Thursday, October 12, 2017   
 
NASA astronauts visit Mississippi State, share experiences
Mississippi State University celebrated a partnership with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation with special guests, and the SDN had the opportunity to speak to two NASA astronauts and a flight controller on Wednesday to hear about their personal experiences. Captain Fred Haise, Jr., a Biloxi native, was lunar module pilot for Apollo 13 from April 11 to April 17, 1970. After an explosion in the oxygen system, Haise and his crewmen used the lunar module "Aquarius" as a lifeboat and coordinated with Mission Control to make it back to earth safely. Haise said he sees a lot of potential in MSU engineers and the aerospace field. Haise has two great-nephews who graduated from MSU's engineering program and now work for Lockheed Corporation and Chevron Corporation. "Mississippi State is a college that has excellent engineering, physics and math, which is kind of the root discipline that are needed by graduates that join aerospace major companies," Haise said. "All of the disciplines that the college produces can pertain to all sorts of major companies."
 
UAS firm sets up shop in Starkville
The Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park welcomed a new tenant Tuesday. Insitu, a leading unmanned aerial system manufacturer opened its new Starkville office with a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception. Representatives from Mississippi State University, the city of Starkville and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership attended. The company will use its Starkville facility to work toward flight certification of its vehicles with the aid of the MSU Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and the Federal Aviation Administration Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence, which is managed by MSU. "Our relationship with Insitu as a university is to strengthen their ability to do innovative research in a very quick turn time environment to support applications to help people today," said Raspet Flight Research Laboratory Director Dallas Brooks.
 
Insitu Opens Operations Center in Starkville, Mississippi
A company that creates and supports unmanned systems and software technology with solutions for collecting, processing and delivering information, Insitu opened its new facility in Starkville, Mississippi. Insitu is located in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park at MSU. The company's partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration's Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Mississippi State University will create 25 jobs. "Mississippi State is committed to working with business and industry to bring high-tech jobs to our state that benefit not only our graduates, but enhance economic opportunity for every Mississippian. Our partnerships with Insitu and other leading aerospace companies illustrate the transformative power of university-led research and development," said MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw.
 
Boeing's Insitu Opens Up New Location in Support of UAS Center of Excellence
Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary specializing in unmanned systems and software, held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week for its new facility in Starkville, Miss. The new facility, creating 25 new jobs, is situated at Mississippi State University's Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park. Insitu is a partner of the Federal Aviation Administration's Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems at MSU. In May 2015, the FAA selected MSU as the base for the COE. The Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence leads the center. "We are fortunate to be able to collaborate with Mississippi State University, the Mississippi Development Authority and many others to establish our facility here while acting as a representative with ASSURE to help shape the future of unmanned aircraft regulation," says Insitu's president and CEO, Ryan Hartman.
 
MSU-Meridian, Neshoba students share lives, cultures through letters
Callie Amos, a fourth-grader at Tucker Elementary School in Neshoba County, is looking forward to sharing some details about Choctaw culture with her older, college-aged pen pal. "The thing I want to tell her about is that we have spring festival every year, and I like to do Choctaw dancing," Callie said, also noting her fondness for beading. Students at Tucker Elementary School and Mississippi State University-Meridian are in the midst of what they call the Pen Pal Program. Education students at MSU-Meridian are taking a class called "Exploring Diversity through Writing," and they've been writing back-and-forth to students at the elementary school throughout the semester. The project is in its third year. Penny Wallin, associate professor of educational leadership at MSU-Meridian, said the whole project began with a desire to help emerging education students reach out to young students of varying backgrounds.
 
Pen pals donate to Hurricane Harvey victims
A group of special pen pals met for the first time Wednesday. MSU-Meridian students have been writing Tucker Elementary School students as a part of their exploring diversity course. The pen pals are teaming up to help students in Texas who were victims of Hurricane Harvey. "This is one of the first times they get to network with children, and to begin accepting, understand and appreciating the diversities that we have in our communities, in our state and in our world," says MSU-Meridian Associate Professor Penny Wallin. After learning each others goals, hobbies and really anything they wanted to share, these pen pals wrote a letter together to help students affected by Hurricane Harvey.
 
