February 1999 Unofficial MSU Football Skuttle-Butt

02/28/99 - Madison Central HS (Madison, MS.) junior offensive lineman Doug Buckles, possibly the top junior OL in Mississippi and one of the very best in the South, has MSU on his list of schools he is interested in. According to various sources, Doug unofficially attended a couple of MSU games last season and had a really good time. I was also told Doug attended MSU's football camp last summer and, supposedly, had a great time. It is rumored he really stood out at the camp. My sources also told me Doug, who is an outstanding youngster, comes from a great family. If any of you know anymore about Doug, please email it to me. Sounds like this youngster is going to be a prime-time prospect, maybe even a national recruit next season.

02/28/99 - One of you emailed me a link to an NFL interview with MSU TE Reggie Kelly. Just thought you would enjoy reading it. Click here to go to the link.

02/26/99 - The word is MSU signee Kaumau Jackson is working very hard to get qualifed and has made up a lot of ground. He must still pass his ACT. Sources say he may be the best linebacker prospect to sign with State since the legendary Johnie Cooks.

02/26/99 - Advertisement: I would like to introduce my newest advertiser, Howard Computers. Howard Computers, a Laurel, Mississippi based computer company and a division of the very successful Howard Industries, is the first Mississippi company to mass produce personal computers. Their goal is to compete with other top players in the computer market like Dell, Compaq and Gateway. Click here to visit their homepage. Don't miss visiting their very unique H-Store.

02/26/99 - More on the Charity Football Bowl game and origin from one of you:

"The Kappa Sigma Fraternity originated the Charity Bowl Classic. Kappa Sigma always plays in the game against the fraternity that submits the highest bid to raise the most money and Kappa Sigma matches that bid."

02/25/99 - Received this email yesterday. Very interesting to say the least.

"According to CNNSI, Tight End Reginald Kelly of Mississippi State was considered by the Pro Scouts as the most athletic player at the NFL combine camp, period."

Congrats, Reggie. BTW, he is a very nice guy who is also very humble.

02/25/99 - Finally, they are starting to see the light! Looks like the annual MSU / Ole Miss Golden Egg Bowl game is starting to catch the attention of the national television networks. First ESPN wants it, now there are rumors floating around that CBS is showing a lot of interest in buying the rights to the game and moving it to Friday. I don't know if this means it will be a national or regional broadcast (national, hopefully), but it at least shows our annual battle for the golden egg is becoming of importance to more than just fans in Mississippi. Just goes to show you what success can do for you.

I am starting to believe what a friend of mine said via email a couple of days ago: MSU has turned that corner just like Florida State did a few years ago. When those season ticket applications come in the mail in mid-March, let's show the MSU players and coaches we are ready to do our part by buying season tickets at a record pace. It's time we stepped up to the plate and did our part as Bulldog fans.

02/25/99 - As all of you saw on my front page, MSU grad and fan Taylor Moore is in extremely serious condition at the Tupelo Hospital and desperately needs your prayers. However, he is not the only MSU fan who does.

Andy Harris, a member of Kappa Alpha Order at MSU, was injured in the annual Charity Bowl football game Friday night against Kappa Sigma. He suffered a fractured skull during the game and had to be airlifted to Memphis. The doctors first told his parents that he had suffered a brain aneurism, but tests later proved that he had fractured his skull and blood was forming on his brain and had to be drained off. He is in the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis and is expected to make a full recovery. He will be hospitalized for 1-2 months. The condition is still serious and he too needs your prayers.

This annual charity football bowl game, sponsored by MSU fraternities, is a way the fraternities can raise money for special causes. This year the game raised over $40,000 for Starkville resident Tim Heath, who was paralyzed in an accident last year.

I want to thank all of the Rebel Vent posters for praying for Taylor Moore. Your prayers are helping a miracle occur. I hope, with the help of the Bulldog fans from my page, we can help continue, what we hope, is a miracle for this young man and his family. As this personal tragedy shows, we all come together when tragic events occur. For those of you who don't know the story of Taylor Moore, ckeck out the Rebel Vent for details. Here is the link: http://www.omspirit.com/rebvent/rebelvent.pl.

02/24/99 - As most of you know by now, the Ole Miss and Kentucky games are tentatively scheduled for ESPN Thursday night telecasts next season. Well, guess what, that is only the beginning. Seems MSU has become a hot TV item because of their television appearance in the SEC Championship Game. These games are also tentatively scheduled to be televised next season, according to a very reliable source. Just a reminder this is a tentative schedule but very probable.

