Friday, June 28, 2019   
 
Mississippi State holds summer orientation
It may be June, but a flood of new students are pouring into Starkville. Mississippi State is hosting the last of its two day Summer Orientation sessions. New students and their families are touring campus and scheduling classes. For the past two years, the city of Starkville has partnered with the university to introduce students to city as well as the university. "In the past we've done everything on campus for students and parents but we decided a couple years ago that we really wanted them to experience the city as well," said Kylie Forrester, Director of Orientation and Events.
 
MDA Gives Grant to Mississippi State for Horse Poor Barrel Race
The Mississippi Development Authority recently gave a $6,000 grant to Mississippi State University to support the annual Horse Poor Barrel Race at the Mississippi Horse Park. MSU will use the grant funds for advertising, staff and equipment for the 2020 barrel race. The Horse Poor Barrel Race is one of the largest events the Horse Park hosts in-house. The event, which takes its name from the venue's location on Poor House Road, is a timed race in which a horse and rider run around a set of three barrels. This year's event has $25,000 in total prize money available, with winning riders' individual earnings based on a combination of speed and precision in maneuvering. The 2019 Horse Poor Barrel Race will take place from June 28-30, and is free and open to the public.
 
Mississippi State professor in running for school board seat
With a day to go until deadline, one letter of interest has been submitted for the soon-to-be open seat on the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees. Starkville City Clerk Lesa Hardin confirmed that she had received one letter of interest from Ryan Walker as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. Walker is an associate professor in the Mississippi State University College of Education, and has been involved in public education in the area before, serving on the Parent Teacher Organization at both Sudduth Elementary School and Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary School. He is also involved with the Starkville Foundation for Public Education, and serves on Superintendent Eddie Peasant's diversity board. Walker said he hoped to bring his expertise in education to the board, and that he hoped to keep the district's current momentum going.
 
Starkville restaurants are getting ready for the fall
In college sports, it's often said that championships are won in the off-season. Training and conditioning build stronger teams. Some business owners in college towns are also running with that idea. For college towns, the summer months can mean a slow down in business. But some area businesses see opportunities. "We start hiring and training during the summer because it's a little bit slower. We can get new people in, and we can train them so that when they get here on August the1st. When the students arrive and so forth they're ready to go because if you wait until August the 1st to start hiring and training it's too late because business is here you need to be ready," said Veranda owner Jay Yates. Even though it's usually considered the off-season, campus events like orientation and summer camps give new hires a chance to get some reps. "Summer is different now in Starkville. Used to summer was it was just really dead; it's just different because now I have so many more people," said Yates.
 
Pecan Acres residents still await news regarding relocation
It's a pleasant Wednesday morning at Pecan Acres and more than a few residents are agreeable to visits. A year ago, the proposed relocation of the Starkville Housing Authority complex to a site a couple miles to the west on Highway 182 was the "talk of the town," with public hearings, resident surveys and community activists captivating the attention of the residents and the broader Starkville community. But since Johnny Moore, the attorney representing Alabama-based developer Christoper Dobbs, died unexpectedly on Aug, 30, there appears to have been little movement on the issue. The project, said Starkville Housing Authority director Bo Bell, may be forgotten in some quarters, but it's anything but gone. "There is still some momentum," Bell said. "There is still some work the buyer and seller have to do (on the Highway 182 property). There has to be a signed contract on the purchase of the new land before anything else can happen. That should be done in the next 30 to 90 days. That's what we are hearing."
 
Delta flooding: Impact on trees, food sources, deer, wildlife
Floodwater from the Mississippi River and south Delta is beginning to slowly recede and as it does, some wildlife will make their way back to their home ranges. But the journey to recovery may be far from over. "We just flat out don't know," said Jeff Breazeale of Breazeale Forest Services LLC. "We don't have anything to compare this to. Nobody knows." Displaced deer and other animals have depleted food resources in some areas of the south Delta. Some appear to be on the brink of starvation while others have already died. Those in poor physical condition will need to recover and that will require food resources. Unfortunately, there may not be enough to go around. Russ Walsh, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Wildlife Bureau executive director, said it could be years before Mississippi realizes the full impact. "We're not seeing any obvious signs of stress-detriment to timber resources in the south Delta," Walsh said. "If there are timber resources that are impacted, we may not see it for a year or two years from now. There may be some immediate impacts, but likely that will be further down the road."
 
