Articles by Ben Wait
Mullen adds two to support staff
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team officially announced Tuesday that John Haneline will join the staff as a defensive quality control specialist.
A source also confirmed that former Callaway High School coach Patrick Austin and former Bulldog running back and Copiah-Lincoln Community College running backs coach Rod Gibson will join the staff in non-coaching roles.
Weatherspoon ‘s buzzer-beater lifts MSU past Vanderbilt
STARKVILLE — Ben Howland has seen his Mississippi State men’s basketball team fight to the end of many games.
Each time, Howland felt the Bulldogs needed to dig deep and to find extra motivation to come out on top.
On Tuesday, Quinndary Weatherspoon provided the piece the Bulldogs missed in their first 24 games, hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift MSU to a 75-74 victory against Vanderbilt at Humphrey Coliseum.
“The never-quit and the never-give-up attitude, it’s nice to see guys rewarded for that,” Howland said. “We’ve done a good job of that, never quitting when we’ve
Marrero will be in mix at catcher for MSU
STARKVILLE — Elih Marrero knows baseball.
Marrero’s father, Eli, played 10 years in Major League Baseball with six teams. Every day was like a classroom on the diamond for Elih, as he learned the ins and outs of the sport and how to play it the right way.
Marrero is using that knowledge to make a name for himself as part of the Mississippi State baseball team. The freshman is one of three catchers who will compete for playing time this season for No. 20 MSU, which will open the season at 4:30 p.m. Friday (SEC Network+) against Florida Atlantic at Dudy Noble Field.
New defensive coaches coming together at MSU
STARKVILLE — Peter Sirmon has learned a lot in his travels as a college football coach.
Whether it was the two seasons at Tennessee, the two years at his alma mater Washington, or the two seasons at Southern California, Sirmon soaked up knowledge in an effort to become a better coach.
So when Sirmon received an opportunity to become defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Mississippi State, he felt ready.
Sirmon feels everything he has learned as a player and as a coach will help him in his transition to a new role on a new staff in a new league. The fact that Sirmon isn’t MSU’s only new coach on defense will add a new wrinkle to the adjustment process. Along with Sirmon, MSU football coach Dan Mullen has added Terrell Buckley (cornerbacks, recruiting coordinator) Maurice Linguist (safeties). The three new coaches were officially introduced Monday.
MSU will try to bounce back against Vanderbilt
STARKVILLE — Malik Newman is experiencing something new this season.
The Mississippi State freshman guard was part of four Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A State championship teams at Callaway High School. He led the Chargers to a record of 114-16 and was named a McDonald’s All-American.
A freshman class that included Newman and Quinndary Weatherspoon was expected to join an experienced group of players to help the Bulldogs push for a winning record and a possible postseason berth this season.
MSU men can’t build momentum, lose at home to Georgia
STARKVILLE — Ben Howland was looking for consistency.
After dominating Arkansas offensively and defensively in a 22-point victory, the Mississippi State men’s basketball coach wanted his team to play with the same fire and intensity in its next game.
But MSU looked like a different team than it did four days ago and struggled in almost every aspect in a 66-57 loss to Georgia on Saturday night at Humphrey Coliseum.
Sacrifices paved way to MSU’s Mingione
STARKVILLE — Nick Mingione knew he wanted to be a baseball coach when he was 12 years old.
That fact that Mingione’s teammates called him coach emboldened him to take a journey filled with sacrifices and hard times.
Growing up poor, Mingione didn’t have a lot, so when he graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2000 and received his first job as an assistant coach at Mariner (Fla.) High School, he was still trying to scrape by financially. But Mingione was ready to accept the challenge because he knew he was where he was supposed to be.
Howland hopes MSU can build on momentum
STARKVILLE — There was no doubt in Ben Howland’s mind that the Mississippi State men’s basketball team played its best game Tuesday when the first-year head coach watched his team beat Arkansas 78-46 at Humphrey Coliseum.
Howland hopes the way the Bulldogs dominated the Razorbacks is the start of a trend. He will get a chance to help make that a reality at 7 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network) when MSU (10-13, 3-8 Southeastern Conference) plays host to Georgia (13-9, 6-5) at Humphrey Coliseum.
