Articles by Ben Wait
Ross has grown up at MSU
STARKVILLE — Fred Ross remembers being in shock when he arrived on the Mississippi State campus in 2013.
As a freshman wide receiver for the MSU football team, he remembers not knowing where to go for workouts and not knowing where any of his classes were.
NCAA rules Ado won’t play for MSU this season
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball freshman Abdul Ado won’t play this season due to a discrepancy in his transcript from Nigeria, MSU coach Ben Howland announced Tuesday.
MSU needs two to go bowling
STARKVILLE — Nickoe Whitley played a big part helping the Mississippi State football team become bowl eligible in 2013.
With the Bulldogs needing to win their final two regular-season games to become bowl eligible, the safety forced a fumble at the MSU 9-yard line in the fourth quarter to deny Arkansas a touchdown and force the game to overtime. After Damian Williams scored a 25-yard touchdown in overtime, Whitley intercepted a Brandon Allen pass to seal the win.
Ross breaks another receiving record
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It has been a season full of record-breaking moments for Fred Ross.
The Mississippi State wide receiver has seen records fall to the wayside after returning to school for his senior year.
On Saturday, Ross broke Chad Bumphis’ record for career yards in a 51-3 loss to No. 1 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Alabama’s defense shuts MSU down
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Offensive juggernaut.
That’s what the Mississippi State football offense was the last two weeks in wins against Samford and Texas A&M. The Bulldogs totaled 1,243 yards (626 passing, 617 rushing) and scored 91 points.
But MSU football coach Dan Mullen knew his team was going to face a different challenge against the Southeastern Conference’s top defense in the Southeastern Conference.
No. 1 Alabama dominates MSU
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Mississippi State football team has set its sights on back-to-back
upsets.
MSU needs to win its final two games to become eligible for a school-record seventh-consecutive bowl appearance after a 51-3 loss to No. 1 Alabama on Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Late TD pass helps Noxubee County survive
MACON — Tyrone Shorter didn’t lack confidence.
Despite his offense’s struggles moving the ball, the Noxubee County High School football coach felt that unit was going to correct its mistakes in time to pull out a win.
Five Keys for MSU to beat Alabama
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen has never beaten Alabama.
The Bulldogs are 0-7 against the Crimson Tide under Mullen. Alabama has outscored MSU 199-60 in those games, and has won by an average of 19.9 points.
Mullen will try to get his first win in the series at 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPN) when MSU (4-5, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) plays No. 1 Alabama (9-0, 6-0) at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Ready hopes to play in MSU’s opener
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland laughed when asked about I.J. Ready’s health.
The last three months haven’t been kind to Ready. Mononucleosis hindered Ready from playing in August on a trip to Italy, while acid reflux has brought on nausea and kept him from practicing. Howland said last week Ready had an endoscopy that discovered a hiatal hernia that was causing the acid reflux. Howland said Wednesday the endoscopy also showed bacteria in Ready’s stomach. He said doctors are treating the bacteria with antibiotics.
MSU will try to contain Alabama’s Hurts
STARKVILLE — Showing poise as a freshman quarterback is rare, especially in the Southeastern Conference.
After all, first-year players have to learn an offense while they adjust to the change in the speed of the game from high school to college.
Dominating defenses with intimidating defensive linemen and linebackers don’t make that transition any easier.
But Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts is showing poise beyond his years in his first season.
Howland adds another top-20 recruiting class
STARKVILLE — As Quinndary Weatherspoon approached the media, he asked, “What are y’all going to ask me about?”
A reporter responded, “Your brother.” Weatherspoon smiled and answered, “I don’t want to talk about him.”
Weatherspoon knew questions about Nick, his younger brother, were going to come Wednesday because Nick, Auburn (Ala.) High School forward Garrison Brooks, and Lawrence County High School forward KeyShawn Feazell signed with the Mississippi State men’s basketball team.
The class is ranked 16th in the country by 247Sports. MSU men’s basketball coach Ben Howland landed the ninth-best recruiting class for 2016.
MSU welcomes Cannizaro
STARKVILLE — Whirlwind.
That is how Andy Cannizaro described going from an assistant coach for the LSU baseball team to becoming a head coach for the first time Saturday.
On Monday, Cannizaro earned the opportunity to perform his first official function in that capacity as Mississippi State’s new baseball coach.
Fitzgerald, Williams lead MSU to upset of No. 7 Texas A&M
STARKVILLE — If Aeris Williams was tired, he wasn’t about to show it.
Leading No. 7 Texas A&M by seven points, the Mississippi State football team took over on offense with 10 minutes, 34 seconds remaining. Williams, who already had received the most carries of his career, was called on four more times in the drive. The former West Point High School standout didn’t disappoint, rushing for 19 yards and catching a pass for 8 yards to set MSU up at the 4-yard line.
Mullen, Johnson split play-calling duties
STARKVILLE — Brian Johnson has experience calling plays.
The Mississippi State quarterbacks coach served as the offensive coordinator at Utah, his alma mater, in 2012 and as a co-offensive coordinator in 2013.
Cannizaro will be MSU’s new baseball coach
STARKVILLE — John Cohen didn’t waste any time.
A day after being hired as Mississippi State’s 17th director of athletics, Cohen found someone to take his place as the school’s baseball coach.
On Saturday morning, Cohen announced the hiring of LSU assistant Andy Cannizaro as MSU baseball coach. The details of Cannizaro’s contract weren’t released. He will be introduced at 3 p.m. Monday at Bryce Griffis Boardroom.
McMahon, Parks believe Cohen has what it takes to be AD
John Cohen made an impression on Pat McMahon.
As a member of the Mississippi State baseball team from 1987-90, Cohen wasn’t the biggest or the best player on the field.
That didn’t matter to McMahon, who worked as an assistant coach for Ron Polk at MSU. McMahon remembers Cohen as an intense, hard-working player who took practice and games seriously. Cohen’s approach to the game convinced McMahon to hire him as his hitting coach when he took over as the head baseball coach at Florida.
Noxubee County takes first step on road to another title
MACON — While talking to his team Monday at practice, Noxubee County High School football coach Tyrone Shorter brought up South Panola.
With 11 state championships, South Panola is considered one of the best high school football programs in the state of Mississippi.
But South Panola didn’t win a title last year.
Cohen officially introduced as new MSU AD
John Cohen had a conversation with former Mississippi State Athletic Director Scott Stricklin 26 years ago.
