Tuesday, October 16, 2018   
 
How scientists are fighting infection-causing biofilms
Nicholas Fitzkee, an associate professor of chemistry at Mississippi State, writes for The Conversation: The surfaces people interact with every day may seem rather mundane, but at the molecular scale, there is more activity than meets the eye. Every surface we touch has its own unique chemical properties. It's because of these properties that some materials stick to surfaces, while others slide off. For a person, a sticky surface may be a minor annoyance, but for a bacterial cell, surface attachment can be a matter of life and death. Bacteria have evolved their own surfaces to be sticky, like Velcro. When bacteria colonize a surface, they create a community called a biofilm, which can be a source of infection on medical devices or implants. Growing concerns over these infections has led a number of researchers to develop materials to block these sometimes dangerous films.
 
Vicksburg native Dr. George Hopper is HCC Alumnus of the Year
Hinds Community College will honor Vicksburg native Dr. George Hopper as the Alumnus of the Year, as well as recognize the Alumni Service Award recipient and a new class of Sports Hall of Fame inductees on Thursday as part of the annual Homecoming activities. Hopper, a Hinds Community College graduate, is dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Mississippi State University. "I'm honored and humbled by the recognition," he said. "I'd like to think it's not about me, but about all the alumni who have gone through Hinds and done well. The reason why Hinds has had so many people who have done well is that they've been an educational institution that does a good job educating people." His current role also involves being dean for the university's College of Forest Resources and director for its Forest and Wildlife Research Center.
 
Fed interest rate hike adds to production costs
The latest Federal Reserve quarter of a percent interest rate hike may seem insignificant, pushing the federal funds rate to a still relatively low 2.25 percent, but the increase comes on top of other hikes since January and likely will be followed by another .25 percent in December with others to follow in 2019. "It's hard to estimate the magnitude of the latest increase on farm budgets," says Keith Coble, department head, Mississippi State University agricultural economics at Starkville. "The effect on individual farmers will depend on the amount they borrow, but most farmers will do some borrowing, making things that much tighter." The interest rate increase also "is one more thing to make bankers more nervous," Coble adds. And they have been nervous enough already, "especially with the trade situation and low prices. Those factors are weighing heavily on the agriculture economy."
 
Democrat Mike Espy touts raising $1.2M, outgunning GOP incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Chris McDaniel
Democrat Mike Espy, who's gunning for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, says his campaign has raised more money than Hyde-Smith and conservative firebrand state Sen. Chris McDaniel in the third quarter of 2018. Preliminary campaign finance reports filed Monday show that Espy, a former congressman and U.S. secretary of agriculture, raised $1.17 million between July 1 and Sept. 30. Hyde-Smith, who was appointed to fill retired Sen. Thad Cochran's Senate term in April, raised $1.08 million in the same period. McDaniel raised $205,000 in the third quarter. While Espy raked in the cash in the third quarter, he still has much less cash on hand than Hyde-Smith, who has benefitted from big donations from major Washington, D.C., political action committees.
 
In video, Cindy Hyde-Smith resists debate, says Chris McDaniel lies
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith says in a recent video obtained by the Daily Journal that debating special election opponent Chris McDaniel would help her opponent and increase the viability of his campaign. In a video purportedly taken at a private-meet-and-greet over the weekend, Hyde-Smith speaks with an unidentified woman encouraging the Republican senator, appointed by the governor to her post in April, to debate McDaniel. Hyde-Smith says such a debate would be a strategic mistake. "Right now, my opponent does not have enough money to get on TV and my guys are saying that's like handing him a $200,000 campaign donation because he's way down in the polls," Hyde-Smith says in the video. "He's wanting the TV time." Despite the comments made in the video by Hyde-Smith, campaign spokesperson Melissa Scallan said no final decision about debate appearances has been made.
 
