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MSU football begins polishing process

STARKVILLE — The installation of the spread offense is complete at Mississippi State. Now, the cleaning process begins.

Varnado will give back basketball scholarship

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State center Jarvis Varnado and his family have agreed to pay his way for his senior season of basketball. By giving up his scholarship, Varnado makes it easier for the Bulldogs to fit 14 players into the 13 scholarship limit mandated by the NCAA.

Amory, Nettleton will renew rivalry

The Nettleton High School and the Amory High football teams hope to use a rivalry game to start the season with a victory. Nettleton coach Jack Clark and Amory coach Pat Byrd believe the rivalry will be good for their boys. “(The rivalry) has a positive impact for our kids. We’ve played each other 15 times in the last 20 years,” Clark said. “They have probably won 13 of those games, but even though it is one-sided it is always a competitive game.”

Immanuel girls soccer team looks to return to playoffs with young team

STEENS — Just about everything will be new for the Immanuel Christian girls soccer program in 2009. The hope for this season is that all of the new players who have joined the program will help the Lady Rams make a return trip to the playoffs. Fifth-year coach Ray Campbell and the Lady Rams will kick off the season at 4 p.m. today when they play host to Indianola.

Mississippi State students welcomed back to campus with pep rally

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State students were welcomed back to campus Monday afternoon with the season’s first pep rally at the drill field. A gathering of several hundred students listened to MSU President Mark Keenum, Starkville mayor Parker Wiseman, and MSU football coach Dan Mullen speak in a steady drizzle. The MSU cheerleaders and band also were present to help energize the crowd.

Powers to return for senior baseball season at Mississippi State

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen has been optimistic about his chances of having first baseman Connor Powers in the middle of his lineup in 2010. On Monday, those hopes were realized as Powers announced he will return to Mississippi State for his senior season. “I’m excited about it and think it was the right decision,” Powers said. “With all factors included, I think, without a doubt, it was the right thing to do.”

Sidney cleared to enroll in school at Mississippi State

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball signee Renardo Sidney is one step closer to being able to get on the court with the Bulldogs. The NCAA Eligibility Center on Monday cleared Sidney academically, which allowed him to enroll in fall classes. Although the issues with his status as an amateur remain unresolved, Sidney can participate in preseason individual and conditioning workouts with the team.

MSU's Dixon avoids court after entering guilty plea

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State senior running back Anthony Dixon pled guilty last week driving under the influence. The plea was entered by his attorney Jay Perry so Dixon could avoid Monday’s court date at Starkville Municipal Court. It remains unclear what punishment MSU coach Dan Mullen has decided to impose on Dixon, who was arrested July 18 in Starkville. Dixon, who was fined $500, was charged with driving under the influence, careless driving, and not having proof of insurance.

Dixson to conduct an MMA seminar in Columbus

John Dixson is a pioneer. Dixson, 43, can remember the “dark” days when nearly anything went in Mixed Martial Arts. Bare knuckles, groin shots, elbows, no time-limit matches — you name it and Dixson probably has seen it and dished it out in more than 13 years of competition around the world. Looking back to the origins of MMA, Dixson is surprised the sport has grown so quickly in a relatively short amount of time.

High school football teams tune up for season in jamborees

Nearly all the coaches contacted Saturday night were pleased with their teams’ performances Friday night in jamboree/scrimmage action across the state. Some, like Immanuel first-year Shawn Gates, might have gotten a little hoarse from all of the excitement. But many of the coaches and teams won’t have a lot of time to spend fine-tuning things. The majority of Mississippi High School Activities Association schools in the area will play classic games Friday, while Mississippi Association of Independent Schools also will kick off the season Friday.

Changes made to landscape at MSU's Dudy Noble Field

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen knew poor field conditions were going to prevent the Bulldogs from playing games last season. The lack of adequate drainage at Dudy Noble Field after inclement weather led to the cancellation of the final game of the Nicholls State series March 1, the Mississippi Valley State game March 31, and the middle game of the Alabama series May 2. Cohen believes the renovations to the baseball field will help improve the team’s chances of playing all its home games every year.

Starkville Quarterback Club gears up for its 44th season

STARKVILLE — Starkville Quarterback Club President Larry Graves is excited about the prospects for a good year. The club, which promotes Mississippi State football throughout the season, begins its 44th season of meetings Sept. 3. Meetings are held on each Thursday night during the season at the Starkville Country Club on Montgomery Street. A social hour begins at 6 p.m. The meal, announcement of door prizes, and speakers starts at 7 p.m.

MSU's Mullen hates to see two-a-days come to an end

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen hates to see the last week of two-a-day practice sessions end. Mullen liked the home-away-from-home setting at the intramural fields across campus and wished he had more time there. “The players came out and battled,” Mullen said. “They came out with the right attitude. There were really hard practices Saturday.” With the start of classes Monday, the Bulldogs will return to the team practice fields Tuesday. The team is scheduled to hold meetings, to have brunch, to visit the team chapel, to watch film and to lift weights today.

Starkville football team doesn't show much in scrimmage

STARKVILLE — The Starkville High School football team showed its fans Thursday night what it can do in a one-hour scrimmage. The scrimmage was part of “Meet the Players Night,” and Starkville High football coach Bill Lee was careful not to show too much because Noxubee County coach M.C. Miller was one of several coaches at the game. The Yellow Jackets will take on the defending Class 4A state champions Aug. 21 in Macon.

New Hope softball team set to begin defense of state title

The New Hope High School slow-pitch softball team is going to have a little bit of everything this season. The Lady Trojans are young and inexperienced at several positions. Coach Tabitha Beard’s team also has an assortment of “older” players who have been with the program for two to three years and who are used to advancing deep into the playoffs and competing for state titles. Last season was no exception.

Lackeys set goals to make playoffs

FULTON — Evan Lackey wants to help the Itawamba Community College football team get back to the playoffs. One year after playing at ICC, Anthony Lackey, Evan’s brother, wants to help his new team at Kentucky Wesleyan reach the same goal. Evan Lackey will begin that journey at 5 p.m. today when ICC plays Copiah-Lincoln in a scrimmage at Lambert Stadium. The game action will be the first for the former Amory High School standout, who has impressed the coaches in the past few months.

Mississippi State quarterbacks dead even

STARKVILLE — Nothing Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen saw Thursday in the team’s first full scrimmage of the season gave one quarterback an edge. After observing the two-hour scrimmage, Mullen said senior Tyson Lee, of Columbus, and sophomore Chris Relf are “dead even.” Mullen went on to say it probably would be a three-man race if freshman Tyler Russell had enrolled at MSU in January and would have participated in spring practice.

Starkville Academy softball pitcher Haynes finds her groove

STARKVILLE — A year ago, Lyndsey Haynes was trying to find her groove. A torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee forced her to wear a brace that affected her delivery. The injury also left the right-handed pitcher on the Starkville Academy fastpitch softball team wondering whether she would regain her form. But last weekend Haynes showed she has found her groove again.

Positions up for grabs on Mississippi State football team

STARKVILLE –– Mississippi State entered the second week of preseason football practice Monday and none of the players are confident enough to say they have earned a starting position. Senior quarterback Tyson Lee, of Columbus, said there’s competition at every position, which is just the way coach Dan Mullen wants it. “It’s wide open on offense and defense,” Lee said. “Coach continues to stress that. Whoever wants the job, that’s who he is going to give it to.”

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