First came Bonnet Carre. Then an algae bloom coated the Coast. 'When is it going to stop?'
Prolonged opening of the Bonnet Carre spillway is creating headlines reminiscent of the 2010 BP oil spillway as potentially toxic blue-green algae closes beaches on the Mississippi Coast and prompts warnings not to eat seafood caught in infested waters. Tourism leaders have worried all along that the prolonged release of fresh water from the Bonnet Carre Spillway will deter visitors. Coast residents who make their living from the water, directly or indirectly, are growing more anxious by the day. "The biggest thing is, when is it going to stop?" Pass Christian Mayor Chip McDermott asked Wednesday. "It's tough business in the Mississippi Sound." Seafood distributors are beginning to get questions about the availability of their wares, while hoteliers anxiously watch bookings. Joe Spraggins, executive director of DMR, said none of the algae tested has proven toxic so far. He said the warning about avoiding fish caught in or around the blooms was issued out of caution.
 
Upcoming expansion will be the largest in Vicksburg National Military Park's history
The Champion Hill Battlefield site is expanding with the transfer of more than 800 acres of land from the state of Mississippi, the largest expansion of the Vicksburg National Military Park in its history, according to National Park Service. It will create the first of three new units of the park. The transfer will be made at a 10 a.m. ceremony July 2, at Champion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 4143 Champion Hill Road, Edwards. The transfer was recently announced by the National Park Service and the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign. The program will include comments by Gov. Phil Bryant, Lt. Governor Tate Reeves, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith and Brig. Gen. Robert Crear, representing the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign. The donation is the second announcement of additional land for the battlefield in June. On June 12, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History received a $109,806 grant from the National Park Service's American Battlefield Trust to preserve a section of the Champion Hill Battlefield.
 
Mississippi Lottery announces expected launch date
Mississippi residents could be playing the lottery in-state before the end of the year. The anticipated launch date is Dec. 1, the Mississippi Lottery Corp. announced this week. That's when the scratch lottery tickets could go on sale at gas stations and convenience stores across the state. In May, the Lottery Corp. announced Thomas Shaheen as the first president of the state's lottery. Now the board is asking for two sets of proposals from companies to set up and run the lottery. The request for proposals seek vendors with experience in the lottery industry to help the Lottery Corp. set up and operate drawing lottery games such as Powerball and Mega Millions plus instant scratch-off lottery tickets. The RFPs must be submitted by Aug. 2, with the anticipated sale of instant tickets starting Dec. 1. The Lottery Corp. said Powerball and Mega Millions will follow a few months later.
 
Mississippi teacher pay raise: Cost still unknown after error
State officials are still waiting for a price tag for the state's $1,500 teacher pay raise that goes into effect Monday, after an accounting blunder earlier in the year. And superintendents are anxiously waiting to find out whether they'll have to temporarily foot the bill as they wait for updates from the state Department of Education. "We will have to fund the gap without state assistance unless the additional funds are forthcoming," West Jasper Superintendent Warren Woodrow told the Clarion Ledger. Representatives for Jackson Public Schools and the Tupelo Public School District also said that their schools are preparing to cover the pay increase upfront, if enough money isn't received from the state by the July pay period. State Board of Education Chairman Jason Dean said he's reviewed numbers showing the department has enough funds, at a minimum, to cover raises until the beginning of the 2020 Legislative Session when the department will ask lawmakers to makeup the shortfall.
 
Despite controversy over AG's use of outside lawyers, most candidates would continue practice
The state is expected to receive about $117 million from tobacco companies for the upcoming budget year (starting July 1 ) as a result of the lawsuit settlement the state reached in 1998 with the cigarette makers. During a 25 year period the state is scheduled to receive more than $4 billion from the tobacco companies as a result of the settlement to help pay the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses. But in reality, the settlement does not end in 25 years. The state, based on a formula, is supposed to receive payments -- around $100 million annually – as long at the companies make money. The lawsuit, filed by then-Attorney General Mike Moore, is perhaps the most high profile example of what is now a common practice of states, through their attorneys general, hiring private lawyers to pursue lawsuits – usually against large corporations. Jim Hood, who succeeded Moore as attorney general, has continued the practice of hiring outside counsel. He currently has dozens of lawsuits pending filed with the help of outside legal counsel.
 
