| Tuesday, November 4, 2014 |
| Keenum Delivers Seaman A. Knapp Memorial Lecture | |
 | Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum delivered the 2014 Seaman A. Knapp Memorial Lecture in memory of "The Father of Extension," Sunday in Orlando, Florida, at the annual meeting of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. Keenum's lecture focused on the historic and future role of Cooperative Extension in helping producers, consumers, families and communities find science-based solutions to the challenges they face. Keenum discussed how American universities, and land-grant institutions in particular, are well equipped to help governments, international organizations, the private business sector, and nongovernmental organizations in addressing pervasive global problems such as vitamin deficiencies, access to clean water, hunger and malnutrition. |
| Long Beach grad grabs the crown as Mississippi State's homecoming queen | |
 | A Long Beach family has one more reason to celebrate Mississippi State's undefeated run on the gridiron this season. The McCummins family will be in Starkville en masse this weekend to celebrate Katie McCummins' selection as homecoming queen. The MSU senior psychology major was chosen by the student body in an election last week. She was one of five nominees and was sponsored by her sorority, Delta Delta Delta, and supported by seven others. "I'm very excited about it. It's going to be a lot of fun," said Katie, who is a member of a Bulldog family. Her parents, Bob and Christine, also attended MSU, as does her sister. Katie said her choice to go to Mississippi State came after visiting the campus while in high school. "I just fell in love with the campus and the people were just fantastic -- they still are," she said. |
| Mississippi State Gets in Mood for Homecoming Week | |
| It will be an extra special homecoming week this year at Mississippi State University, and it all kicked off Monday on campus. Students, staff and alumni celebrated their team's No. 1 ranking in the polls. Dozens made their way to the Drill Field to take selfies and even group shots. "We set up a photo booth just to kind of get everyone excited about homecoming week, and we are passing out flyers of the schedule of events," Kari Ann Buckels with the MSU Homecoming Committee said. "Just kind of giving everyone a good idea of what's going on for the week." |
| Farmers Learn About New Law | |
| Local farmers have a chance to comment on a new law that could impact many local agriculture related businesses. The Mississippi State University North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona hosted a workshop Monday focusing on changes to a US Food and Drug Administration law known as the Food Safety Modernization Act. "By asking the growers and producers to adapt and implement this kind of regulations, they will ensure that the fruits and vegetables that are consumed by the consumers are safe," said MSU Assistant Professor of Food Sciences Barakat Mahmoud. The public can comment on the proposed revisions to the law through Dec. 15. |
| Kinesiology program helps MSU-Meridian student reach his goals | |
 | In contemplating his future career, Trevor Ayllon searched for a strong undergraduate program that would prepare him for a professional degree in physical therapy. The Newton resident now is enrolled in the new kinesiology program at Mississippi State University-Meridian. He said a desire to stay close to home and the ability to save money took him first to East Central Community College in Decatur. It was while completing his studies there that he first learned of the new MSU-Meridian degree program just a short drive away. Even though his father is a summa cum laude graduate of MSU-Meridian who spoke proudly of the excellent instruction he had received as a student, the son of Luis and Cindy Ayllon said he was "blown away" by his classroom experiences with MSU's Ben Wax and Laura Hilton. |
| Mississippi State sets info session on new engineering programs at MGCCC Thursday | |
 | Representatives from Mississippi State University's James Worth Bagley College of Engineering will be at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's Jackson County Campus on Thursday for an information session. The event, which will be held 12:20-1 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium, will include a question-and-answer session and more information about the engineering degrees that will be available at MGCCC beginning in fall 2015. The agreement outlines the collaboration to offer at least two engineering degree programs. The information session is free to the public. |
| MSU Professor Emeritus Receives Lifetime Merit Award | |
