single-season record for batting average in the SEC in 1977 with a .459 clip. A first-team, all-SEC and all-America selection, Showalter also led the Bulldogs that year with 44 RBIs. A fifth-round selection by the New York Yankees in the 1977 amateur draft, Showalter played seven years in the minors, setting a Southern League record for hits in a season in 1980.
Showalter later would manage in the Yankees' minor league system before taking over as manager of the major league club in 1992. He won the American League Manager of the Year award in 1994 and led the club to the playoffs in 1995 before being eliminated by the Mariners in the five-game Division Series.
Showalter later took the reigns as the first manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, helping build the club from the ground up as he directed the amateur drafts from 1995-97. He directed the club in its first three years of existence, helping the team to its first 100-win season in 2000 and laid the foundation for the team's World Championship in 2001. Showalter now serves as an analyst for ESPN's Baseball Tonight broadcasts and color commentator for both radio and TV games for ESPN.
Keys was named second-team, all-SEC for three straight years (1978-80) during his tenure as a Bulldog. He currently ranks sixth on the school's all-time sack chart, recording 15 during his four-year career. Keys went on to play football in the Canadian Football League for two seasons and played for Chicago, Tampa Bay and San Diego during his seven-year NFL playing career.
Now a resident of Tampa, Fla., Keys received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unsung Hero award to recognize his work in community service as founder of the All Sports Community Service organization in 1993. ASCS helps needy youth obtain four-year scholarships to universities throughout the U.S. and Canada while also promoting community involvement.
Black earned four letters on the football field from 1973-76. The Associated Press and United Press International named him first-team, all-SEC at safety in 1976 after recording 91 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one sack. In 1975, he tied for the team lead in interceptions with three. In 1974, in one year as a wide receiver, Black caught 14 passes for 266 yards and brought down four TD passes, helping that 1974 team to a Sun Bowl win over North Carolina.
Black led the '75 and '76 Bulldogs in punt return yardage, averaging 12.3 yards per return in 1976. He also ranked as the third-leading tackler on the team in 1976. A 1977 draftee by the San Francisco 49ers, he now resides in Madison as owner of Bulldog Construction Company.
The class of 2002 marks the 145th, 146th, and 147th former State standouts to be inducted into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame, which was established in 1970.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/20/02 - True freshman offensive tackle Richard Burch appears to have won the second string right offense tackle position. I talked with Richard after practice yesterday.
What was the first thing you noticed about college ball compared to high school ball?
"The main thing was the speed. These boys are much, much faster than the high school boys. That's the way I like it because it makes me work hard. They are also a lot stronger. That means I have to work more on my leverage since I am so tall."
What has your position coach, Terry Lewis, told you that he likes about you?
"Really, he just tells me to keep on working. He critiques me a lot and sometimes it is nerve racking, but I appreciate him doing it since that will help me. The main thing he tells me to do is work on my footwork."
Where have you improved the most since you have gotten here?
"Footwork. (Coach Lewis) says if you don't have the footwork, you can't block."
Do you know if you are going to play this year?
"Right now, they have me at second string, but I have to work hard to try and keep that position and make it to Oregon."
The Rotary Gridiron Classic, a game that matches the top players from around the nation against those from the state of Florida, will be played Jan. 25, at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
Bulldogs chosen to the initial watch list were: cornerback Korey Banks (Boynton Beach, Fla.), linebacker Mario Haggan (Clarksdale, Miss.), tight end Donald Lee (Pheba, Miss.), free safety Josh Morgan (Vicksburg, Miss.), and tailback Dontae Walker (Clinton, Miss.).
Banks, a 5-11, 183-pounder, led the Bulldogs with four interceptions and 14 pass deflections last fall. Haggan, a 6-3, 253-pounder, was an all-America selection in 2000 and is a two-time all-SEC choice. Lee, a 6-4, 248-pounder, is a two-year starter at tight end who has also been invited to the 2003 Hula Bowl. Morgan, a 6-1, 199-pounder, was an all-SEC selection last fall and is a two-year starter. Walker, a 5-10, 248-pounder, is 13th on the school's all-time rushing list.
Monday marked the first day of school for the fall semester at Mississippi State and a return to once daily practices. It also saw the return of several banged up Bulldogs to practice field.
The injured list was essentially reduced to just four players, who remained sidelined during individual and team drills. Linebacker Tarus Morgan (Chattanooga, Tenn.) suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain during Saturday's scrimmage and was relegated to the stationary bike. He was joined on the pedals by defensive end Robert Spivey (Clarksdale, Miss.) who has a hyper-extended knee. Wide receiver Ray Ray Bivines (Gautier, Miss.) continues to struggle with a hamstring pull and fullback Willie Evans (Waynesboro, Miss.) joined him with the same ailment midway through Monday's workout.