Cindy Hyde-Smith: 'My guys' saying duck debates as political strategy
Appointed U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith has been saying she was too busy in her new job in Washington to appear in public debates against her opponents. But in a video sent anonymously to her opponent Chris McDaniel's campaign and supplied by the campaign to media, Hyde-Smith indicates her refusal to debate is political strategy. "I love debates," Hyde-Smith appears to tell an unidentified woman at a private meet and greet who is urging her to participate in a debate. Their faces are not shown in the video. "But right now, my opponent does not have enough money to get on TV and my guys are saying that's like handing him a $200,000 campaign donation because he's way down in the polls and he's wanting TV time." The unidentified woman in the conversation replied, "Bless your heart."
 
Cindy Hyde-Smith: 'We Won't Be Bullied' by Chris McDaniel's Debate Demands
Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith's campaign pushed back against opponent Chris McDaniel's renewed calls for a debate on Friday, accusing the Mississippi state senator and his supporters of "uncivil" and "horrific" behavior. The Hyde-Smith campaign is "looking at her schedule," its communications director, Melissa Scallan, told the Jackson Free Press on Friday. Hyde-Smith, Scallan said, fears McDaniel and his supporters would not be "civil" at a debate. "She's not at all opposed to discussing issues and answering questions, but if she thinks it's not going to be civil, then she's going to be reluctant to do it, and he only has himself to blame for that," Scallan said. "We don't want a repeat of the Neshoba County Fair." In August, Hyde-Smith took the stage to speak at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Miss., only to be met by an ongoing cascade of boos and jeers from a group of McDaniel supporters in the crowd.
 
Analysis: Campaigning like incumbent risky for Cindy Hyde-Smith
Mississippi voters sent Republican Thad Cochran to the U.S. House in 1972 and the U.S. Senate in 1978, and he served on Capitol Hill until frail health prompted him to retire in April of this year. For most of his 40-year political career, Cochran didn't have to exert himself in campaigns. He faced a tough race in 1984, with a challenge from Democratic former Gov. William Winter. After that, Cochran cruised back into office on feel-good TV ads and a record of bringing federal money to Mississippi. The don't-break-a-sweat approach to campaigning nearly cost Cochran the seat in 2014 as he faced an aggressive competitor, tea party-backed state Sen. Chris McDaniel, in the Republican primary. Fast forward to 2018.
 
State Rep. Charles Young, Jr.: State budget planning starts early
State Rep. Charles Young, Jr., says August through December is very busy for lawmakers as they decide what will be discussed for the next statewide budget. The issue was raised at the Lauderdale County Council of Governments meeting Monday, held at Meridian Community College. Young also says timing is very critical and essential when making financial requests. "Our legislative budget analysts are crunching numbers during that time and they're making recommendations on appropriations for the following fiscal year," said Young. The next budget hearing of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee is scheduled for Nov. 8.
 
New Delays for 'One Lake' Likely as Bipartisan Concerns in Congress Grow
One U.S. Senate bill currently waiting on President Donald Trump's signature could have major ramifications for the long-planned and controversial "One Lake" development and flood-control project along the Pearl River in Jackson. Republicans from Louisiana have inserted language into the bill to require a full vetting of the "One Lake" proposal, which has raised many questions about environmental and safety impacts, effect on existing businesses, who would pay additional taxes and exactly what flooding would be helped should the project come to fruition. U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, laid out dozens of questions he and other critics say are not answered in the draft "One Lake" plan in a comprehensive memo and letters to the Corps, Congress and "One Lake" backers in early September. U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise, R-La., and Louisiana state Sen. Sharon Hewitt, both Republicans, are calling for a stronger vetting of "One Lake."
 
Republican Nominee and Mississippi Native Marsha Blackburn Ahead in Tennessee Senate Race
Hype over election day is ramping up in Mississippi as many party-dominant seats could be challenged in the midterm vote. However, one Mississippi native is vying for a Senate seat in Tennessee because incumbent Bob Corker decided not to run. Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, a Republican, has roots in the Magnolia State. She was born in Laurel and spent her college years at Mississippi State University majoring in home economics. Blackburn is running against Democrat Phil Bredesen, who is the former mayor of Nashville and governor of the state of Tennessee from 2003 to 2011. She leads Bredesen by a daunting 14 percentage points, according to Tennessee's latest major public poll. A group of Lafayette County Republican volunteers will be leading a group to Franklin, Tennessee to campaign for Blackburn Oct. 22. Organizers are asking anyone interested to please join them at 6 a.m. in the Oxford Conference Center parking lot.
 
