| Monday, May 14, 2018 |
| Mississippi State students complete hands-on construction project | |
 | Students in Mississippi State University's building, construction technology program were able to get some hands-on experience over the academic year by building two tiny houses from the ground up. The project spanned both semesters, and was set up as a studio course, meeting four hours three times a week. The students were divided into two teams, one building a wooden tiny house and one building a steel tiny house. MSU College of Art, Architecture and Design Dean Jim West said the program tried to give students in the building construction technology practical hands-on experience through a project for many times before, but this is the first time the students have built tiny houses. "We tried to use different materials on the houses, so that the students had a much broader range of things that they work in," West said. |
| Mississippi State meteorologist nets Fulbright award | |
| A Mississippi State University meteorologist will do research in Poland this summer, thanks to a prestigious Fulbright grant. Jamie Dyer, a professor in the MSU Department of Geosciences will travel to Lublin, Poland on June 2 to conduct research at Maria Curie Sktodowska University (UMCS) as the recipient of a Fulbright Specialist Grant. While in Poland, he will collaborate with faculty on research dealing with hydrometeorology and the assessment and prediction of climate extremes. Dyer previously spent one year at UMCS as a visiting professor in 2015. On this trip, Dyer will spend six weeks in Poland. He said he became interested in conducting research in the hydrometeorology area in Poland after noticing similarities between weather patterns in Poland and north Mississippi during his visiting professorship at UMCS. |
| Meet Bully's Mom: Lisa Pritchard is more than just Jak's caretaker | |
 | Normally Lisa Pritchard's feet are all you see on display. Because, let's be honest, Bully is the star of the show. But the woman on the other end of the leash is responsible for the well-being of MSU's fan favorite. "Mississippi State has a rich heritage of the Bullys that goes way back into the thirties and I just love it," Pritchard said. "I bleed maroon. Everybody knows I bleed maroon. I've actually worked for the university for twenty-five years. I have the coolest job in the world taking care of this mutt." Bully XXI, also known as Jak, lives one marvelous lifestyle: Attending nearly all of State's sporting events and never missing a day of work with his mom. She works at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine as the Head Technician, Internal Medicine and Oncology. And just like any mother, the job doesn't stop after she clocks out. |
| N'side student at Mississippi State selected for prestigious Hansen Summer Institute | |
 | A senior communication major at Mississippi State will represent her university, state and country this July at the prestigious Hansen Summer Institute on Leadership and International Cooperation. Elise Moore, a Madison native, will be the first Mississippian to participate in the institute, which brings students from around the world together every year at the University of San Diego. Moore is a member of the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College and holds the Steve and Melody Golding Presidential Endowed Scholarship at MSU. Moore will be one of five Americans taking part in the three-week program. During her three years at MSU, she has volunteered with several nonprofit organizations. She also has served in leadership positions with campus events and organizations such as New Maroon Camp and the MSU Roadrunners program. |
| Soybean crop starting slow across Mississippi | |
 | At about 2.2 million acres, soybeans are easily the state's biggest row crop with a flexible planting window that puts them in the clean-up position when farmers cannot plant other crops on time. Trent Irby, soybean specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the crop was about 60 percent planted by early May. This amount was just ahead of the 5-year average pace but behind the early planting seen in 2017. "We had really favorable planting weather last year in early to mid-April, so we're pretty far behind when compared to that," Irby said. "Overall, we're pushed back a few days compared to other recent years." Temperatures and rainfall that kept soil cool until the end of April hampered planting progress for all crops. |
| Proposed residential estate subdivision seeking variances | |
 | The city of Starkville will soon consider a pair of variance requests for a proposed estate subdivision on the south side of Highway 182. John Tomlinson, a retired coordinator of state relations for Mississippi State University, is looking to develop the subdivision, which would be on the west side of Long Lake and to the east of the Stark Road-Highway 182 intersection. Tomlinson is seeking two variances -- a release from the requirement to build a sidewalk on the property's northern edge along Highway 182, and a narrower road within the subdivision with grass swales instead of curb and gutter drainage and a single walking path alongside the road. The new subdivision takes inspiration from Tally Ho Road, Tomlinson said. |
| New special events policy up for consideration | |
