Mississippians Headed to the Big Game
Mississippi was going to be well represented in the Super Bowl regardless of which teams remained after the NFL Playoffs last Sunday. All four teams on the gridiron had players from our state.
Full Time Ain't Magic
I saw several articles last week calling for the National Football League to hire full-time officials after the Green Bay Packers were saved from a fumble against the New York Giants.
Jarvis Summers
Ole Miss was on a three-game losing streak to Mississippi State at home in C. M. "Tad" Smith Coliseum. The Rebels were on a six-game losing streak overall to their in-state rival Bulldogs.
Jenirro Bush
Jenirro Bush entered this season as the lone returning senior for the Jackson State Tigers. The young JSU team needed to lean on Bush to help them win basketball games.
[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days
My Saints vs. Tim Tebow Super Bowl dream died Saturday. Both teams were dead within 20 minutes of each other.
Surprise, Surprise
One reason I love sports is that the stories tend to write themselves. As the NFL Playoffs begin to reach the final three games, the storylines jump out of the TV screens at me.
[Bryan's Rant] Curse of the Home Team
It was a tough weekend for New Orleans Saints' fans. The Saints went to San Francisco to face the 49ers and left with their road-playoff-game losing streak intact.
Anthony Dixon
A large portion of Mississippi will root for the New Orleans Saints this Saturday. Certainly, the residents of the capital city will hope that Drew Brees and company win the franchise first road playoff game.
[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Word is, LeBron James gave his long-time girlfriend an engagement ring on New Year's Eve. At least someone in the family will have a ring.
[Bryan's Rant] Aboard the Tebow Train
Twenty years from now, it might be interesting to see what people remember as they look back at the 2011-2012 NFL season. As time passes, which storyline captivated our attention?
Devon Desper
On Jan. 5, some of the best high-school football talent descended on Orlando, Fla., for the 2012 Under Armour All-American game. This game started in 2008 under the sponsorship of athletic clothing and shoe company Under Armour. Athletes were showcased to a national television audience, and several even declared their college choice during the game.
JFP Bowl Schedule: Week 4
After nearly a month of bowl games, it all ends Jan. 9. This is our final bowl schedule; games this week will lead up to the national championship game. Enjoy the final college football games of the 2011-12 season.
[Bryan's Rant] Hazardous Hazing
When people think of hazing in college, I am guessing that the Greek system comes to mind for most. The press has written and talked about sorority and fraternity hazing for a while now, although colleges and universities have tried hard to end hazing in the Greek system.
[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days
In the words of Jim Mora, "Playoffs! Playoffs!" Yes, the NFL playoffs begin this weekend.
Dealing With It
Being a paraplegic hasn't stopped Chris Waddell from competing. In 1988, Waddell was a rising star on the ski slopes. Then, a skiing accident changed his life, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Determined to get back to skiing, a year after his accident he was on a monoski doing what he loved once again.
The ‘Smalls'
The Jackson area schools that aren't major contenders in Mississippi college basketball are known as the "small" schools. But they're only small in enrollment, not in talent, drive or determination.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Happy New Year. No matter how good 2011 was, here's to an even better 2012.
Game Changer
Women's college basketball is rightfully gaining attention these days. Last season, the women's national championship game between Texas A&M and Notre Dame was much more exciting than the men's title game.
JFP Bowl Schedule: Week 3
The third week of the bowl schedule features the majority of the games including Mississippi State. As always, my picks are included. By now, I am sure to have been completely wrong.
JFP 2012 College Basketball Preview
The great thing about sports is that each season begins fresh and anew. Every new year, hopes begin high, and every fan dreams of dancing.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
The Christmas holiday features bowl games, the NFL and the return of the NBA. Ho, ho, ho!
Mississippi Teams Go Bowling
Two Mississippi college football teams are going bowling this year: Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. Both the Bulldogs and the Golden Eagles fell short of expectations, but they are getting an extra month of practice time.
JFP Bowl Schedule: Week 2
This week's college bowl games feature Southern Miss and North Carolina—that's Larry Fedora's "old" team and his new one.
Favre for JSU?
An interesting piece of news came out of the Mississippi State bowl practice the other day: Redshirt freshman quarterback Dylan Favre is leaving Starkville. Favre says his plan is to attend Pearl River Community College next semester. Nothing is wrong with playing at a junior college, but another option might help Favre and another team.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
'Tis the season to be jolly, but football is nearing the end. Bah! Humbug!
Gifts for Your Sports Fanatic
A few years ago, my wife, Lacey, gave me one of my favorite books. "The Sports Book" (DK Publishing, 2007, $19.95) has an Astroturf cover and contains information about multiple sports. Not only has the book been great to read, but it has been a resource and help for articles I have written. It was one of the best gifts I've ever received.
JFP Bowl Schedule: Week 1
No JFP Top 25 football poll this week. Instead we are going to give you a weekly schedule of college bowl games coming up and Bryan Flynn's picks for the winners. Use this to plan your bowl-watching schedule beginning this Saturday until next Thursday.