Black Caucus members tell Jim Clyburn to step it up ahead of midterms
Rep. Jim Clyburn's friends want him well-positioned to be a top House leader next year, so they're sending him a strong, tough message: Get off the sidelines and be aggressive. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have been telling the South Carolina Democrat he must be more of a self-promoter if he wants a shot at being House speaker or majority leader. They say he needs to go out and sell the anti-poverty proposal he's been pushing behind-the-scenes for years -- and in turn sell himself. "The advice I gave him is, 'demonstrate your ability to lead,'" said Mississippi Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, a caucus member and Clyburn's close friend. The stakes are high for Clyburn's party. There is a very real chance Democrats could win control of the House in November.
 
Battle For The Senate: 10 Races That Will Determine Control
The battle for the Senate is being fought on Republican-friendly turf, and with three weeks until Election Day the GOP is increasingly optimistic that the upper chamber will remain in the party's grasp. Fears that a fiery Democratic opposition could turn the map upside down have abated some, now that the GOP base is more tuned in following the confirmation fight over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. But the charged political dynamics of 2018 leave the potential for drama when results come in on Nov. 6 -- particularly in 10 close races that will determine whether Republican Mitch McConnell or Democrat Chuck Schumer will be running the Senate next year. After last year's upset in the Alabama special election, Republicans have a slim 51-49 edge in the Senate. Given that and other factors, Democrats have an outside chance to win back control of the Senate if they end up with a net gain of two seats -- something that's unlikely, but not completely outside the realm of possibility.
 
Glover Park Group and BGR Group drop Saudi Arabia
The Glover Park Group and BGR Group are dropping Saudi Arabia as a client, as K Street tries to figure out whether it's still worth lobbying for the kingdom amid allegations that it murdered a journalist in Turkey. They are the second and third lobbying firms to sever ties with the country. The Harbour Group said last week it would drop Saudi Arabia as a client. A spokesperson for BGR Group told POLITICO the firm "is no longer working for Saudi Arabia." Lobbying shops that represent Saudi Arabia, including prominent firms in Washington, are weighing whether to continue representing the country. BGR Group received a monthly fee of $80,000 for providing "public relations and media management services." Its contract was set to expire in February.
 
Judge dismisses Stormy Daniels' defamation suit against Trump, orders her to pay president's legal fees
A federal judge on Monday dismissed the defamation lawsuit that Stormy Daniels filed against President Trump, saying his tweet attacking the porn star's credibility was free speech protected by the Constitution. "If this court were to prevent Mr. Trump from engaging in this type of 'rhetorical hyperbole' against a political adversary, it would significantly hamper the office of the president," Judge S. James Otero of the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles wrote in a 14-page ruling. "Any strongly-worded response by a president to another politician or public figure could constitute an action for defamation. This would deprive the country of the 'discourse' common to the political process." Otero ordered Daniels to pay Trump's legal fees for his defense in the suit. The amount of the fees has not yet been determined, Trump lawyer Charles J. Harder said.
 
Cherokee Nation: Elizabeth Warren's use of DNA test 'inappropriate,' 'wrong'
The Cherokee Nation on Monday afternoon called out Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for attempting to claim Native American heritage by releasing the results of a DNA test. The test, conducted by a Stanford University professor Carlos Bustamante, showed that Warren has a Native American ancestor going back six to 10 generations ago, making her somewhere between 1/32nd and 1/1,024th American Indian. The Cherokee Nation in a statement said using a DNA test to claim connection with a tribal nation is "inappropriate" and "wrong." Hoskin accused Warren of "undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage." He argued that DNA tests fail to distinguish whether a person's ancestors were indigenous to North or South America and noted that tribes set their own legal requirements for citizenship.
 