Mississippi, 41 states accuse generic drug makers of price fixing
Generic drugs have been the primary tool that consumers have used to manage high drug prices. A federal lawsuit brought by 43 states, including Mississippi, and Puerto Rico, alleges price fixing by Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 other generic drug manufacturers. Filings unsealed this week in federal court in Boston present evidence that representatives of some of the nation's largest generic drug manufacturers used code words to collude with competitors to divvy up market share and coordinate price increases. "The public deserves to know the illegal, greedy acts committed by these companies," said Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood. "The evidence shows an industry-wide conspiracy to hinder access to drugs that Americans rely on every day. It shows that these people knew that what they were doing was illegal and then took measures to make sure their actions weren't uncovered. Today, their cover is blown."
 
Why the Supreme Court's Rulings Have Profound Implications for American Politics
The rulings by the Supreme Court on Thursday in bitterly contested battles over partisan gerrymandering and the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census grappled with issues fundamental to the nation's democracy: How power is allocated, and ultimately, how much of a voice the American people have in selecting their leaders. But far from settling these questions, the court has unleashed even higher-pitched and partisan struggles over once-settled aspects of the country's governance, placing greater pressures on the nation's political system. Gerrymandered maps were once part of an unspoken agreement between rivals that pressing for political advantage was, within limits, part of the electoral game. But in recent years Republicans, aided by sophisticated mapmaking software, have given themselves near-unbreakable power across the country. The justices also did not resolve what to do about adding a citizenship question to the census, which until recently was regarded as a nonpartisan ritual every 10 years for the country to obtain an accurate head count of its residents. Now it is the object of a legal firefight over charges that it is being perverted for partisan gain.
 
Citizenship question won't be on 2020 census for now, but there's still worry in Mississippi
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday there will be no citizenship question on the 2020 census for now. Even so, Mississippi's black and Hispanic/Latino populations could still be undercounted. Some political leaders feared the question would lead thousands of people not to participate in the census in Mississippi. Still, the possibility of reduced federal funding remains. According to the George Washington University Institute of Public Policy, the census helped drive $10.1 billion in federal funding to Mississippi during 2016, about $3,385 per resident. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo both favored a citizenship question on the census. John J. Green, who heads the Center for Population Studies at the University of Mississippi, says he hadn't heard a lot of discussion about the citizenship question when he's talked to people about the census in community meetings across the state. But he worried the inclusion of a citizenship question would cause census participation to fall. "We know from research that one of the leading factors of why people don't participate in the census is distrust," he said.
 
Supreme Court to consider Donald Trump's plan to end DACA
The Supreme Court finally agreed Friday to referee a two-year-old dispute between President Trump and Democrats in Congress over the fate of nearly 700,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. The high court showdown, which could be decided in the midst of the 2020 presidential election, will determine whether Trump has the power to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program known as DACA that President Barack Obama created in 2012. Although the justices had refused the administration's request to intervene until now, their decision to hear the case next term signals a potential win for the White House. Three federal district courts and two appeals courts have blocked Trump from ending the program; only one district court has ruled in his favor. The Justice Department has sought since the beginning of 2018 to make their case at the Supreme Court, which the president earlier this year said has "treated us very fairly" after other lower court defeats. Three times, the justices turned down the request.
 
Kamala Harris, known for caution, finds a risky move pays off against Joe Biden
For weeks, supporters of Sen. Kamala Harris had pointed to the first Democratic debate as the opportunity to break out of her campaign doldrums. What no one said -- and few would have predicted -- was that she would do so by taking on the candidate at center stage, former Vice President Joe Biden, upbraiding him for his opposition to busing for school integration and his nostalgic reminiscences about his relationships with segregationist senators early in his career. "I do not believe you are a racist," Harris began, turning to face Biden. But, she added, "it was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country. And it was not only that, but you also worked with them to oppose busing. And, you know, there was a little girl in California who was a part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day. And that little girl was me." Biden, sputtering in response, declared Harris' accusation "a mischaracterization of my position across the board."
 
