Relf fighting through struggles

STARKVILLE — It’s back to drawing board for Mississippi State quarterback Chris Relf.

The film room might be the best place to dissect the troubles of the Bulldogs’ senior leader. But if you listen to Relf describe the reason for his recent play, he may just need a mirror so he can see himself smile again.

Provine will provide test for Starkville

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School football coach Jamie Mitchell already knew he wasn’t going to get much to evaluate watching the tape of his team’s victory against Lanier last week.

The one thing he noticed in the second half was the play of a sophomore his team will need later in the year to bolster its depth if it wants to be a contender in Class 5A, Region 2.

Coaching Koennings share traits leading different groups

STARKVILLE — While at a coaching convention in New Orleans more than a decade ago, Vic Koenning was on a river walk when he saw a man who looked like a family member.

The man was offensive assistant coach Les Koenning, and Vic’s first glance was correct.

MSU’s spread attack will go against UGA’s pro style

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team will take part in a throwback game of sorts at 11 a.m. Saturday (Fox Sports Net) at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.

Former MSU AD Templeton will help league with 13-team format

Former Mississippi State Athletic Director Larry Templeton expects to contribute to the Southeastern Conference’s 13-team league schedules for all sports next season.

MSU wants to find balance in ground game

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team has two talents in the backfield.

Coach Dan Mullen was pleased with how the Bulldogs balanced their use of Vick Ballard and LaDarius Perkins on Saturday in a 26-20 overtime win against Louisiana Tech at Davis Wade Stadium. Ballard and Perkins combined for 115 rushing yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns, but it was a tale of both halves for the players.

MSU satisfied with Texas A&M in SEC

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State officials seem just fine with the Southeastern Conference officially wrapping itself in more maroon and white.

SEC presidents and chancellors, acted unanimously Sunday to accept Texas A&M University into the league effective July 1, 2012, with competition to begin in all sports for the 2012-13 academic year.

MSU still searching for right mix on offensive line

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football coaches are focused on finding the right combination on the offensive line.

MSU coach Dan Mullen suggested Monday in his weekly media conference that the starters at offensive line this week could be changed after MSU had a less than effective evening attacking Louisiana Tech up the middle.

MSU survives OT scare

STARKVILLE — That sound you heard throughout Oktibbeha County was the sigh of relief of every Mississippi State football fan wearing black Saturday night.

Mississippi State moved back in the win column, but it made 55,116 fans who participated in a “black out” promotion at Davis Wade Stadium survive a 26-20 overtime scare against Louisiana Tech.

MSU defense delivers big plays

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said this week he’d have to put more responsibility on the defensive backs.

That unit responded to the challenge with two late interceptions and a fumble recovery in the second half to preserve a 26-20 overtime victory against Louisiana Tech on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.

Starkville routs Lanier in region opener

STARKVILLE — After four weeks of facing some of the state’s best teams, the Starkville High School football team received a break Friday night when it opened Class 5A, Region 2 play against Lanier.

Eight minutes into the game, Starkville had scored 28 unanswered points en route to a 53-13 victory.

MSU’s Hughes found guilty of misdemeanor domestic violence

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State sophomore linebacker Chris Hughes recently spent five days in jail after being arrested and found guilty last month of two counts of misdemeanor domestic violence.

MSU baseball opens fall with depth on mound

STARKVILLE — For the first time since arriving back at his alma mater, Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen begins fall practice with confident veteran pitchers.

That pitching experience will bring higher expectations to a program that was six outs away from a College World Series berth last season. MSU begins its road to Omaha, Neb., the site of the CWS, at 4 p.m. today with an intra-squad scrimmage at Dudy Noble Field that is open to the public.

Starkville opens new region against Lanier

STARKVILLE — This is the point in the season where the Starkville High School football team will know little to nothing about its opponents.

Since the Mississippi High School Athletic Association reclassified schools for the 2011-12 school year and dropped Starkville from Class 6A to 5A, coach Jamie Mitchell knew his program would learn about its new region as it went through the 2011 campaign.

Day could get first start vs. La. Tech

STARKVILLE — Dillon Day was figuratively thrown into the deep end of the pool and told to swim.

Banks ready for interception opportunities

STARKVILLE — Johnthan Banks feels the Mississippi State football team’s first three games have helped him prepare for his next assignment against the high octane passing game of Louisiana Tech (6 p.m., Saturday, ESPNU).

Wyman making impact for MSU

STARKVILLE — Warm weather is a recruiting tool for indoor sports, too.

Lainey Wyman sat down with her parents one evening to map out what was important in her college choice. In the living room of their suburban Chicago home, Matt and Kathy Wyman realized that map needed to include the southern United States.

Mullen sticks with Relf as starting QB

STARKVILLE – “Chris Relf is our starter.”

Those five words were all Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen needed to dismiss a quarterback controversy.

Looking for what he called “a spark” to an offense that had 16 yards in the second half, Mullen pulled Relf and inserted Tyler Russell for the final 10 minutes of MSU’s 19-6 loss to No. 3 LSU on Thursday night.

Mirando says MSU receivers have to get better

STARKVILLE — The message from Mississippi State receivers coach Angelo Mirando is consistent: His players have work to do.

Entering the fourth week of the season, tailbacks Vick Ballard and LaDarius Perkins lead the Bulldogs in receptions.

“Let’s get this straight, everybody needs to continue to work,” Mirando said. “We got a lot of work to do, but that’s everywhere. If we’re satisfied with whatever we’ve done the first three weeks then we need to get our heads checked.”

MSU linebackers learning on fly

STARKVILLE — The book on how to attack Mississippi State’s in the passing game is to target the linebackers.

Offensive coaches across America are trying to duplicate what Auburn University offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn did to rack up 381 total yards in a 41-34 victory on Sept. 10. Three games into his first season as linebackers coach/co-defensive coordinator at MSU, Geoff Collins is being reminded what it’s like to tutor a young group on how to play against the nation’s top offenses.