Oklahoma's Choctaw Horses Connect to Mississippi
Six foals sired by a cream-colored stallion called DeSoto scamper across a pasture in southwest Mississippi -- the first new blood in a century for a line of horses brought to America by Spanish conquistadors and bred by Choctaw Indians who were later forced out of their ancestral homelands. Choctaw horses were thought to be long gone from this region, disappearing when their Native American owners were expelled from the U.S. Southeast by the government. But the surprise discovery of DeSoto on a farm in Poplarville 13 years ago led to a plan to help the dwindling strain survive. "That really gives us a shot in the arm," said Bryant Rickman, who has been working since 1980 near Antlers, Oklahoma, to restore the line. He estimates he has bred more than 300 of the horses from nine mares and three stallions. But having so few stallions led to a bottleneck, because the gene pool was so small.
 
As E-Scooters Roll Into American Cities, So Do Safety Concerns
Over the past year, companies have been rolling out electric scooters by the thousands in cities across the country -- from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C., to Lubbock, Texas. People download the app, find a nearby scooter and then just unlock and ride. But as these shared scooters have spread, so have concerns about safety. Portland, Oregon, is in the middle of a four-month e-scooter pilot program. You see these scooters everywhere -- parked on sidewalks (they don't require docking stations, which most shared bikes do), taking fast corners and zipping through traffic. But something you don't see much of: helmets.
 
Ole Miss team completes search for unmarked graves of Union soldiers
The University of Mississippi's Center for Archaeological Research wrapped up a project last weekend as the Center's director, Dr. Tony Boudreaux, and several students generated data on the location of several unmarked graves for Union soldiers in the Civil War. The survey was a success, Boudreaux said, not only with the data accumulated from the work of the students but from interactions that the students had with members of the public during several instructional sessions held at Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, Miss. Friendship Cemetery is well known for being one of the first places to host "Decoration Day," the precursor to Memorial Day, where residents would decorate the graves of the soldiers in the cemetery.
 
JSU's President's Inauguration Celebration Dinner raises $305K for scholarships
$305,000 was raised for scholarships at President William B. Bynum Jr.'s Inauguration Celebration Dinner Thursday night for Jackson State University. World renowned gospel artist Marvin Sapp performed at the dinner. The event in the Jackson Convention Complex followed an investiture earlier in the day. That ceremony officially installed Bynum as JSU's 11th president. Thanks to donors, Jackson State University will now be able to provide nearly $305,000 in student scholarships. The check was presented by inaugural chair Veronica Cohen, vice president of Institutional Advancement and External Affairs. The president also offered gratitude to dozens of donors, saying, "Because of your support we're going to be able to change a lot of lives at Jackson State." Bynum illustrated the importance of their benevolence. "For most of our students, the difference between being enrolled and not enrolled is usually only about $500 to $1,000. To a lot of our families that might as well be $10,000 or $15,000 because it's that impossible," said Bynum, who said he came from a family that struggled similarly.
 
Study: Need for student housing still on the rise in Auburn
There is still a demand for student-built housing close to the downtown area in Auburn, according to a student housing analysis recently released by the city of Auburn. The Auburn City Council first hired Danter & Associates in 2012 to conduct a student housing analysis to help determine the market potential for student housing amid concerns of overbuilding and the need to inform future planning decisions. The study was first published in March 2012 and was updated in May 2015 before this most recent report. "The 2018 updated analysis suggests that there is a demand for purpose-built student housing, particularly within the walkable (1-mile) area of campus," Kevin Cowper, city of Auburn assistant city manager, wrote in a memorandum to the city council. "This demand is driven by a number of factors but chiefly by the growth in student enrollment and the changing tastes and expectations of the student body." Cowper referenced a number of factors that are contributing to demand for purpose-built student housing: Increased enrollment at Auburn University; socio-economic characteristics of the student population; low supply of on-campus housing options; and a trend toward urban living within walkable distance to campus and in close proximity to downtown.
 
Auburn student charged with attacking 58-year-old Lyft driver
A 20-year-old Auburn University has been charged with second-degree assault after he was accused of attacking a 58-year-old woman in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Auburn in late September, Auburn police said. The student, Jess Erwin Ralston, was charged with second-degree assault. The alleged assault happened around 1 a.m. Sept. 23 at an apartment complex in the 200 block of W. Longleaf Drive in Auburn, police said. The victim was Lennie Hartzog, a local paramedic and Lyft and Uber driver, her attorney Trip Walton told AL.com. She was driving for Lyft at the time of the attack. Hartzog said Ralston, the sole rider, appeared agitated when he got in the car with Hartzog, his Lyft driver. Auburn University officials confirmed Ralston is a student at Auburn University, but would not comment on any student disciplinary actions taken against him related to his charges.
 
