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In the Columbus-Tupelo market, the show will air on WCBI-TV, Sunday at 11 p.m., in addition to Fox Sports Net South. Mississippi State Football with Jackie Sherrill is hosted by veteran sportscaster Jack Cristil and features highlights of the Bulldogs Saturday game action.

Source: MSU Media Relations

08/27/03 - Portions of yesterday's Jackie Sherrill press conference.

Coach Sherrill talked a little about who Oregon has coming back and who they had to replace.
"You remember guys who played in the game last year. Certainly (wide receiver) Samie Parker and (quarterback) Jason Fife are very talented players. Jared Siegel, their field goal kicker, is very talented, especially on his kickoffs. Their offensive line is back and almost intact. All five of them started at some time last year. Defensively, they lost some defensive ends and their middle linebacker. They've taken their outside linebacker, Kevin Mitchell, and put him inside. They taken some of their defensive tackles and moved them outside. So, the guys they have playing have experience and have lined up and played. They are still trying to find cornerbacks. I think all through camp they kept trying to see which one would play for them."

Who do you think will start at quarterback for Oregon?
"He is going to play both of them. It doesn't make any difference because it's not going to change their offense. The only thing is (Kellen Clemens) is a little more mobile so he could do some things out the back door. Where they may use him is to run some option, do some things on the counter out the back door. Their fullbacks are basically former tight ends that they put at fullback. They'll run from the tight end set at all times with the possibility of moving their fullback to make two tight ends. Bellotti has a screen built in to almost every pass play."

Talk about your offensive line matching up with the Oregon defensive line.
"We were excited when we first started because we felt we could go two-deep and play a lot of guys. Right now, we are not going to be able to play a lot of guys. Instead of playing your first and second units, you will have to play your second and third. So, that matchup will not be as good as some of the other (positions). We will know what to do, but taking on those 300+ guys that are very physical is something else. We are concerned about that."

Oregon's pass defense was one of the lowest ranked in the nation last year. Do you think that is still a concern of theirs.
"The teams that they played, Washington, Washington State, Stanford, Cal, UCLA, threw the ball a lot. Their defensive philosophy is stop the run. They are going to stop the run first and make you pass. They are going to try to make you one-dimensional."

Does this freshman class remind you of any of your other freshman classes?
"This class really reminds me of the (Pitt) 1977 class when we had some young guys who ended up winning a lot of football games (1978-81, won 41, lost 7). Everyday they improve. Just like (offensive lineman) Brian Anderson, we will try to get him ready play. I think he will be able to play for us this year. There are some others that I think will have an opportunity to play for us."

Freshman offensive guard David Price was really doing well until he went down with an injury. How long will he be out?
"He will be out for six to eight weeks in a cast."

Will he be redshirted?
"He will have to."

Do you expect freshmen (wide receivers) Tyler Threadgill and Omarr Conner to play this weekend?
"Yes, they will play somewhere this week. Also, they will show up on the special teams."

08/26/03 - Portions of yesterday's Jackie Sherrill teleconference.

08/24/03
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Mississippi State athletic ticket office has begun selling season tickets over the counter at the Bryan Athletic Administration Building to MSU students with a valid identification card.

Multiple lines of students streaming from the ticket office doors greeted MSU staff when they arrived for work Wednesday, the first day of classes on the State campus. Those lines remained constant throughout the day, as the ticket office worked toward matching last season's student ticket numbers.

Student ticket week continues Thursday and Friday this week. The Bulldogs open their 2003 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field when the Oregon Ducks of the Pac-10 Conference visit campus.

On the practice field Wednesday, overcast skies and two steady rain showers were a welcome relief to the Bulldog team. The clouds and rain cut into the lofty temperatures and high humidity that had choked the team Monday and Tuesday.

And while the trainer's thermometers reached 97 degrees when the afternoon practice began, it was a far cry from that temperature when the two-hour drill concluded. But 97 degrees was even an improvement over the 105-degree heat index on Monday and the 103-degree air temperature on Tuesday.

The first day of school and the atmospheric conditions, however, were of little concern to head football coach Jackie Sherrill following the workout.

"We had a lot of guys practice well today," Sherrill said, "but we had a lot of guys who did not, as well. We're getting a little thin on the offensive line right now, and we're practicing some second and third linemen who probably will not have to play, and it's having an effect on our timing and our pass protection.

"I did think we did well in the kicking game today," the head coach said.

Source: MSU Media Relations

08/18/03 - Post-scrimmage interviews.

Kevin Fant

It looks like you may have found yourself a go-to guy with Antonio Hargro.
"Antonio has been working hard. With Justin Jenkins, Antonio has his position and is stepping up. When you have someone go down, you have to have somebody step up. Antonio has taken up the slack."

When did you first notice that Antonio was stepping it up. Was it noticeable during the summer?
"I think he has just grown up a little bit; matured a lot over this past year. He has come out here and he has been running hard and catching the ball really well."