Memphis -- Fox/SportSouth
Oklahoma State--ABC Regional
South Carolina--JP sports

Don't be surprised if we get 9-10 TV games again this season.

02/23/99 - Taylorsville junior QB Jason Campbell (current Bulldog Larry Campbell's brother and one of next year's top 5 Mississippi players) is not only one of the best football players in MS, but one pretty good basketball player too. He is averaging about 22 pts. 12 rebounds per game. He plays every position on the court (point guard through center) and has led Taylorsville to a 20-4 record. Two of those losses were prior to his arrival from football.

Another of next year's top 5 Mississippi high school players, Madison Central offensive lineman Doug Buckles (6-6, 275), is rumored to have MSU connections. I have heard, but cannot confirm, that his parents are Bulldog fans. Do any of you Madison, Mississippi sources know if this is true?

02/22/99 - From Sunday's The Clarion-Ledger:

02/22/99 - Advertisement: Check out the new animated banners at the top of this page. Support Doug Douglass' Tuxes, Too (Jackson, MS.), Mark Doiron Insurance Company (Madison, MS.) and Sid Perkins of Monroe-Tufline (Columbus, MS.) by checking out their pages. Let them know you support my page when you contact them about their products or services. They, along with my other advertisers, help keep this page going for each of you.

02/20/99 - According to a very reliable source, MSU redshirt freshman center Kevin Sijansky (6-2.5, 265) can now bench press 425 and squat 560. Yet, you heard it right, 560. My source also confirmed that Kevin is a outstanding student who is a very well-mannered young man.

02/20/99 - More news on Heisman candidate (just kidding, folks. couldn't help myself.) Justin Griffith. According to a couple of sources, Justin is much faster than we initially thought. He loves to runs sprints against the other players and usually wins. In fact, he has outrun Dicenzo Miller. I was also told he is an extremely hard worker who is an absolutely outstanding young man and is fast becoming one of the leaders on the team.

02/20/99 - BTW, MSU fans do make a difference. According to a source of mine, who knows a lot of the MSU football players, when you rocked their buses prior to the Ole Miss game this past season, they really got pumped up. This source also told me you also make a difference each time you go up to one of the players and say hello to him by name. Bulldog fans, we have a lot of great young men on our team so next time you see one of them, give him a friendly hello. These young men put in a lot of time and hard work representing your university, so let them know they are appreciated.

02/20/99 - Advertisement: Don't forget to visit my good friend Mike Colbert at Colbert Auto World in Houston, Mississippi if you are looking for a vehicle. Mike will definitely treat you right. Visit their website at http://www.ebicom.net/~swindoll/advertisers/colbert.shtml.

02/19/99 - What was our wish that has come true? Since David Murray of Dawg's Bite has let the dog out of the bag in his latest issue, I guess I can go ahead and tell you what I meant by my February 16th skuttle-butt post. The latest word I am hearing is MSU Tight End Coach Bob Boyd has retired (confirmed by David Murray) and in all probability MSU Football Administrative Assistant David Wilson will be offered the job as well as the job of Recruiting Coordinator. I have been told by very reliable sources that David Wilson will move the rest of his family to Starkville after the end of his daughter's school year. His son is already living with him in Starkville. If David is hired, he will be able to do the same things as the other SEC Recruiting Coordinators: Visit the players as well as call them on the telephone. With the personality, dedication, organizational skills and work ethic of David Wilson, MSU's recruiting efforts will improve greatly. IMO, MSU already has the best coaching staff in the SEC, and it will only get better if David is hired. If this happens, it will be the final piece of the puzzle that is needed to take MSU to that next level. Now you know the rest of the story.

02/19/99 - P.S. Wait until you see a HEALTHY Justin Griffith. If what my source told me is accurate, then think what Justin will do on two good legs. BTW, Justin wasn't the only redshirt freshman who performed extremely well in practice during the very late stages of the season, redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Butler also did.

02/19/99 - Now that spring is fast approaching, I'm sure some of you are looking to purchase farm equipment. A good source to look to is Mississippi-owned and operated Monroe-Tufline. Click here to visit their website.

02/18/99 - How good is redshirt running back Justin Griffith? According to a source of mine he was the second best running back our number 1 defense faced all of last year. The best running back was Texas' Ricky Williams. The third best was James Johnson. Yep, you heard it right, Justin was rated better than Johnson according to my source. Think about a backfield of Giffith, Walker and Miller. Bet it is making you look forward to next year, isn't it? BTW, look for Griffith to play quite a bit at the tailback position next year.

02/17/99 - Since the IBBC is down for the next day or two, I thought I would give you guys a free sample while we wait for it to come back online.