| A Mississippi State University professor emeritus recently received a national honor for his lifetime of service. The Railway Tie Association, or RTA, executive committee gave Terry Amburgey, a Giles Distinguished Professor, the 2014 Award of Merit for his contribution to the industry. The award is given at the executive committee's discretion and has been awarded only two other times since the association was formed in 1919. Amburgey's career in wood protection spans 50 years. His research has contributed to improvements within the railway tie industry and beyond. Rubin Shmulsky, head of MSU's Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, said Amburgey is an innovator in the wood protection field. |
| Mississippi State Prof Earns National Honors | |
| She only began advising Mississippi State's chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity two years ago, but instructor Karen Murphy already is earning national recognitions for the university organization and herself. Murphy recently was honored as Fraternity Advisor of the Year among the SAI's 212 chapters nationwide, while the MSU group she serves received a regional Outstanding Chapter of the Year award. The MSU chapter is among nearly 40 in the four-state region of Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana. |
| Smaller harvest means higher prices for pecans this holiday season | |
 | Mississippians love holiday recipes with pecans, but an off year may make the nuts more expensive and harder to find. Eric Stafne, associate Extension and research professor at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center, said the state's pecan crop is forecast at 1 million pounds. The state produced 5 million pounds last year, and Mississippi's average pecan harvest is 2-3 million pounds. Stafne said one challenge in Mississippi is that many producers are newer growers and are still learning the ropes. "Most questions I have gotten so far are from the growers who may not understand the lack of nuts this year," he said. |
| IHL's Hank Bounds finalist for U. of Nebraska presidency | |
 | Hank Bounds, Mississippi commissioner of higher education, is a finalist for president of the University of Nebraska. News of Bounds being in the running for the Nebraska post broke shortly before he spoke at the Stennis Institute-Capitol Press Corps luncheon in Jackson. He gave an outline of the state of higher education in Mississippi, and deferred questions about the Nebraska job until the end. At the luncheon Bounds warned that lack of higher education attainment by Mississippi students -- the state is perennial last or near last -- "is nothing more than an anchor that is prohibiting economic development in this state." He said the state needs to focus on early childhood, pre-K education, but can't let other education levels suffer lack of funding. |
| Mississippi's Bounds 'honored' to be finalist at Nebraska | |
 | Hank Bounds, the state's higher education commissioner, said Monday he was "honored" to be one of the four finalists for president of the University of Nebraska system. Bounds, who by coincidence was slated to speak Monday at the Mississippi State University Stennis Institute/capitol press corps luncheon, addressed questions about the reports from earlier that day out of Nebraska that he was a finalist for the post. The University of Nebraska's presidential search committee has named four finalists to replace former President J.B. Milliken. Bounds said he was contacted about six weeks ago by a search firm about the opening. He said he would be returning to Nebraska in the coming weeks to undergo interviews on the campuses within the Nebraska system and with the board that oversees the university. |
| Bounds says Nebraska job could be good opportunity | |
 | Mississippi Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds says he's honored to be named one of four finalists to lead the University of Nebraska. The 47-year-old leader of Mississippi's eight public universities says that while it would be hard to leave his home state, going to Nebraska could be a good opportunity and he intends to proceed through the interview process. Bounds made the remarks Monday at a luncheon sponsored by Mississippi State University's Stennis Institute of Government and the Capitol press corps. |
| College Board head calls on lawmakers to honor funding request | |
 | Mississippi's Commissioner of Higher Learning is calling on lawmakers to honor a request for addition funding for the state's public universities. Mississippi's eight public universities received nearly $750 million dollars in state appropriations this year. Yet, IHL Commissioner Hank Bounds believes it's not enough money. He says a lack of appropriation has made schools too reliant on raising tuition as a solution to funding shortfalls. "In the year 2000, 56 percent of our total revenue came from state appropriations and about 32 percent came for tuition," says Bounds. "Fast forward to today, and those numbers have been completely flipped. So, I would tell you that long term it's not a good strategy." |