Joe Biden 'Dated Himself,' 'Underperformed' -- and 'Was Eaten Alive'
It's a democratic-socialist party now -- but it might be in the hands of some younger stars instead of Bernie Sanders. After two nights and 20 Democrats scrapping on a national stage, that's the conclusion of our panel of experts, operatives and longtime political observers who sat through all four hours of debating and watched a party reshape itself on live TV. Who came out ahead? Kamala Harris captured a lot of the attention, not least for her ability to go toe-to-toe with frontrunner Joe Biden on Thursday night. The other big winner was Pete Buttigieg, whose smooth intelligence and moral seriousness stood out, though at age 37 he might not have had quite the commanding presence of Harris. Both of them, in our experts' views, eclipsed Biden -- though the former vice president still grabbed the most screen time, and there's no telling whether anything we saw this week will move the polls. The takeaway from the two debates is simple: It is Bernie Sanders' party. It was Kamala Harris' star turn. It was Joe Biden's nightmare. And it's Elizabeth Warren's nomination to lose.
 
'Has anyone tried fixing America with crystals and bee pollen?': Late-night hosts tackle Marianne Williamson's surprising debate performance
Nearly half an hour went by during Thursday's Democratic debate before Marianne Williamson even had the chance to speak. In total, Williamson talked for roughly five minutes onstage in Miami, placing her among the group of presidential hopefuls who had the least amount of airtime during the first debates of the 2020 campaign. So, how did the 66-year-old author and self-help guru, whom actress Gwyneth Paltrow has called a "spiritual legend," end up as the night's most Googled candidate and one of the top trending terms on Twitter? Her campaign says it's because she brought something new to the table. "Her message is very different," Patricia Ewing, Williamson's communications director, told The Washington Post. "What you saw to the left of her was a sea of blue suits. They all pretty much said the same thing with a little bit of difference." But many viewers who were probably seeing Williamson for the first time, were equally charmed and baffled by the author, and the Internet and late-night shows both exploded with reactions to her appearance.
 
Following the funds: Why has tuition been increasing?
In a decades-long shift in who funds the university, state and federal governments now pay far fewer bills than they once did. Students, especially nonresidents, now pick up much of the tab. Out of the $540 million that Ole Miss had budgeted to spend last school year, $285 million came directly from students in the form of tuition and other student fees. Nearly 40% of that $285 million comes from nonresident fees. Interim Chancellor Larry Sparks said that these funds are crucial to the sustainability of the university. "(Students are) the lifeblood to keep our doors open," he said. The trend of student dependency isn't unique to the University of Mississippi. All over the country, government funding has decreased overall. For Ole Miss, state appropriations have dropped -- over $11 million since the 2015-2016 fiscal year. Sparks, who served as vice chancellor for administration and finance before becoming interim chancellor, added that he doesn't think that higher education's current business model is sustainable.
 
A conversation with Portia Espy on William Winter Institute
Want to talk racial reconciliation? Want to bridge a divide in your community? The William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation could help. Portia Espy is the group's executive director. She's been in the position for a little over a year now. "We officially transitioned to the Jackson metro area on April 1, 2018," she said. "We still consider the University of Mississippi a partner. Last year, after we moved, we had our 'Summer Youth Institute' there. This year was the first year we had the institute at Millsaps. That was one of our goals when we moved here -- to spread the love with the regard to the youth institute across the state. We want to give our other university partners an opportunity to host it."
 
College campus construction in Alabama shows no sign of slowing
It's unlikely colleges and universities in Alabama will slow the pace of construction anytime soon. Competition and research will continue to push them, and there is no clear line for what is enough. Approximately $1 billion is being spent this summer by just five universities looked at this week by AL.com. But Alabama isn't alone. More than 50 percent of all projects nationwide that started in 2018 were major renovations or modernizations and more than 20 percent were new buildings, according to College Planning and Management, a best-practices magazine. More than $90 billion was spent on educational construction in the United States in 2018, a total that includes both public and private institutions. EducationDive.com says the campus building boom began after the Great Recession. Sixty-seven percent of students said facilities are critical when deciding where they'd like to attend college, according to a survey published by the Association of University Directors of Estates.
 