Hurricane Harvey pushes up Partnership School cost
Recent natural disasters are making their presence felt in Starkville, as material prices for the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District's Partnership School have driven the overall project's cost up more than $2 million. Bruce Wood, with JH&H Architects, told the school board at Tuesday's meeting that Hurricane Harvey, which struck southeast Texas in late August, has created a tremendous increase in demand for sheetrock. The school to be built on Mississippi State University's campus will house the district's sixth and seventh graders and is scheduled to open its doors in fall 2019. SOCSD and the Mississippi Legislature are dedicating funds to the project, and MSU contributed land for the facility. Board President Keith Coble said he hopes that competition for the project will help push prices down. However, he said if they stay high, the district will have to find ways to deal with the increased project cost.
 
With some help from the chickens, a Caledonia gardener is standing in tall okra
Chas Allen might be starting to feel a little like the mythical Jack of fairy tale fame, the lad who grew a legendary beanstalk. Allen's okra plants in Caledonia are defying the "3 to 6-foot" norm. As of Oct. 6, some were topping 13 feet, from soil level to tip -- and still growing. The self-described "backyard gardener" -- and lab technician with Tronox Inc. -- has grown vegetables in raised beds on and off for years, but this is his first attempt at okra. The variety he selected is Clemson Spineless, purchased at the local co-op. Mississippi State University Extension Agent Reid Nevins said okra this tall is unusual. He's got some on his own property he estimates are hitting 9 to 10 feet. "We've had a really good growing season, with the rain back in June and July, steady rain up until the last month or so. Gardens have really flourished." Okra, he added, will grow and stay alive until a frost.
 
Greater Starkville Development Partnership hosts hospital forum
The Greater Starkville Development Partnership hosted an informational forum on the upcoming referendum vote during the special election on Nov. 7 at the Greensboro Center on Wednesday. The goal of the forum was to present facts to residents to answer questions and clear any misconceptions within the voters minds. President of the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Orlando Trainer and OCH Administrator Richard Hilton fielded questions presented by CEO and President of the GSDP Scott Maynard. Trainer said the board took it upon themselves to look at the "longterm interest" and "longterm opportunity" of health care in Oktibbeha County. Hilton emphasized OCH has an annual economic impact of $127 million, according to the Kaiser Foundation and spends about $7 million locally each year on goods and services.
 
Starkville High School teacher facing fraud charges, out of job
A Starkville High School teacher facing a slew of felony charges is no longer a school district employee, officials confirmed Wednesday morning. A Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District spokesperson told The Dispatch 45-year-old Jennifer Baggett's employment with the district ended today. School officials did not release on the record whether she resigned or was fired, nor did they say whether her employment ended in light of her legal troubles, citing these were personnel matters protected from disclosure. Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Office Lt. Brett Watson said investigators arrested Baggett on Oct. 3 for six counts of fraudulently obtaining goods by false identification. Watson said Baggett was obtaining financial credit by not using her real name.
 
Company eyeing Americold building in West Point
West Point and Clay County officials passed a series of matching tax exemptions at a joint city-county meeting on Tuesday with the hopes of luring a company that could bring 300 jobs and a $50 million capital investment to West Point. Golden Triangle Development CEO Joe Max Higgins said a company, codenamed "Project Polar," is looking at the Americold building on Church Hill Road. Higgins said the 200,000 square-foot facility used to be a freezer when Sara Lee operated in West Point, and the company that's eyeing the location is looking at it to serve as a poultry processing facility. "There's no slaughter involved," Higgins said. "Refrigerated poultry meat comes in, it's further processed, bagged and distributed to the end user. We wouldn't have liked that location for live slaughter because it's right in the middle of what has become this retail resurgence area in West Point. So that was key to us, that it wouldn't be bringing in live chickens."
 