"Today is always the worst practice of preseason," head football coach Jackie Sherrill said. "The players are still recuperating from two-a-days, and with school beginning today, they are out of that routine of practicing twice a day."
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/16/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. The thunderstorms that rolled through the Starkville area Thursday night gave the Mississippi State coaching staff the opportunity to put the Bulldogs through their paces Friday morning on the new Sprinturf recently installed in the Shira Athletic Complex.
The new practice surface, similar to the one the team will find in Eugene, Ore., when the Bulldogs open the season Aug. 31 against the Oregon Ducks, was laid just a week ago. Head football coach Jackie Sherrill and his staff were eager to get their charges on the artificial turf, and the rain-soaked fields behind the Complex gave them a ready chance.
"It was good for us, we needed to get on it since we're going to be playing on it," Sherrill said. "It was good for the guys to be able to run on itstart and stop on it. And it gave the kickers and holders a chance to work on it.
"Plus, it gave us a little change in the rhythm," Sherrill said, "and at this time in two-a-days, that's good for the players. Instead of going outside, it gave them something a little different."
The change in the practicing surface wasn't the only alteration to Friday morning's schedule. The Bulldogs worked on all facets of the kicking game and then dismissed the defense. The offense spent 20 minutes working on polishing play selection and then it retired to the locker room. The entire team was gone within an hour.
Friday's afternoon session, however, brought the Bulldogs back to the outside production line.
It was a familiar routine for the Bulldogs. The offense and the defense worked individually, in groups and in team competition. One-on-one drills between the offensive and defensive linemen, and between wide receivers and defensive backs highlighted the afternoon workout. The late session was concluded with a scripted, full-speed scrimmage, in which the defense wrapped up ball carriers rather than full contact.
True freshman tailback Nick Turner (Atlanta, Ga.) was added to the injury list with a bruised foot, an aggravation of an old high school malady. It forced him to sidelines midway through the afternoon workout. Punter Jared Cook (Columbus, Ga.) and place-kicker Brent Smith (Byhalia, Miss.) returned from Achilles and hamstring injuries, respectively.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/15/02
The first Jackie Sherrill show will be Tuesday, August 27th, at the Harvey's in Starkville. It begins at 7:00 p.m. All other shows will be on Thursday's at 7:00 pm, except the week of the Auburn game, which will be on Tuesday at 7:00 pm. Please show your support for the show and Gene's Page sponsor Harvey's by attending.
Head football coach Jackie Sherrill will introduce his assistant coaches and the Bulldog team, and MSU fans can get autographs and take photographs of their favorite players. Fan Day activities have been moved inside the coliseum this year to escape the heat and humidity of Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field.
On the practice field Thursday, the good news was there were no additions to the Bulldog injury list. Wednesday's controlled scrimmage produced less battle scars than a normal two-a-day practice period. The bad news was that everyone who missed the scrimmage Wednesday was also held out of Thursday's drills.
MSU worked twice again Thursday, two-hour sessions in headgear only during the morning and then full pads in the afternoon.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/14/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. The Mississippi State athletic ticket office announced Tuesday that it had sold 37,140 football season tickets for the 2002 Bulldog campaign, a record sales total.
State set its previous mark last fall when the school announced a season-ending total of 36,542 tickets sold. The ticket office reported that a limited number of season tickets still remain available, and that the purchase of a full-price season ticket is the only way now to see the MSU-Tennessee game in person. Individual game tickets for the Nov. 16 Bulldog-Volunteer match-up are sold out.
On the practice field, MSU head football coach Jackie Sherrill told his team early on that enduring two-a-days was more mental than physical. As his team reached the midpoint of those twice-daily drills, he had not changed his mind.
"Wešre pushing through two-a-days really pretty well," Sherrill said. "Our players have to realize that everyone in the country is going through the same thing. The good thing for us is that we havenšt had anyone miss a practice because of the heat or their lack of conditioning."
State did, however, add to its injury list Tuesday. Regular defenders Tommy Kelly (Jackson, Miss.) and Mario Haggan (Clarksdale, Miss.) did no contact work in the second session with abdominal and back injuries, respectively. Tailback Dontae Walker suffered a first-degree medial collateral ligament injury during those drills and freshman defensive back David Heard (Vicksburg, Miss.) sat out the afternoon workout with a foot injury.