| Starkville aldermen will review a new special events policy from the city planning department when they meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. The policy revamp, which has the stated goal of making the special events application process smoother and easier for both applicants and city officials, comes after the city received sharp criticism and a federal lawsuit for initially denying a request from Starkville Pride to host a LGBT pride parade. The new policy is about half as long as the old, at 13 pages, compared to the current policy's 26. It includes, however, at least one major potential change, in that it provides aldermen options to consider for charging for some, all or no in-kind services provided from the city. During Friday's work session, Community Development Director Buddy Sanders said the board can decide what option it wants to include in the new policy. |
| Mosquitoes, ticks spreading more disease in Mississippi, nation | |
| If creepy crawlies have been giving you extra heebie geebies, you've got good reason. Mosquito and tick-related illnesses are increasing in Mississippi and the rest of the country. In a report released earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control found the number of cases of disease from mosquito, tick and flea bites has more than tripled between 2004 and 2016. During that time, West Nile Virus spread across the country. The first outbreaks for Chikungunya and Zika viruses occured in the United States. Seven new tick-borne germs have been identified in the United States. "The trends we've seen are similar to the nation," said Mississippi State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. |
| Cadence Agrees to Buy State Bank in $1.4 Billion All-Stock Deal | |
 | Cadence Bancorp said on Sunday it had agreed to buy State Bank Financial Corp in an all-stock deal valued at about $1.4 billion, signaling a potential rise in regional bank consolidation in the United States. The agreement, approved by the boards of both banks, will create an entity with $16 billion in assets and about 100 branches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas, the banks said in a press release. Investors expect a wave of mergers among mid-sized banks as U.S. lawmakers work to rewrite banking rules enacted after the 2007-2009 financial crisis. |
| Supreme Court strikes down federal sports betting laws: What does it mean for Mississippi? | |
 | As the casino industry hoped and many expected, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down the federal law that said sports betting is legal only in Nevada and a handful of other states with grandfather status. Mississippi Legislators already passed a law in 2017 legalizing sports betting at casinos if it is legal in the United States, which means Mississippi could be one of the first states to get in the game and offer sports betting. Mississippi "most definitely" will be ready to offer sports betting for football season this year if the Supreme Court overturned the bans, Allen Godfrey, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Association, said last week during the Southern Gaming Summit in Biloxi. Football is the biggest sport for sports betting. |
| Mississippi could have sports betting by end of June after court rules | |
 | The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down a decades-old ban on sports betting, putting Mississippi among first in line to begin allowing it. High court justices ruled 7-2 that a 1992 federal law blocking sports betting outside Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana is unconstitutional. New Jersey has battled this in court for years, with other states joining in, arguing it's unconstitutional under the 10th Amendment's provisions for states rights. The court last year agreed to hear the case. Mississippi gambling officials have said casinos here could be up and running with betting on professional and college sports within 45 days of Monday's ruling. A spokesman for Gov. Phil Bryant on Monday said the governor "recognizes the U.S. Supreme Court's decision as the law of the land. ... As with any revenue stream, the governor will make sure taxpayer dollars are used to their maximum benefit and properly accounted for." |
| Supreme Court strikes down prohibition on sports gambling | |
 | The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down a law that had forbidden gambling on college and professional sports outside Nevada. The ruling, by a 7-to-2 margin, is a loss for the National Collegiate Athletic Association and professional leagues, which had sought to block a challenge to the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The case is Murphy v. NCAA. The NCAA released a statement following the decision: "While we are still reviewing the decision to understand the overall implications to college sports, we will adjust sports wagering and championship policies to align with the direction from the court." "The legalization of sports gambling is a controversial subject," Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote for the court's majority. "The legalization of sports gambling requires an important policy choice, but the choice is not ours to make." |
| Supreme Court makes sports betting a possibility nationwide | |
