Notebook: Block rules see expansion for upcoming college season

ATLANTA — The spread option run systems that have taken over college football in the last decade have come to love the cut block, as the play doesn’t demand much time and the cut block can accomplish that.

Slive influence weighs heavily over successful SEC

ATLANTA — Greg Sankey was about 13 months into his tenure as the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference in the summer of 2016 when he and his predecessor, Mike Slive, met at a Starbucks in Birmingham.

Media Days Notebook: Texas A&M works on mental mind-set under Fisher

ATLANTA — Erik McCoy knew to expect different as the Texas A&M football program changed coaching hands from Kevin Sumlin to Jimbo Fisher, but what exactly to expect eluded him.

Pair of MSU signees headed to junior college

A loaded signing class for Mississippi State’s wide receiving corps will be a little lighter than hoped.

MSU Athletics making decisions with every dollar in mind

STARKVILLE — As a member of the Southeastern Conference, Mississippi State is in an elite class, but it doesn’t act like it.

In a study of 2016-17 college athletics finances, USA Today recently revealed MSU is one of 31 schools with an athletic department that has more than $100 million in revenue. It the first time in school history MSU has reached that benchmark.

Prescott still a hit at MSU

STARKVILLE — Kason Woods’ eighth birthday doesn’t come until October, but he might have received the best part of his present Saturday.

MSU expected to face different projections at SEC Media Days

STARKVILLE — This should be the year the Mississippi State football team’s mountain to climb looks like a bunny hill.

Recently, Southeastern Conference Media Days has brought with it an annual tradition of MSU being projected to finish near the bottom of the SEC Western Division, only to see the Bulldogs outperform those predictions. With eight returning starters on offense and seven more on defense, those projections likely will change for MSU in 2018.

Cohen believes in MSU basketball programs

STARKVILLE — In John Cohen’s days as Mississippi State’s baseball coach, he used to enjoy running in the concourses of Humphrey Coliseum.

More projects to come for MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s revenue generating sports have received their due.

The Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex opened in 2013. New coach Joe Moorhead’s team also is about to enjoy a renovated locker room at Davis Wade Stadium.

Cohen pleased with work at Dudy Noble Field

STARKVILLE — The transition from baseball coach to athletic director hasn’t weakened John Cohen’s relationship with baseball.

Through the spring, Cohen and his wife, Nelle, often would take in games from the upper deck, which was closed to the public due to continuing construction, so they could have some privacy. From that vantage point, Cohen had the best view of his favorite part of the new Dudy Noble Field: the Left Field Lounge.

Cohen has MSU football set through 2029

STARKVILLE — The job of a Southeastern Conference athletic director became more difficult in April 2014, when then-SEC Commissioner Mike Slive decided each member school had to play one non-conference game per season against a Power 5 conference opponent.

MSU’s Fitzgerald will be one of six QBs at SEC Media Days

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald and Ole Miss’ Jordan Ta’amu will be two of six quarterbacks to represent their schools next week at SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Hester thrilled Ginn picks MSU

STARKVILLE — Brandon High School baseball coach Stacy Hester learned a lot about J.T. Ginn in the last six years.

As Ginn matured, it became readily apparent to Hester that Ginn was destined for a lengthy professional career and a stop in Major League Baseball.

Ginn picks MSU over Dodgers

Chris Lemonis’ first big win as Mississippi State’s baseball coach is one over the Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft.

Travis Outlaw enjoys giving back to community

STARKVILLE — For three days, Travis Outlaw walked into a building bearing his name and did his best to justify that honor.

Cohen relies on experience to hire best man to lead MSU baseball program

STARKVILLE — John Cohen loves being Mississippi State’s director of athletics.

Cohen also knows the job is very different from being MSU’s baseball coach, and he’s not too proud to admit that.

Cohen acknowledged that fact as he talked to as many prominent names in college football as he could and as he recapped a search that ended with the hiring of Joe Moorhead as MSU’s new football coach.

Lemonis won’t be afraid to talk about winning national championships

STARKVILLE — Chris Lemonis was one of many outsiders captivated by the Mississippi State baseball team and its run to the College World Series.

Henderson helped keep MSU together

STARKVILLE — Tanner Poole didn’t know what was going to happen.

The Mississippi State senior sat hunched in a padded folding chair after a 5-2 loss to Oregon State on Saturday in the College World Series. Poole wasn’t sure if Gary Henderson would get an opportunity, but he hoped Henderson would be named MSU’s next head baseball coach.

MSU welcomes Lemonis as its new baseball coach

STARKVILLE — The Louisville baseball team was cruising.

After sweeping a NCAA tournament Regional and a Super Regional at home, the Cardinals lost their first two games at the College World Series and saw their 2014 season end too soon.

Fond memories of MSU will follow Pilkington

OMAHA, Neb. — It wasn’t the season many anticipated from Konnor Pilkington, but as the left-handed pitcher looks back on his Mississippi State baseball career, the 2018 campaign will be his most prominent memory.