Although signing day has come and gone, the SEC can sit back and enjoy another National Championship and another landslide victory on the recruiting front. The SEC overall should be ranked first by most analysts across the country because of their domination of the JUCO and Prep ranks across the nation. Here is a look at how two other analysts and I rank the SEC as a whole.

1. ALABAMA
2. GEORGIA
3. FLORIDA
4. TENNESSEE
5. MISSISSIPPI STATE
6. LSU
7. AUBURN
8. KENTUCKY
9. SOUTH CAROLINA
10. MISSISSIPPI
11. ARKANSAS
12. VANDERBILT

ALABAMA - This class has it all. They did what they should have done and took care of their home state first. Then they raided other top prep producing states to get their best. If Bama continues this pace look for them to be hard handle in the years to come.

Key Crimson Tide Signees:
Dennis Alexander, OL, 6'6 325, Westwood H.S. Memphis, TN - Top 50 National
Santonio Beard, RB, 6'1 205, Pearl Cohn H.S. Nashville, TN - Top 20 National
Kenny King, LB, 6'3 275, Daphne H.S. Daphne, AL - Top 50 National
Saleem Rasheed, LB, 6'3 225, Shades Valley H.S. Birmingham, AL - Top 50 National
Gerald Clark, DE, 6'7 255, Mainland H.S. Daytona Beach, FL - Top 50 National
Dante Ellington, OL, 6'6 300, Colbert County H.S. Leighton, AL - Top 100 National
Hirschel Bolden, DB, 6'1 190, Dothan H.S. Dothan, AL - Top 150 National
Michael Gaines, TE, 6'3 240, Florida H.S. Tallahassee, FL - Top 150 National
Casey Gilbert, TE, 6'5 275, Pascagoula H.S. Pascagoula, MS - Mississippi Top Ten
Robert Branch, DT, 6'2 305, Central H.S. Tuscaloosa, AL - Alabama Top Ten

GEORGIA - Another great year for the Dogs, especially when it came down to their needs which they had no problem filling. Last year Georgia loaded up on skill position players. This year they signed several "Big Time" Big Boys as well as their usual super skilled players. This combination leads to a very balanced class. Most analysts rank Georgia at the SEC's top class. We just could not rank this class ahead of Alabama.

Key Bulldog Signees:
Kendrell Bell, LB, 6'2 240, Middle Georgia J.C. Augusta, GA - One of the top JuCo's Nationally
Josh Billue, OL, 6'6 300, Guntersville H.S. Guntersville, AL - National Top 150
Reggie Brown, WR, 6'2 185, Carrollton H.S. Carrollton, GA - One of the top WR in the nation
DeJuan Green, RB, 6'0 190, Rains H.S. Jacksonville, FL - One of Florida's very best
Alex Jackson, OL, 6'5 310, Shanks H.S. Quincy, FL - National Top 150
Durell Robinson, WR, 6'2 200, Byrnes H.S. Duncan, SC - One of South Carolina's very best
Shedrick Wynn, DE, 6'3 230, Lincoln Co. H.S. Lincolnton, GA - Big, Big -Time Talent
Bruce Thornton, RB, 6'0 180, LaGrange H.S. LaGrange, GA - One of Georgia's very best
Vince Faison, DB, 5'11 192, Toombs Co. H.S. Lyons, GA - Great cover corner with ability to hit
Tavarus Morgan, WR, 5'11 185, Jackson H.S. Jackson, GA - Another tremendous overall talent

FLORIDA - Third is a very unusual place for Florida. With all the talent in Florida to choose from, this class may end up the very best when all is said and done. We probably won't actually know for at least two years, because Florida is so loaded. Freshmen are usually red-shirted in Gatorland. But Florida always has a great class.

Key Gator Signees:
Ran Carthon, RB, 6'0 210, Key West H.S. Key West, FL - With a name like Ran, what can you say
Bobby McCray, DL, 6'5 225, Homestead H.S. Miami, FL - National top 100
Matt Farrior, LB, 6'2 225, Matoaca H.S. Petersburg, VA - One of the top LB prospects in the nation
Arpedge Rolle, DL, 6'2 255, Miami Central H.S. Miami, FL - You just have to see to believe
Roderick Royal, LB, 6'2 225, Glen Oaks H.S. Baton Rouge, LA - Truly "Royal" class LB
Clint Mitchell, DL, 6'7 250, Countryside H.S. Clearwater, FL - National top 150 prospect
Tron LeFavor, DL, 6'3 245, Dillard H.S. Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Big time defender
Lito Sheppard, DB, 5'11 190, Rains H.S. Jacksonville, FL - Blazing speed, also WR
Dwight Jackson, LB, 6'1 195, Glades Central H.S. South Bay, FL - Unmatched athletic ability
Mike Nattiel, LB, 6'1 218, Newberry H.S. Archer, FL - National top 100 prospect

TENNESSEE - This class is outstanding in any year but not the All-American at every position that UT usually reels in! The Vols were stunned with the loss of such players as 6'6 225 Chris Sims and 6'1 205, Santionio Beard; both top ten national prospects. They are not accustomed to losing players to any school!

