| Wednesday, December 17, 2014 |
| Mississippi State professor links artifacts to David and Solomon | |
 | A Mississippi State University professor and a team of archaeologists discovered ancient artifacts that might offer proof of the existence of biblical civilizations controlled by David and Solomon. Jimmy Hardin, associate professor in the MSU Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, found six artifacts called bullae in southern Israel in August, which were believed to have sealed ancient documents for privacy. Mississippi State University, through the Cobb Institute of Archaeology, has held a long-standing presence in the area, and university officials said that Hardin's most recent findings solidify the university's already successful archaeological research in Israel and the Middle East. |
| Mississippi State's accreditation reaffirmed by SACSCOC for another 10 years | |
 | The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has reaffirmed the accreditation for Mississippi State University for the next decade. MSU's reaffirmation came without recommendations for improvement from the commission. The reaccreditation was announced at SACSCOC's annual meeting last week in Nashville, Tennessee. "I am proud of the outstanding efforts put forth by Dr. Tim Chamblee and his team and the work of our faculty and staff over a long review period. This is great news and speaks highly of the institution and its mission of advancing higher education in Mississippi as this state's flagship research university," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. |
| Architectural Digest features MSU Riley Center | |
 | Mississippi State's Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts is among "14 Historic American Theatres" featured this month in Architectural Digest magazine's online edition. The MSU Riley Center is listed with some of the country's most visually appealing and historically interesting theaters, including the Saenger in New Orleans, the Fox in Hutchinson, Kans., and the Balboa in San Diego. "We're so honored to be included with the outstanding performance halls that are featured. For Architectural Digest and its editors to bring recognition to the Riley Center is awesome," Executive Director Dennis Sankovich said. |
| Distracted driving has law enforcement on alert | |
 | If you say you haven't done it, it would be hard to believe. Everybody at one point in time has sent a text, answered a call or even groomed themselves while on the road. Either way, distracted driving has been an issue for law enforcement. "In that time period, when you're not watching the road, a child could run out and a car can pull out in the intersection," Starkville Officer Andy Round said. "It's an easy way to have collisions on the highways." Law enforcement wants to remind drivers to stay safe during this Christmas season. "We don't want any extra accidents or anybody not making it home for the holidays," Round said. |
| Supervisors approve Oktibbeha's comprehensive plan | |
| Oktibbeha County supervisors unanimously approved a 61-page comprehensive plan Monday that will help guide future growth in the next 20 years. The document, developed by the Oxford-based urban planning consultant Slaughter and Associates, only serves as a flexible guidepost in terms of land use and other planning goals and is not expected to bring to fruition strict rules, such as zoning ordinances. Mike Slaughter, the firm's chief planner, is expected to lead an implementation session with supervisors in early 2015, but such a meeting went unscheduled Monday. "The last thing I want you to do is adopt this and let it sit on the shelf," he said to the board. |
| Starkville Leaders Move Forward with New Police Headquarter Discussions | |
 | Taxes, revenue, and finances. Starkville aldermen say these elements must be in line before deciding the fate of police headquarters. The issue of buying Cadence Bank and converting it into the police headquarters and court returned to the agenda Tuesday night. Starkville leaders say that selling the current city hall and a city owned lagoon would be key in purchasing the building, located on Main Street. They unanimously voted to put those properties up for bid and approach Cadence about the lowest price possible. |
| Starkville Habitat for Humanity dedicates home | |
| Habitat for Humanity officials held a ceremony to dedicate one of its home projects to a new owner early Tuesday morning. Angela Lindsey and her four children were able to set their sights on their new four bedroom home. The non-profit is known for repairing and building homes across the nation using volunteer labor and donations. "I am very happy and I'm so thankful for the Habitat community," Lindsey said. "They have done a lot for me and my kids." |
| Golden Moon Casino to reopen Jan. 31 at Pearl River Resort | |
 | A grand reopening of the Golden Moon Hotel & Casino at Pearl River Resort is planned in January following a $70 million renovation to the gaming area, poker room, center bar and hotel rooms. The renovation also includes new slots and new gaming technology. Tribal Chief Phyliss J. Anderson and President and CEO of Pearl River Resort Holly Gagnon will be present to provide special remarks and cut the ceremonial ribbon. "The Golden Moon renovation utilizes design and technology to create an unparalleled entertainment, gaming, and lodging experience for our guests," Gagnon said. "The efforts to enhance Golden Moon will benefit our guests, our employees, the community, and the tribe." |
