Articles by Ben Wait
MSU names Cannizaro new baseball coach
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State Director of Athletics John Cohen named LSU assistant coach Andy Cannizaro the new MSU baseball coach Saturday morning.
MSU names Cohen new athletic director
STARKVILLE — John Cohen was introduced as Mississippi State University’s 17th director of athletics Friday afternoon.
Cohen, who served as MSU’s baseball coach for the last eight seasons, replaces Scott Stricklin, who took the same job at Florida last month.
“I love Mississippi State University,” Cohen said. “I’m here to serve our coaches, all of our sports, all of our student-athletes, and all of our student body.”
Cohen expected to be named MSU AD today
Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen will be named the new director of athletics today, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Starkville Academy’s Roach signs with Northeast Mississippi C.C.
STARKVILLE — Carter Roach always has made time for baseball.
The Starkville Academy middle infielder also plays football and basketball, but baseball is always on his mind. Even after a long basketball practice, he finds time to work on his baseball game. Being bruised and battered from football doesn’t affect the time he puts in on the diamond.
Texas A&M kicks off tough stretch for MSU
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team will have its toughest test of the season as it kicks off the month of November.
In the first of four-straight games against Southeastern Conference Western Division teams., MSU (3-5, 1-3 SEC) will play host to No. 7 Texas A&M (7-1, 4-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday (SEC Network) at Davis Wade Stadium.
Peters adjusting to role as point guard for Bulldogs
STARKVILLE — Lamar Peters was known as a scorer in high school.
Playing for the Landry-Walker (La.) High School boys basketball team, Peters averaged 26 points as a senior. He made 10 3-pointers in a 67-61 win against University High in the AllState Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic and 10 3-pointers against Chalmette High.
Howland, MSU look to have better chemistry
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland experienced chemistry problems early last season.
The signing of five-star Callaway High School guard Malik Newman in May completed Howland’s first recruiting class at MSU. The buzz when Newman arrived suggested he would come in and take the team over, have a successful freshman season, and leave school early to go to the NBA.
Fitzgerald showing toughness at QB for MSU
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen looks for physical and mental toughness when he recruits a quarterback.
Dak Prescott demonstrated that as a willing runner and a player who stayed late at the football office to watch film and to hone his craft.
Prescott went on to break 38 MSU records and is now leading the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. After a battle that included the spring and all of training camp, Mullen selected sophomore Nick Fitzgerald to replace Prescott.
Starkville will try to contain Akers, Clinton
STARKVILLE — Starkville High School defensive coordinator Chuck Friend hasn’t changed anything this week.
The former Yellow Jacket head coach believes in relying on past practice tactics, so he is sticking with the game plan he has used all season.
Friend hopes that strategy will work at 7 p.m. Friday when Starkville (7-3) faces Cam Akers and No. 2 Clinton (9-1) in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 2 game.
Gay Jr. wants to do more for Starkville
STARKVILLE — Willie Gay Jr. didn’t brag.
The Starkville High School football linebacker didn’t take to Twitter or other social media sites to tell others about his most recent performance. In fact, Gay didn’t think much about it.
After moving to quarterback Monday, Gay rushed for 319 yards rushing on 40 carries and scored five touchdowns in a 35-28 victory against No. 2 Warren Central on Friday night in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 2 game.
Mullen: MSU has plenty to clean up after victory
STARKVILLE — Cleaning up some defensive mistakes will be a top priority this week for Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen.
MSU allowed a season-high 627 yards of offense to Samford in a 56-41 victory on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.
Bulldogs feeling good after beating Samford
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen had a smile on his face.
MSU’s offense comes alive to help snap losing skid
STARKVILLE — Donald Gray had to do a double take.
The Mississippi State junior wide receiver tilted his head and looked on in shock when he learned the MSU football team set a school record for yards in a game Saturday. Gray couldn’t believe his team gained 669 yards, or that MSU and Samford combined for 1,296.
Turns out MSU needed almost every yard to come away with a 56-41 victory against Samford on Homecoming at Davis Wade Stadium.
Gray’s big night sparks Heritage Academy
Fans rose to their feet as Dontae Gray walked off the field.
Gray had just scored a 46-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter and the fans of the Heritage Academy football team gave him a standing ovation as he walked slowly back to his sideline.
Gray finally acknowledged them as he reached his teammates.
MSU’s Ross sets records in offensive showcase
STARKVILLE — After breaking a record last week, Mississippi State wide receiver Fred Ross did so again.
In a 56-41 win against Samford on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium, Ross had nine catches for 107 yards to record his ninth 100-yard receiving game, the most in school history.
MSU defense finds it hard to stop Samford
STARKVILLE — Although excited to get a win, Mississippi State linebacker DeAndre Ward wasn’t as happy as he could be.
Playing a Football Championship Series team is supposed to be easy for most Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Most FCS schools don’t have the talent to compete with FBS schools, especially ones in the Southeastern Conference.
But that wasn’t the case for Ward and the Bulldogs. MSU’s defense was gashed for 627 yards and needed a late stand to hold off Samford 56-41 Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.
MSU track and field athlete Taylor arrested on burglary charges
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State track and field athlete Zachary Taylor was arrested on multiple counts of burglary Tuesday, according to an Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office press release.
MSU will try to end skid against Samford
STARKVILLE — After back-to-back road games, the Mississippi State football team will play host to Samford at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network) at Davis Wade Stadium.
MSU (2-5) opened the 2016 schedule with home games against South Alabama and South Carolina. It also has played host to Auburn. MSU lost to BYU 28-21 in double overtime on Oct. 14 in Provo, Utah. Last week, Austin MacGinnis’ 51-yard field goal as time expired gave Kentucky a 40-38 victory.
Starkville faces two must-win games
STARKVILLE — The playoffs have started for Starkville High School football coach Ricky Woods.
Even though the postseason doesn’t officially begin until Nov. 11, Woods’ Yellow Jackets are in must-win territory with two games remaining. Starkville (6-3, 3-2 Class 6A, Region 2) will try to take the first step at 7 tonight when it plays host to No. 2 Warren Central (8-1, 4-1) at Yellow Jacket Stadium.
Starkville will travel to No. 4 Clinton next week in its regular-season finale.