Key Volunteer Signees:
Charles Roberson, DE, 6'6 230, Creekside H.S. Fairburn, GA - Top 150 Nationally
Anthony Herrera, OL, 6'2 307, Barron Collier H.S. Naples, FL - One of the very best
A.J. Suggs, QB, 6'4 205, McEachern H.S. Powder Springs, GA - One of the top QB's in the Nation
Anthony Sessions, DB, 6'2 215, Copiah Lincoln C.C., MS - Top JUCO DB in Mississippi
Onterrio Smith, RB, 5'10 180, Grant H.S. Sacramento, CA - Tremendous athlete, also DB
Kevin Young, DE, 6'3 240, Duncanville H.S. Duncanville, TX - Great body, will play early
Sterling Kazee, DB, 6'2 175, McArthur H.S. Irving, TX - Top 150 National prospect
Greg Barnum, OL, 6'2 280, Ellison H.S. Killeen, TX - Small, quick and will hit
Scott Wells, OL, 6'4 280, Brentwood Academy Spring Hill, TN - One of the very best
Eddie Moore, LB, 6'1 210, St. Pittsburg H.S. - Pittsburg, TN - will hit anything

MISSISSIPPI STATE - Was winning the SEC Western Division recruiting war until Bama finished so strong. Still MSU had probably its best recruiting class - maybe in it's entire history. They slammed the door shut by keeping most of the major talent at home, and without a doubt dominated the state of Mississippi!

Key Bulldog Signees:
Dontae Walker, RB, 5'11 205, Clinton H.S. Clinton, MS - A parade All-American, MS very best
Terrell Grindle, WR, 5'10 170, Hattiesburg H.S. Hattiesburg, MS - MS top ten, top WR in MS
Derrick Thompson, DL, 6'6 295, Leflore County, Leflore, MS - Rivals Walter Young as MS best
Kevin Fant, QB, 6'2 195, Moss Point H.S. Moss Point, MS - One of the top QB's in the nation
Willie Blade, DL, 6'3 300, Butler Co C.C. (Kansas) - 4.69 speed with his size?
Toby Golliday, DL, 6'2 295, MS Delta C.C. (MS) - Motor never stops - big time player
Dorrsett Davis, DL, 6'6 325, MS Delta C.C. (MS) - Pro-type caliber, just needs time
Fred Smoot, DB, 6'1 175, Hinds C.C. (MS) - Only behind Sessions as MS very best
Milas Randle, WR, 6'2 190, Gentry H.S. Indianola, MS - Two sport star, big time athlete
Justin Jenkins, WR, 6'1 200, Pearl H.S. Pearl, MS - Probably a DB at State, great athlete

LSU - After coming off a terrible season, the Tigers decided to fill needs instead of going after every All-American available. It looks as if they got the job done. This class does not compare to the past two but does have several prime time talents.

Key Tiger Signees:
Walter Young, DL, 6'6 300, Purvis H.S. Purvis, MS - MS top 3 player, top DL in state
Teverance Faulk, LB, 6'3 220, Lafayette H.S. Lafayette, LA - Yep, another big time Faulk
Ahmad Harris, WR, 6'2 175, University H.S. Baton Rouge, LA - Big time go-getter
Prentiss Jenkins, CB, 6'1 180, Holmes C.C. MS - One of the very best JuCo's in MS
Rodney Reed, OL, 6'5 265, West Monroe H.S. Monroe, LA - Big time athlete for his size
Lanny Davis, DE, 6'3 215, St. Helena Central H.S. Greensburg, LA - speed, size, devastating
Bryce Wyatt, FB, 6'3 230, Barbie H.S. St. Charles, LA - Built like Adonis
Jonathan Autry, OL, 6'5 285, Cecilia H.S. Cecilia, LA - Big time OL prospect
Eric Edwards, TE, 6'5 250, Quachita Christian H.S. Monroe, LA - Could be a starter
Deryell Patterson, DB, 6'0 185, Clear Brook H.S. Friendswood, TX - National top 150 prospect

AUBURN - The coaching change really helped this class climb the charts because Tuberville can flat out recruit! They were probably in deep trouble until "Tubbs" came along and finished very strong!