| C Spire Data Center Opens in Research Park | |
| C Spire marked the official opening Monday of its new $23 million world-class data center in northeast Mississippi. The award-winning center promises to boost regional business technology infrastructure and spur new investment and expansion opportunities. The 23,800 square foot center, located on a 6.5 acre site at the sprawling Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park in Starkville, is one of only 16 commercially available facilities in the U.S. with a Tier 3 or 4 rating, the highest in the industry based on data center certifications by the Uptime Institute. |
| C Spire opens Starkville data center | |
 | C Spire has officially opened its new data center in Starkville. The company says Monday marks the official start of operations at the $23 million facility. The 23,800 square foot center is located on a 6.5 acre site at the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park at Mississippi State University. |
| C Spire's new data center in Starkville goes into operation | |
| Telecommunications firm C Spire says it has opened its $23 million Starkville data center. The company announced yesterday that the center, part of its strategy to sell more services to businesses, is operational. Starkville and Oktibbeha County waived non-school property taxes for 10 years to support the 22,400 square-foot project, built in Mississippi State University's Thad Cochran Research Park. |
| Miss Mississippi to visit Cleveland schools | |
 | Miss Mississippi Jasamine Murray will visit Margaret Green Junior High and D.M. Smith Middle School on Nov. 12 to promote her platform, "13 Going on 30-Teaching Young Girls to Embrace Their Age." Murray is from Columbus and is currently attending Mississippi State University pursuing a bachelor's degree in broadcasting. Murray has been involved in various leadership roles. She founded 13 Going On 30 Motivational Day camp. Recently, she was a top 10 finalist at Miss America and a finalist for Quality of Life. |
| Fourth Starkville 'fiberhood' qualifies for C Spire service | |
 | Four Starkville "fiberhoods" are now qualified for engineering and construction efforts associated with C Spire's upcoming fiber optic, residential Internet service, and a spokesperson says the company could soon announce a service turn-on date for two city neighborhoods. Last month, the Hiwassee neighborhood exceeded C Spire's 45 percent homeowner pre-registration mark, which now qualifies the area for the company's 1 gigabyte Internet service. Other "fiberhoods," including South Montgomery, Timbercove and the Cotton District, qualified for engineering efforts earlier this year. "We're really starting to see widespread progress in our efforts to become a gigabit city," said Mayor Parker Wiseman. |
| Starkville police give tips on avoiding auto burglary | |
| Starkville police are sending out a reminder to residents on how to avoid being victims of auto burglaries. Officers say although remote door locks are common features on cars, citizens should be wary of leaving keys or valuables in plain site in their vehicles. While patrolling, authorities see many vehicles with keys in plain view, making them easy targets for criminals. Officers added citizens should always lock their vehicles when leaving them to avoid giving criminals easy access inside. |
| Move over, Silicon Valley: Mississippi is innovating | |
| Have you ever used an ATM outside of a bank? You have a Mississippi company to thank for that. Triton Systems, on the Gulf Coast, was the first to develop an "outside of the bank" ATM. But you've probably never heard of them. "We have some big companies in Mississippi that aren't all that well known," said Tony Jeff of Innovate Mississippi. That's why Innovate Mississippi is holding the Conference on Technology Innovation, Tuesday and Wednesday in Jackson. It's part of Innovation Month in Mississippi. "This is the 15th conference we've done," Jeff said. "We want to make sure the story is told about the innovation ecosystem in Mississippi." |
| KiOR could owe state entire $69.4M debt plus interest | |
| Mississippi has warned biofuel maker KiOR that it could demand immediate repayment of the company's entire $69.4 million debt to the state, plus $8 million in interest, if the company doesn't make its loan payment before a grace period runs out. Marlo Dorsey, a spokeswoman for the Mississippi Development Authority, said the state sent the letter yesterday. "Due to the expiration of the forbearance period, KiOR and KiOR Columbus, LLC have been advised of the state's intention to accelerate the obligations owed under their loan if no payment is made by the end of the grace period on Wednesday," Dorsey wrote in an email to The Associated Press. |