| SBA awards MDA funding for state trade and export promotion program | |
 | The U.S. Small Business Administration has awarded the Mississippi Development Authority funding for the Mississippi State Trade and Export Promotion Program. The STEP Program allows MDA to provide financial and technical assistance to small- and medium-sized Mississippi companies interested in growing their business through trade. Administered by MDA's Trade Bureau, the program helps reduce some of the financial obstacles qualifying businesses face when identifying export opportunities. Mississippi companies that have participated in the STEP Program include BankTEL Systems, BioSoil Enhancers, Flathau's Fine Foods, Heartland Catfish, Hyperion Technologies, Mississippi Aerospace Corporation, Multicraft International, Navagis, Thomasson Company, Trilogy Communications, and more. |
| Cochran, as expected, to chair Appropriations panel | |
 | Mississippi U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker have been given their committee assignments by Republican Party leaders, and Cochran, as expected, will chair the Appropriations Committee, one of the most influential positions in Congress. Wicker, of Tupelo, recently elected chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, will gain seniority and serve on five Senate committees for the 114th Congress. His office, in a news release, said he will remain on the Armed Services Committee; the Budget Committee; the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and the Environment and Public Works Committee. He will also serve on the Rules Committee. The committee assignments will be formally approved next month when the new Congress convenes. |
| Governor's comments dismay school district officials | |
 | During a recent Lamar County School Board meeting, a school district curriculum specialist put the board members through a Common Core math lesson. Superintendent Tess Smith said the aim was to take the mystery out of Common Core. "It's just standards," she said. "We hope to do this with community meetings -- not to change people's minds, but to put the information out there and inform people how we are using (the standards) in Lamar County." Smith said she was disheartened to hear Gov. Phil Bryant's recent remarks about doing away with Common Core in the state. Petal School District Superintendent Matthew Dillon said the governor's comments were interesting to him, especially because they came when schools and districts had already spent so much effort to implement the standards. |
| Report: MPAA used Mississippi AG Hood in fight with Google | |
| The leaked e-mails in the Sony hacking scandal revealed that Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood was used by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) in that organization's fight against Google and copyright infringement. According to reports from multiple news sites, the MPAA devised a plan to work with state attorneys general to revive efforts for anti-piracy legislation (such as SOPA, Stop Online Piracy Act). Google and other tech companies fought against SOPA, which failed in Congress in 2012. |
| Detractors of Google Take Fight to the States | |
 | They have lobbied state attorneys general. They have hired former state attorneys general. They have even helped draft a menacing letter for one state attorney general. And they have given the target -- Google -- a code name: Goliath. Google's detractors complain about the search giant to everyone they can, from raising concerns about the company's dominance with regulators in Brussels to antitrust officials in Washington. Now, they are taking the fight into states. The inner workings of those efforts are outlined in emails obtained by The New York Times. Google's foes have found a particularly receptive official in Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, a folksy Democrat who grew up in northern Mississippi. In late October, Mr. Hood issued a 79-page subpoena to Google, asking for records related to its advertisements and search results for controlled substances, fake IDs and stolen credit card numbers. |
| Wicker defends move to fund mothballed NASA rocket project | |
 | Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi was unbowed Tuesday in the face of disclosures that he kept alive funding to complete a $349 million Mississippi rocket-testing project, only for it to be immediately mothballed because it was part of a canceled NASA program. "Congress agreed that it was not in the best interests of taxpayers, in Mississippi or elsewhere, to allow the site to sit incomplete, abandoned, and neglected, quickly falling into a state of disrepair," Wicker said in a statement. He sought to redirect the blame on President Barack Obama, who Wicker said "has abandoned America's manned space program" and "lacks the vision of his predecessors." |
| Longtime legislator not seeking re-election after 36 years | |
 | State Representative Joseph L. "Joe" Warren (D-District 90) said he will not seek re-election in 2015. Warren, a Mt. Olive native, was first elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1979, serving his first legislative session in 1980. "People have been real good to me, and I have been blessed," said Warren of his 36 years representing Covington, Jefferson Davis, Simpson, Marion and Forrest counties. Although Warren will not return to the Capitol after the 2015 legislative session, he said he is running for Chancery Clerk in Covington County. |