Key Tiger Signees:
Deandre Green, WR, 6'1 205, Blount H.S. Pritchard, AL - Top prospect in ALA
Demareo McNeil, DL, 6'2, 295, Blount H.S. Pritchard, AL - Top 50 nationally
Monreko Crittendon, OL, 6'6 320, St. Jude H.S. Montgomery, AL - Has size and great feet
Casinious Moore, RB, 6'0 193, Anniston H.S. Anniston, AL - Has speed and will hit you
Robert Johnson, TE, 6'6 220, Jefferson Davis H.S. Montgomery, AL - Big size, 4.7 speed
Allen Tillman, QB, 6'2 190, Newton H.S. Newton, MS - Big time athlete, just soft
Tavaris Robinson, WR, 5'11 175, Coral Park H.S. Miami, FL - Speed to burn, reported 4.41 dash
Stanford Simmons, DB, 6'2 200, Hargrave Military Academy, GA - Could be a starter
Reggie Torber, RB, 6'3 225, Robert E. Lee H.S. Baton Rouge, LA - Has power and speed
Marcell Willis, WR, 6'1 175, Sandalwood H.S. Jacksonville, FL - Auburn's main need, receivers

KENTUCKY - Kentucky's house may be less a "Couch" however even if superstar QB Tim Couch leaves, Kentucky has had two back to back solid recruiting years, and found quite a few gems this year. They signed some players that I thought were underrated all year. Here's a quick look:

Key Wildcat Signees:
Bobby Blizzard, TE, 6'7 240, Hargrave Military Academy, GA - National top twenty recruit last year
Octavius Bond, WR, 6'1 185, Mt. Carmel H.S. Chicago, IL - Big time speed and hands
Slyvester Miller, OL, 6'6 290, Mt. Carmel H.S. Chicago, IL - Nationally top 150 prospect
Jared Lorenzen, QB, 6'4 240, Highland H.S. Fort Thomas, KY - Big time talent
Nick Scitze, DT, 6'5 255, Judson H.S. Converse, TX - Top 150 prospects
Derek Smith, TE, 6'6 240, Highland H.S. Silver Grove, KY - Big time quickness, a starter
Derrick Tatum, DB, 6'0 190, Shaker Heights H.S. - Shaker Heights, OH - 4.4 dash time
Kip Sixbery, OL 6'4 315, Mullen H.S. Littleton, CO - National top 200 players
Demotto Youngblood, DT, 6'5 240, North Clayton H.S. College Park, GA- Strong but small for a DT
Brandon Doggett, DB, 5'9 165, Valdosta H.S. Valdosta, GA - Speedster with great hands

SOUTH CAROLINA - New Head Coach Lou Holtz did a remarkable job getting some quality players. Especially ones that will fit his system and not the finesse system player's that Brad Scott liked to use. This class could be the surprise of the entire SEC.

Key Gamecock Signees:
Tim Bell, OL, 6'2 285, Holmes C.C., MS - The steal of the class in my opinion
Trevin Smith, RB, 6'0 195, Berkeley H.S., SC - One of the top RB's in the nation
Travelle Wharton, OL, 6'4 300, Hillcrest H.S. Hillcrest, SC - Quickness and strength
Cleveland Pinckney, DE, 6'2 290, Copiah - Lincoln C.C., MS - Could also play OL
Mikal Goodman, QB, 6'3 185, New Smyrna Beach H.S., FL - Can fly at 4.47
Rod Thomas, LB, 6'1 225, Deland H.S. Deland, FL - National top 200 prospect
Willie Sams, OL, 6'5 280, Southwest C.C., MS - Tough as nails
Shane Hall, OL, 6'6 299, Medford H.S., NJ - Top 30 prospect in NJ
Derek Watson, RB, 6'1 265, Palmetto H.S., SC - Another national recruit
Tim Yarn, DB, 5'10 170, North Marion H.S., FL - Speed is an asset, 4.4 size may cause red-shirt

MISSISSIPPI - The coaching changes and the preceding rumors of Tuberville's departure really hurt Mississippi in state recruiting this year. However, Mississippi did land several big time recruits.