 | The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a federal law that bars gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states, giving states the go-ahead to legalize betting on sports. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. The 1992 law barred state-authorized sports gambling with some exceptions. It made Nevada the only state where a person could wager on the results of a single game. One research firm estimated before the ruling that if the Supreme Court were to strike down the law, 32 states would likely offer sports betting within five years. All four major U.S. professional sports leagues, the NCAA and the federal government had urged the court to uphold the federal law. |
| Supreme Court rules sports betting can be legalized by states | |
 | The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states are free to legalize sports betting, a ruling that is sure to set off a scramble among the states to find a way into a billion-dollar business. "The legalization of sports gambling requires an important policy choice, but the choice is not ours to make," wrote Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., in striking down a federal law that kept New Jersey and other states from changing their laws to allow such gambling. "Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each state is free to act on its own." The underground sports betting economy in the United States is estimated to be worth at least $150 billion a year. |
| Secretary of State's Office names new chief of staff | |
 | Nathan Upchurch, the Secretary of State's long-time legislative director, recently assumed the agency's chief of staff role. "Six years with the Secretary of State's Office has given Nathan the knowledge base needed to fulfill our core missions and continue to find new and better ways to serve the public," Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said in a statement. "This foundation coupled with the relationships he has built across State government and the private sector will serve him and the Agency well in this new position." A native of Kosciusko, Upchurch earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Mississippi State University. |
| Analysis: Candidates vie for attention in 3rd District race | |
| Voters in central Mississippi's 3rd District are choosing a new member of Congress for the first time in a decade. Candidates have been traveling for weeks to speak at forums and fish fries, and the heavy rotation of advertising -- for those who can afford it -- is expected to begin close to Memorial Day. Party primaries are June 5, and if a runoff is needed to choose the Republican nominee, it will be June 26. Rep. Gregg Harper of Pearl was first elected in 2008 to what was then an open seat because fellow Republican Chip Pickering stepped aside after 12 years. Harper announced early this year that he wouldn't seek another term, saying he thinks a decade in Washington is enough. |
| Jason Shelton's departure raises Mike Espy expectations | |
| Jason Shelton's exit from a U.S. senate special election heightens Democratic hopes for a significant electoral coup, even as Republican dominance in the state presents a formidable challenge. About a month after declaring his candidacy, Tupelo's mayor announced last week that he will drop his bid to replace Thad Cochran. That leaves Mike Espy as the only broadly-known Democratic candidate in the race, going up against Republicans Cindy Hyde-Smith and Chris McDaniel. A shrinking field has potentially significant implications. Mississippi special elections dispense with primaries and place all candidates on a single ballot, with a runoff if needed. "I think Jason Shelton is at the top of the heap of the future of the Democratic Party," said Marty Wiseman, longtime watcher of Mississippi politics. "But then I got nervous that we had two Democrats trying to thread the needle." |
| Lee Smithson: PTSD, alcohol behind resignation as MEMA chief | |
| Lee Smithson said Sunday that post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol are behind his resignation Friday as director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Smithson, who had a 31-year military career before his appointment as MEMA director in 2016, issued a statement saying he has struggled with PTSD and used alcohol as a coping mechanism. Gov. Phil Bryant on Friday announced he had accepted Smithson's resignation after being made aware of a "situation" involving Smithson. The governor's office did not elaborate further on the situation. From 2005 to 2015, Smithson, a colonel, served as director of military support for the Mississippi National Guard. |
| AG Jeff Sessions further complicates medical marijuana research | |
 | Amid budding efforts to research the medical benefits of marijuana, a simple problem has emerged -- how do you research marijuana if no one can produce it under federal law? Despite a solution proposed in mid-2016, which allowed the Drug Enforcement Administration to approve marijuana manufacturers, only the University of Mississippi has been approved, despite dozens of applications to do so. And there's no sign the DEA intends to approve others anytime soon. There were 354 individuals and institutions approved by the DEA to conduct research on marijuana and its related components as of Aug. 11, 2016, the most recent data available. The University of Mississippi is the only manufacturer available to legally produce marijuana for those researchers. |
