I only got one football coach on the phone today: Holly Springs’ Clifford Brown. He’s entering his fourth year at the helm.
The Hawks have been on the brink of a breakthrough season, and this could be it. They were 4-6 last year and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Their first six [...]
Entries from July 2008
July 31, 2008
Hawks and Jackets
July 31, 2008
Senior Legion: Schedule Change
Tupelo 49ers coach Kirk Presley just called me and said two teams have dropped out of the Senior Legion State Tournament, which starts today in Pontotoc. Both Mississippi Prospects teams backed out this morning. There will be no 1 p.m. game. Here’s the revised schedule:
Thursday’s Games
4:30 p.m. – Game 1, Hattiesburg vs. Booneville
8:00 – Game [...]
July 30, 2008
Warriors and Wildcats
Photo by Thomas Wells
I spoke with Calhoun City coach Mike Ray and Corinth coach Jimmy Mitchell today about their respective football teams. Both squads harbor high expectations for 2008, and here are three reasons to think both teams can go far.
Calhoun City Wildcats (Division 1-1A)
• The Wildcats return Brandon Lawrence (above), who made the 2007 [...]
July 30, 2008
Freelon: Is He Invisible?
Photo by C. Todd Sherman
I don’t claim to be an expert in the recruiting game. I’m not the best at analyzing talent and determining if a player is Division I material. But I’m not dumb, either.
I would have no reservations asking a college recruiter about Bruce running back Richard Freelon. The question would be: What’s [...]
July 29, 2008
Grand Slam: A New Legacy
If you want to find something good in the Grand Slam’s leaving Tupelo – as I report in the Tuesday Journal, it’s likely headed to Jackson – it’s that the state’s basketball overall championship has a solid foundation on which to build a new legacy.
“That’s been to me the highlight of my young career so [...]
July 28, 2008
Back In The Saddle
I hate clichés like that, but I’m in a rush. Got plenty of work to do now that I’m back in town. I’m going to start talking with coaches for my football tab previews, and I’ll drop a few notes on here after talking with each coach.
I’ll have a notebook for Wednesday’s paper, and we’ll [...]
July 25, 2008
Home from New York
What an awesome trip. I will write a column on it soon, I’m sure, but for immediate reaction, visit my personal blog, Deep South Thoughts. Thanks to my boy Brandon Speck for putting this trip together, and to my wife for coming along. Happy 10th, babe.
July 21, 2008
Road Trip: New York
It is 2:30 a.m. And we just got pulled over in Crossville, Tenn. Finally got busted for that busted taillight.
Oh, by the way, me and six others are headed for NYC to catch some baseball. Adam Gore, Brandon Speck, his wife (Jessica), Steven Criss, Ryan Wiggington and my wife are packed into our minivan. About [...]
July 18, 2008
But It’s Still July
Pop quiz: What begins Monday? Practice, my friends. No, not for football (that’s Aug. 4), but for slow-pitch softball, volleyball and cross country teams. Summer break is over, kids.
The softball season begins Aug. 1. I know it’s like this every year, but that’s insanely early. How can you start playing high school events before school [...]
July 17, 2008
Bernard Blackwell Football Classic
Photo by Charles A. Smith
The North won a defensive struggle 16-7 at Robinson-Hale Stadium in Clinton. The South committed five turnovers and had only 12 rushing yards. It had 272 yards through the air but hurt itself with the turnovers and a couple of untimely penalties.
South Panola’s Bud Barksdale (left) was named defensive MVP. He [...]