| Money men cheer Bush news; Republican rivals will struggle to raise big cash | |
 | In one swift move, Jeb Bush showed his fundraising prowess without raising a dollar. A number of top tier donors reacted to the Republican's announcement on Facebook that he would "actively explore the possibility" of running for president with genuine enthusiasm -- and even relief. Some of the GOP's top donors and operatives have been pushing Bush to get into the race, or were holding their breath and hoping he would -- and they interpreted his Facebook post on Tuesday as a signal that all systems were a go. "I think a lot of people are pleased [Bush] is taking the next step," said former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who has not yet endorsed any candidate for 2016. "He has a following of his own, but I am sure there are a lot of people who met him when his dad was vice president or president who have followed his career who are very impressed." |
| Congress quietly ends federal government's ban on medical marijuana | |
 | Tucked deep inside the 1,603-page federal spending measure is a provision that effectively ends the federal government's prohibition on medical marijuana and signals a major shift in drug policy. The bill's passage over the weekend marks the first time Congress has approved nationally significant legislation backed by legalization advocates. It brings almost to a close two decades of tension between the states and Washington over medical use of marijuana. Under the provision, states where medical pot is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so. |
| U.S. Moves to Normalize Cuba Relations as American Is Released | |
 | The U.S. expects to begin discussions with Cuba on normalizing relations after more than 50 years of enmity, a U.S. official said, a step that came alongside the release Wednesday of Alan Gross, the U.S. contractor who has been held in a Cuban prison for five years. As part of the deal for Mr. Gross's release, the U.S. plans to lift many of its existing travel and money-transfer restrictions affecting Cuba, the official said, and the U.S. will return three people convicted on charges of espionage to Cuba. The Vatican played a key role in negotiations for Mr. Gross's release, the official said. Under the deal, Cuba will free 53 political prisoners, the official said, and the U.S. will review Cuba's status on the U.S.'s terrorism list. |
| Navy develops 'GhostSwimmer' drone that looks like a shark | |
 | It is the latest offering in what the US military calls its science-fiction-turned-reality projects: the GhostSwimmer, a reconnaissance robot with an exterior shell built to look a lot like a shark cutting through the ocean depths. It is the latest experimental addition to the Pentagon's burgeoning fleet of unmanned underwater vehicles, or UUVs in Navy parlance. At university labs across the country, for example, the Navy is bankrolling the creation of robotic jellyfish, which mimic the efficient natural movements of the ocean creature and could one day prove useful in underwater surveillance. |
| UM-Tupelo, Booneville aid offered to ICC, Northeast employees | |
| Employees at Itawamba and Northeast Mississippi Community Colleges can now earn a bachelor's degree at a cheaper rate. The two schools each recently signed an agreement with the Ole Miss Tupelo and Booneville campuses that will allow their workers to receive a discounted admission to the four-year university. The scholarship will pay $750 per semester for up to four semester, or $3,000 total. Derek Markley, executive director of UM-Tupelo and UM-Booneville, said the incentive is a way to build partnerships between the institutions. It will not cost ICC or Northeast. The agreement is similar to one UM-Tupelo also recently signed with the Tupelo Public School District, but this one also will provide funds for master's degrees. |
| Marijuana research projects getting state funding | |
 | Colorado was poised Wednesday to award more than $8 million for medical marijuana research, a step toward addressing complaints that little is known about pot's medical potential. Though the awards are relatively small, they represent a new frontier for marijuana research. That's because the Colorado grants are outside of the usual federal channels for approving marijuana research, a process that some say stymies pot research. Federal approval to study marijuana's medical potential requires permission of the Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. And there's only one legal source of the weed, the Marijuana Research Project at the University of Mississippi. |
| Accreditation strengthens Delta State University's future | |
 | The Delta State University family is elated after recently receiving reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. "This affirmation shows you're a real university. We are reassessed every 10 years and it's largely a self-study. Having this accreditation is vital so your degree means something," said DSU President Bill LaForge. SACSCOC, the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the southern states, officially announced the reaffirmation at its annual conference, held in Nashville, Tenn. "This type of study makes you look internally and you're held to national and regional standards. Each program is independently assessed and accredited as well," said LaForge. |