Key Rebel Signees:
Eli Manning, QB, 6'5 180, Newman H.S. New Orleans, LA - Top five QB in the entire nation
Tommy Kelly, DE 6'7 265, Provine H.S. Jackson, MS - Big time talent could go JUCO
Barnabas Harris, DE, 6'3 220, Ensley H.S. Birmingham, AL - Could be a starter
Theo Harris, OL, 6'3 290, Meigs County, TN - Big time speed for his size
Jesse Mitchell, LB, 6'2 235, Moss Point H.S. Moss Point, MS - Big time under-recruited
Cliff Woodruff, DE, 6'7 255, Oxford H.S. Oxford, MS - Sleeper who should be an impact
Marcus Woodson, DB, 6'0 180, Moss Point H.S. Moss Point, MS - Can fly and hit, 4.47 dash time
Demetric Wright, DB, 5'11 180, South Panola H.S. Batesville, MS - Another 4.4 speedster
Kimario Hentz, RB, 5'11 185, South Panola H.S. Batesville, MS - Can fly 4.3, but can he take a hit?
Jamil Northcutt, LB, 6'2 235, Tullahoma H.S. Tullahoma, TN - Could be a big surprise for Rebel fans

ARKANSAS - After such a big year the "Hawgs" needed linemen and several skilled key position players. Although they relied heavily on Texas high school ranks, this class could still end up very good because Texas, like Florida and Mississippi, has so much true talent to choose from it's difficult to rank the players.

Key Razorback Signees:
Kevin Baker, DB, 5'11 170, Mesquite, TX - Reported 4.4 dash time also a WR
John Geitner, OL, 6'6 300, Santa Rosa J.C. Santa Rosa, CA - probably a starter
Eddie Jackson, DB, 6'2 185, Richardson, TX - Big time hitter, can run at 4.57
Caleb Miller, LB, 6'4 200, Sulphur Springs, TX - Runs a 4.71 and hits a ton
Corey Warren, LB, 6'2 225, Sulphur, LA - Speed is his main asset, will get bigger
Eddie Williams, WR, 6'4 225, Coffeyville J.C., Kansas - What size and speed for a WR, 4.51
Jeremy Myles, RB, 6'0 220, Bastrop, LA - Probably will end up at Full Back
Sparky Hamilton, WR, 6'4 200, Lufkin, TX - Can make the tough catch in traffic
Gary Brashears, QB, 6'5 210, Clarkville H.S., TN - Has a cannon for an arm
Tony Bua, DB, 6'0 200, John Curtis H.S., LA - Can burn at 4.5 and hit you

VANDERBILT - Coach Woody is building, I promise you! Last year was their best class in years and this class has some solid SEC caliber players to behold.

Key Signees:
Mike Adams, LB, 6'3 235, Hales Corner, WI - Can hit and run
M.J. Garrett, WR, 6'4 190, Christian Academy, TN - Big time hands
Markessus House, WR, 6'4 204, Birmingham, AL - Big time receiver, wait and see
Mike Martin, DB, 5'10 185, Tampa Bay, FL - Reported 4.4 dash time
Jordan Petit, OL, 6'4 275, Olive Branch, MS - Does everything right
Jason Tant, OL, 6'3 255, Harpeth, TN - Needs more size - heart is unmatched.
Libnir Telusca, LB, 6'3 235, Miami, FL - Probably a starter
Benjamin Walker, QB, 6'4 Brentwood Academy, TN - Has all the tools to be a good one
Duncan Cave, C, 6'2 295, Greenville, TN - Hits a ton and is a smart player
Hunter Hillenmeyer, OL, 6'5 225, Montgomery Bell H.S., AL- One that got away from the big timers

02/16/99 - If you aren't saving money to buy your season tickets, you had better start because MSU football is about to take off like a rocket and seats are going to be scarce. Let's buy so many season tickets they have to expand the stadium this summer. Just kidding about the summer expansion but not about the season tickets. As The Grill ad says, "You Know What to Do".

P.S. I bet MSU recruiting, MSU-style, will be even better next year. We got our wish. You'll know what I mean very soon.

02/15/99 - According to The Clarion-Ledger, MSU early signee Eugene Liger will be back working out by June and should be full speed by two-a-days. For those of you who didn't know, Eugene injured his knee while playing basketball in the Sanderson Recreational Center. A player from the court next to the one he was playing on came over onto his court and landing on his knew while chasing a loose ball.

02/14/99 - According to J.C. Grid-Wire, MSU had the 4th best Juco recruiting class in the country, trailing only Oregon State, Arizona State and Kansas State.