U. of Alabama to keep parking rates flat
Parking permit rates at the University of Alabama will remain unchanged for the upcoming school year as the campus continues work on a five-year master plan for parking. Vice President of Financial Affairs Matt Fajack announced earlier this month the rates would remain flat. Perimeter and handicap annual permits are $240. Student commuter permits and green permits for faculty and staff are $345. Student residential permits are $400. Reserve permits are $660. Rose Administration reserve permits for faculty and staff are $680. Motorcycle permits are $100. Director of Transportation Services Chris D'Esposito said the rates would remain unchanged for 2019-2020 as work continues on a campus parking master plan. "We are trying to take a step back and do a formal five-year transportation plan," he said. The move breaks a trend of annual rate changes which have historically increased $20-$30 in recent years.
 
Ex-LSU student charged in new document in hazing death; DA says it clears way for trial
A week after lawyers for an ex-LSU student filed a motion to throw out his indictment in the fatal 2017 hazing of fraternity pledge Max Gruver because younger people were kept off the grand jury that indicted him, prosecutors filed their own bill of information Thursday charging him with the same crime. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said the move will allow the trial of Matthew Naquin to go forward as scheduled July 8. Naquin's lead lawyer, John McLindon, said he's not so sure about that. A hearing on pretrial matters is scheduled for Friday. "We'll just address that in the morning," McLindon said Thursday afternoon by phone as he drove back to Baton Rouge from Mississippi. McLindon, who said he is ready for trial, said the superseding bill of information filed by Assistant District Attorney Morgan Johnson could possibly upset the upcoming trial date.
 
UGA study: Working parents fight image battle on 2 fronts
Managing a reputation as both a good employee and devoted parent can lead to serious consequences for working parents, according to new research from the University of Georgia. In the community and at the office, working parents are judged on their "work-family image," which includes their competencies at managing their home and work lives, said Laura Little, a management professor and research co-author. The judgments often function on a sliding scale, where success in one domain can signal failure in the other. "In our experiences studying working parents, we heard a lot of people say things like, 'He's a great employee but he doesn't know his children's names.' Consistently, we would hear dual judgments that would seem intractably intertwined," Little said. "We wanted to find out if facing those kinds of judgments influence people's behavior. It could be a mother who doesn't want to stay late at work because she's afraid people will think she's a bad mother, or a father who doesn't want to take time off to see his kid's game because people might assume he's less dedicated to his career."
 
Democratic contenders draw contrasts on free college, student debt
Candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for president offered contrasting visions on college affordability and student debt in two debates this week. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, both have introduced campaign proposals for free public college and student debt cancellation. Warren's plan would cancel up to $50,000 in student debt for borrowers with incomes under six figures, as well as provide more limited debt relief for higher earning borrowers. The Sanders proposal, released this week, calls for canceling all $1.5 trillion in outstanding U.S. student loan debt. "I believe we must make public colleges and universities tuition free and eliminate student debt, and we do that by placing a tax on Wall Street," Sanders said at the second Democratic debate, on Thursday. Other candidates, however, have argued for targeted college affordability measures and limited fixes for student borrowers.
 
Elizabeth Warren has been criticized and praised for sounding like a professor
As a woman running for president, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a Democrat, was bound to encounter the likability bias: assert yourself as a man and you're seen as a boss, yet assert yourself as a woman, and you're seen as bossy. But a recent dig to Warren's likability came from a somewhat unexpected source, at a somewhat unexpected angle. In an interview with MSNBC, former Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, another Democrat, suggested that Warren was struggling with being "in command of the policy" and still being "relatable." Then McCaskill defined Warren's fundamental "challenge" like this: "[F]rankly, sometimes she comes very close to that professor I just wanted to be quiet." Beyond sounding like a professor, Warren is one -- the Leo Gottlieb Professor of Law, emerita, at Harvard University. But is sounding like a professor -- whatever that means -- a liability in politics?
 