| Backlash brewing over prayer rally Jindal planning at LSU; controversial religious group sponsoring event | |
 | A backlash is brewing over a prayer rally featuring Gov. Bobby Jindal, scheduled for LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center next month. LSU students, faculty and other activists have come out against the event, called "The Response," largely because it's being paid for by the American Family Association, a controversial conservative religious group that opposes gay marriage and other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights efforts. A protest has been planned in response to The Response, and a petition has gained hundreds of signatures in just a matter of days. The Southern Poverty Law Center has described the Tupelo, Mississippi-based AFA as "some of the most hateful anti-gay voices in America" and has classified the organization as a hate group. |
| U. of Florida to brief public on plans to update master plan | |
 | The University of Florida will hold a public hearing Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in the Dogwood Room. UF is updating its master plan to the year 2025, as required under Florida law. The master plan applies to university growth and development on the main campus in Gainesville, 13 satellite properties in Alachua County and the Davie/Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, according to the UF Planning, Design and Construction website. Because of funding constraints and a lack of new money from the state to pay for impacts of UF growth on the local community's infrastructure, UF cannot add anymore to its campus than is currently allowed. But an analysis by planners shows that UF has significant room for up to 16 million square feet of new growth on the main campus. |
| UGA to hold fall commencement ceremonies Friday | |
| A total of 2,355 students are eligible to walk in the University of Georgia's fall commencement ceremonies this week. Roger Hunter, associate director for programs at the NASA Ames Research Center, is set to deliver the university's undergraduate Commencement address. Hunter received his bachelor's degree in mathematics from UGA in 1978. |
| Texas A&M University System Board of Regents to weigh renaming Academic Building for Perry | |
 | The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents will meet in a special meeting Thursday to consider changing the name of the iconic Academic Building to honor Gov. Rick Perry. With a vote of approval from the regents, the 100-year-old building recognized by its oxidized copper dome would be renamed the "Gov. Rick Perry '72 Building," according to the meeting's agenda. A university official and Gov. Perry's office applaud the proposal, but a prominent A&M former student and A&M archivist questioned the decision-making process behind wanting to rename the building. David Chapman, retired Texas A&M archivist and Cushing Library director, said the naming of buildings on campus is entirely at the regents discretion, but disagreed with their proposal, saying the school should not stray from its commitment to tradition. |
| First night of Hanukkah draws dozens to U. of Missouri Student Center | |
 | Several dozen students and faculty gathered Tuesday night for a menorah lighting ceremony in the University of Missouri Student Center to mark the first night of Hanukkah. Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin lit the middle candle, or shamash, on a 9-foot menorah furnished by Chabad of MU and Mid-Missouri, which hosted the event. Ben Trachtenberg, the group's faculty adviser and an associate professor at the MU School of Law, lit the rightmost candle to mark the first night of Hanukkah. |
| 5 Things We Know About College Students in 2014 | |
 | Everybody wants to know what college students are thinking, especially educators and marketers. What do they like? What are they like? The surveyors at Student Monitor, a market-research firm, are among those trying to peel back the layers on the minds that so many people invest so much in courting. The firm's latest research, based on interviews with 1,200 full-time students at four-year institutions, confirms some stereotypes while defying others. |
| BRIAN PERRY (OPINION): 2016's 'SEC' regional primary for presidential nominees | |
| Consultant and columnist Brian Perry writes: "Mississippi got a taste of the political experience Iowa and New Hampshire enjoy every presidential election cycle when in 2012, with the Republican nomination still in contention, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich all campaigned in state, making multiple stops and events seeking to win a portion of the Magnolia State delegates. There is an effort to make that a more common affair by creating a regional Southern primary on March 1. The 'SEC' regional primary, as proponents are calling it, would include Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi in an attempt to give the area a greater say in the selection of Republican and Democratic presidential nominees." |
| BOBBY HARRISON (OPINION): Season's cheer pushes aside usual political jawing | |