As the team prepared for its first scrimmage of two-a-days Wednesday, the Bulldog head coach continued to rave about his incoming class of new players.
"We have some young guys who look like they want to earn a spot on the field," Sherrill said. "Wešll use tomorrowšs scrimmage to see which of the new guys can make plays."
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/13/02
Talking with Parade All-American Marvin Byrdsong after yesterday's practice.
Marvin, you have been moved to DE from LB. Have you enjoyed the switch?
"Yeah, I've enjoyed it. It has been a big step for me. I have been playing middle (linebacker) all through high school. I'm going to work hard and try to excel at it."
What has been the biggest adjustment for you in moving to DE?
"It seems like you have to mess with the linemen more. I'm not used to working with the linemen on every play. You have to use your strength more. It will wear you out more, I'll tell you that."
Do you feel they moved you to DE so that you could play this year?
"Ever since they started recruiting me, they never talked about redshirting me. They have talked about seeing what I could do to help the team early."
Today was the first day of hitting in full pads. How do you think you did?
"The first day of hitting in full pads, I think I did alright, although I don't think I did as good as I can. It will get better. I have a lot of work to do. Other players have been helping me out a lot, telling me what I'm doing wrong. That is helping a lot."
What parts of your game do you feel you really need to work on?
"When they send me in on a blitz, I think I'm a little too high. Because of that, the linemen get good shots on me."
The Bulldogs worked two-hours plus in shorts and shoulder pads-only during a cool morning session Monday. The squad donned full football gear for another two-hour workout in the afternoon, head football coach Jackie Sherrill's first look at his 2002 team in pads.
"It was good to get the pads on and begin to see how much help we're going to get from the young guys," Sherrill said. "Wešre in our fourth day and if we were playing a game today, we'd have everyone available. That will be a priority for the rest of the week; keeping everyone healthy."
The injury list improved throughout the day Monday. Wide receiver Brandon Wright (Memphis, Tenn., sprained ankle) was back to full go in both practices, performing all individual, pass skeleton, and team drills. Position-mates Ray Ray Bivines (Gautier, Miss., hamstring) and Terrell Grindle (Hattiesburg, Miss., hamstring) saw increased work with the unit from last week, but retired to the stationary bikes for some of the more demanding action in the morning. They saw even more time in the afternoon.
Competition continued to escalate among the specialists. Incumbent starting punter Jared Cook (Columbus, Ga.) and top reserve from '01 Robert Wallis (Columbus, Miss.) have both kicked well. That duo appears to be ahead of true freshman Brett Morgan (Vicksburg, Miss.).
A three-way battle rages among the place-kickers. Returning regular John Michael Marlin (Tupelo, Miss.), junior college transfer Brent Smith (Byhalia, Miss.) and true freshman Keith Andrews (Bastrop, La.) are all getting long looks from Sherrill.
Joey Judge (Philadelphia, Pa.), a non-scholarship former quarterback candidate, and Morgan have worked as the team's primary holders. Kevin Sijansky (Katy, Texas) and Ron Bonavita (Hollywood, Fla.) handle the snapping duties.
"We have a chance to be really improved in the kicking game," Sherrill said. "The competition there has made everyone better."
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/12/02 - Juco walk-on tight end Kyle Wiley update.
Kyle, a junior college transfer from Northeast Oklahoma A&M junior college, came in with the newcomers about a week ago. He has really impressed his position coach, Terry Lewis.
You have played against the veterans a few days. Talk about how you have done so far.
"I feel like I'm doing real good (in practice). I've done real good in the drills. The problem is learning all the plays. You know you are going to make some mistakes. The only thing that will get you to where you want to be is repetitions. I get ticked off when I make mistakes, but I just have to study the (play)book every night."
08/11/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State's football team received a welcome relief when it reported for Saturday morning's practice, the first of two, two-hour practices on the final day before donning full pads Monday.
But it wasn't just the overcast skies and cooler-than-normal temperatures that pleased the Bulldogs, the team also enjoyed a morning workout in head gear only. It seemed to make a difference in the spirit and enthusiasm on the practice fields behind the Shira Athletic Complex.
"The first three days have been exceptional," head coach Jackie Sherrill said. "We have worked awfully hard and done a lot of full-speed drills. Išm still amazed by the team's physical conditioning. Like Michael Allen, I don't even know who he is."
The offense and defense worked separately throughout the morning drills, polishing what each group has installed through the first three days. The wide receiver corps continued to operate a little short-handed. Ray Ray Bivines (Gautier, Miss.) and Terrell Grindle (Hattiesburg, Miss.) were limited to walking through some offensive sets early in the practice, while Brandon Wright (Memphis, Tenn.) sported a boot protecting his ankle sprain. All three should return to the practice field for the first day in pads Monday.