| Cochran, Childers make final pitch to voters | |
| Six-term Republican Sen. Thad Cochran and his Democratic challenger Travis Childers traveled the state Monday, making last-minute appeals to voters. "I hope to be able to work hard to reflect credit on the state, to make sure our interest is taken into account, to keep our country free, to keep our economy healthy. Those are the biggest challenges that I think we face," Cochran said Monday in Meridian, according to WTOK-TV. A short time later, several Republican elected officials joined Cochran as he campaigned at a restaurant in Madison. The 76-year-old incumbent said he believes he could regain the Appropriations Committee chairmanship if Republicans take control of the Senate. |
| Cochran not worried about crossover votes | |
| At a campaign rally in Dumont Plaza in Meridian on Monday, U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran said he isn't worried about voter backlash at the polls today from tea party supporters of state Sen. Chris McDaniel, who failed to unseat Cochran in the June 24 GOP primary runoff. "I trust the people to make the decision on who to support, who to vote for," Cochran said. "I've got experience and proven the kind of work product I am capable of." There has been speculation by some as to whether or not Cochran, 76, who is seeking his seventh term, will serve the entire term if reelected. "I am determined to make it a successful experience serving another six years in the U.S. Senate," Cochran said at the rally. Some tea party faithfuls have vowed to vote for Childers in today's election, prompting a call for unity by some Republicans. |
| With country trending GOP, Childers still hopes for upset in Mississippi, one of the reddest states | |
| If Travis Childers is about to pull off an upset of Sen. Thad Cochran in the U.S. Senate race, he figures he'll get his first hint when results start coming in from the Pine Belt. Cochran's camp is looking further north and says if Childers doesn't win the 1st Congressional District where he lives, it'll be a long night for the Democrat. Childers said he's just hoping to split that district, which he represented in the House for about 2 1/2 years. But Childers thinks he has a chance with a better than expected, though still low, turnout and help from Republican voters that turn against Cochran over his bitter race with state Sen. Chris McDaniel in the primary. Childers said the Pine Belt will be crucial to his chances. "Hattiesburg and about a 75 mile radius," he said at the Gulfport stop on a flyaround of the state. |
| Travis Childers makes one last stop in Pine Belt before election | |
 | Travis Childers made one final stop in the Pine Belt Monday, encouraging voter support before the election. The Democratic candidate in the Senatorial race made several stops across the state Monday. "We're in the Pine Belt today because we want voters in the Pine Belt area to know that their vote is important to us," said Childers. "One vote can make a difference and I ask for the people to join me as we move Mississippi forward." Childers was accompanied by his son and daughter as he delivered one last message to voters before they cast their ballots Tuesday. |
| South Mississippi Tea Party endorses Childers | |
| It's coming a little late in the game, but the South Mississippi Tea Party Board of Directors has endorsed Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Travis Childers in today's election. The board, in an emailed statement, said "we have concluded we must do everything possible to defeat the Barbour machine, also known as the MS GOP." It says removing incumbent Republican Thad Cochran would prevent "a possible later appointment of another of Barbour's favorites in the case of Cochran stepping down after the election." |
| Barbour: GOP dodged bullet in Mississippi | |
 | Republicans dodged a bullet when Tea Party favorite Chris McDaniel was defeated in a Senate runoff election in Mississippi against Republican Thad Cochran, the state's former governor Haley Barbour said Tuesday. McDaniel could have been "Todd Akin, Richard Mourdock on steroids" if he'd won, argued Barbour, a big supporter of Cochran's. Akin and Mourdock were failed GOP Senate candidates in 2012. Many Republicans believe comments the two made about rape and abortion contributed to their defeats and prevented the party from winning the Senate in that cycle. Republicans made an effort in this cycle to ensure they had a team of strong candidates, and the party worked to prevent McDaniel from defeating Cochran. |
| Mayfield's widow re-files charges against police | |