LSU President F. King Alexander disputes authority of state Board of Regents on ACT flap
LSU President F. King Alexander said Monday the board that oversees all public colleges in Louisiana doesn't have the authority to punish the university for admitting too many freshmen who failed to meet the "minimum admission standards for first-time students." Taking away some of the state's higher education appropriations -- the Board of Regents decides how much each university is to receive -- was a floated as a possible penalty for four-year colleges that admitted too students by exception. "I don't think they have the authority to do that," Alexander said of the Regents. "Nor do I think they should." He likened the Regents' exception policy to "recommendations" that need to be discussed rather than rules that can't be broken. Alexander spoke to the Press Club of Baton Rouge about LSU's recent embrace of "holistic admissions," which relaxes the need for minimum ACT scores.
 
U. of South Carolina student political parties to clash on the economy, guns on campus during debate
University of South Carolina's student political parties will debate some of the most contentious issues of the day during their annual debate on Tuesday night. USC College Republicans, College Democrats and College Libertarians will host the annual Carolina Clash at the ballroom in Russell House on Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. "We wanted to have some conflict in ideas," said College Republicans President Jake Vining. "Like, we talked about lowering tuition, and everybody is on board with that." Each party will have two members debate, the presidents of the three organizations said. "We're gonna come out pretty strong for Medicaid," said College Democrats President Logan Martin. "I think we have a pretty strong argument for expanding Medicaid, so we'll do pretty well on that." Unlike most major presidential debates, there will be an X-factor in this debate: the Libertarian party. The socially liberal, fiscally conservative party will side with Democrats on some issues and Republicans on others, president Bryce Wilson said.
 
U. of Tennessee's Faculty Senate passes resolution against post-tenure review policy
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Faculty Senate unanimously approved a resolution asking the Board of Trustees to review the post-tenure review policy that sparked protests on campus last semester. The policy, which the outgoing Board of Trustees approved in March, requires every tenured faculty member to undergo an additional post-tenure review at least every six years. Non-tenured faculty could also undergo review based on academic program reviews. Before the policy was approved in March, faculty and staff protested the proposal at the UT Knoxville campus. "We were very concerned that this was a back door to removing tenure," Misty Anderson, faculty senate president, said. "I think we've come to a much better place."
 
Two off-campus rapes reported in October, U. of Tennessee police say
Two more rapes have been reported near the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, including one that was reported off campus on Seventeenth Street and another off campus in the Fort Sanders area. The crimes increase the total number of rapes reported on or near campus since March to eight. A rape was reported on Oct. 8 to the Knoxville Police Department, according to the UT Police Department's crime log. The incident occurred on Sept. 9 on Seventeenth Street. KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk, reached Monday evening, could not provide more details beyond what was outlined in UT Police's crime log. Another rape was reported on Friday that occurred on Thursday in the Fort Sanders area, the crime log notes. That incident was reported through a designated campus security authority, a title given to a university employee like campus police, resident assistants, Title IX officers and coaching staff trained in reporting crimes under the Clery Act.
 
Texas A&M Forest Service responders joining Florida relief effort in wake of Hurricane Michael
Six Texas A&M Forest Service incident management responders are on their way to Florida to assist state and local officials with Hurricane Michael relief and recovery efforts. The Florida Office of Emergency Management requested an incident management team from Texas through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact over the weekend. Texas A&M Forest Service associate director Mark Stanford said midday Monday that the team will work in a variety of capacities upon arrival in Florida, including operations, planning and public information support. The team packed tents, computers, food and water, and other supplies to be self-sustaining and not drain resources from local outlets. Texas A&M Forest Service mitigation prevention specialist Mary Leathers said her role will be to assist in sharing information with the public from officials -- a task made more challenging, she said, by sustained power outages experienced in parts of the Florida Panhandle.
 