Antonio caught 2 TDs in both scrimmages. He explained the difference in his play this preseason practice.

What has made the difference in you this camp?
"Dedication, staying focus and being consistent. I hear the coaches telling us that all the time. They run it through your head so much until it finally sinks in. It goes in one ear and stays."

Was there a certain point where you found that dedication?
"The spring was one part. That was very hectic because the new staff wanted to see what everybody had. The summer was another big factor. People came out and worked really hard; ran, worked out, lifted weights every morning. That was all positive."

Why did it take you so long to get to this point?
"Time wasn't taken out with me. I felt like time wasn't seriously spent with me. A lot of rules were changed and bent the past couple of years. I feel like with this new staff coming in, you might as well give it your all."

You got a fresh start this year because you have a coach that doesn't have any preconceptions or prejudices.
"My last coach didn't have any prejudices. We just had a lot of young cats who wanted a chance to get out on the field."

How had your new coach, Guy Holliday, affected your play this year?
"He affected my play by being straight up with me. People are not just coming in here to see you but to see the team. It is more of a team thing about it now."

He seems to be tougher on the receivers than the previous wide receiver coach. Has that helped you?
"I've always had a tough role model in my life to encourage me and get at me. There's nothing new to it. I'm already used to it."

08/17/03
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State scored four of its seven offensive touchdowns on big pass plays, but it was inconsistent offensive line play that drew head coach Jackie Sherrill's thoughts following Saturday's second full-scale scrimmage of the 2003 preseason.

"Offensively, I thought we caught the ball well, but we have a lot of work to do on the offensive line," Sherrill said. "We were able to make some big plays, but we weren't nearly consistent enough. I guess the best thing you can say about this scrimmage was our field goal kicking."

State's offense scored on four of its first eight possessions during the 100-minute scrimmage, played in blazing sunshine. Quarterback Kevin Fant connected with Ray Ray Bivines and Jerious Norwood on long-distance touchdown throws and quarterback Kyle York hit Antonio Hargro with another long-range aerial. Tailback Nick Turner added a short TD run during that scoring skein.

For Hargro, that 64-yard strike from York was the first of two scoring receptions for the junior from Gautier, Miss. He also tallied on a shorter throw from Fant on the next-to-last series of the scrimmage.

"Somebody flipped the switch on," Sherrill said of Hargro's play. "He has gotten better every day of preseason, and up until a couple of days ago, had caught everything thrown his way. If he gets in the open, it takes sprinter's speed to catch him."

SCORING

Bivines 56 pass from Fant (Smith kick)
Norwood 80 run (Smith kick)
Hargro 64 pass from York (Smith kick)
Turner 5 run (Smith kick)
Turner 71 punt return (no PAT attempt)
B.Davis 4 pass from York (Smith kick)
B.Smith 32 FG
B.Smith 42 FG
B.Smith 43 FG
B.Smith 47 FG
B.Smith 51 FG
B.Smith 62 FG
Hargro 19 pass from Fant (no PAT attempt)
Jude 5 run (no PAT attempt)
Andrews 37 FG
Andrews 37 FG
Andrews 42 FG
Marlin 47 FG
Marlin 52 FG
Marlin 55 FG

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Norwood 3-81 TD, Reid 7-35, Jude 12-33 TD, Turner 7-21 TD, Nelson 3-(-4), Team 3-(-4), Milons 1-(-4), York 1-(-7), Fant 3-(-13).
PASSING - York 5-6-0-128 2 TD, Fant 6-8-0-113 2TD, Nelson 2-9-1-24, Bivines 1-1-0-37.
RECEIVING - Hargro 5-148 2TD, Bivines 2-63 TD, B.Davis 2-14 TD, Scott 1-37, Prosser 1-17, Turner 1-10, Freeman 1-7, D.Jones 1-6.
PUNTING - Cook 1-55.0, Wallis 2-37.0, Addison 3-29.7.
PUNT RETURNS - Turner 1-71 TD, Threadgill 2-9.0.
TACKLES - Johnson 4, Upton 4, D.Wright 4, Day 3, Griffin 3, Kelly 3, C.Clark 2, Culberson 2, D.Heard 2, M.Heard 2, Myers 2, Williams 2, Dockery 1, Hannibal 1, Horton 1, McDougal 1, Matthews 1, Nelson 1, Robinson 1, Tate 1.
SACKS - Kern 1-9, Evans 1-8, Horton 1-7, Stowers 1-7, Matthews 1-5.
TACKLES FOR LOSS - None.
INTERCEPTIONS - Bradley 1-4.
PASS BREAKUPS - Wallace 2.
FUMBLE RECOVERIES - Hannibal 1-2.

08/13/03 - Coach Jackie Sherrill's post-practice comments:

"We practiced well for a while, but we then started losing our concentration and didn't end up like we should have."