| Robin Mayfield has re-filed trespassing charges against three Madison police who showed up at her Ridgeland home after her husband Mark Mayfield killed himself in June. A Madison County circuit judge last week denied a probable cause hearing on whether to issue arrest warrants for the officers. Police and educators, when acting in their official capacity, are entitled to a hearing to determine if evidence exists to warrant their arrest. The judge last week dismissed a petition for a probable cause hearing, saying any prosecution on trespassing in the case "should be commenced by the issuance of a citation, not by the issuance of an arrest warrant." Mark Mayfield had been arrested by Madison police on May 22, in a case that drew national attention in the bitter Mississippi GOP primary between incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran and tea party challenger Chris McDaniel. |
| Mississippi water utilities sue over domestic violence rule | |
| The Mississippi Rural Water Association has sued the state Public Service Commission in federal court, claiming the commission overstepped its authority and conflicted with federal law when it required a 60-day delay in utility deposits for domestic violence victims. The suit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Jackson by the association, asks U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan III to block the rule and order the commission to pay damages and court costs. It's the latest in a series of clashes between the commission and nonprofit water and electrical utilities. Northern District Commissioner Brandon Presley, a Democrat who pushed for the waiver, calls the lawsuit frivolous. "They ought to be ashamed of themselves," Presley said Friday. "I don't think their customers would approve of their money being spent like this." |
| Top U.K. spy: Twitter, Facebook are jihadi 'command and control networks' | |
 | In the latest warning from European officials concerned with online recruiting of fighters for extremist groups like Islamic State, the new director of Britain's surveillance agency said social media have become "the command and control networks of choice for terrorists." He also said that U.S.-based technology companies must work more closely with security and law enforcement agencies worldwide. GCHQ director Robert Hannigan's comments highlight the tension between government intelligence and Internet privacy more than a year after US contractor Edward Snowden leaked evidence of U.S. and British government surveillance. |
| Adding lightness: One way or another, Ford's new aluminium truck is a game-changer | |
 | In December, Ford will roll out an aluminium-bodied version of its F-150 pickup truck -- its most popular model, accounting for 50% of the company's earnings in North America. Being 15% lighter than its all-steel predecessor, the new F-150 is reckoned to be up to 20% more fuel efficient and able to haul 11% heavier loads. Such performance figures ought to make it a bigger seller than ever. The question now is whether Ford can build the new lightweight version of its breadwinner without a litany of costly recalls. In a bid to minimise risks, Ford has spent $3 billion developing the aluminium-bodied truck and learning how to make it. One of the biggest problems when working with aluminium alloys is their sensitivity to heat. |
| More retailers announce earlier opening times on Thanksgiving | |
 | The turkey-and-gravy window is getting smaller again. Retailers are stumbling over one another to announce ever-earlier opening times on Thanksgiving as they race to woo Black Friday shoppers with deep discounts during hours usually reserved for family gatherings. On Monday, Sears said it would open its doors at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving, joining rivals Macy's and Kohl's, which shoved forward the beginning of their Black Friday specials from last year's 8 p.m. kickoff. J.C. Penney upped the ante and said Monday that it would open stores at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Retailers -- faced with shoppers who are still reluctant to splurge despite improving financial conditions -- are in an arms race to win them over as soon as possible, analysts said. |
| Freshwater Studies Center at University of Alabama gets new director | |
 | A University of Alabama biology professor has been named the next director of the Center for Freshwater Studies in UA's College of Arts and Sciences. Alex Huryn replaces Amy Ward, professor emeritus of biological sciences. Huryn is a freshwater ecologist who has served on the Center for Freshwater Studies executive committee. He plans to focus on fostering multidisciplinary collaborations among junior faculty. |
| Auburn researchers begin trapping, putting GPS collars on 20 black bears | |
