Starkville’s Armstead changes attitude to become better player

STARKVILLE — No one can convince Starkville High School senior linebacker Craig Armstead the offseason doesn’t make a difference.

It wasn’t always that way.

Starkville High’s coaches pushed Armstead to get better, but he wasn’t always open to their suggestions.

Frustrated he wasn’t getting the playing time he wanted, Armstead decided to do something about it. He dedicated himself to football in January and he has become the strong arm of the Starkville High defense.

Availability of MSU’s Relf remains uncertain for Middle Tennessee game

STARKVILLE — The football programs at Mississippi State and Middle Tennessee State have had their share of adversity.

MSU coach Dan Mullen suspended sophomore quarterback Chris Relf for last Saturday’s game against Houston due to an unspecified violation of team policy.

As of Thursday, Relf’s availability for the teams’ game at 11:30 a.m. Saturday (ESPNU) in Murfreesboro, Tenn., remained uncertain.

MSU’s Stansbury eager to get practice started

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury will return to his comfort zone Friday.

Stansbury, who will begin his 12th season with the Bulldogs, has the most fun when the players and coaches get together for the start of practice.

MTSU eager to face SEC foe

Middle Tennessee State coach Rick Stockstill likes what his team has accomplished.

Although Stockstill was disappointed MTSU didn’t play better in a 31-7 loss at Troy on Oct. 6, he likes to brag about the Blue Raiders’ 3-2 record.

MSU sophomore tight end Marcus Green shows his potential

STARKVILLE — Jamie Jones knows how difficult a matchup sophomore tight end Marcus Green can be for opposing teams.

As a sophomore linebacker at Mississippi State, it’s often Jones’ responsibility in practice to keep an eye on what Green is doing.

Green’s ability to block and go out for a pass keeps Jones and the rest of the Bulldogs on their toes.

Greenan excited to be new women’s tennis coach at MSU

STARKVILLE — Radka Ferancova was happy to learn that Mississippi State was bringing women’s tennis coach Daryl Greenan back to the Golden Triangle.

Ferancova believes Greenan has the experience necessary to lead the Lady Bulldogs in the Southeastern Conference and looks forward to playing for him as a senior.

Greenan, who got his first head coaching job at the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, was an assistant at the University of Alabama for three years (2002-04).

Mullen won’t rush MSU’s freshmen

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen isn’t going to play a freshman until he’s ready.

Bulldogs like safety Johnthan Banks, of East Webster High School in Maben, and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox have been good enough to play, and in Banks’ case, start this season.

Quarterback Tyler Russell isn’t ready.

Stansbury to get extension

STARKVILLE — It appears Mississippi State Athletic Director Greg Byrne will get what he wanted this week for men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury.

MSU’s Mullen regrets not challenging penalty

STARKVILLE — Upon further review, Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen admits he made a mistake.

After looking at the film of MSU’s 31-24 loss to Houston on Saturday, Mullen wishes he would have challenged a penalty involving senior quarterback Tyson Lee of Columbus.

Lee was called for an illegal forward pass after officials believed he crossed the line of scrimmage in the third quarter.

The play came on fourth down at a pivotal part of the game as the Bulldogs led 17-14.

Growing pains continue for MSU

STARKVILLE — Quarterback Tyson Lee, tailback Anthony Dixon, and linebacker Jamar Chaney don’t have time for growing pains.

At this point of the football season, the Mississippi State seniors don’t have a choice.

Freshman Banks gets first start for MSU

STARKVILLE — Johnthan Banks doesn’t just want to be a boy among men.

The Mississippi State freshman safety from East Webster High School in Maben wants his play to continue to earn respect from his coaches and teammates.

Starkville High’s Perkins commits to So. Miss

STARKVILLE — Rashad Perkins has worked on every part of his game in the offseason to become a better basketball player for Starkville High School.

He hopes those improvements also will help him at the next level.

On Thursday, Perkins gave a verbal commitment to play basketball at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Starkville Academy shows fight against MRA

STARKVILLE — Kyle Henson had to make a decision at halftime.

Trailing 34-0 to Madison-Ridgeland Academy at the intermission, the Starkville Academy junior quarterback and his teammates had to find a source of motivation.

Rogers goes the extra mile for Starkville football team

STARKVILLE — Justin Rogers never knows where he might line up.

Whether at defensive back on defense, or at wide receiver, running back or quarterback on offense, the Starkville High School senior is ready to contribute.

With a roster of only 58 players, Rogers knows he has to go the extra mile for the Yellow Jackets.

Brooks emotional to see Caledonia volleyball team’s season end

CALEDONIA — Caledonia High School volleyball coach Samantha Brooks came to the school three years ago and got attached to a group of sophomores.

When the Lady Confederates saw their season come to an end Thursday night in the second round of the Mississippi High School Association Class I State tournament, Brooks had a right to be a little emotional.

Brooks hated to see the careers of seniors Shaina Cruse, Kori Hankins, Stephanie Hopper, Whitney Pounders, Sunnie Rushing, and Kara Von Kanel end in a 3-1 loss to Lafayette, but Brooks was proud they went out after a run deep into the playoffs.

MSU’s Cooper has chip on shoulder for Houston game

STARKVILLE –– Brandon Cooper can’t help but think back to his high school days when he visited Mississippi State strength coach Matt Balis.

While at Fort Bend Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas, Cooper participated at the University of Houston combine and bench pressed 275 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds.

Cooper, a junior defensive lineman at MSU, is anxious to show the University of Houston what it missed by not seriously recruiting him when the teams meet at 11:30 a.m. Saturday (ESPNU).

Keenum directs Houston’s passing attack

It’s not the passing attempts, pass completions, yards, or touchdowns passes that mean the most to University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum.

When the game is over, the only numbers that concern Keenum are the ones on the scoreboard.

Mississippi State’s Dixon overcome adversity

STARKVILLE — Anthony Dixon is about to become Mississippi State’s all-time leading rusher.

The journey to that top spot has been bumpy.

In the offseason, the senior tailback was arrested for DUI. He fulfilled unspecified punishment from the team and served a one-game suspension in the season opener against Jackson State.

Now, Dixon has to bounce back from a game where he fumbled twice in a 42-31 loss to Georgia Tech.

Mullen wants offense to find rhythm early

STARKVILLE — The rhythm of the Famous Maroon Band’s drum section doesn’t catch the attention of Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen most on game day.

When Mullen talks about rhythm he’s referring to the offense, especially early in games.

MSU lineman Smith sees first game of career

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