"I thought that we made a lot of progress in the inside drill."

"The running backs will give us some definite help, because they can make a lot of people miss them."

"We are still trying to find the tight end that is an overall player. We may have one that can block or one that can catch, but we are trying to find that one who can do all of that."

If you don't find that one guy among the tight ends that you currently have, what will you do?
"We will move somebody there. The backup fullback can play there if we don't find a tight end."

The running game didn't perform that well during the scrimmage. Was that due to offensive line breakdown or good defense?
"The defense played well. There is no question that we are much better upfront, defensively, than we have been."

What were some other positive things you saw after watching the scrimmage film?
"We saw some young guys who made some plays, some really good catches. (Justin Jenkins) played very, very well. We also didn't have any mistakes, meaning we didn't have any off-side penalties or illegal procedure penalties. We went through the kicking game and there were a lot of positive things in the kicking game."

Would you say your team is ahead of last year's team after the first scrimmage?
"We are much further ahead because we have more depth and we have more talent."

08/10/03 - Saturday afternoon practice news.

08/08/03 - Practice news:

08/05/03 - Excerpts from Coach Sherrill's preseason press conference.

How excited are you about the first day of practice?
"I'm anxious to get out there. I was at the office until 9:30 last night. I went home and fell asleep and woke up at 12:30, then woke back up at 5:15."

Status of freshman Rickey Wright and senior Kamau Jackson.
"We have one (freshman), Rickey Wright, waiting to be cleared. (With) Rickey (it) is a matter of getting the correct information. It is nothing that we can control. It is a very simple item that they need. But, until they get that information, they aren't going to clear him. I feel positive that he will be cleared.

"We are waiting for a ruling (on Kamau). There have been a couple of hardship cases in the past with a couple of basketball players, so hopefully we can get him in camp.

"Neither one will come until they are cleared."

How will the new schedule be different than in the past?

"The camp will be different than any time before. It's like a new era. I like that it gives you more time to coach, gives you more time to evaluate. gives you more time to make sure the young guys have an opportunity to play. In the past you brought them in for those three days, you worked them. Then all of a sudden when the rest of the guys come in your kind of have. forgotten about them. Now you have a good week that everybody is being coached the same. It really helps with the heat. You are going to spend more time in meetings than you normally do. And there is more time for group work."

Talk about the quarterback situation with Kevin and Kyle.
"You have two guys that are very competitive. Kevin will start at number two. The great thing about it is the competitive level. After two-a-days the one that has moved the football team in practice and performed better in practice will start against Oregon. That doesn't mean that either one won't play."

Do you think you can turn things around from the past two seasons?
"Absolutely. I think we have more depth. We have some young players. Most of the time players improve the most between their freshman and sophomore years."

Why did you move Kevin Dockery to strong safety.
"We did it to give us the best and fastest athletes on the field. There is a difference between playing inside and corner. To play inside you have to tackle and you have to cover. Corners don't have to tackle like the inside guys. There's times when the inside guys, because of the formations, will have to take on some people who are a lot bigger than they are."

What position will Jason Clark play?
"He will be able to do both (defensive end and outside linebacker). What we are doing is preparing for the possibility that Kamau (Jackson) might not be here. And it will make us better if Kamau is able to come back."

Talk a little about Willie Evans.
"The most impressive thing about Willie is he is a very good student. I was not anticipating that he would be as good as he is. School is important to him and he makes very good grades. You don't see him on any list missing class or study hall.

"He has been able to overcome his diabetes to play. When he discovered he had it (in January, 2003), he never let it deter him from playing."

08/04/03 - Although I only stayed around for about an hour while the MSU football veterans and newcomers arrived, I did see several newcomers, including Omarr Conner, Dezmond Sherrod, Eric Fuller, Royce Blackledge, Donovan Davis, Brian Anderson, Adrian Griffith, Jason Husband, Carlton Rice, Corey Clark, Deljuan Robinson, Michael Heard, Brad Horton, John Davis (Oak Grove HS OL walk-on), Luke Addison (Jackson Prep QB walk-on) and Andrew Powell.

08/03/03 - The Annual Bulldog Club Meeting and Fan Day are Saturday, August 23rd. The Bulldog Club Annual Meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. in the Bost Center. Immediately following the meeting, Fan Day starts at 12 Noon in Humphrey Coliseum. Parking lots will be open so dust off your grills and iron the kinds out of your tailgate before the season starts.

By the way, Bully's Clubhouse will once again be open prior to all home games. Bully's Clubhouse, which opens 2 hours prior to kickoff, will be located in Bost Center Auditorium. The Clubhouse is open to all Bulldog Club members and their guests. Meals include side items and drinks and are all priced at $8 per person. Children under 12 eat for free when accompanied by a paying adult. Please present your ID for admission.