02/12/99 - An IBBC update:

The IBBC is proud to announce several new columnists (weekly and otherwise):

On a one-time basis, as of now:

Other MSU notables who have or are writing columns for the IBBC:

We are contacting MSU folks on a continuous basis. The IBBC is striving to be a site where MSU fans can get to know MSU athletic department personnel and other MSU notables on a more personal level. The MSU athletic department community has been very responsive to the IBBC's requests and the IBBC is very appreciative.

Other IBBC info:

There were over 1,250 Bulldog fans who celebrated MSU football recruiting. This is just the start. The MSU spirit is only going to get stronger as we continue to get to know each other (fans and coaches alike) through parties like these. Like I have said many times, the players, the coaches and the athletic administrative staff have done their part, now it is time for the MSU fans to do our part. If you have not done so, now would be a great time to join the MSU Bulldog Club. Click here to print off a Bulldog Club membership application. Please do you part.

02/05/99 - More recruiting facts from TopDog:

We had 43 official visits.
We offered 35 of those visits.
We signed 28 players from that list.
17 sets of parents came that were offered.
15 visits with parents signed.
We signed 5 Dandy Dozen from Mississippi.
We signed 6 of the top 10 in Mississippi.
Super Prep's offensive play of the year Dontae Walker signed.
We signed 12 of the top 40 in Mississippi.
We signed 6 of the top 11 JuCo players in Mississippi, which includes the top 2 players.
We signed 5 of the top 25 nationally in JuCo.
We signed 3 of the top 10 nationally in JuCo.

02/05/99 - Recruiting analyst Bobby Burton rated our class 18th nationally. Here is what he said about them.

While Jackie Sherrill has attracted top juco talent to Starkville before, this is his best group of high schoolers led by running back Dontae Walker (Clinton, Miss.). State definitely got the better of the battle of Ole Miss for the in-state talent.

02/05/99 - Meridian party update from Donovan Scruggs:

"We had our party at Chesterfields in Meridian last night and it was a great success. A couple of us did a head count. It appears we had approximately 45 in attendance. On such short notice, we considered this a great turnout. We plan to make it a tradition. A lot of people that I did not know attended the party. It was great to meet new BD fans. The coaches were a hit. Bond and Woerner fit right in. With the formality of speeches at a podium, they simply socialized and gave everyone who wanted the opportunity, a chance to speak with them one-on-one or in small groups. Bond's "war stories" and both of their enthusiasm kept everyone excited and interested. I believe we can expect great things from these guys and the 24 newest Bulldogs that signed last night. Thanks for all your help. Hopefully, it won't be too long before I am asking you to help spread the word on another Meridian event (annual meeting, NCAA tournament party, or CWS/Regional Party). Who knows? With the way we played last night, this basketball season isn't over yet!"

02/05/99 - According to one of the organizers, the Jackson recruiting party had over 700 attendees.

I'm waiting for reports from the other party organizers.

02/04/99 - We had a great time at the Harvey's in Starkville last night. About 70 Bulldog fans were in attendance. MSU football was represented by assistant coach Bob Boyd and head strength coach Mike Grant. Both were absolutely outstanding. Very informative. If you have an upcoming event and you need a Bulldog speaker, contact MSU football and ask for either of these guys.

Tidbits:

02/04/99 - MSU will open its baseball season with "The First Pitch," the Bulldogs' second annual preseason fan festivity, on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m. in the Bost Extension Center Auditorium on the MSU campus.

A "meet the players" reception will feature best-selling author John Grisham as master of ceremonies. Ex-Bulldog and big-league manager Alex Grammas will be an honored guest, and former MSU coach Paul Gregory will be the subject of a special tribute.

Tickets for the reception are $20 apiece and may be purchased at the MSU athletic ticket office. Tickets may also be ordered over the phone with an approved credit card at 601-325-2600.

Fellow Bulldog fans show your support by ordering tickets to this MSU baseball fund raiser. Baseball has been good to MSU, so let's return the favor by attending this reception.

02/04/99 - Advertisement: Looking for contacts or glasses and you live in the Jackson, Mississippi area? Look no farther than Optical 2000. Click here to go to their website. Tell them Gene sent you. Please help me continue my page by using my sponsors whenever you can.

02/04/99 - Advertisement: Check out the Cotton District Towers website if you are looking for a great place to stay next football season.

02/03/99 - As soon as the signees are announced, you will be able to read about them at the official MSU football site, which you can go to by clicking here

Click here to see all Miss State Football Signees, including December's.

02/03/99 - Coach Sherrill will be on Fox/SportsSouth tonight on the Jamie Newberg show between 6 and 7 p.m. If cable is available at your signing party, don't forget to bring a television if there isn't one already there.