"There injuries are nothing that's going to keep them out for long," Sherrill said. "Besides, I know what two of those three can do, and what I've seen of the other tells me he can play."
Both the sun and the shoulder pads returned for the afternoon workout, which featured about 10 minutes of full-speed, full-team non-contact work between the offense and the defense. Quarterbacks Kevin Fant and Kyle York both threw the football well, according to Sherrill.
The head coach announced that beginning with Monday's first session in full gear, practices would be closed to the general public.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/10/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State seniors Mario Haggan (Clarksdale, Miss.) and Donald Lee (Pheba, Miss.) have been extended invitations to play in the 2003 Hula Bowl Maui postseason all-star classic, the bowl announced Friday.
The 56th annual game, scheduled for two weeks later than usual on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. CT, will be played at War Memorial Stadium on the island of Maui, and will be televised by ESPN. The Hula Bowl is also the first game of a two-day all-star weekend on the island, with the National Football League's Pro Bowl scheduled for the following day in the same stadium.
Haggan, a 6-3, 253-pound linebacker, was named second-team, all-America by The Sporting News in 2000 and is a two-time, all-Southeastern Conference selection. He has started 20 of the 29 games in which he has played and made 240 career tackles. His 132 tackles in '00 tied for ninth nationally.
Lee, a 6-4, 248-pound tight end, has also started 20 times for the Bulldogs, playing in 33 games overall. He has recorded 39 pass receptions for 450 yards and two touchdowns during his Bulldog career.
On the practice field, Haggan and Lee again paced the full Bulldog squad through a pair of two-hour plus workouts, with Friday's drill featuring offense vs. defense non-contact work for the first time.
State's receivers and defensive backs were paired in both one-on-one drills and pass skeleton practice. MSU receivers Antonio Hargro (Gautier, Miss.), Terrell Grindle (Hattiesburg, Miss.), Justin Jenkins (Pearl, Miss.), plus newcomers Brandon Wright (Memphis, Tenn.) and Tee Milons (Starkville, Miss.) all made big catches. Defensive backs Korey Banks (Boynton Beach, Fla.), Milas Randle (Indianola, Miss.), Walter Burdett (Riverdale, Ga.) and Gabe Wallace (Greenwood, Miss.) all made outstanding plays.
The receivers worked a second straight day without Ray Ray Bivines (Gautier, Miss.), who was relegated to watching the action from the sidelines. The MSU training staff was making a concerted effort not to rush Bivines, who had hamstring troubles at the opening of two-a-days last year. Grindle joined Bivines on the side for the day's second practice after he aggravated a hamstring as well. Wright was helped to the sideline midway through the afternoon drill with a minor ankle sprain.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/08/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State practiced twice Thursday, the team's first full-squad workout of the 2002 preseason.
Over 70 veteran players joined the 30 newcomers who reported to campus last week for a pair of two-hour-plus workouts on the practice fields behind the Shira Athletic Complex. While the team worked in sunny, 90-degree heat and humidity, heavy equipment was preparing the Complex indoor practice facility for a new floor covering.
"I think it is very evident what kind of shape these guys reported in," MSU head coach Jackie Sherrill said. "This is the best first day we have ever had here. I thought the players on the offensive and defensive lines maybe have made the most strides in that area, but I was really impressed with the defensive backs' conditioning as well.
"I thought the concentration while we were in team drills was good, despite the heat," Sherrill continued. "We are better off right now than what we were in the spring and in good shape compared to where we have been in past years. I think you have to credit the summer conditioning program and the intensity with which our players have gone about it for our physical shape."
Sherrill again complimented the off-season conditioning work of offensive linemen Michael Allen (Dundee, Miss.) and Johnny Wadley (Hernando, Miss.), who combined to lose 90 pounds since last year, and Will Rogers (Fairburn, Ga.), who dropped 20 pounds from his '01 weight. The head coach lauded the on-the-field work of true freshman wide receiver Brandon Wright (Memphis, Tenn.), who impressed practice on-lookers with his speed and sure hands.
Wide receiver Ray Ray Bivines (Gautier, Miss.) was the only Bulldog limited during the team's first day on the practice field. The sophomore tweaked a hamstring during passing drills in the morning session and missed the final hour of that session as well as the entire afternoon affair. It is the second straight year Bivines has fallen victim to his hamstring during two-a-days.