The Real Cost of College Is Flattening as Schools Give More Scholarships
After increasing for decades, the real cost of attending both public and private college is flat and in some cases even declined this year, as colleges compete for fewer students by giving away more scholarships. If that sounds counterintuitive, it's because the sticker price for higher education continues to inch up even though fewer students actually pay it, according an annual pricing-trends report by the College Board, a New York nonprofit that administers the SAT and tracks university costs. "The trends in college financing have changed in recent years," Sandy Baum, co-author of the 2018 Trends in Higher Education report, said in a statement. Tuition rose rapidly during the four academic years between fall 2007 and spring 2011, "particularly at public colleges and universities," Ms. Baum said. "Federal expenditures on student aid increased dramatically, helping a growing student population to finance their education. At the same time, students borrowed more and more." But since 2010–11, she said, "all of these trends have reversed."
 
Elizabeth Warren and the pressure to justify academic success
Senator Elizabeth Warren's personal data dump on Monday, including the genetic nonbombshell that she is Native American, six to 10 generations removed, probably had more to do with her 2020 presidential ambitions than anything else. After all, the Massachusetts Democrat would face an incumbent who's called her "Pocahontas," to mock her past claims about her heritage. But the information Warren shared this week still says something -- intended or not -- about how she and society in general see underrepresented people working in academe. "Fact: Elizabeth Warren's heritage played no role in her hiring," her new Fact Squad website boldly declares in block print. It quotes a recent Boston Globe investigation that found, in the newspaper's words, that Warren's "claim to Native American ethnicity was never considered by the Harvard [University law faculty], which voted resoundingly to hire her, or by those who hired her to four prior positions at other law schools. At every step of her remarkable rise in the legal profession, the people responsible for hiring her saw her as a white woman."
 
U. of Texas Overhauls Program on Masculinity to Avoid Stigma
The University of Texas at Austin is rebranding a program designed to enlist men in discussions about sexual abuse and dating violence. The program, MasculinUT, was put on hold last spring after conservative media outlets accused the university of treating masculinity as a mental-health problem. That was never the case, the university insisted. But it has moved the program from the Counseling and Mental Health Center, which houses other sexual-assault-prevention efforts, to the office of the dean of students. MasculinUT will continue to focus on drawing men into a conversation about how to reduce sexual assault, but some of the educational materials on the subject will be moved to a publicly accessible wiki page. That was one of several recommendations made by a steering committee of students and faculty and staff members in August, after the program became controversial.
 
Two ways to go with local special sales tax levies
Longtime Mississippi journalist Charlie Mitchell writes: For Mississippi's first 155 years, the power to tax was jealously guarded by the Legislature. It still is, but there was a lapse. Counties could collect property taxes, subject to state limits. Cities could collect those, too, and for about 90 years cities have shared in general sales tax revenue collected within their municipal limits. That was it, though. Localities were otherwise forbidden to tread on the Legislature's taxation turf. It was 46 years ago when the lapse began.


SPORTS
 
Mississippi State's Joe Moorhead excited for first trip to 'Death Valley'
When the sun finds its home in the western sky on Saturday, No. 22 Mississippi State will be immersed inside one of the rowdiest and intimidating venues in college football: LSU's Tiger Stadium. Opponents' dreams are said to die in Death Valley, and MSU head coach Joe Moorhead will experience the venue for the first time for a 6 p.m. kickoff. "It's their homecoming game so it'll be a very raucous, intense and very exciting atmosphere," Moorhead said. "We're fired up for that." Not only are the Tigers (6-1, 3-1 SEC) the fifth-ranked team in the country but are also 4-0 at home having just knocked off then No. 2-Georgia 36-16 last Saturday. The victory extended LSU's home winning streak to 21 games during the month of October since 2009. The Tigers have also won 85 of their last 96 home games on Saturday night and are 60-7 at night in Baton Rouge since 2005.
 
