JFP Top 25: Week 3
Alabama is, without question, the No. 1 team in the country after surviving Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M in a 49-42 shootout. The only thing that might be standing in the Crimson Tide's way of a third-straight title is a date with Lousiana State University, but Ole Miss wants something to say about that in two weeks.
The Slate
Let's play a game: I'll give you the records for a starting NFL quarterback and a quarterback looking for a job. Can you name them?
Be Careful What You Ask For
From time to time, nearly all human beings are guilty of overreaction—overcorrection might be a better way of stating it—when we face a problem or an issue. Especially when a topic gets some airtime in the media, our way of fixing that problem often goes beyond what is truly needed.
Millsaps Majors
Millsaps and Mississippi College have been meeting on the gridiron since 1920, and the Majors and Choctaws have met annually since 2000, when they renewed their close rivalry.
The Slate
Isn't it great to have real referees, instead of replacement refs? Oh wait—you mean the real refs blew a call in the first game of year that might have cost a team a win?
JFP Top 25: Week 2
Only two weeks in, and we see a shakeup in the top five and top 10 of the JFP College Football Top 25 Poll. Both happen to involve SEC teams, as South Carolina and Florida lost last weekend. The SEC sees a top-five matchup between Alabama and Texas A&M this week.
Optimistic but Cautious
In sports, you see a lot of overreaction the Monday after Sunday's NFL games. Fan bases can swing wildly throughout the season, depending on their favorite team's performance from week to week.
Mississippi Braves
The formula was simple for the Mississippi Braves Sept. 2, the final day of play in the 2013 Southern League Season: All the team had to do was win against the Jacksonville Suns and hope the Mobile Baybears defeated the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
The Slate
College football's opening night has already shown us potentially the Game of the Year: Ole Miss versus Vanderbilt.
2013 Games of the Week
If money and time was no object, here are the games I would go see each week of the season.
Jackson State Football
College football finally kicks off tonight. After a long wait, we can watch games with something at stake for the winners and losers.
Conerly Hopefuls 2013
Each year since I began writing the college football preview, I have compiled a short list of the preseason players to watch for the Conerly Trophy, which the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame awards to the best football player in the state at a four-year college each year.
The Slate
Congratulations to former Southern Miss and Oakland Raider punter Ray Guy on being named as one of two senior committee candidates for the Pro Hall of Fame. Guy joins other candidate Claude Humphrey.
Memorable Football Moments
I got as giddy as a little kid on Christmas day when I saw the JFP question of the week. If you missed it, the question was: What is the most memorable football moment in your lifetime?
2013 JFP Preseason Top 25
This year's poll begins as it has the last two years, with the Alabama Crimson Tide on top. Alabama is looking for its third-straight title and its fourth title in five years.
Rule Changes in 2013
The NCAA approved three rule changes that could cost your college football team a win this season.
JFP 2013 College Football Preview: On the Grid: Bryan Flynn’s Sophisticated Wild-Ass Guesses
This year, Mississippi teams are either building on success or rebuilding. Three of Mississippi's big four universities are hoping to build on last season's success, and one university hopes the memories of a doomed 2012-13 campaign fade away quickly with a new coaching regime.
High School Football
Starting tonight, central Mississippi will be filled with the sounds, smells and cheers of high-school football as Madison Central kicks off against Brandon at 7 p.m. to begin the 2013 season.
Goodbye to the BCS
College football fans only have to wait one more year for the playoff they have screamed for to arrive. This will be the final year of the much-maligned Bowl Championship Series.
The Slate
Sitting here wondering if the Oakland Raiders are as bad as they looked Friday night, or if the New Orleans Saints are going to be as good as they looked? Week one against Atlanta should provide an answer.
Preseason Thoughts
The first week of the NFL preseason is in the books and, man, it is good to have football back—even if the games don't count and many of the names we see on the field won't be there in September.
The Slate
Think colleges and universities are getting rich off jersey sales of college athletes? Texas A&M made $59,690 in total jersey sales last school year—including those of Heisman winner Johnny Manziel.