PSC's Brandon Presley wants to give consumers ability to sue telemarketers
Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley said he "wants to scare the britches" off telemarketing companies by allowing Mississippians to personally sue them. Presley, chairman of the three-member elected Public Service Commission, is having a proposal prepared to be considered in the 2018 session of the Legislature. Presley said he will ask the full Public Service Commission to endorse the proposal. "We will continue to enforce the no-call law, but this is an attempt to ratchet up the heat on the telemarketers," Presley said Wednesday in a phone interview. He said technology is making it more difficult for the Public Service Commission to identify telemarketing companies and hold them accountable.
 
Mississippi's new U.S. attorney sworn in
Former federal prosecutor and Republican candidate for state attorney general Mike Hurst was sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi on Tuesday. "I am honored and humbled by this opportunity to return to the U.S. Attorney's Office to do the work of justice and serve the people of Mississippi," Hurst said. "... I look forward to partnering with our state and local law enforcement to make sure people are protected, victims are served and our communities are safer." Hurst recently served as director of the Mississippi Justice Institute. He was the Republican nominee for state attorney general in 2015, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Democrat Jim Hood. Hurst served as assistant U.S. attorney from 2006-2015, focused on public corruption and leading many high-profile cases.
 
Trump to sign order to eliminate ACA insurance rules, undermine marketplaces
President Trump is due to sign an executive order Thursday morning intended to allow individuals and small businesses to buy a long-disputed type of health insurance that skirts state regulations and Affordable Care Act protections. The White House and allies portray the president's move to expand access to "association health plans" as wielding administrative powers to accomplish what congressional Republicans have failed to achieve: tearing down the law's insurance marketplaces and letting some Americans buy skimpier coverage at lower prices. Critics, who include state insurance commissioners, most of the health-insurance industry and mainstream policy specialists, predict that a proliferation of such health plans will have damaging ripple effects.
 
Trump on Puerto Rico: FEMA can't stay 'forever'
President Trump took to Twitter on Thursday to warn that FEMA and the U.S. military can't continue to provide aid to hurricane-battered Puerto Rico "forever." Trump said Congress must decide how much money the federal government will spend and noted that "electric and all infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes." More than 80% of the island remains without power, three weeks after Hurricane Maria slammed through the island -- a Category 4 storm with sustained winds approaching 155 mph when it made landfall Sept. 20. The storm hit within weeks of the powerful one-two punch to the U.S. mainland dealt by Hurricane Harvey, which laid waste to swath of the Texas Gulf Coast, and Hurricane Irma, which hammered Florida so unrelentingly that most of the state lost power. Those storms kept FEMA on full alert for weeks before Maria blasted Puerto Rico.
 
Conservatives Want to Make Mitch McConnell the Symbol of a Toxic Washington
For Republicans trying to rally their base, no political villain has been more effective than Representative Nancy Pelosi, the longtime Democratic leader. In campaign after campaign, they made her the symbol of the Washington they claimed to be running against. Now a renegade group of anti-establishment Republicans is adapting that model and turning it against their own party. They are replacing Ms. Pelosi with Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader. "He is an anvil," said L. Brent Bozell III, a longtime conservative activist who on Wednesday joined a group of a half-dozen activists from the right demanding that Mr. McConnell and his leadership team step down. "Not with Democrats," he said, "but with his own party. This is the trouble that he's in."
 
Ole Miss administration unveils university strategic plan at 'State of the U' town hall
Members of the Lafayette County, Oxford and Ole Miss community filled the Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom at The Inn at Ole Miss on Wednesday afternoon to hear Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter give his "State of the U" speech at the university's second annual town hall meeting. Vitter outlined his vision for the university by using four pillars: academic excellence; healthy and vibrant communities; people, places and resources; and athletic excellence. He revealed his new initiative, "M-Partner," which will allow students and faculty to showcase their academic talents by partnering them with cities across the state to provide solutions to community problems.
 