Mississippi State faces distinct challenge against No. 5 LSU in Death Valley
Some different things will greet the No. 22 Mississippi State Bulldogs when they are this weekend's guest for a Saturday night Tiger Stadium party with No. 5 and once-beaten LSU. The yardage markings at Tiger Stadium are labeled every five yards instead of 10, contrary to just about every other college football field in the country. "I think that's pretty cool," Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead said. Mike the Tiger is one of the largest live mascots in the nation, and Moorhead labeled him as "neat." But Mike no longer attends home games, preferring to soak up the tailgating atmosphere while playing in his 15,000-foot, $3 million habitat just outside the north end of Tiger Stadium. The Bulldogs, however, will have their hands full with a bunch of hungry Tigers fresh off a 20-point win over then-No. 2 Georgia.
 
Joe Moorhead speaks as Mississippi State prepares for trip to LSU
While Mississippi State's football players were getting some rest and visiting their families, their coaches were all over the nation. MSU coach Joe Moorhead said the coaching staff visited 108 schools and 20 games in nine states while recruiting during the final two days of the open week. With that done, No. 22 MSU (4-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) turns its full attention to No. 5 LSU. Truth be told, MSU was able to get its attention on the Tigers a little earlier than normal thanks to the open week. Moorhead dedicated most of last week's practices to special teams, technique and development of players, with a little of bit LSU prep toward the end. Most of the time, MSU spends its Sunday practices looking over the previous game before turning attention to the next opponent, but with no game to review, it was able to spend more time on the Tigers (6-1, 3-1 SEC).
 
MSU Notebook: Bulldogs aim to reduce road penalties
Penalties have been a major problem plaguing Mississippi State on the road this season. Twenty-seven of the Bulldogs' 40 penalties this season have come in the team's two road games at Kansas State (11) and Kentucky (16). MSU has only drawn three total flags in its last two home games and coach Joe Moorhead hopes his team's penalty issues are a thing of the past as they head to LSU on Saturday. "I think that we've got that pretty good and cleaned up the past few weeks," Moorhead said. "We've got 40 overall for the season so we're trending in the right direction but with the crowd noise, atmosphere and the snap count -- that's certainly something we're going to be mindful of." Most of MSU's troubles on the road have been before or after plays.
 
LSU prepares for physical challenge vs Mississippi State
LSU's defense is getting mentally prepared for the physical challenges ahead of it. Yes, the fifth-ranked Tigers were able to celebrate shutting down then-No. 2 Georgia. But now LSU will be tested by in its next two games by teams with quarterbacks who have dominated opponents with different strengths. On Saturday, The Tigers will be challenged by Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald, who is the Southeastern Conference quarterback career-rushing leader. Mississippi State is receiving all of the Tigers' attention. And with good reason: Last season, the Bulldogs hammered LSU 37-7 in Starkville. "We still have that taste in our mouth from last year," said LSU coach Ed Orgeron, referring to the defeat against Mississippi State. "They out-physicaled us on both sides of the football."
 
LSU set for another top rushing offense in Mississippi State, here's why it's 'totally different'
Breiden Fehoko acknowledged the question. "I know we're going to see more quarterback runs this game," said Fehoko, LSU's junior defensive lineman. "Something we haven't seen since..." He paused. Considered. "I'm trying to think if anybody really ran the ball quarterback-wise." "La Tech? Not really." Louisiana Tech's J'Mar Smith rushed for 8 yards on six carries in a 38-21 LSU win on Sept. 22. "Florida did a little bit here and there with the speed option, but not really true quarterback runs." Feleipe Franks rushed for 42 yards on six carries in Florida's 27-19 win over LSU on Oct. 6. "This will kind of be a good test for us, really," Fehoko concluded. The seven quarterbacks LSU has played against this season have combined for just 33 rushing yards on 56 carries. But on Saturday, the Tigers will face Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, the Southeastern Conference's fourth-leading rusher with 102.6 yards rushing per game.
 
After Georgia fine, here's how much LSU will have to pay the next time fans storm field after a win
LSU was fined $100,000 on Monday by the Southeastern Conference for fans rushing the field after Saturday's win over then-No. 2 Georgia, according to a news release from the conference. This was LSU's second violation under the current policy, which bans fans from entering the competition area. LSU last stormed the field in football when the Tigers beat Ole Miss 10-7 in 2014. A third violation, and subsequent violations, would cost the school $250,000. "While Saturday's win was a moment for the LSU family to remember, on-field celebrations can be unsafe," LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva said in a statement. "We share the conference's concerns for the safety of fans and the security of players and staff."
 