| The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal's Bobby Harrison writes: "Gov. Phil Bryant said he e-mailed a friend to ask for some jokes about the media to tell at the annual Christmas party he hosts for the media in his home -- the Governor's Mansion. But the conservative Republican conceded that most of the jokes extended beyond his sense of decency so he declined to share them. He did tell the familiar story about a perplexed former President Lyndon Johnson proclaiming that if he walked on water across the Potomac River the story the media would report was that the president could not swim. The governor may have taken a few subtle swipes about how he sometimes might feel like LBJ in terms of his treatment by the media, but he went to great lengths to defend the importance of a free and independent press with obvious sincerity." |
| SID SALTER (OPINION): Heath rankings shed light on harsh reality | |
| Syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes: "In actual distance, it's about 63 miles from Southaven in DeSoto County to Marks in Quitman County in Mississippi. But in terms of the relative health and longevity between DeSoto and Quitman counties, those towns might as well be on different planets. ...After the holidays, Mississippi's 2015 election cycle will begin in earnest. Already, education and healthcare are as usual the most difficult issues facing the Mississippi Legislature and our statewide elected officials -- supplanted only by the most recent diagnosis of the old cancer of corruption in state government -- this time in the Department of Corrections. Children can't choose between being born in DeSoto County --- where they're likely to live long and healthy lives -- or in Quitman County, where statistically neither benefit is likely to inure. But Mississippi's policymakers -- and the state's electorate -- can make those choices and they have those choices to make again in 2015 at the ballot box." |
SPORTS
| Dan Mullen hopeful of an extension at Mississippi State | |
| After one coach left Mississippi State on Tuesday, Dan Mullen tried to erase any thoughts he would be next. The sixth-year head coach denied having any contact with Michigan or any other school -- that includes his agent. "My agent's heard from Scott Stricklin," Mullen said. When pressed if others contacted his agent, Mullen replied, "No that's it, just Scott. So hopefully we can get something done there." Stricklin told reporters last week that he hoped to have an extension done soon. Mullen echoed those thoughts after Tuesday's practice. |
| Mississippi State taking patchwork group of safeties to Orange Bowl | |
| J.T. Gray wasted little time. A freshman defensive back from Clarksdale who moved to linebacker early in fall camp, the original plan from Mississippi State's coaching staff was to redshirt Gray so he could have four years of eligibility starting next season. But plans change. |
| Ring responsibly: Orange Bowl to allow cowbells | |
 | Mississippi State fans planning to attend the Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 should plan to pack their cowbells. The MSU athletics department announced Tuesday that fans will be allowed to bring their cowbells into Sun Life Stadium, and will have to follow the Southeastern Conference's "ring responsibly" policy. "We appreciate the Capital One Orange Bowl allowing our fans to continue a timeless Mississippi State tradition at this year's game," MSU Athletics Director Scott Stricklin said in a release. |
| Mullen confident in Mississippi State defense despite loss of Collins | |
| Mississippi State played one of the ten most difficult schedules in the country. Preparing for those opponents might be less stressful than the uncertainty that follows a successful regular season. "This is the crazy time of the year for coaches," MSU coach Dan Mullen said. "You look here -- (MSU athletic director) Scott Stricklin's worried I'm leaving. I'm worried my coaches are leaving. The coaches are worried their players are going to enter the NFL draft. It's just a vicious circle." One of Mullen's fears became a reality on Tuesday. Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins accepted the same position at Florida. He became the first hire for new Gators coach Jim McElwain. |
| College football's 10 biggest fan moments of 2014: Scenes that defined a season | |
 | In a vast land of Gouda grits and kale Caesars, of empty two-lane routes and clogged eight-lane freeways, of hot nights and cold nights on the same night, college football can serve as ample tour guide. From along that trail, the off-the-field moments help explain the cultures and the country. Here are the 10 most memorable moments from the 2014 college football season, including the road between Starkville and Oxford on Oct. 4. |
| Bulldogs return to Humphrey Coliseum against Red Wolves | |
| Mississippi State will make its first appearance inside Humphrey Coliseum in 23 days taking on Arkansas State at 6 p.m. tonight on the SEC Network. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Red Wolves coach John Brady, who was an assistant for the Bulldogs from 1983-1990. MSU leads the all-time series 9-2 and is 6-0 in Starkville. The Bulldogs won the previous meeting 68-63 at home in 2006. |
| Sword returns to Mississippi State starting lineup tonight | |
| There hasn't been many positives on the hardwood for Mississippi State this month. The Bulldogs are 0-2. Both losses extended their losing streak to 19 straight road games. They try to create some good vibes tonight at home against Arkansas State. The Red Wolves have an RPI in the 300s. It's also the first home game in 23 days for MSU. It'll be Craig Sword's first start in Humphrey Coliseum this season. "We'll find out," Sword said when asked if he's rounding into form. MSU's leading scorer from last year was sidelined as he recovered from surgery that repaired a bulging disc in his back. |