Ole Miss alum joins White House press staff
Here's something you don't often see: A deputy White House press secretary wearing an Ole Miss T-shirt and holding a turkey and the Benelli shotgun he bagged it with on his Twitter profile. J. Hogan Gidley, 41, of South Carolina, a 1998 graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in broadcast journalism and minor in political science, has been named deputy White House press secretary, secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has confirmed in numerous press reports. Gidley said Wednesday that the first artwork he plans to hang in his new White House office will be "several Ole Miss pieces." He said he still makes it back to Oxford at least once a year, usually for a football game, but sometimes to visit the school and "amazing professors that really set my course."
 
Southern Miss announces 2017 homecoming festivities
The Golden Eagle family is celebrating homecoming week at the University of Southern Mississippi, which will culminate in the Saturday Conference USA football matchup at 6 p.m. with UTEP. This year's homecoming theme is "Behold the Gold." Students, alumni, faculty and staff and friends of USM are invited to participate in the array of activities marking the occasion. Prior to Saturday's game, the annual homecoming parade will take place at 11 a.m., traveling east down Hardy Street to the main entrance of the Hattiesburg campus. Former USM football and NFL standout Adalius Thomas will serve as the parade's grand marshal. The event will also feature the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, the Dixie Darlings, the USM homecoming court and a variety of floats and decorated vehicles representing student groups and campus and area organizations and businesses.
 
Students go whisk-to-whisk during culinary competition at Delta State
Similar to the shows "Chopped" and "Iron Chef," two teams consisting of four students from two high school culinary arts programs competed in a junior chef competition recently at Delta State University. According to April Catchings, director of the division of training and program outreach for the Mississippi Department of Education, this is the first year the competition was hosted by the MDE. The competition was held in the kitchen area of the Eleanor Boyd Walters Hall at Delta State University. The judges were Edward Hill, director of Child Nutrition of West Bolivar Consolidated School District, Ann Twiner, Extension Agent for Sunflower County, and Jessica Stoey, a dietetic Intern at Delta State.
 
Hinds Community College to construct $13M academic/tech facility at Vicksburg campus
Hinds Community College's Vicksburg-Warren Campus moved into the future Wednesday with groundbreaking ceremonies marking the start of construction for a new $13 million academic and career-technical building. About 125 people, including college and local officials, attended the ceremony for the new building, which will house classrooms and laboratories for academic and career technical programs and the Vicksburg Warren School District's River City Early College, where high school students can earn college credit along with their high school diploma. "It is a great day for us to be here," Hinds President Dr. Clyde Muse said. "This provides an opportunity here for us to really improve the quality of life for people in Vicksburg and Warren County. It also provides an opportunity to provide a way in which our people can train and get better jobs."
 
Regents: Georgia colleges must have same semester lengths
The University of Georgia can't shorten the length of its semesters to match those of Georgia Tech and Georgia State University. Instead, the two Atlanta schools will have to lengthen theirs under revisions in the state Board of Regents policy on instructional time. Semesters must have 15 weeks of instructional time, as defined by federal regulations, and those 15 weeks cannot include registration or final exams, according to language the board approved Wednesday. The issue of semester length became an issue at UGA last year as faculty governance committees struggled to find a solution to UGA's unusually early starting dates, and how to change that. The university started fall semester classes Aug. 14, before most U.S. colleges, including Tech and Georgia State, which began Aug. 22.
 
U. of Tennessee launches search for provost and senior vice chancellor
The University of Tennessee Knoxville has launched a search for a provost and senior vice chancellor, a top position in the cabinet of Chancellor Beverly Davenport. In a notice to the campus Wednesday, UT announced it has begun a "global search" for the next provost and senior vice chancellor. John Zomchick, previously the vice provost for faculty affairs, has served as interim provost since August 2016. The position is one of six that Davenport will have the opportunity to appoint in her eight-person cabinet. The first major hire to be made by Davenport was that of vice chancellor and director of athletics. That job was filled in February with the hiring of John Currie, former Kansas State athletic director. Since then, Davenport named Ryan Robinson to fill the job of vice chancellor for communications following the retirement of Margie Nichols last year.
 