| Mississippi Aquarium breaks ground in Gulfport | |
| Mississippi is about to begin construction on what state leaders hope is the next big boost to the state tourism industry. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Mississippi Aquarium on Friday was the latest step in a process that began nearly four years ago when plans were first developed for the project that will sit on 5.8 acres in Gulfport and feature more than 80,000 square feet of exhibits. Friday's outdoor ceremony at 15th Street and 21st Avenue featured Gov. Phil Bryant, Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes and other city, state and federal representatives, including U.S. Congressman Steven Palazzo. The University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University will serve as aquarium partners. USM will conduct saltwater research and education, while Mississippi State will provide veterinary services with educational opportunities and freshwater research. |
| Forward Rebels: Walter Isaacson speaks on collaboration and creativity at UM commencement | |
| The Ole Miss community gathered yesterday to celebrate its latest group of graduates, with the help of commencement speaker Walter Isaacson. All 15,000 seats placed in the Grove were filled, and the nearly 3,000 degree candidates present took their seats in a place of honor. Prior to Isaacson's commencement address, members of the faculty and staff were presented with awards and honored for their efforts. Chancellor Jeff Vitter also presented the University of Mississippi Humanitarian Award to retired U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran for his contributions to the state of Mississippi and the university. In his address to the students, Isaacson spoke of the importance of collaboration, creativity, willful curiosity, compromise and diversity. |
| Meridian Community College dedicates new residential hall to retiring president | |
| The opening and dedication of a new 28,400-square-foot residential hall was held Friday at Meridian Community College and dedicated to retiring President Scott Elliott. The two-story facility holds 96 beds and students will move in beginning in August for the 2018-19 school year. Local representatives and current and former faculty members were among those gathered to honor Elliott, who has served 20 years as MCC president. Board Chairman Alex Weddington praised Elliott for his years of dedication and service to MCC. "During Dr. Elliott's 20 years at MCC it has been my honor to be a part of his vision, (for MCC.) When he started we had a budget of $24 million and have seen that go up to $50 million," Weddington said. "We have added 34 new structures and several renovations and never laid off a single employee." |
| Itawamba Community College graduates more than 600 during two ceremonies | |
| More than 600 graduates of Itawamba Community College crossed the stage at the Davis Event Center on the Fulton campus Saturday during two commencement ceremonies and were rewarded with Associate of Arts or Associate of Applied Science degrees or certificates of completion. They were among approximately 800 graduates who have earned degrees from ICC this year. Although each graduate's journey is unique, there were commonalities. In fact, 56 graduates spent 11 to 20 years in pursuit of the degree, and five invested more than 25 years to reach this point. About 30 percent of the graduates are the first in their families to earn a college degree, and 55 shared the 2018 ceremony with a cousin, sibling, parent, aunt, uncle, son, daughter, spouse or fiance. |
| Michael Heindi named Northwest Community College president | |
 | Dr. Michael J. Heindl was selected as the ninth president of Northwest Mississippi Community College by the college's Board of Trustees during a special meeting held April 26 on the Senatobia campus. He will assume office July 1 following the retirement of Dr. Gary Lee Spears, a native DeSoto countian, who has served as president since 2005. Heindl, 44, currently serves as executive vice president of Administration and Finance at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston. A native of Clinton, Heindl will head the state's third-largest community college with a current enrollment of more than 7,000 students on three campuses and online. Heindl holds a Ph.D. in community college leadership from Mississippi State University, a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University, a B.S. in psychology from Mississippi College, and an Associate of Arts in general studies/music from Hinds Community College. |
| Tuberculosis case reported on Auburn University campus; health department to conduct testing | |
 | The Alabama Department of Public Health announced Friday afternoon its plans to investigate a case of tuberculosis discovered in a student enrolled on the Auburn University campus. Officials at the public health department notified Auburn on May 9 of the case and its plans to do TB testing as a followup. The health department said in its announcement that it and the university are working closely to ensure that AU students and employees will be screened quickly. Dr. Burnestine Taylor, Medical Officer, Disease Control and Prevention, stated, "We are working very closely with the university to develop and implement a screening plan. As with any identified case of TB in Alabama, ADPH will implement precautionary testing, investigation and control measures." |
