Articles by Danny P Smith
Yazoo County’s Eulls more than just a player
Kaleb Eulls became a hero in his hometown last year.
Mississippi State could be ready to give Eulls a hero’s welcome in three weeks.
Carousel moving forward for coaches, sports writers
Sometimes the coaching carousel in college football can spin out of control.
In just one week, the University of Tennessee lost head coach Lane Kiffin, was turned down twice, and hired Derek Dooley.
The Volunteers found an abrupt change can make for a very uncomfortable situation.
MSU looks into incident involving recruits
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State athletic officials are investigating an alleged incident involving football recruits during the first official weekend of visits.
It has been reported that a small number of recruits may have visited an adult establishment in Clay County.
MSU football team spokesman Joe Galbraith released a statement Tuesday afternoon concerning the incident.
Virges seeks success at Mississippi State
West Point High School’s Curtis Virges can fill a lane on the basketball court.
At 6-foot-3, 275 pounds, Virges can be a pretty imposing figure to drive to the basket against.
Although he enjoys giving what he can to the West Point basketball team, Virges has more than just hoops on his mind.
Virges can’t wait for Feb. 3, when he can officially sign a football scholarship with Mississippi State.
Favre believes he’ll be in mix at MSU
Having the last name of Favre carries a great deal of weight in the football world.
It’s a unique name that became very well known when Brett Favre, a quarterback from Kiln in south Mississippi, emerged as a Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner for the Green Bay Packers.
Brett’s career continued Sunday as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, who beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-3 to earn a spot in the National Football Conference championship game.
Another quarterback in south Mississippi with the last name of Favre is looking to make name for himself.
MSU’s Varnado honored by the SEC
The Mississippi State men’s basketball team received two pieces of good news Monday.
After bolting to a 3-0 start in Southeastern Conference play to lead the Western Division and winning 12 of its last 13 games, MSU is back in the Associated Press Top 25 at No. 23.
Senior center Jarvis Varnado also was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week
Mullen gets thumbs up for in-state recruiting
Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen has stressed the importance of in-state recruiting ever since he took the job more than one year ago.
Two recruiting experts have given Mullen and the Bulldogs a thumbs up in that regard.
Yancy Porter of Scout.com and Barton Simmons of Rivals.com agree that MSU has the upper hand in the state when it comes to getting Mississippi talent.
Departure of coaches doesn’t concern MSU recruits
Mississippi State’s football program hasn’t noticed any major recruiting backlash with the departures of defensive coordinator Carl Torbush and defensive line coach David Turner in the offseason.
Torbush left MSU in December to join Turner Gill’s coaching staff as defensive coordinator at Kansas, while Turner went to the Kentucky to coach the defensive line for Joker Phillips.
MSU head coach Dan Mullen announced Saturday that he’s filling the vacancies with former Middle Tennessee State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and Oklahoma defensive line coach Chris Wilson.
Pichardo helps Starkville soccer team atone for loss
STARKVILLE — Starkville High School’s Alvaro Pichardo couldn’t wait to get back onto the soccer field after losing to Tupelo High last week.
Starkville’s 3-1 loss to the Golden Wave in a Class 6A, Division 2 match left a bad taste in Pichardo’s mouth.
On Friday night, Pichardo took out his frustration on Columbus High School’s boys soccer team.
Pichardo scored the first and the last goal for the Yellow Jackets and had three total in a 7-1 victory.
Tate set to make his debut at MSU
STARKVILLE — It’s time for former Starkville High School sprinter Tavaris Tate to make his track debut at Mississippi State.
When the Bulldogs begin the indoor season at the Kentucky Invitational this weekend, the collegiate wait will be over for Tate.
Tate expects to participate in the 400 meters when he takes the track Saturday in Lexington, Ky.
Calapari declares SEC on the way back
The positive effect the University of Tennessee’s upset of top-ranked Kansas on Sunday had on the Southeastern Conference was obvious.
As University of Kentucky coach John Calipari observed the events of the first SEC weekend unfold, he has no doubt the league is on the way back.
Calipari spent his entire opening statement Monday on the SEC teleconference praising the Volunteers for their 76-68 victory against Kansas and spoke about the impact it has had in the conference.
MSU’s Bost will face challenge vs. Arkansas
A point guard can be a valuable piece to the puzzle for any basketball team.
But when the starter isn’t there or not performing well, it can be disruptive on both ends of the court.
Mullen looking for defensive coaches
STARKVILLE — It has been four weeks since Carl Torbush left as Mississippi State defensive coordinator to take the same position on Turner Gill’s staff at Kansas University and coach Dan Mullen of the Bulldogs has been busy looking a replacement.
Richardson in right place at right time for Columbus
STARKVILLE — Columbus High School girls basketball coach Yvonne Hairston wasn’t surprised to see a senior pull down the game-securing rebound.
When Jessica Richardson came down with the rebound as the final buzzer sounded to give the Lady Falcons a 72-71 victory against Starkville High School, Hairston was happy to see the turn of events.
Hairston has come to expect Richardson to be in the right place at the right time.
Kennedy trying to find balance in Ole Miss’ backcourt
It’s a good problem to have for Ole Miss basketball coach Andy Kennedy.
Or is it?
There are so many guards available for Kennedy this season that he’s had a hard time singling out three to four he can put on the court at one time.
After Chris Warren, Eniel Polynice and Trevor Gaskins went down with knee injuries last season, it left Kennedy scrambling to find a productive guard to help emerging freshman Terrico White.
Defense key to Alabama’s style of play
Coach Anthony Grant knows defense is a key to the style of basketball he wants to play at Alabama.
That’s how the Crimson Tide opened the Southeastern Conference schedule with a 66-49 victory against LSU this past Saturday.
With Alabama struggling to shoot the basketball, Grant said “our defense carried us.”
The Crimson Tide shot only 45 percent (27 of 60) from the field, including 21 percent (3 of 14) from 3-point range.
Richarson in right place at right time for Columbus
STARKVILLE — Columbus High School girls basketball coach Yvonne Hairston wasn’t surprised to see a senior pull down the game-securing rebound.
When Jessica Richardson came down with the rebound as the final buzzer sounded to give the Lady Falcons a 72-71 victory against Starkville High School, Hairston was happy to see the turn of events.
Hairston has come to expect Richardson to be in the right place at the right time.
MSU men focused on Arkansas
STARKVILLE — Everyone connected with the Mississippi State basketball team pretty much agreed Monday afternoon that they can’t worry about the University of Georgia until they deal with the University of Arkansas.
Turner leaving Mullen’s staff for Kentucky
Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen now has two vacancies to fill on his defensive staff.
Bost grows up in MSU win
OXFORD — It was a day when a sophomore point guard grew up.
After Dee Bost only had 13 points and five assists for Mississippi State in a 55-52 loss at Western Kentucky this past Monday, coach Rick Stansbury had a heart-to-heart talk with him.
Stansbury knew his sophomore point guard was capable of having a better game.
On Saturday against Ole Miss, Bost did just that.
Bost responded in Mississippi State’s first Southeastern Conference game of the season and out-played Ole Miss junior point guard Chris Warren to lead the Bulldogs to an 80-75 victory in front of 9,360 at Tad Smith Coliseum.