Media portrayals, literacy among concerns of new U. of Missouri center
Last spring, a Media & Diversity Center opened at MU to research big problems in modern media, such as how people are portrayed and how that affects them. Large concerns focus on distorted depictions of certain groups as well as the degree to which people feel able to participate in certain digital environments, said Julius Riles, who co-founded and co-directs the center with Elizabeth "Lissa" Behm-Morawitz. "We want to bring attention to this," Riles said. "We want to train future researchers in the examination of these issues so that we can make recommendations, so that we can engage in productive and healthy media consumption and participation that does not end up with these negative effects occurring." The center, in the Department of Communication, is similar to others around the country. The idea to open one at MU came from agreement among colleagues that they should study diversity in the modern media landscape in a more cohesive manner.
 
New federal higher ed outcome measures count part-time, adult students
There has hardly been an easier target for disdain in higher education circles than the federal graduation rate produced through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. The federal government's primary data collection vehicle for higher education is both essential and subpar, particularly when it comes to measuring how students move into and through the postsecondary ecosystem. Today, the Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics unwraps a revision of the IPEDS database that will expand the government's tools for measuring postsecondary outcomes, especially for the students who, for lack of a better term, are frequently called "nontraditional" (even though they now outnumber the "traditional" 18- to 22-year-olds). While the changes are partial and leave many policy makers wanting more -- most of which cannot be accomplished unless and until the federal government ends its ban on collecting student-level data -- they are widely seen as a vast improvement.
 
John Roberts calls data on gerrymandering 'sociological gobbledygook,' and sociology fires back
When you come for the social sciences, you'd better come correct. That's what the president of the American Sociological Association telegraphed to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts this week, in response to Roberts's recent reference to social science data as "sociological gobbledygook." In an era when "facts are often dismissed as 'fake news,' we are particularly concerned about a person of your stature suggesting to the public that scientific measurement is not valid or reliable and that expertise should not be trusted," Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, president of the association and a professor of sociology at Duke University, wrote to Roberts in an open letter. "What you call 'gobbledygook' is rigorous and empirical." Both the phrasing and the sentiment were perhaps surprising for Roberts, a Harvard College alumnus who majored in history, which straddles the humanities and the social sciences. In any case, the idea of sociological data as "gobbledygook" annoyed a number of academics, who took to Twitter in rebuke. Some pointed out that data on gerrymandering was political science, not sociology.
 
New religious freedom law could put clerks in difficult position
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal's Bobby Harrison writes: "Legislators probably thought they were doing Mississippi's 82 circuit clerks a favor when they passed House bill 1523 -- the controversial 'Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act' or better known as the religious freedom bill. The law, which went into effect Tuesday, attempts to prevent both people in government and in the private sector from having to provide services to same-sex couples based on 'a sincerely held religious belief of moral conviction.' The area where the bill could have the most impact, based on existing Mississippi law, is in allowing circuit clerks or anyone in their offices who issue marriage licenses to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples."


SPORTS
 
Stewart Reese relishing starting role at right tackle for Bulldogs
Stewart Reese had his eyes on Mississippi State's right tackle vacancy since last season ended. Justin Senior was a three-year starter there for the Bulldogs before moving on to the NFL. Reese remembers offensive line coach John Hevesy approaching him about the opportunity. "He didn't have any doubt that I would be able to fill in with Justin leaving and me taking on that role," Reese said. "He said 'the only thing is, I'm not going to give it to you, you've got to earn it and go take it'." Reese battled fellow redshirt freshman Greg Eiland throughout spring and fall camp before being named the starter prior to the season opener. The Fort Pierce, Florida native has gone on to start all five games for MSU this year. "It feels great and is a dream come true," Reese said.
 
What Mississippi State's o-line could look like minus Martinas Rankin
Mississippi State offensive line coach John Hevesy often preaches versatility to his group. So it's no wonder he smiled Tuesday night after practice when reminded Dan Mullen said on Monday the offensive line has options if it is without standout left tackle Martinas Rankin for a period of time. "Combinations, right," Hevesy said. "We do have those." Hevesy said Rankin is day-to-day. The guess here based on interviews with players and coaches is that Rankin will miss Saturday's game when Mississippi State (3-2) hosts BYU (1-5) at 11 a.m. (SEC Network) because of an ankle injury he suffered against Auburn. Mississippi State, which is favored to beat BYU by 22 points, should be just fine Saturday with or without Rankin.
 