| Steve Scalise channels 'Eye of the Tiger' for LSU commencement speech | |
 | U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise began his commencement speech at LSU Friday by playing the "Eye of Tiger" fight song from his cell phone. He spoke at the 295th commencement exercises that kicked off a two-day, campuswide event during which the university will award 3,967 diplomas in a variety of disciplines. More than 550 students graduated with honors, including 125 students who received University Medals for having the with the highest undergraduate grade-point averages in the class. Still walking with a cane, Scalise spoke of being shot and critically wounded June 14 while practicing for a charity baseball game. He went through several surgeries and returned to the House duties Sept. 28. Rainer Weiss, who won the 2017 Nobel Prize for finding gravitational waves at the Livingston Parish LIGO facility which he heads, received an honorary degree. |
| U. of Florida researcher harvests natural sunscreen | |
 | A University of Florida assistant professor is making a sunscreen that's not only safe for humans but also safe for ocean habitats. In an article published on The Conversation's website, Yousong Ding, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry at UF's College of Pharmacy, writes that sunscreens often contain minerals and synthetic compounds that harm coastal marine organisms at high concentrations. With 28,000 pounds of sunscreen released into bodies of water each year, the ingredients stress 10 percent of reefs globally. Ding is working to harvest shinorine, a naturally-occurring sunscreen produced by cyanobacteria microbes. These microbes and other organisms in water are exposed to sunlight and UV rays even under water. "They're exposed to sunlight and UV damage for millions of years, so they have to find a method to protect themselves," Ding said. |
| Aggies carry lessons learned with them as they celebrate graduation | |
 | When Stephani Luebben walked across the stage in Reed Arena on Friday afternoon, she was not just graduating as an Aggie. She was fulfilling her childhood dream. Luebben's dream to attend Texas A&M University began when she toured the campus as a member of the Round Rock High School U.S. Marine Corps ROTC program. "That day left a lasting memory," she said. "It also made me realize that at some point in my life, I wanted to be an Aggie, and I wanted to have this ring on my finger." Her dream hit a snag when she graduated from high school, saying that was a feat in itself. She instead joined the Air Force before coming to Aggieland. Military service and college share some similarities, though, the 46-year-old Luebben said, noting her atypical undergraduate experience. Both come with physical, emotional and psychological struggles people must overcome. |
| Bob Priddy speaks on adventure of life at U. of Missouri commencement | |
 | Veteran newscaster Bob Priddy in delivering his commencement speech Saturday donned his travelers hat and walking stick, using the garb of his adventures as a metaphor for the journey the graduating students will soon face as they depart the University of Missouri Columbia. He spoke at commencement for the College of Arts and Sciences, the midpoint of a three-day campus-wide event where the university awarded 6,105 degrees. Each school at MU holds separate ceremonies and invites notable speakers, this year including Brady and Anne Deaton Institute co-founder Anne Deaton and Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO Johnny Morris. Priddy was the news director at Missourinet for 40 years until his retirement in 2014, and was acclaimed for his commitment to open government. He is also a noted historian, currently serving as the president of State Historical Society of Missouri Board of Trustees, and author of several books. |
| Data show U. of Missouri faculty salaries lowest in the humanities | |
 | Raising faculty salaries is the top priority facing the University of Missouri System, President Mun Choi said April 30. But low faculty pay is not a problem distributed equally. Hundreds of MU employees said they felt undervalued in the 2016 campus climate survey released last fall, and many cited low pay as the reason. Choi, who joined the UM System in April 2017, has echoed the sentiment on a number of occasions, saying that if faculty salaries aren't raised soon, the university's ability to recruit and retain talented faculty will be hurt. So how much are MU faculty paid? The average across all MU faculty was $94,299 per year. Faculty are ranked as assistant, associate and full professors. This article's numbers are averages over the past five years from all employees with the word "professor" in their title. |
| Among the Hottest Job Markets on Campus: Police Officer | |