Tate Reeves makes it all look a little too easy
Mississippi newspaper publisher and columnist Wyatt Emmerich writes: When my son Lawrence was about 13, he had a T-shirt with the words "I make it look easy" printed on it. That's the way I feel about gubernatorial candidate Tate Reeves. He makes it look easy. He's rolled through all his elections. He has a huge campaign war chest. He's lined up endorsements from across the state. He's the runaway favorite. So easy. Reeves has done this by sticking to the playbook and not deviating one inch: Don't even think about raising taxes for any reason whatsoever. Balance the budget no matter what. Don't say anything stupid. Use the tried and true political network. Help your political contributors so the campaign money keeps rolling in. Piece of cake. Indeed, if you just follow the political playbook, politics is easy, almost laughably so. Tate Reeves makes it look so easy, it's no wonder some people consider him a tad arrogant. ... There's only one problem with this. Although politics may be easy, effectively running the Mississippi government is extremely difficult.


SPORTS
 
Talented freshman foursome ready to contribute for Bulldogs on court
Mississippi State head men's basketball coach Ben Howland knows he has plenty to replace. Speaking with reporters Tuesday, he referred to the now departed Lamar Peters, Aric Holman and Quinndary Weatherspoon who are all off to the NBA. In their place, MSU brings in a four-man recruiting class -- from which Howland is already reaping the benefits. Highlighting the group is four-star forward Elias King. At 6-foot-7, 204 pounds, King is a logical backup to sophomore Robert Woodard II on the wing. He also offers shooting upside MSU will lack sans Holman. "Elias is a very talented scorer, shooter, has length, can really shoot the three, a very nice passer and can handle the ball well," Howland said earlier this offseason. "He has a lot of talent, a lot of mobility and combined with length, he's a kid that I really think can be something special given time especially as he gets stronger."
 
Mississippi State baseball's Ethan Small earns second National Pitcher of the Year Honor
After dominating college baseball's best throughout the 2019 season, Mississippi State baseball's Ethan Small earned the American Baseball Coaches Association's Division I National Pitcher of the Year award. It is the second national "of the year" honor Small earned following his redshirt-junior campaign, as the left hander was also tabbed National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Foundation. The ABCA has awarded a national player of the year since 2001, before splitting the awards into Position Player and Pitcher of the Year in 2018. Prior to 2018, six full-time pitchers won the award, including Vanderbilt's David Price. Small is just the second pitcher from Mississippi State to win a national pitcher of the year award, with Chris Stratton being named the Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Year in 2012. Small was one of two State student-athlete to earn a national player of the year honor in 2019, as freshman JT Ginn was named National Freshman of the Year by Perfect Game and Co-National Freshman Pitcher of the Year by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
 
Canadian Eric Cerantola finds a fit at Mississippi State
Each summer, many baseball players have to make the tough choice to either come to college or sign a professional contract after being selected in the MLB Draft. Eric Cerantola, however, not only faced that dilemma but also had to choose which sport he wanted to play. The Canadian was drafted by both the Tampa Bay Rays in baseball and the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League as well. "Hockey and baseball never came hand-in-hand when it came to the drafts," Cerantola said. "I had picked baseball before the MLB Draft. Basically, I was just debating on which one I needed more. I had the opportunity in the draft but felt like I was still raw and three years of college will allow me to polish myself a little more." So Cerantola decided to pass up on his professional opportunities and pitch for Mississippi State -- some 1,000 miles or 1,600 kilometers from his hometown of Oakville, a suburb of Toronto. But being far away from home was nothing new for the freshman. Since his high school did not have a baseball program, Cerantola would go on the road for weeks at a time with the Canadian National Team. It was through the Canadian National Team that Cerantola was first introduced to the Diamond Dogs.
 
Jake Mangum's rest of the story: From walk-on to paltry signing bonus
Mississippi sports columnist Rick Cleveland writes: So, you probably heard or read about Mississippi State's Jake Mangum, saying good-bye to college baseball at the College World Series with a plea to the NCAA to do something about the inequities in his sport. Specifically, Mangum made a strong case for increasing paid assistant coaches to three (from two) and for significantly upping the limit of scholarships per team from the current 11.7. Now then, here's what you may not have known. Jake Mangum, the face of the Mississippi State program and the all-time Southeastern Conference hits leader, has been a walk-on since his sophomore year with the Bulldogs. That's right: He came back to play his junior and senior seasons -- when he could have gone pro -- without any scholarship. "I was fortunate enough to be from a family where we could afford my college," Mangum said. "My mother and father agreed to it, and I agreed to it because we thought the money could be used better for another player. I haven't been on scholarship for the last two years." ... It's crazy, I know. One of the best baseball players in SEC history played for free the last two seasons. And it gets crazier.
 
