Articles by Matthew Stevens
Moultrie hopes consistency helps attract attention
STARKVILLE — Several nights a week, members of the Mississippi State men’s basketball team will get together to watch a college basketball game.
It doesn’t take long for them to shake their heads and wonder what they have to do to attract national attention.
Junior forward Arnett Moultrie could be the spokesperson for that group. Although the transfer from the University of Texas at El Paso is sixth in the country in rebounding, he and the No. 15 Bulldogs haven’t garnered a lot of publicity.
Defense remains focus for MSU men
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State University men’s basketball players understand they can improve on defense.
The scouting report on No. 15 MSU (13-2) is simple: It can’t guard the pick-and-roll offense at the top of the key.
“Everybody in the country runs ball screens, and we have to get better guarding those,” MSU assistant coach Phil Cunningham said Wednesday in the SEC coaches teleconference.
MSU’s Cox declares for NFL draft
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University junior defensive tackle Fletcher Cox announced Tuesday he will forego his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.
The 295-pound defensive lineman from Yazoo City had 56 tackles this season, including 14 1/2 tackles for a loss and five sacks. He said immediately after MSU’s 23-17 victory against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl that he had made his decision about turning professional, but that he was waiting to announce it properly.
Banks will return to MSU for senior season
STARKVILLE — Johnthan Banks decided Tuesday not to declare for the NFL draft and to return to the Mississippi State University football program for his final year of eligibility.
Banks, a former East Webster High School standout from Maben, was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back. He also was MSU’s Conerly Trophy representative. That award is given to the state’s top college football player.
EMCC’s Wallace gets offer from MSU
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State University football program has made a scholarship offer to East Mississippi Community College quarterback Bo Wallace.
Wallace, who would be able to sign as a member of the 2012 recruiting class and enroll early to compete in spring practices, led EMCC to a 55-47 El Toro Bowl victory against previously unbeaten Arizona Western College in the NJCAA Football Championship Game on Dec. 3 in Yuma, Ariz. He set NJCAA single-season records for passing yards (4,604), total yards of offense (4,810), and touchdowns (53) in a season.
Bumphis has court date later this month
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University junior wide receiver Chad Bumphis was arrested early Sunday morning in his hometown of Tupelo and charged with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Sunday morning to The Dispatch that Bumphis’ arrest occurred at 1:31 a.m. in the city proper of Tupelo, and that Bumphis was released nearly an hour later after being booked on the charges.
Bumphis, 22, has one year of eligibility left at MSU. He is scheduled to appear Jan. 12 at the Lee County Courthouse.
Relf goes out a winner
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University football coach Dan Mullen always has judged the quarterback position by one category: Wins.
In that regard, senior Chris Relf will leave MSU as one of the program’s most successful quarterbacks, especially after he closed his career with another victory.
Ballard earns MVP honors in finale
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For a player not many Division I schools wanted after high school and a successful stint at junior college, Vick Ballard wrote an award-winning final chapter to his story Friday night.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College transfer used his final college game — a 23-17 victory against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl — to show the country what many of the premier programs missed out on for ignoring his talents for so long
Cox, defensive line shine in bowl victory
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Believe it or not, Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said he was blocked up front before he blocked a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter Friday night in the Music City Bowl.
The reason this fact is up for debate is the speed at which the 295-pound defensive got to the Wake Forest holder and nearly tackled kicker Jimmy Newm
2,000 MSU students expected at Music City Bowl
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Piling a bunch of people in a car and going to a famous destination is how a lot of great tales begin. For Mississippi State University students and recent graduates, bowl games represent the perfect excuse for that classic college road trip story.
Lawrence brothers to play final game at MSU together in Music City Bowl
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cameron Lawrence can only remember one season he and his older brother Addison haven’t been competing on the same football field.
After tonight’s 2011 Music City Bowl, the Lawrence duo will be split up again for likely the final time of their football careers.
Hungry Bulldogs ready for grand finish
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mississippi State head football coach Dan Mullen has stressed the goal of the next season since this New Year’s Day victory in Jacksonville.
Get to back-to-back bowl games.
Mullen pleased with SEC schedule
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Fans of every Southeastern Conference school got a look at the football schedule for upcoming 2012 campaign Wednesday afternoon.
MSU to give Relf one final start in bowl game vs. Wake Forest
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mississippi State can only hope for similar postseason perfomance that they got last on New Year’s Day in the 2011 Gator Bowl.
Wake Forest needs leadership, points from Price
STARKVILLE — The goal for Wake Forest quarterback Tanner Price is to be just another overlooked prospect from Westlake High School in Texas to prove the critics wrong.
Bulldogs face ultimate road task in undefeated Baylor
STARKVILLE — Neither Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury nor Baylor coach Scott Drew have a guarantee about what the result will be when their teams meet tonight in Dallas.
They do know it’ll be fun however.
Game week here for MSU Football
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State began what it’s calling phase three of its Music City Bowl preparation Monday with its first practice in Nashville on the campus of Vanderbilt University.
Sidney’s status remains ‘day to day’ for No. 15 Bulldogs
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State University officials said Monday evening that junior center Renardo Sidney is being listed as “day to day” following the first practice back together since the Christmas holiday.
Four local soccer teams place at state and regional tournaments
June 25, 2025
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