Mullen fills last spot on coaching staff
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team has completed its coaching staff.
On Thursday, Bulldog coach Dan Mullen announced the hiring of Maurice Linguist as safeties coach.
“Maurice is a very sharp person with a bright future in the coaching profession,” Mullen said in a statement released by MSU. “His knowledge of the game is exceptional, while his teaching and communication skills will resonate well with our players. We are happy to have him in Starkville and look forward to the impact he will make on our team.”
Former Bulldog Renfroe hopes to stick with Padres
STARKVILLE — Hunter Renfroe has one goal this spring.
The former Mississippi State Bulldog will attend spring training with the San Diego Padres, the team that drafted him 13th overall in the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft.
MSU’s Collins transitions from catcher to third base
STARKVILLE — Gavin Collins doesn’t care where he plays. He just wants to play.
Collins arrived in Starkville as a catcher in the fall of 2013 and became the Mississippi State baseball team’s first All-Southeastern Conference freshman. But Collins injured his left hand prior to the 2015 season and had hamate bone surgery that forced him to miss 13 games.
Weatherspoon’s rebounding takes off in SEC play
STARKVILLE — Ben Howland didn’t want Quinndary Weatherspoon to rebound on the offensive end when he first arrived on campus.
Smaller class targets MSU’s needs
STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen hasn’t been known for being one of the top recruiters in the Southeastern Conference.
The eighth-year Mississippi State coach’s highest-rated class came last season when the Bulldogs pulled in the nation’s 18th-best class, according to 247Sports. That class featured seven four-star prospects, many of whom will play vital roles this season.
Starkville’s Brown, Jones now rivals
STARKVILLE — A.J. Brown and Kobe Jones are now rivals.
In the last three years together as members of the Starkville High School football team, Brown and Jones helped the Yellow Jackets finish 13-1 and advance to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A North State title game in 2014 and win a MHSAA Class 6A State championship in 2015. They also were members of The Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen this past season.
Starkville sends 10 to college after title season
STARKVILLE — Ricky Woods was a proud coach Wednesday.
The Starkville High School football coach saw 10 of his players sign National Letters of Intent on Wednesday on National Signing Day, including three with Division I schools and seven with junior colleges. Wide receiver A.J. Brown signed with Ole Miss, defensive tackle Kobe Jones signed with Mississippi State, and defensive lineman Lorenzo Dantzler signed with Southern Mississippi to complete the Division I trio. Defensive lineman Maleke Bell and running back Avery Brown (East Mississippi Community College), quarterback Montario Montgomery and wide receiver Rontavis Clark (Itawamba C.C.), tight end Parker Lemm (East Central C.C.), defensive back Terrance Grayer (Mississippi Delta C.C.), and defensive back Aretavious Hendrix (Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.) completed the signing class.
West Point’s Lashley picks Alabama
Scott Lashley could have gone anywhere to play football.
On Tuesday, the West Point High School offensive lineman gave a verbal commitment to Alabama. He will sign a National Letter of
Intent with the Crimson Tide today with seven of his teammates on National Signing Day.
Lashley was supposed to make his announcement at a news conference at the school, but bad weather in the area forced schools to be dismissed early and canceled the event, so he made his decision known on a video.
MSU can’t capitalize on chances, falls to Alabama in OT
STARKVILLE — Ben Howland has seen the Mississippi State men’s basketball team come close numerous times this season.
The Bulldogs have found ways to be competitive down the stretch in nearly all of their games in the Southeastern Conference, but they have managed only a home victory against Ole Miss.
On Tuesday night, MSU squandered a seven-point lead with a little more than five minutes remaining and went on to lose to Alabama 82-80 in overtime at Humphrey Coliseum.
Robson ready to emerge as bigger leader as senior
STARKVILLE — Jacob Robson doesn’t take being a leader lightly.
The Mississippi State junior center fielder has seen leaders come and go in his first three years with the program and knows how important they are to the success of the team. He said he always thought of himself as a leader, and that was reaffirmed by his teammates when they voted him one of three captains for this season.
Deputies searching for two suspects in Sunday double homicide
June 29, 2025
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