 | The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources reported this morning that the number of campus police and public-safety personnel, though one of the smaller employee pools at institutions nationally, had grown from 1,077 to 1,403 positions at surveyed colleges from 2017 to 2018, an increase of 30-percent. In fact, colleges are hiring only data analysts at a faster rate than they are those in the safety sector. The association surveyed 1,100 public and private institutions. The finding comes at a time when police officers' role on campus has come under scrutiny for what critics call the enforcement of racial bias. |
| How campus police can deal with racism | |
| In the past few weeks, a black student at Yale University had the police called on her for napping in a common room, and two Native American teenagers, prospective students at Colorado State University, were stopped on a campus tour after another parent was reportedly nervous, calling them "creepy" in a 911 call. While generally much of the criticism of these incidents has been levied toward the people making the phone calls to law enforcement, some have also criticized the police for not outright dismissing those making racist complaints on law-abiding nonwhite individuals. Though police will always be called to deal with the bias of others, experts say, how officers handle the situation when they arrive on scene, and their training in this area, can influence the outcome and how these marginalized students feel. Many policing experts said that the reality is that officers regularly respond to calls about behavior that may not be illegal. It's not always clear to those being sent to check out a call that the person who complained may have acted based on their own prejudices. |
| Quizlet: Professors warned about popular learning tool used by students to cheat | |
| Many students graduated last week, and on Twitter, many thanked the free app Quizlet for getting them there. "Today I graduated and I couldn't have done it without God and Quizlet," says one tweet. Shout out "to Quizlet for making this possible," says another, above a picture of a student in their graduation cap and gown. Why such devotion to Quizlet? Quizlet is a free app (that makes money from advertising and paid subscriptions for additional features) for making flash cards and online quizzes, which can be used privately or shared publicly. It's very popular with students, and many are likely using the site legitimately. But some students are also using the tool to upload questions from real exams, and other students are finding them. |
| Education Department Unwinds Unit Investigating Fraud at For-Profits | |
| Members of a special team at the Education Department that had been investigating widespread abuses by for-profit colleges have been marginalized, reassigned or instructed to focus on other matters, according to current and former employees. The unwinding of the team has effectively killed investigations into possibly fraudulent activities at several large for-profit colleges where top hires of Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, had previously worked. During the final months of the Obama administration, the team had expanded to include a dozen or so lawyers and investigators who were looking into advertising, recruitment practices and job placement claims at several institutions, including DeVry Education Group. The investigation into DeVry ground to a halt early last year. Later, in the summer, Ms. DeVos named Julian Schmoke, a former dean at DeVry, as the team's new supervisor. |
| Turn tide on absence of respect | |
| Angela Farmer, an assistant professor of educational leadership at Mississippi State, writes: "Given the fast-paced, social-media driven, often chaotic lives which a majority of individuals now call normal, it is no wonder that many past practices appear to have been forgotten. While few of today's adolescents grew up learning how to drive a standard shift vehicle, how to mend a hem, how to make a pie crust from base ingredients or how to complete complex mathematics, sans the calculator, these are clearly relics from yesteryear. Certainly, with progress there is tolerance for changing times and new approaches; however, the timelessness of respect is one vintage social skill which cannot afford to be lost. Whether it's an open door for a fellow citizen, a kind word or a break in one's speech pattern to allow for sage advice from one's elder, respect is one characteristic that must be aggressively pursued." |
| History may repeat itself in 3rd District race | |
 | Syndicated columnist Bill Crawford of Meridian writes: "Will history repeat itself in the Third Congressional District election this year? In 1964 a wealthy, agricultural businessman came out of nowhere to win what was then the Fourth Congressional District seat. Prentiss Walker, then 47, president of Walker Egg Farms and owner of Walker's Supermarket in rural Mize, won as a conservative on the coattails of Barry Goldwater's strong vote in Mississippi in 1963. Walker abandoned his seat in 1966 to challenge long-time U.S. Sen. Jim Eastland, but lost handily. This year another wealthy, agricultural businessman has come out of nowhere to run for Congress." |
SPORTS
| Bulldogs rout Wildcats in baseball | |