 | The river that flows through Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama creates a natural highway for black bears migrating from Georgia's rapidly developing Atlanta-Chattanooga corridor. In fact, research shows that Little River Canyon National Preserve near Fort Payne has been home to 26 black bears for at least two years, according to Todd Steury, an associate professor in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University. This week, the Auburn team will begin catching and tagging bears in and near Little River Canyon National Preserve and on private property in the Saraland area far to the south, in Mobile County. Auburn experts are conducting a statewide study of black bears, their population viability and their movements. |
| UGA police: Student threatened mass violence on campus with assault rifle | |
 | A 19-year-old University of Georgia student in September used social media to threaten mass violence on campus with an assault rifle, according to recently filed court documents. Previously, UGA police revealed only that Ariel Omar Arias used the Yik Yak smartphone application to warn, "If you want to live don't be at the MLC at 12:15." The location referred to is the Zell B. Miller Learning Center. When arrested later that day, Arias told police the messages were a prank and he had no intentions of harming anyone. Police said the student allowed them to search his car and residence, but no weapons were found in either location. |
| Partnership compiles data on Missouri women for public policy project | |
 | A University of Missouri institute and the Women's Foundation of Greater Kansas City are partnering on a project that eventually will lead to a political platform addressing the needs of Missouri women. Wendy Doyle, president and CEO of the Women's Foundation, said her group in July partnered with MU's Institute of Public Policy "to commission a research study on the status of women in Missouri." The two organizations are working together to understand what struggles women face on a range of issues from health care to child care, and then they plan to use that information to create a policy platform to address those issues with the Missouri General Assembly. |
| U. of Missouri professor Michael Budds brings the gift of music to his students | |
 | In his 33 years at the University of Missouri, Michael Budds has expanded the musical tastes of thousands of students. His specialties are broad -- American music, African-American music and the music of Victorian England. He has written or edited at least 20 titles, including books on jazz, rock and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. In September, Budds was inducted into the Missouri Music Hall of Fame, becoming the first music scholar -- or musicologist -- to have his name added to the museum wall. He joins a list of musicians that includes Scott Joplin, Charlie Parker, Chuck Berry and Sheryl Crow. At the very least, Budds is a man with an obvious love of music and the enthusiastic spirit of a missionary. |
| Outcome of Governors' Races Could Shift Higher-Ed Policy in Several States | |
 | Of the 36 gubernatorial elections being decided on Tuesday, three have special resonance for people in higher education. In each case, a Republican governor took a hard line on higher-ed spending; in each case, that governor now finds himself in electoral peril. Two high-profile incumbents, Gov. Rick Scott of Florida and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, are fighting for re-election in races that are considered tossups. And then there's one race that is not close: In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Corbett is considered a likely loser on Election Day. The three governors ripped pages from the same playbook: deep cuts for higher education at a time when enrollments were increasing. But their attempts at higher-education reform have not gone all that smoothly. |
| College endowments see double-digit returns for the second year in a row | |
 | College endowment funds saw double-digit returns this year, but many are still just treading water over the past decade. Endowments saw average market returns of 15.8 percent in the 2014 budget year, according to preliminary findings of a survey by Commonfund and the National Association of College and University Business Officers. This makes the second year in a row that endowment fund managers have managed double-digit returns. Last year, investment returns were 11.7 percent. Two years ago, market returns were negative, and only six years ago, the recession and related economic crisis caused major losses for some funds. |
| University of West Florida emerges from shakeup | |
| The administrative landscape at the University of West Florida has shifted drastically in the last month and a half. Daily operations and budget management at the university are now in the hands of provost and recently-promoted executive vice-president Martha Saunders. A former president of the University of Southern Mississippi, Saunders took over those responsibilities from university President Judy Bense following her promotion to executive vice-president in October. Saunders had already been serving as provost and vice-president of academic affairs, and will continue in those roles with all other vice-presidents now reporting directly to her. |