| Mississippi State women match program's best start | |
| Savannah Carter looks ready for business. Decked out in her home white jersey, Carter's arms are crossed across her chest and her gaze is fixed forward in the picture that adorns the cover of the Mississippi State women's basketball team's 2014-15 media guide. Fans who watched Carter play for the Bulldogs last season know what she can do when she gets locked in on you like that. At 5-foot-9, the transfer from Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College led the Bulldogs in steals (78) and showed in her first season that she epitomized MSU coach Vic Schaefer's gritty, hard-nosed style of play. On Monday, fans had their first opportunity to see Carter nearly back at that form, even if it was in a cameo role in No. 21 MSU's 104-41 victory against Mississippi Valley State before a crowd of 3,011 at Humphrey Coliseum. |
| Mississippi State women can set school record today | |
| No. 21 Mississippi State will vie for its best start in school history today after getting off to an 11-0 start. However, standing in the way will be another undefeated squad in 6-0 Louisiana-Lafayette. Tipoff is slated for 11 a.m. at the Cajundome The contest is one of six the Bulldogs will play in a span of 10 days having blown out Southern Miss and Mississippi Valley State on back-to-back occasions on Sunday and Monday. |
| Official: Florida hires Mississippi State coach Collins | |
| Offensive-minded Florida football coach Jim McElwain has made his first coaching hire, and it's on the defensive side of the ball. Geoff Collins, the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State the past two seasons, is Florida's new defensive coordinator, McElwain announced Tuesday afternoon. Collins' hiring was reported by The Sun earlier in the day. Collins is the first UF assistant hired by McElwain, who became the Gators' head coach Dec. 4. Collins has been the DC at MSU for the past two seasons and was co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for two years before that under former UF assistant Dan Mullen. |
| Jakell Mitchell's family mourns his death, treasures his life | |
 | Monday evening, Mario Mitchell sank into a couch in his Opelika home and looked at a photo of his son. Posed in a crisp shirt and tie with a blazer slung over his shoulder, 18-year-old Jakell Mitchell smiled back at his father. "He was genuinely a good kid. I use the word good because I can't say perfect. I mean, he was my model child," Mario Mitchell said. Less than 48 hours earlier, Jakell Mitchell---an Opelika High School graduate and H-back for the Auburn Tigers---was shot multiple times at a party in Tiger Lodge apartments in Auburn. He died from his injuries a short time later. As Mitchell struggles to cope with the death of a child, he's asked for prayers. Prayer and community, he added, are keeping him afloat. |
| Kyle Field's west side set for Sunday morning implosion | |
| Residents in College Station should expect to hear -- and maybe even feel -- some rumbling around 8 a.m. Sunday. Texas A&M University System officials on Monday announced the detonation time for an implosion of the west side of Kyle Field. The public will be allowed to view the implosion from the east side of the Reed Arena parking lot. The implosion will be broadcast on local channels, as well as through a live stream on the Web. The implosion, undertaken by Controlled Demolition, Inc., is the next major step in the second phase of a $450 million redevelopment of Kyle Field. The stadium became a Manhattan-Vaughn Construction site two hours after Texas A&M hosted Louisiana State University on Thanksgiving. |
| U. of Georgia swimming coach suspended after encouraging professor to enroll student in concluded course | |
 | The University of Georgia's much-lauded head swimming and diving coach will sit out nine competitions and be restricted from recruiting for one year after he arranged for a swimmer to enroll in an independent study course as a last-ditch effort to maintain his eligibility, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced Tuesday. While the university determined that no academic fraud was committed by the psychology professor who enrolled the student in the course, the NCAA infractions report helps show how easily instructors can become a part of the tug of war between athletic eligibility and academic integrity. |
| New U. of Texas Center Will Seek to Curb Troubling Behavior by Athletes | |
| The University of Texas' flagship campus will open a sports-leadership center that will help coaches instill strong character in high-school players and teach college athletes how to manage their money better, officials said on Monday. The announcement comes at a time when college athletics is under intense scrutiny nationwide for off-field behaviors including sexual assault and for academic shortcuts aimed at keeping athletes eligible to play when they aren't doing college-level work. The university's president, William C. Powers Jr., acknowledged the turmoil swirling around college sports in announcing the creation of the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation. |
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