| Mississippi State's offense erupted for its season-high in runs scored as the Bulldogs routed No. 17 Kentucky18-8 in the Southeastern Conference series finale Sunday at Cliff Hagan Stadium. MSU finished with 20 hits -- the second-most hits in a game and the largest total in a conference game. The Bulldogs improved to 28-24 overall and 12-15 in the league, while the Wildcats fell to 33-18 and 13-14. "This was a great win for us," MSU head coach Gary Henderson said. "We had a disappointing loss (Saturday) and it's hard to bounce back from that on the road. It's great to see the team continue to improve offensively. Scoring runs early was important. Jacob Billingsley also gave us a great start on the mound." State will conclude its regular season with a three-game series against defending national champion Florida. The three-game series at Dudy Noble Field will begin Thursday at 6:30 p.m. |
| Mississippi State baseball scores 18 runs in win over Kentucky | |
| Mississippi State's offense erupted for its season-high in runs scored as the Bulldogs routed No. 17 Kentucky 18-8 in the SEC series finale Sunday at Cliff Hagan Stadium. MSU finished with 20 hits -- the second-most hits in a game and the largest total in a conference game. MSU improved to 28-24 overall and 12-15 in the league, while Kentucky fell to 33-18 and 13-14. Jacob Billingsley (4-3) pitched 5.2 innings to pick up the win. Billingsley allowed eight hits and five runs (all earned), with 11 strikeouts that demolished his previous career-high of seven. Zach Neff finished the sixth inning and pitched in the seventh inning before being lifted with one out in the eighth inning. Cole Gordon finished the contest. State will conclude its regular season with a three-game series against defending national champion Florida. |
| State propels past No. 21 Kentucky with 18 runs | |
| Mississippi State's offense erupted for its season-high in runs scored as the Bulldogs routed No. 21 Kentucky 18-8 in the SEC series finale Sunday at Cliff Hagan Stadium. MSU finished with 20 hits -- the second-most hits in a game and the largest total in a conference game. MSU improved to 28-24 overall and 12-15 in the league, while Kentucky fell to 33-18 and 13-14. MSU got things going early Sunday with three runs in the first inning. Rowdey Jordan and Tanner Allen had back-to-back one-out hits. After a wild pitch and throwing error scored one run, Hunter Stovall followed with an RBI-single and Elijah MacNamee added an RBI-double. |
| Jake Mangum is Bulldogs' Ferris Trophy finalist | |
| This year's C Spire Ferriss Trophy finalists include a pair of Southern Miss standouts and the nation's leading home run hitter. Third baseman Luke Reynolds and pitcher Nick Sandlin represent Southern Miss, while Ole Miss outfielder Ryan Olenek, Mississippi State outfielder Jake Mangum and Delta State first baseman Zack Shannon make up the group of finalists for the award that goes to Mississippi's most outstanding college baseball player annually. The winner will be named at a luncheon set for 11:30 a.m. May 21 at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in Jackson. "This year may be the toughest choice in the history of the event," Hall of Fame executive director Bill Blackwell said in a statement. "With so many schools ranked nationally at all levels, you know there must be great players throughout the state." |
| Mississippi State men's tennis team advances to Round of 16 | |
| For the 13th time in program history, and the second time in the last three seasons, the Mississippi State men's tennis team is headed to the NCAA Round of 16. No. 7 and sixth-seeded MSU earned a trip to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with a 4-0 victory against South Alabama in front of the largest home crowd of the season at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. The win helped MSU (22-2) earn its most victories in a season since the 1979 squad went 25-2. MSU will face No. 11 Texas at 11 a.m. Friday in the Round of 16 at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex. Texas advanced with a 4-0 victory against California on Saturday in Austin, Texas. "The guys did a great job the last two days and enjoyed our great home crowd," MSU fourth-year coach Matt Roberts said. "We played well in doubles today and then the guys took care of the first hour of singles, which usually puts us in a good position to close it out." |
| Sweet victory: Bulldogs reach NCAA men's tennis Round of 16 | |
| Mississippi State's Giovanni Oradini is starting to embrace attention. For the second straight day at the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship on Saturday, Oradini had the chance to lock down the victory for the Bulldogs. Once again, he delivered. Oradini polished off a straight-sets win over South Alabama's Loic Cloes to clinch a 4-0 victory in the second-round match for the Bulldogs. It was especially sweet as it moved MSU into the NCAA's Round of 16 next weekend. Oradini was proud to be the person to punch State's ticket. Now Oradini and his teammates get the chance to keep on playing this season. The Bulldogs will next take the court on Friday in Winston-Salem North Carolina. MSU, the No. 6 national seed, will face No. 11 national seed Texas at 11 a.m. with a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals on the line. |
| Mississippi State softball team to play in Arizona regional | |
