Limited access to MSU players helps to focus

STARKVILLE — Transitioning into game-week, Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen has decided to give his players more time to focus on Saturday’s season opener against Memphis.

That decision meant less time for media interviews for some, and none for the majority of the Bulldogs, who kick off the season Saturday against Memphis.

Relf’s finger “injury” raises concerns

STARKVILLE — Shrouded in mystery Monday at Mississippi State football press conference was quarterback Chris Relf, who wasn’t present but was the hot topic ahead of the team’s season opener against the University of Memphis at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU) at Davis Wade Stadium.

East Webster scores at will to beat West Oktibbeha

MABEN — For a quarter, the contrasting styles of the East Webster and West Oktibbeha high school football teams had quite the shootout brewing. 

Then, the Wolverines started scoring at will and limited the Timberwolves’ aerial attack to horizontal passes in a 55-27 victory.

East Webster quarterback Ledrick Patterson answered West Oktibbeha’s Von Smith’s two first-quarter touchdown passes with a pair of touchdown runs. 

Starkville Academy continues scoring trend against Heritage

The Starkville Academy girls soccer team’s goal-scoring trend continued Saturday with an 8-0 win against Heritage Academy. 

Coming off a 7-5 loss to Madison-Ridgeland Academy, the Lady Volunteers went ahead 3-0 in the first 13 minutes through leading scorers Sallie Kate Richardson, Payton Allen, and Tiffany Huddleston. 

Richardson scored in each half, and Huddleston and Allen each had hat tricks to help push Starkville Academy to 3-4 and 2-1 in conference play. 

Starkville, Louisville battle for first win

Jamie Mitchell figuratively relates his job to pulling teeth when four years have passed and it’s time for a new project.

Because for all the work that goes into tactically rebuilding a struggling football team, just as much effort is  rightfully devoted to changing habits, attitudes and work routine.

Starkville High School’s head football coach has enjoyed a successful run of rebuilding programs into division-winning teams, but for the hours, days and months spent “getting people to buy in” there’s a significant amount of stress levied on the boss.

Starkville Academy Volunteers’ confidence strengthened

STARKVILLE — Belief is an armor and Starkville Academy’s painful loss to Ackerman has only strengthened the Volunteers’ assurance they’re a better team.

Losing to the Indians on a fourth-down play was heartbreaking as was losing in overtime to a team that ran roughshod over the Volunteers on their home field the previous season.

But there’s no substitute for matching another team’s intensity on the road in the first game of the season. For Starkville Academy coach Jeff Terrill that is exactly what he needed to see in his debut last week.

Brignone reveals changes on ‘O’ line

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen isn’t releasing any details about his depth chart as his team gets closer to its season opener against the University of Memphis at 6 p.m. Sept. 4 (ESPNU).

But there was one post-practice nugget Wednesday that shed some light into the team’s most experienced group.

Busy Brooks ready for first rivalry game

CRAWFORD — Forgive East Oktibbeha County High School football coach Randy Brooks if he’s still trying to catch up in Week 2 of the season.

Officially, he has been on the job for only three weeks and he’s calling plays on both sides of the ball.

Kite hopes move to center forward adds scoring punch

STARKVILLE — Danielle Kite has played just about everywhere in her Mississippi State career.

As a senior, Kite will be the centerpiece in the Bulldogs’ attack.

Wofford leads Starkville Academy volleyball team to win

STARKVILLE — The first words Jessica Dickens delivered in her post-game interview were said with a sense of relief.

“How about that hitting from Bailey Wofford?” the Starkville Academy head coach asked.

Indeed, her most experienced player enjoyed an all-star caliber day against opening-day spoiler Hebron Christian, putting the team a game above .500 following two wins on the bounce.  

Noxubee scores late each half to beat Starkville

STARKVILLE — The ability to finish a game is a trait learned through time.

On Friday, the Starkville High School football team gave up two scores to Noxubee County in the final minute of each half in a disappointing 14-7 loss to open the 2010 season.

And when the Jackets had their chance late in the fourth quarter, their efforts turned south with back-to-back busted plays that squandered a first down at the Noxubee County 26.

Mullen vague about details of scrimmage

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen is playing some details close to the vest.

Following Friday’s closed scrimmage at Davis Wade Stadium, Mullen was vague in his assessment of individual performances, scores and participation.

So were the Mississippi State players.

When asked Saturday about scoring plays or stats from the scrimmage, neither Tyler Russell nor Chris Relf could remember much other than “it went well.”

MSU set for scrimmage after day of teaching

STARKVILLE — On the eve of Mississippi State’s first fall scrimmage, head coach Dan Mullen spent Thursday putting the team through controlled situations in the Palmeiro Center.

Mullen and his staff wanted to get a solid day of teaching in the books before scrimmaging tonight in a closed practice at Davis Wade Stadium.

Mullen hopes to see his inexperienced players execute and perform with different casts around them.

Shorter prepares for first matchup against Mitchell

STARKVILLE — Jamie Mitchell isn’t the only coach who has noticed a difference in the Starkville Yellow Jackets.

Tyrone Shorter, the coach of the Jackets’ opponent, Noxubee County, tonight, has had plenty of opportunities to see Mitchell’s players grow from shell-shocked athletes to jamboree door-busters.

From the Yellow Jackets’ spring game through summer 7-on-7 games hosted by Starkville, Shorter has seen similarities between the Yellow Jackets and the teams Mitchell coached at Itawamba Agricultural High.

Starkville cross country targets top four in Class 6A

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School’s cross country team has its sights set on crashing Class 6A’s top four with a revamped squad of returnees and transfer talent.

The Yellow Jackets had two runners finish in the top 50 at last season’s 6A state meet, but with the additions of Starkville Academy transfer Joseph MacGown and transfer Kamau Bostic from Virginia, the team believes it’s closer to the top of the mountain.

MacGown was runner up at the 2009 Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA state meet.

MSU faces fines if football fans don’t ‘ring responsibly’

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State fans now know what the consequences will be if they don’t “Ring Responsibly” this football season.

On Wednesday in Orlando, Fla., Southeastern Conference athletic directors put the finishing touches on the fine structure for artificial noisemakers, which was the final element of the June cowbell compromise between MSU and the other league members.

Starkville Academy confident entering opener at Ackerman

STARKVILLE — The genesis of Starkville Academy’s 2009 football misery, preparing for Ackerman High doesn’t feel like déjà vu one year later.

It’s an interesting approach because for the second year in row players and coaches are positive the team can achieve a favorable result against the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A power.

Starkville High slow-pitch softball looks to improve hitting

STARKVILLE — With nine seniors, it’s easy to hang hopes on your most experienced players.

But when that one third of your team’s key players piloted the ship to a four-win season a year ago, you’re pinning even more hope on that group taking a bigger step toward title-winning form.

MSU optimistic about secondary

STARKVILLE — How does a defense maintain its big-play ability while limiting big plays?

Mississippi State football coaches are banking on experience and constant attention to creating turnovers to help even out a unit that had its high and low moments a season ago.

Bright spots last season included five scores from interceptions and freshmen Johnthan Banks and Corey Broomfield combining for 10 picks and four scores.

Jackson leads Starkville Academy softball team to victory

STARKVILLE — Julianne Jackson has had a lot of responsibility for the Starkville Academy softball team this season.

She’s handled the bulk of the pitching duties for the first time in her career and spent numerous hours trying to perfect a swing that hadn’t previously utilized her power.

Fifteen games into the season, she’s the Lady Vols’ No. 1 option in the circle and has become an effective pull-hitter and is currently the team’s cleanup batter.