| James Carville to deliver U. of New Orleans's fall commencement speech | |
 | Political consultant and commentator James Carville will serve as the principal speaker at the University of New Orleans' fall 2014 commencement on Dec. 18, UNO announced today. The event will take place at 3 p.m. at the Lakefront Arena. Citing Carville's international reputation and "singular communication style," UNO president Peter J. Fos said in a statement that the school was honored that Carville had agreed to deliver a commencement speech. "[I]t will be a real treat for our graduates," he said. A professor of political science at Tulane University, he has resided in New Orleans since 2008 with his wife Mary Matalin, a well-known Republican strategist. |
| CHARLIE MITCHELL (OPINION): Unsung heroes walk hospital halls | |
| Longtime Mississippi journalist Charlie Mitchell writes: "Let's pause in praise of nurses. They work many miracles. Few people notice. The media's 24/7 obsession with the fact as well as the risk of Ebola in America put some nurses in the spotlight -- as patients and as caregivers -- but every day in thousands upon thousands of hospital hallways and rooms, nurses are doing their thing, quietly moving from patient to patient ministering to the sick and the suffering as well as the chronic complainers. Nursing, as a career, embodies many, many categories these days." |
SPORTS
| Mullen: Plenty for No. 1 Mississippi State to work on | |
| For the first time in six weeks, the No. 1 Mississippi State football team will line up against a non-Southeastern Conference opponent Saturday afternoon. That's when coach Dan Mullen and MSU will play host to Tennessee-Martin at 3 p.m. (SEC Network) in a Homecoming game that will provide a rare respite from the rigors of SEC play. But Mullen said there are plenty of things for the Bulldogs to work on. "I know their head coach Jason Simpson well," Mullen said. "They are a very well-coached football team. They are a little unorthodox at times. They will come at you on defense from a lot of different directions. They run an up-tempo offense. They are on a four-game winning streak, and they have dominated their last two opponents. Their team is playing with a lot of confidence, and this is a big opportunity for them. They are going to come in with a chip on their shoulder, and it will present a huge challenge." |
| Mississippi State adjusts as 'hunted instead of the hunter' | |
| Mississippi State is finding out just how difficult life is at the top. The Bulldogs have been the No. 1 team in the nation for the past four weeks and have had to survive two SEC battles. Kentucky kept things close throughout on the road while MSU had to rally with 17 unanswered points to top Arkansas 17-10 over the weekend. "When you're the hunted instead of the hunter, people throw the kitchen sink at you," said MSU coach Dan Mullen. "You're going to get things you haven't seen in games before. Teams will blitz you and do a lot more trick plays and throw everything out at you to get that opportunity at a win when you're the hunted." |
| Bulldogs face Skyhawks, former teammate Favre for homecoming | |
| Bulldog head coach Dan Mullen best described Mississippi State's 17-10 win over Arkansas as his team finding a way to win. With a fourth-quarter goal line stand and a last-second interception in the end zone to seal the win against the Razorbacks, Mullen said at his weekly press conference that the Bulldogs knew late-season wins would not come easy. "We're going to have to find different ways to win games throughout the season. We've won high scoring games and now we've won a low scoring game," he said. "(Players) understand all the different ways it's going to come out throughout the season, and you have to be prepared for that moment to win a game." |
| Bulldogs look to get their game back in sync | |
| Mississippi State's rise to No. 1 has been fueled by the Heisman-caliber play of quarterback Dak Prescott and dominant victories over top 10 opponents. The Bulldogs' performance in recent victories to stay on top have been a little underwhelming. Coach Dan Mullen, however, didn't appear overly concerned during Monday's press conference. "Whatever opportunity presents itself, winning is the most important thing," Mullen said. "Our guys have been able to do that. They've bought into that." Now Mississippi State has a game on Saturday against Tennessee-Martin (5-5), a Football Championship Subdivision program that probably won't provide much competition. Much bigger SEC Western Division challenges against Alabama (Nov. 15) and Ole Miss (Nov. 29) loom on the horizon. |