02/03/99 - Who is getting whom among the Top 40 high school, Top 25 community college players in Mississippi and the Dandy Dozen (Hint: MSU is getting much more than it's fair share)? Here are links to The Clarion-Ledger's lists for all three:

Top 40 High School College Football Prospects
Top 25 Community College College Football Prospects
The Dandy Dozen

02/03/99 - Tupelo television station WTVA reported last night that Booneville QB Chuck Spearman has committed to Marshall.

02/03/99 - Advertisement: If you are in the Jackson, Mississippi area and are looking for insurance, MSU fan Mark Doiron is a the man for you. Mark, a All-State agent, looks forward to visiting with you and talking about all of your insurance needs. Check out his website by clicking here. You won't meet a greater guy than Mark, so give him a call.

02/03/99 - Check out fellow Bulldog fan Jack D'Arcy's website by clicking here. Jack sells one of the best air purifiers on the market. I know how good it is, Mary Ann and I purchased one and are very happy with it.

02/02/99 - Show your support by attending one of the above signing day parties. Just think, we had one signing party last year and this year we have seven. What a great, great time to be a MSU Bulldog. SEC West Championship in football, New Year's Day football bowl game, College World Series, runner-up in the SEC Championship game in both football and softball, tennis ranked in the top ten every year, a Final Four basketball team just three short years ago (soon to be there again under Rick Stansbury), graduation rates sky high in many of the sports. The Maroon Tidal Wave is washing over the state of Mississippi with a vengeance. MSU is where it's at, folks!

P. S. I am taking a vacation day Wednesday and will update the signings as they come in.

02/02/99 - Did you know MSU commitment Lennie Day was selected as the 19th best prospect in Alabama by the Huntsville Times?

02/02/99 - Here is a little info on MSU commitment Milas Randle from one of you:

He was hands down the best player on the Greenville St. Joe team as a sophomore and led them to the playoffs and a winning season. He played a huge role in their successful season. They have not had a winning season since he transferred to Gentry his junior year. This guy is an excellent play maker. All it took was for the QB to get him the ball and he exploded. I saw him numerous times go up and pull down a reception in double coverage, shake off the defenders, and make excellent yardage. He is an excellent KO returner and he is hard to bring down. He reminds me a lot of Eric Moulds. You always knew whenever he touched the ball, something big was going to happen.

As far as basketball goes, Milas, out of the total 1,234 points scored by Greenville St. Joe his sophomore year, scored 748 of them himself. He nearly led St. Joe to an upset over then #4 ranked Shelby Broad Street. The Irish lost that game 61-59. This guy is a tremendous two-sport athlete who will succeed in either basketball or football.

02/02/99 - Sorry folks, I ran out of time last night but will post the graduation info tomorrow morning.

02/01/99 - Bulldog fans, if anyone trys to tell you MSU's 70% graduation rate is a "phantom rate" just print these and show them to the person questioning the rate. Note the Academic Achievement Special Recognition shown on the plaques. The College Football Association (CFA), now the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), awards a Special Recognition plaque to all 4-year institutions that graduates at least 70% of their football players within a certain time frame (more on this time frame tomorrow). MSU has done it every year, including 1998 (a plaque will be presented soon), since 1992, as these plaques obviously prove.

CFA Academic Plaques
CFA 1992 Academic Plaque
CFA 1993 Academic Plaque
CFA 1994 Academic Plaque
CFA 1995 Academic Plaque
CFA 1996 Academic Plaque
CFA 1997 Academic Plaque

Tomorrow, I will discuss the differences in how the CFA, now the AFCA, and the NCAA calculate their graduation rates. I will say this: The primary differences are in how each handles certain type transfers and the time frame for allowing a student to graduate.

02/01/99 - It has been reported that Kamau Jackson, possibly the top linebacker in the state of Georgia and one of the top 10 in the South, has committed to MSU, as did Vicksburg HS defensive lineman Jason Myers, a 1998 C-L Dandy Dozen player and one of Mississippi's top 25 players according to The Clarion-Ledger (C-L).

I have also heard rumors that two other players may have committed to MSU, although I have not read it anywhere. The two are Indianola Gentry HS athlete Milas Randle and Charles Roberson, a defensive lineman from Fairburn Creekside (GA). Anybody know if this is true?

02/01/99 - Another rumor has Kansas Juco offensive lineman Kevin Barry committing to Arizona over MSU, Kansas State and Michigan State. Tough loss if true.

02/01/99 - Another player that visited this past weekend was Brandlon Huff, a 6-2, 205, fullback from Franklin County (MS) HS.