Throughout the day Thursday, Fieldturf was being installed in the Complex to give the Bulldogs a stadium-like artificial surface on which to practice. The long-bladed, synthetic turf, woven into a crushed rubber base, is comparable to the one at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
State beat Texas A&M in the '00 Indy Bowl, the team's last appearance on artificial turf. The new surface also replicates the field conditions the team will find at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., when it opens the '02 season Aug. 31 against the Oregon Ducks.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/07/02 - Football tidbits.
08/06/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State's brand new freshmen and junior college football players practiced twice Monday, a pair of 70-minute workouts directed at prepping the newcomers for the veterans who will report to campus Tuesday.
MSU head football coach Jackie Sherrill has called this class possibly his most physically gifted one. It will need to be that and much more when the upperclassmen return to State for the beginning of full-speed, two-a-day work.
Nowhere is that physical talent on display more than at the offensive backfield positions where four scholarship players two each at fullback and tailback have impressed practice onlookers.
A pair of Parade All-America tailbacks, Jerious Norwood (6-0, 186) of Brandon, Miss., and Nick Turner (5-10, 173) of Atlanta, Ga., have shown quick feet and a burst of speed during the first two days of workouts in shorts and shoulder pads. Fullbacks Bryson Davis (6-1, 270) of Plainview, Texas, and Willie Evans (6-2, 258) of Waynesboro, Miss., are physically imposing athletes with skill-player agility.
The newcomers will work two more times without the varsity in attendance, hitting the Shira Athletic Complex practice fields Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for a pair of 70-minute workouts. The varsity is scheduled to check into the Complex Tuesday afternoon.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
08/04/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. The newcomers to Mississippi State's 2002 football team worked for the first time Saturday, drilling for 90 minutes during the afternoon heat and returning to the Shira Athletic Complex practice fields for just over one hour in the evening.
The MSU coaching staff spent most of the afternoon workout teaching basic techniques to the brand-new Bulldogs and culminated the reduced roster for only a few minutes of full-team work. The offense spent the bulk of its time polishing a handful of plays, while the defense worked on pass drops and run pursuit before both sides broke for team work.
"This is the most athletic group that maybe we've ever had here," State head coach Jackie Sherrill said. "This group tested extremely well yesterday, so we know that it is an athletic, strong group."
The newcomers sailed through the abbreviated work without incident despite 96-degree temperatures and hot sunshine during most of the period. None of the 30 new Bulldogs were hampered by the oppressive conditions.
The newest Bulldogs will take Sunday off before returning to the practice field for a pair of practices Monday.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department.
08/03/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State newcomers, 24 scholarship student-athletes and six invited walk-on candidates, checked into Cresswell Hall on the campus Friday, marking the first day of the Bulldogs' 2002 football preseason.
The brand new Bulldogs were fitted for equipment and engaged in strength and conditioning coach Mike Grantšs physical testing program, which measures his new troops on the bench press, and in standing vertical and broad jumps. Generally, wide receivers and all backs lift 185 pounds, while linemen and linebackers raise 225 pounds.
True freshman defensive back Kevin Dockery (5-10, 174) produced some of the biggest highlights for the smaller players. He pressed 185 pounds 19 times, the most of any player at that bench weight, and vertical-jumped a squad-best 37.5 inches, the longest leap by anyone in the event in three years. His 9-10 in the standing broad jump was just one inch off the newcomer best.
At the heavier bench weight, a pair of non-scholarship players showed the way. Nick Signaigo (6-2, 234) and Kyle Wiley (6-2, 246) benched 225 pounds 25 and 24 times, respectively. Those numbers easily exceeded any from one year ago.
The broad jump winners were tailback Nick Turner (5-10, 173) and non-scholarship defensive back candidate Bernard Vinson (5-11, 187), who each vaulted 9-11.
Among the more impressive overall competitors were linebacker Marvin Byrdsong (6-2, 244), who benched 225 pounds 16 times, vertical jumped 31.5 inches and went nine feet in the long jump. Linebacker Kenny Kern (5-11, 224) hoisted 225 pounds 19 times, went 31 inches in the vertical and 8-7 in the long leap. Brett Morgan (6-0, 195) was equally impressive. Despite his size, he chose the 225-pound weight bar and raised it 12 times. He jumped 30.5 in the vertical leap and nine feet in the long jump. Defensive back Darren Williams (6-2, 191) lifted 185 14 times, went 32.5 inches in the vertical jump and 9-3 in the broad jump.
The newest Bulldogs underwent some basic orientation Friday night to ease their transition to college life. They hit the practice field for the first time Saturday.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department.