Vanderbilt baseball made sure Donny Everett's parents were on stage after national title win
Where are Teddy and Susan Everett? A Vanderbilt athletics department employee jogged through the hallways of TD Ameritrade Park on a frantic search for the couple. Coach Tim Corbin was let down off his players' shoulders and asked the same question. Some Vanderbilt baseball players paused their high-fiving minutes after winning the national title and scanned the mosh of reporters and fans to find the parents of Donny Everett, the teammate they lost three years ago. The Commodores weren't going to hoist a championship trophy as an incomplete team. "Every time I look at Teddy I think of Donny," senior shortstop Ethan Paul said. "(It) was something we all really wanted to do. They're just as much a part of the team as we are." Vanderbilt beat Michigan 8-2 on Wednesday to capture the national championship. Donny Everett, who drowned on June 2, 2016, as a freshman pitcher, was a member of the class that still includes five seniors and two redshirt juniors. Younger players who never knew Donny also have built bonds with the Everett parents.
 
Tennessee football: Season tickets hold steady for Vols
Tennessee expects season-ticket sales to remain almost level for the 2019 football season. Vols athletics director Phillip Fulmer told the Board of Trustees' special committee on UT athletics during a meeting last week that UT is projecting to sell 64,000 season tickets. That projection data is as of June 13. Last year, the Vols sold 65,000 season tickets. Season-ticket data for a 12-year span presented to the committee showed that Tennessee's season-ticket sales peaked at 73,000 for the 2016 season. The Vols were coming off a nine-win season. Season-ticket sales also were at 73,000 in 2008 -- Fulmer's final season as coach -- before steadily declining. Season-ticket sales cratered in 2013 to 57,000 sold. That 2013 season was the first of the Butch Jones era after three straight losing seasons under Derek Dooley.
 
Coaches influence athlete medical decisions, survey finds
Most college and university athletics trainers say they have autonomy to make medical decisions for their players. But some report they do not -- and that coaches try to influence them. Those were among the key findings of a new survey from the Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine, which is part of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. The survey yielded responses from nearly 1,800 athletics trainers at colleges across the country. About 43 percent of the trainers who responded worked at Division I universities, which are generally larger and more affluent than their peers. The NCAA did not respond to a request for comment. But Dr. Brian Hainline, the NCAA's chief medical officer, told ESPN that all institutions are "obligated to comply" with the rules around medical decisions for athletes. Those that don't should self-report an NCAA violation, he said. The survey also found that about one-third of the athletic trainers said coaches had some influence over the employment of the sports medicine staff, which is again counter to the NCAA's recommendations.
 
Trump signs order to allow military academy graduates to play pro sports
President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon on Wednesday to allow graduates of the U.S. military academies to play professional sports before fulfilling their two-year active-duty military requirement. Trump's memo to the secretary of defense reverses a Pentagon requirement that prevented sports stars at the U.S. Military Academy, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy from joining professional teams immediately after graduation and hurt recruiting of top athletes at the schools. The new rules, which will also apply to members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, will allow the athletes to defer their military obligations until they have completed their professional sports careers. Trump first raised the idea last month in remarks at a White House ceremony to award to the annual commander in chief's trophy to Army for being the best military academy football team.
 
Durbin and Duckworth want Major League Baseball to extend foul ball netting at all parks
Democratic Sens. Richard J. Durbin and Tammy Duckworth want Major League Baseball to expand netting to protect fans from foul balls across the entirety of the major leagues. The Illinois senators have written to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred seeking an extension of netting at all ballparks. The letter, dated Thursday, follows announcements of extended netting by the Chicago White Sox and the Washington Nationals. Nationals Park, the venue for Wednesday night's Congressional Baseball Game, will be getting extended netting over the All-Star break. Durbin has a long history of interest in the national pastime, dating back to his time as a member of the House, when he spoke out on the House floor against AstroTurf fields, lights at Wrigley Field and in particular, the possibility of MLB adopting aluminum bats. The more serious safety questions raised in the Duckworth and Durbin letter on Thursday point to the danger of baseballs entering the stands, even when hit off of wooden bats.



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