Dome Sweet Dome
New Orleans Saints fans should send the Arizona Cardinals a gift this holiday season. At the very least they should send the team a Christmas card.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
I am dreaming of a New Orleans Saints vs. Tim Tebow Super Bowl.
Sustain This
I hate buzzwords. I hear them all the time when watching the news or political programs. If you work for a corporation, you are sure to hear buzzwords around the office. I listen for new buzzwords, almost like a hobby.
JFP Top 25: Week 15
It is sad to say, but this is the last JFP Top 25 college football poll; that is, the final poll until after the national championship.
Blues Marathon Offers Multiple Categories
If you are going to run a marathon in January in Jackson, you better dress in layers and expect any type of weather. The 5th annual Mississippi Blues Marathon Saturday, Jan. 7, might be the brisk start to your new year.
Rick Comegy
Coaching football is the one profession where the common question is "what have you done lately?" Jackson State University knows the answer to that question. Coach Rick Comegy led Jackson State to a 9-2 regular season record with a 7-2 SWAC record to earn a two-year extension.
Michael Rubenstein
Mississippi has a long and rich sports history. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame was created to protect and showcase the history of sports in our state. Michael Rubenstein was one of the driving forces behind the hall. The only executive director the Hall of Fame has ever had, Rubenstein passed away in his home yesterday.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Merry Christmas! The NBA is back.
Losing is Better?
Southern Miss' Bowl Championship Series hopes died when they lost 34-31 to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Nov. 17. The Golden Eagles only had a chance to earn a BSC bid if they won the rest of their regular season games. Instead, USM ended its regular season Nov. 26 with 44-7 victory over Memphis, giving them the C-USA East division title and a berth in the C-USA title game.
Support the Teams
A journey that began this summer is coming to an end. For six teams, the journey will end in triumph. Six other teams will have their dreams end in Jackson.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
I would be more thankful if I could get more Tim Tebow on my TV.
Will They Show Up to Play?
Oxford and Starkville haven't had much to cheer about this football season. Ole Miss and Mississippi State have both struggled on the gridiron. Last weekend, highly ranked opponents blew the Rebels and the Bulldogs off the field again.
Go Get It, Saints
Sports have taken a serious turn the past couple of weeks. Games on the field have taken a back seat to the scandal at Penn State. The allegations against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky are tough to read. If found guilty, he should be punished to the full extent of the law.
JFP Top 25: Week 13
It was a weekend of upsets in college football. Four of the top-10 teams in the JFP Top 25 went down to underdogs and, overall, seven teams lost this past week. If LSU loses in the next two weeks, we'll see a ton of debate on who is the best team in the country.
Casey Therriault
Update: Casey Therriault threw for four touchdowns Saturday to lead Jackson State's pounding of Alcorn State 51-7. He also became JSU's single-season leader in passes completed (372 yards), passing yards (3,808) and in total offense (3,911). Go, Tigers.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
No NBA, yet, but college basketball has begun.
Who Will Win the Conerly?
All 10 of the athletic departments at Mississippi's four-year colleges and universities each nominated one football player for the 2011 Conerly Trophy. More than 40 statewide media members (myself not included) will vote on the 10 nominees to select the winner. This will be the 16th time the award has been handed out since 1996, and the winner will be announced Nov. 29 at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Go Get It, Saints
After 10 straight weeks of football, the New Orleans Saints finally get their bye week. The Saints enter their off week after a 26-23 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons, grabbing the NFC South lead. The Saints are a game ahead of the Falcons and two games ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
JFP Top 25: Week 12
This past weekend really shook up the college football world. Oregon spanked Stanford at home, and a kicker betrayed Boise State for the second year in row. Now college football is one loss away from a great debate and two losses from total chaos.
Mark's Man Cave
When my brother-in-law, Mark, and his wife, Cathryn, were looking for a house a few years back, he knew that she would decorate it as she saw fit. Fortunately, the house they wanted to buy also had a 23-by-11-foot workshop that Mark instantly claimed like an explorer planting his flag on new territory. Mark and Cathryn got the house, and laid plans for Mark to have a man cave.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Ole Miss looks to have caved in to the faceless "Forward Rebels" bloggers.
Pink Slip Anonymous
It looks like Houston Nutt is getting the ax after the Egg Bowl. Nutt had great success early at the University of Mississippi, but he has struggled the last two seasons. Not being able to find a quarterback might be what doomed Nutt, or maybe it was a fractured fan base and unreal expectations that killed this marriage in just four seasons.
JFP Top 25: Week 11
LSU versus Alabama lived up to all the hype on defense. Missed field goals doomed Alabama as the top-ranked Tigers topped the Crimson Tide 9-6 in overtime. Now Alabama has to hope the teams ahead of them lose to get a rematch in the title game.