U.S. Rep. Garret Graves creates GoFundMe for LSU field-storming fines
A few hours after LSU was fined $100,000 by the SEC for storming the field following the Tigers' 36-16 win against No. 2 Georgia, U.S. Rep. Garret Graves came up with a way to help. Graves created a GoFundMe account Monday to raise $100,000 to pay for LSU's fines. In just five hours, the account raised $1,967 and counting. "LSU is an inclusive community," the post said. "And we love our D1 sports! When 102,000 of us get together, we celebrate -- and when we do, we leave nothing on the field. But sometimes, the field calls us back. On October 13th, LSU fans shared our gregarious exuberance with the Univ. of Georgia by returning to our field of dreams after 60 minutes of elite football to share joy with Tigers, Bulldogs and each other." The fine was due to it being LSU's second offense after storming the field following a 2014 win against Ole Miss. A third offense would be $250,000.
 
Texas A&M-Mississippi State set for another evening kickoff
Mississippi State will be preparing for another evening kickoff for the seventh time in eight games this season. The Bulldogs' home game against Texas A&M on Oct. 27 is slated for a 6 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. It is the fourth time MSU has appeared on that network this year as well. The Bulldogs hold a 6-5 advantage in the series over the Aggies thanks to last year's 35-14 victory in College Station. State has a 2-1 edge in games played in Starkville in the series. Nick Fitzgerald completed 12 of 21 passes for 141 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against Texas A&M last year while also rushing 18 times for 105 yards and another score.
 
Ole Miss falls to Mississippi State in first E-Sports Egg Bowl
For the first time ever, Ole Miss and Mississippi State faced off in an E-Sports "Egg Bowl" this Saturday. The event took place at the Pavilion all day as the teams of gamers rotated through their strongest events. The Egg Bowl was formatted as a seven-part competition where each event was a different game played on the PC, and the final event was played on the Wii U. Each event was a seven-game series in and of itself. The competition kicked off at 11 a.m. Saturday. Rocket League was by far the most intense and spirited contest of the day. The crowd was in it for the entirety of the series as it came down to an intense game seven. Mississippi State's "Ziyor" crushed the noise in the Pavilion with a sudden-death overtime goal to seal the event and give State a 3-1 overall lead.
 
SEC won't punish Florida, Vanderbilt over Dan Mullen, Derek Mason exchange
The SEC will not punish Florida or Vanderbilt for Saturday's incident, when head coaches Dan Mullen and Derek Mason exchanged heated words, two Florida players were ejected and a bench-clearing brawl nearly ensued. Instead, "any discussion about decorum among the coaches will be handled privately between the conference office and the participating institutions," an SEC spokesman told The Tennessean. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey was in attendance at the game, a 37-27 win by No. 12 Florida over the Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. "Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties were appropriately administered on the field by the officials," SEC spokesman Herb Vincent said in a statement. "Any discussion about decorum among the coaches will be handled privately between the conference office and the participating institutions. Both coaches appeared to put this issue behind them in their post-game midfield meeting and post-game comments."
 
Million Dollar Band sets tone for Alabama game days
Saturdays during the fall semester at the University of Alabama are steeped in traditions. White tents populate the university's Quad along the main drag through campus for tailgaters, flags and plastic shakers wave in the air, the school's crimson color washes over the campus and "Roll Tides" abound. But at an hour when most people are waking up to prepare for the game, the university's Million Dollar Band, is rehearsing and preparing to carry on traditions that make Saturday a game day in Tuscaloosa. The university's largest student organization's name in itself is a tradition. At a time when the football team was not performing well, in the early 1920s, one prominent alumnus told a sports reporter that the team wasn't very good but the university had "a million dollar band." While the origin of the band's name is sometimes disputed, the university released that explanation in a media guide decades later. It's since been accepted as tradition.



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