| For the sixth time in Vann Stuedeman's seven years in Starkville, Mississippi State is heading to the NCAA softball regionals. The Bulldogs (36-21) celebrated their selection to the tournament in the Leo Seal Jr. football complex on Sunday night. The destination is Arizona where the No. 14 Wildcats will host St. Francis and MSU will play against North Dakota State. "North Dakota State is notorious for upsets," Stuedeman said. "People overlook them so we want to make sure that we're prepared and not overlooking anyone. St. Francis leads the country in grand slams and are playing in Arizona where the air is thin. Arizona is one of the elite programs. All of us have been enamored with Arizona softball. We'll all be big-eyed, but we'll be ready to go." The selection comes on the back of MSU's first Southeastern Conference Tournament win since 2005 when the Bulldogs knocked off Texas A&M 2-0 in the first round before being knocked out by eventual runner-up South Carolina. |
| Mississippi State softball NCAA Tournament destination revealed | |
| For the sixth time in the last seven season and the 14th time overall in program history, Mississippi State softball (36-21) is NCAA Tournament bound as the program's road to Oklahoma City begins in the Tuscon Regional. MSU will open the double-elimination regional on Friday, May 18 at 8 p.m. CT against North Dakota State (33-17) at the Hillenbrand Stadium. Along with the Bulldogs and NDSU in the Tuscon Regional is host No. 14 Arizona (40-14) and Saint Francis (Pa.) (39-17), who will square off at 10:30 p.m. CT on Friday. MSU is the two-seed in the Tuscon Regional, marking the first time in program history that the Bulldogs have earned the two seed in a regional under the helm of head coach Vann Stuedeman. |
| Bulldogs, Rebels travel to Arizona for postseason softball | |
| The state of Arizona will be the setting as Mississippi State and Ole Miss each venture west to play softball in the desert to open the NCAA Tournament this weekend. The Bulldogs are the No. 2 seed in the Tucson Regional and will play North Dakota State Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 while the third-seeded Rebels take on Long Beach State in the Tempe Regional Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN. MSU (36-21) reached regional play for the sixth time in the last seven seasons and earned its highest seed under seventh-year coach Vann Stuedeman. The Bulldogs have won a regional game in three of its last four trips but have never advanced to a Super Regional in the program's previous 13 tournament bids. "This group is hungry," Stuedeman said. "They see their potential and I think they're ready to do something big." |
| Mississippi State men set for NCAA golf regional | |
| Postseason play is the goal of any college athletic team. The Mississippi State men's golf team has worked its way into that situation this season. This is the first time it has experienced an NCAA regional in four years. The Bulldogs are in Bryan, Texas, for their first regional appearance since the 2013-14 season. They will approach the 10th tee Monday at 8:55 a.m. The stage is the par-72, 7,146-yard Traditions Club. In his second year with the program, MSU men's golf coach Dusty Smith has his squad in the NCAA championships. He doesn't want the Bulldogs to take that opportunity for granted. "This is the time of year we all look forward to," Smith said in a school release. "Our guys have earned this opportunity, and I am excited to watch them compete this week. This week is going to be a great test for our team. It will take great toughness, great body language, great discipline, great focus and a great mindset in order for us to be the best version of us." |
| Former Ole Miss football coach Billy Brewer dies at age 83 | |
| Former Ole Miss football coach Billy Brewer died Saturday at Memphis' Trezevant Manor retirement community following a brief illness. He was 83 years old. The second-longest tenured coach in program history, Brewer, who played quarterback at Ole Miss under Johnny Vaught, returned to his alma mater in 1983 and coached the Rebels for 11 seasons. Brewer won 68 games at Ole Miss with a pair of nine-win seasons and three bowl wins in five tries. Brewer, the second-winningest coach in Ole Miss history, also coached at Southeastern Louisiana and Louisiana Tech. He ended his 22-year coaching career with a record of 125-94-6. A memorial service will be held at The Pavilion at Ole Miss on May 19 at 1 p.m. |
| Kentucky baseball celebrates its past in final game at Cliff Hagan Stadium | |
 | With a young, talented roster and a rising-star, second-year head coach calling the shots, the future looks exceedingly bright for the University of Kentucky baseball team. But the Wildcats' regular-season home finale was largely about celebrating the program's past with moments that involved fans, former coaches, opposing coaches and even the namesake of the team's home for the last half century. UK faced Mississippi State in the final game of a three-game series at Cliff Hagan Stadium on Sunday and the matchup carried much more significance than your average home baseball finale. The opposition even got in on the celebration. Mississippi State interim head coach Gary Henderson, who was UK's coach for eight years before Mingione took over last season, along with the school's athletics director, John Cohen, who led the Cats from 2004-08, also tossed out first pitches. |
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