Mississippi State's C.J. Morgan prayed for times like these
C.J. Morgan graduated high school a semester early in order to get a head start on his career at Mississippi State. But when he arrived on campus in January 2016, things weren't quite the way he expected. The Bulldogs immediately put the former three-star prospect to work. "I hated it when I first got here," Morgan said. "I kept thinking I should be going to the prom right now with my friends. Those lifts were too hard and I thought since I was fresh out of high school I shouldn't have to do all this. But looking back at it in retrospect, graduating early was the best decision I could've made." Morgan went on to redshirt last fall and finally made his debut in MSU's season-opening win at home over Charleston Southern. The 6-foot, 202-pound safety made a pair of tackles in that contest. "Before we went out there I was wondering when I was going to get my chance," Morgan said. "Whenever they called my number, I was ready to go out there. I heard all the cowbells, saw all the lights and then I got my first tackle. Once I heard my name announced all that anxiousness just went away."
 
Andy Cannizaro excited for first full fall at Mississippi State
Andy Cannizaro was so jacked up to begin fall practice this week that he claims to have slept in his uniform Sunday night. Cannizaro showed up to his pre-fall press conference in full attire, ready to begin practicing Monday afternoon. Some of Cannizaro's excitement stems from the fact he will be able to spend an entire fall evaluating his team. Last year, Cannizaro worked more with LSU in the fall than he did the Diamond Dogs -- he was hired to replace John Cohen in early November. "We did a lot of things on the fly last year," Cannizaro said. "I am excited to see our guys out on the field each day for a full fall practice. I'll be able to continue to teach the game the way I want us to play it in terms of being able to spend time with our base runners, helping teach guys to steal bases, help infielders and do those types of things in a more teacher-type role than last year."
 
Condoleezza Rice to chair NCAA's commission on college basketball, Mark Emmert announces
NCAA President Mark Emmert announced Wednesday the NCAA is forming a commission on college basketball and Dr. Condoleezza Rice will chair it. Emmert, in a press release, stated that a recent federal investigation into fraud in college basketball "made it very clear the NCAA needs to make substantive changes to the way we operate, and do so quickly." "Individuals who break the trust on which college sports is based have no place here," he said. "While I believe the vast majority of coaches follow the rules, the culture of silence in college basketball enables bad actors, and we need them out of the game. We must take decisive action. This is not a time for half-measures or incremental change." The commission will begin in November and will deliver its recommendations on legislative, policy and structural changes to the boards for action at their April meetings.
 
U. of Florida's Jeremy Foley named to NCAA basketball commission
Florida athletic director emeritus Jeremy Foley has been named one of 14 members to the NCAA Commission on College Basketball. The commission, formed by the NCAA Board of Governors, is being charged to explore reforms in the sport in the wake of an FBI probe into basketball recruiting practices that resulted in federal bribery charges that involved six Division I programs and four assistant basketball coaches. "This commission has important work ahead," Foley said. "The collective talent, experience and wisdom of the people I have the opportunity to work with is off the charts. We have the chance to make a positive impact on the health of college basketball going forward, and that's a responsibility we won't take lightly."
 
Houston Nutt refiles lawsuit against Ole Miss, its athletic foundation, IHL board
Houston Nutt has exercised his rematch clause. On Wednesday morning, Nutt's lawsuit against Ole Miss, its athletic foundation, and the IHL Board of Trustees -- which cited a breach of contract, a breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing, and punitive damages -- was officially refiled in Lafayette County Circuit Court. This complaint, similar to Nutt's initial one, is centered on the actions of Hugh Freeze, Ross Bjork and Ole Miss officials, who allegedly led a misinformation campaign against Nutt, which the complaint stated was a violation of Nutt's severance agreement. The interpretation of the severance agreement has been a point of contention for Nutt's representatives, Thomas Mars and Walter Morrison, and the university and its athletic foundation. Ole Miss' side contends the agreement was merely a directive and was aimed at a control group, which doesn't include Freeze, Bjork and others.
 
