MSU football gets back to basics in bye week

STARKVILLE — Maybe he’d prefer to be called Professor Dan Mullen know.

Mississippi State’s third-year football coach has used this week without a game for an internal evaluation to see if his team is “tipping our hand” with its game plans in what has turned out to be a frustrating season.

MSU’s Bracewell ready to dominate again

STARKVILLE — Ben Bracewell was considered one of the best high school power arms in state of Alabama three years ago.

That’s why Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen felt Bracewell was the key to a recruiting class that included pitching prospects Chris Stratton, Kendall Graveman, and Chad Girodo.

MSU softball closes fall season 6-0

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State softball team can thank the power left arm of Stephanie Becker for helping it win a doubleheader Saturday.

Starkville passing game stings Yazoo City

YAZOO CITY — The difference in past classification was evident Friday night. Starkville High School, a former Class 6A power that moved down one classification, dominated Yazoo City, a school that recently moved up to 5A football, in a 35-0 victory.

Starkville building toward region title

STARKVILLE — Jamie Mitchell took the job as football coach at Starkville High School two years ago because its brand of football used to mean something.

Bulldogs’ Banks has record book in sights

STARKVILLE — Johnthan Banks never cared about the recruiting attention.

He also doesn’t care about any potential postseason conference honors.

Rosson hopes to lead MSU soccer to SEC tournament

STARKVILLE — This is the atmosphere and moment Skylar Rosson came to Mississippi State to create.

The stakes for the women’s soccer team regular-season finale against the University of Kentucky at 7 tonight also have kept her motivated through two knee surgeries.

Former MSU, Buffalo Bills great Hull dies

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University lost one of its favorite graduates Tuesday when former football letterman and National Football League veteran Kent Hull died Tuesday afternoon.

School officials announced Hull’s death, but the cause wasn’t known. Funeral arrangements haven’t been announced.

Mullen: Play in practice will decide starting QB

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen said Monday the play of his quarterbacks in practice will dictate who will start in games.

In a radio interview with WHBQ in Memphis, Mullen refused to name his starter at quarterback for MSU’s game at 6 p.m. Oct. 29 at the University of Kentucky.

Top pitching prospect commits to MSU

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team now has verbal commitments from two of the state’s best high school juniors.

Tri-County Academy right-handed pitcher Derek Martin confirmed to The Dispatch on Sunday afternoon he called MSU coach John Cohen to give a verbal commitment to M

MSU falls short again, loses to South Carolina

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen preaches to his team every day to fight for that inch.

MSU’s 14-12 loss to the No. 15 University of South Carolina on Saturday was a matter of six inches — the height difference between wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey and MSU defensive back Corey Broomfield.

Boyd, Cox dominate inside for MSU

STARKVILLE — For the first time this season, Mississippi State defensive tackle tandem Fletcher Cox and Josh Boyd dominated the line of scrimmage.

Cox and Boyd, who had been nominated as Southeastern Conference second-team selections, combined for 13 tackles, two and a half sacks, and four and a half tackles for loss Saturday in a 14-12 loss to the No. 15 University of South Carolina.

MSU, South Carolina have similar styles

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen started watching a videotape of the University of South Carolina’s offense and wondered if he had put in a tape of his guys.

The Bulldogs third-year coach preached Monday that fans who show up to Davis Wade Stadium at 11:21 a.m. today (WCBI) to watch MSU take on No. 15 South Carolina will see teams very similar in style.

MSU basketball teams practice as part of ‘Madness’

STARKVILLE — Friday night at Humphrey Coliseum was an evening of firsts for the Mississippi State basketball programs.

For the first time in more than a decade, MSU celebrated in a public Maroon Madness pep rally for the fans to get an initial look at the teams for the 2011-12 season.

MSU volleyball gets first win vs. ranked team

STARKVILLE — For the first time in program history, the Mississippi State volleyball team defeated a ranked opponent.

It accomplished that feat Friday night in front of the largest crowd to see a match at the school.

Wyatt knows what MSU quarterbacks are thinking

STARKVILLE — Matt Wyatt is convinced he has a good idea what is going through the minds of Chris Relf and Tyler Russell this week.

He feels that way because he experienced something similar for four years.

Mullen clarifies play-calling situation

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen responded to talk radio chatter about play calling in the second half of MSU’s 21-3 victory last weekend at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

MSU will try to stop South Carolina’s pass rush

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team is still trying to find the right five players to play in front its quarterback.

Finding that mix will be primary concern at 11:21 a.m. Saturday (WCBI) because MSU will have to contend with No. 15 University of South Carolina and the pass rush of defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. Johnson was defensive coordinator at MSU for coach Sylvester Croom from 2004-07.

Griffin hopes to work into rotation after first action

STARKVILLE — With three minutes left in the Mississippi State football team’s victory Saturday at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Bulldog fans got their first look at tailback Nick Griffin.

The journey to earning his first playing time lasted more than a year than he expected.

MSU’s QB situation remains fluid

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen thought making the quarterbacks unavailable to the media this week would limit the talk surrounding the position.

Think again.