Football!
Sunday, Aug. 4, 10.1 million viewers tuned in to watch the Hall of Fame game between the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, a game in which most of the Cowboys stars didn't play, NBC reported.
Pro Bowl Changes
Even as it continues to grow as a ratings giant and America's most-watched sporting league, the NFL still isn't afraid to tinker around with its product.
The Slate
NFL teams have to start wondering if Johnny Manziel will be worth the draft risk. At times, the Texas A&M quarterback seems as reckless off the field as he seems on it.
2013 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class
This Friday and Saturday, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame will induct the 2013 Hall of Fame Class, which includes Bill Buckner, Jimmy Giles, Gerald Glass, Earnest Larry "Doc" Harrington, Langston Rogers and Michael Rubenstein.
Cheaters Should Never Win
Last week, Major League Baseball suspended Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. Braun already got out of another positive PED test on a technicality last year.
The Slate
As promised last week, The Slate has football on it this week—and not from Canada either.
New Orleans Saints Training Camp
The road to Super Bowl XLVIII begins today for the New Orleans Saints, as the team begins to put the turmoil of last season behind it.
The Slate
The Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins have started training camp. You know what that means--we are one step closer to the return of football.
In Jurgen We Trust
If you haven't been paying attention, you may have missed the roll the U.S. Men's Soccer Team has been on recently. After defeating El Salvador 5-1 July 21, the team upped its winning streak to nine matches.
Qua Cox
SWAC named Jackson State defensive back Qua Cox, a redshirt senior out of Tuskegee, Ala., Preseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year.
The Slate
Thank goodness football season is nearly here. That way we'll have something to keep us entertained until the Syfy channel finishes making Sharknado 2.
Johnny Manziel is the Next Tim Tebow
College football begins its unofficial start this week. Media days are beginning across the country, which means fall practice will start soon and games will follow behind shortly.
Marshall Henderson
The University of Mississippi announced Wednesday afternoon that it was suspending indefinitely star shooting guard Marshall Henderson for violations of team rules.
The Slate
It is coming. I can feel it in my bones and smell it in the air. An old friend is preparing to return once again.
Stern: Boos and Fashion
The 2013 NBA Draft a couple of weeks ago was one of the final events during which NBA commissioner David Stern presided.
NFL Dreams
Every kid who plays high-school football dreams of taking his talents to college football. Those who are good enough to play at the college level hope they can advance to the pros.
The Slate
I hope everyone has a happy 4th of July. Enjoy all the great events out there to celebrate Independence Day.
Hernandez, the Patriots and the Media
I am surprised at how the New England Patriots are handling the Aaron Hernandez situation. The team quickly released the Patriots tight end even before he was arrested on a murder charge last week.
Small Towns, Big Football
“Gridiron Gold” documents the history of football in Mississippi’s high-schools.
The Slate
The dog days of summer are here. The NBA and NHL are done. Now the long wait for football to return begins.
Gridiron Ladies
In Mississippi, you can't escape it. We've got less than 90 days before it dominates talk at home, work and parties.
Callaway High School Football Team
Talk to any coach long enough, and he will tell you two things: One, that sports teach life lessons and, two, that sports build character.
The Slate
Two things we learned this week at the College World Series: Apparently, the word "college" has three "L's," and Mississippi State and Ole Miss have merged to form the Mississippi State Rebels.
Lem Barney: Great but Wrong
Another person is proclaiming the death of football. This time, it is former Jackson State and Detroit Lions star Lem Barney.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State University sports fans have gotten bad news, but also some excellent news this past week. First, the bad news: On Friday, June 7, the NCCA hit the MSU football team with penalties for recruiting violations.
The Slate
This is shaping up to be a big week in sports, with the Stanley Cup Finals, the NBA Finals, U.S. Open Championship in golf, the College World Series and more.
Cooperation Helps MSU
Outgoing Ohio State University President Gordon Gee took a shot at illiteracy in the Southeastern Conference a few months ago. But Gee and others could learn an important thing from the SEC, and that is cooperation.