Notebook: Bulldogs record perfect attendance to open practice

STARKVILLE — Everyone was accounted for as Mississippi State opened preseason football practice. No absences to be explained later, no injuries, all eligibility issues resolved.

Luke, Ole Miss football team focused on 2018 season

OXFORD — For the first time in years, the Ole Miss football team begins preseason practice with nothing hanging over it.

The NCAA’s five-year investigation resulted in a postseason ban for 2018, four years probation, a financial penalty of $179,000, and a scholarship reduction of 13 over a period of years.

Davis, Ole Miss preparing for trip to Canada

OXFORD — The timing couldn’t be better.

Kermit Davis still has a lot to learn about the Ole Miss men’s basketball program he inherited in March when he replaced Andy Kennedy as coach.

Starkville High’s Brown will move from QB to WR

STARKVILLE — Chris Jones’ question to Malik Brown was simple: “What do you want to do?”

After leading the Starkville High School football team to the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A State championship game last season, Brown knew the Yellow Jackets had the potential to return to the title matchup in 2018. He also knew Starkville High had another option — Luke Altmyer — who could step in if Brown wanted to play another position.

MSU’s Price working hard to regain premier form

STARKVILLE — Spencer Price was, once again, doing his own thing in Starkville. His teammates on the Mississippi State baseball team were taking on a day they’ve been anticipating for months: postseason baseball, as they were in Hoover, Alabama, for the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Freshmen making impact with MSU men’s basketball team

STARKVILLE — These freshmen got to watch the Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s run to the edge of the NCAA tournament with a certain level of emotional attachment, having already committed to the program. Now that they’re in the program, they want to be the ones to take it over the edge.

Lemonis welcomes former rival Foxhall to staff

STARKVILLE — Chris Lemonis and Scott Foxhall were crosstown rivals for 11 years.

MSU talking with Stewart about coming to Starkville

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball program has benefited from the improbable once. In the coming days, it could happen again.

MSU picked third in SEC West

For the first time in three years, the Mississippi State football team wasn’t picked to finish in the bottom two of the Southeastern Conference Western Division.

Former players praise MSU’s hiring of Foxhall

STARKVILLE — When Ty Kelley’s baseball career finally ended in the independent leagues in 2015, he went on to sell medical equipment for Stryker.

Howland’s Bulldogs find culture, continuity

STARKVILLE — Ben Howland thinks his Mississippi State men’s basketball program found what it has been missing in the final month of his third season.

Malzahn confident about Auburn’s chances in 2018

ATLANTA — Gus Malzahn knows success.

In three years as offensive coordinator for the Auburn football team, Malzahn was part of a national championship. In five years as the Tigers’ head coach, he has led the program to a national championship game and is 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.

Muschamp disagrees football is ‘under attack’

ATLANTA — North Carolina football coach Larry Fedora became a topic of discussion Thursday at Southeastern Conference Media Days.

Saban faces plenty of questions about QBs

ATLANTA — Nick Saban saw this coming.

After an offseason of debate by nearly everyone outside his program, Alabama’s football coach knew people were going to ask Wednesday if he had decided between Jalen Hurts or Tua Tagovailoa as Alabama’s starting quarterback.

Lemonis hires Foxhall to complete MSU staff

Chris Lemonis’ first coaching staff as Mississippi State’s baseball coach is complete.

Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball.com reported and a source confirmed to The Dispatch that MSU has hired North Carolina State pitching coach Scott Foxhall to the same position on Lemonis’ staff. He will join Jake Gautreau as the other assistant coach and Kyle Cheesebrough as the volunteer assistant and coordinator of camps.

Fitzgerald tweaks throwing mechanics

ATLANTA — In two seasons as the Mississippi State football team’s starting quarterback, Nick Fitzgerald has never had a season completion percentage greater than 56 percent.

No mohawk, blond tips for Fitzgerald at SEC Media Days

ATLANTA — Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald made a pact with his friends on the MSU baseball team, relief pitcher Riley Self in particular.

Mississippi State hires new pitching coach

Chris Lemonis’ first coaching staff as Mississippi State’s baseball coach is now complete.

Ta’amu makes most of starting opportunity at Ole Miss

ATLANTA — It’s one thing to be the hot newcomer, the one with all eyes on him thus a right to the attention based on the timing. It’s another to command a group from the beginning to end with no outside boost to help one keep that command.

Mullen embraces challenges of dream job at Florida

ATLANTA — Over nine seasons with a 69-46 record at Mississippi State, Dan Mullen’s suitors were frequent and consistent. He received calls from other programs with bigger stadiums, bigger athletic budgets, bigger aspirations. As Mullen remembers it, this became something his wife Megan grew accustomed to.