| Mississippi State has idea on what to expect from last three SEC opponents | |
| After five straight Southeastern Conference foes, Mississippi State hosts its only FCS opponent of the season. The matchup with Tennessee-Martin comes one week prior to MSU's trip to face No. 4. Alabama. A win in Tuscaloosa would give Mississippi State a two-game cushion on the rest of the league. Since it holds a tie-breaker against No. 3 Auburn, a win on Nov. 15 would allow the MSU to clinch the SEC west prior to the Egg Bowl. "I never (looked ahead). I struggle with that, especially if I'm going to be calling plays," MSU coach Dan Mullen said. "Our focus is completely on beating UT-Martin this week." That doesn't mean the program hasn't already scouted Alabama, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss. |
| Mississippi State's Prescott, McKinney semifinalists for awards | |
| Junior quarterback Dak Prescott and junior middle linebacker Benardrick McKinney have been two key reasons why the No. 1 Mississippi State football team remains undefeated. On Monday, the duo received more national accolades. Prescott was named a national semifinalist for the 78th-annual Maxwell Award, while McKinney was named a semifinalist for the 20th-annual Chuck Bednarik Award. The winners of the Maxwell Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Dec. 11 as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN. |
| Adidas releases Mississippi State's Egg Bowl uniforms | |
| Adidas has immersed itself into the tradition of the Egg Bowl. The annual rivalry between Ole Miss and Mississippi State has come with special uniforms for the Bulldogs the past few years. Adidas revealed this year's addition on Tuesday. The Egg Bowl is in Oxford this year, so the Bulldogs will be wearing white. The numbers are gold with a pattern of state of Mississippi within the digits. The numerals are outlined in maroon. The helmet is similar to the design worn during the regular season. The maroon helmet has a chrome-feel to it. The "M-State" logo is outlined in gold. The facemask is gold chrome, similar to the helmet worn during last year's Egg Bowl. |
| LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis gets one-year extension | |
 | LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis received a one-year contract extension through the 2015 season, according to a letter of agreement the school provided The Advocate on Monday. Chavis received the extension in January 2013, the letter says. Chavis' previous three-year contract with the school ended Dec. 31. The letter of agreement, between Chavis and the school, was not delivered to The Advocate for a story published Sunday on Chavis' contract despite contract requests. Chavis' salary of $1.3 million will remain the same for 2015, the letter of agreement notes. As reported in Sunday's Advocate, five LSU assistant coaches have contracts that expire following this season. LSU has the highest-paid staff in the nation, according to USA Today. |
| Should the NCAA prevent convicted criminals from playing college sports? | |
| The National Collegiate Athletic Association does not have a rule against allowing convicted felons to participate in NCAA sports and it does not anticipate changing its policy, even as it faces public pressure following the revelation that a star football player at Alcorn State University is a registered sex offender. But this week, the NCAA doubled down on its policy. Stacey Osburn, a spokeswoman for the NCAA, said Monday that it is not the association's place to dictate who can and cannot be allowed to enroll at a member institution and participate in sports there. Jamil Cooks, who was recently named Alcorn State's "male athlete of the week," transferred from the United States Air Force Academy after a court martial found him guilty of "abusive sexual contact" and required him to register as a sex offender and expelled him. Cooks is appealing his conviction, his lawyer said in a statement. |
| Football, the Newest Partisan Divide | |
 | To the list of issues that divide the country along partisan lines, you can add an unusual item: football. Yes, virtually every slice of America still watches football in enormous numbers. But blue America -- particularly the highly educated Democratic-leaning areas of major metropolitan areas -- is increasingly deciding that it doesn't want its sons playing football. The number of boys playing high school football has fallen 15 percent over the last six years in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Each of these states voted Democratic in the last two presidential elections, and each is among the more educated states in the nation, measured by the share of the population with a bachelor's degree. |
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