Report: Auburn investigating claim that tutor took exam for football player
Auburn University is investigating a claim that a part-time academic support staffer took an online final exam for at least one former football player, according to a report filed by ESPN on Wednesday. The Birmingham-based law firm of Lightfoot, Franklin & White is handling the investigation. It's the same law firm that Auburn hired to investigate both the softball and men's basketball programs in the past two months. The report specifies that the player involved is a "former student-athlete" who, when contacted by the university, "categorically denied any wrongdoing." ESPN originally wrote that the player was a member of the 2016 Auburn football team, but later changed its story to say the player was from the 2015 team. "I take the allegation very seriously," Auburn University president Steven Leath said in a statement released to the Opelika-Auburn News. "While the independent investigation has found no evidence to date to support the claims, I'm actively engaged as the investigation continues."
 
Vanderbilt's new baseball building rivals some Division I football facilities
Vanderbilt's new $12 million athletic facility would make some Division I football programs jealous, and it's not even a football facility. "It wasn't meant to be the most luxurious building," said Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin, whose new office is fully glassed behind the left-field mesh wall and offers the perfect view of Hawkins Field. "The idea was just to create a home for our kids." Corbin is sincere. The Commodores' new three-story, 30,000-square-foot baseball training facility has practical purposes for one of the elite programs in college baseball. There are expansive batting cages, a kitchenette stocked with nutritional supplements, a medical training room, a cardio room and an enlarged weight room. Nearly 250 donors, mostly former Vanderbilt players, contributed to the project.
 
Roll in to these eateries during U. of Alabama homecoming weekend
Every Alabama home game weekend, waves of Crimson Tide faithful flood Tuscaloosa to cheer on their favorite college football team. While only 101,821 of them can have the coveted tickets to Bryant-Denny Stadium, many thousands more tailgate outside and around campus, enjoying the company of fellow fans. Some leave behind the grill and venture out into the city, to dine, drink, dance and otherwise avail themselves of Tuscaloosa's offerings. According to the most recent data available from the Alabama Center for Business and Economic Research, home games provided the city with an economic impact of $129 million for the 2013-2014 season, for an average of $18.5 million per weekend. For those rolling in to enjoy UA's Homecoming -- the game, vs. Arkansas, kicks off at 6:15 p.m. Saturday -- here's a rundown of eating establishments that have opened since last season.
 
Bielema buyout under $15M; Arkansas owes $5.9M if he's fired at season's end, per contract
Fifth-year Arkansas Razorbacks football Coach Bret Bielema has a substantial buyout written into his contract, but it is not as high as reported. Based on an evaluation of the contract by legal counsel for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bielema would be owed a little less than $5.9 million in buyout payments if dismissed at the end of the season. The buyout owed to Bielema is decreasing by about $159,000 per month based on language and figures included in his original employment agreement and an amended contract that became effective Feb. 6, 2015, after the Razorbacks finished a 7-6 season by defeating Texas 31-7 in the Texas Bowl. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville officials declined comment for this story, and UA legal counsel could not be reached to confirm the calculations. There has been no indication Athletic Director Jeff Long is considering making a change at head coach.
 
N.F.L. Is Now One of the Most Divisive Brands in the U.S.
About three weeks ago -- before President Trump said that N.F.L. owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem -- Democrats and Republicans held relatively similar views about the league. About 60 percent said they viewed it favorably, while about 20 percent said they viewed it unfavorably, according to daily online surveys conducted by Morning Consult, a polling, media and technology company. Since Mr. Trump's remarks, though, many of his supporters have changed their attitudes. Trump voters are now much more likely to say that they view the N.F.L. negatively, reflecting a sharp change around Sept. 23, when Mr. Trump criticized the players at a speech in Alabama. The views of Hillary Clinton voters have not changed appreciably over the last few weeks. Some of the difference may be a result of our collective filter bubbles, which make Americans more likely to engage with and share articles that reinforce their views.



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