Wednesday, July 10, 2019   
 
Starkville, Mississippi State renew fire protection agreement
Mississippi State University is officially out of the firetruck buying business, but will pay more for fire protection after the university and the city of Starkville approved a new inter-local agreement for fire protection service. The Starkville Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to approve the new agreement on the recommendation of Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough during its July 2 board meeting. Under the original agreement, the university compensated the city for fire service with fees and an agreement to purchase a fire truck for the city every 15-to-20 years, said Yarbrough. Under the new agreement, the university's fees will go up, but it will not be required to purchase fire trucks in the future. Mississippi State spokesman Sid Salter said the new contract is similar to that which the University of Mississippi has with the city of Oxford. "We have historically supported the concept of mutually beneficial fire protection and believe this new contract is the next logical step in that relationship," Salter said.
 
Roach control has a big economic impact on Mississippi
With so much unpleasantness associated with cockroaches, it may not be surprising that they are one of the most expensive pests to control in the state. Blake Layton, entomologist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said Mississippi's climate is ideal for roaches, and state citizens spend large amounts of money to control them every year. "Roaches affect everyone and are costly to control, and some species cause significant health problems such as allergies and asthma," Layton said. Jerome Goddard, Extension medical entomologist, said eliminating roaches from home environments is part of good health. "Some people have cockroach allergies, including asthma, which may significantly affect children in inner city apartments and public housing units," Goddard said. "In addition, cockroaches may mechanically transmit disease germs on their body parts as they crawl around on food or food preparation surfaces."
 
Joe Max Higgins: Big prospect locating to industrial park hinges on result of civil suit
A large company has expressed interest in locating to Starkville's nearly-complete North Star Industrial Park, but the prospect hinges on an ongoing civil lawsuit that has challenged rezoning of the park's property from commercial to manufacturing. Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins told Starkville Rotarians Monday he is confident the litigation -- which has made its way to the Mississippi Supreme Court for the second time -- will be over by October with a favorable result for the city. "We expect that in a very short fashion that case will be disposed of," Higgins said. Owners of property adjacent to the 384-acre park, northwest of the Highway 82-389 intersection, filed suit after city aldermen approved the rezoning request in January 2017, asserting that the LINK failed to include "clear and convincing evidence" with its application and that the rezoning didn't comply with Starkville's comprehensive plan. Oktibbeha County Circuit Court and Mississippi Court of Appeals has sided with the city and LINK, and the Supreme Court declined to review the case when it was appealed there the first time.
 
SOCSD to consider financial incentive for math teachers
Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Eddie Peasant will begin researching if the district can afford to pay secondary math teachers an annual stipend, something he says will help with low teacher retention in the subject. Peasant told SOCSD board members during Tuesday's regular meeting that math teachers for grades seven to 12 are currently the hardest to retain in the district, but did not offer specific figures on turnover and vacancies for that position. They are going elsewhere because of higher pay rates and signing bonuses available to them in other districts, he said. "One of our high school teachers accepted a position (in the district) and then declined it because they received a $3,000 signing bonus at another district," he said. "That's why I want to look at a plan to create a stipend for these teachers. ... This is an issue that's only going to grow. It's hard to compete with our neighbors."
 
Engineer Research and Development Center's Bill Heard honored for his work, research
Dr. Bill Heard, senior researcher in the Geosciences and Structures Division, a component of the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, was named the recipient last week of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government to outstanding scientists and engineers who show exceptional promise for leadership in science and technology early in their careers. He is a lead researcher in Survivability and Protective Structures, a primary GSL research focus within the ERDC Military Engineering business area. Heard completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering with a focus on structures and materials at Vanderbilt University in 2014. He also completed a master's degree from Vanderbilt University (2012) and Mississippi State University (2006), and a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State (1995).
 
Hurricane, tropical storm, depression: System brewing along Gulf Coast
The second storm of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to form Wednesday or Thursday along the Gulf Coast. The weather system, currently spinning off the coast of the Florida Panhandle, could either form as a tropical depression or a tropical storm. If the depression's winds reach 39 mph, it would become Tropical Storm Barry. It's then expected to hit the Gulf Coast as a hurricane on Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm could bring more heavy rain and flooding to New Orleans, which was inundated with up to half a foot of rain on Wednesday morning, triggering a flash flood emergency for the area. Even more concerning, the Mississippi River in New Orleans is now forecast to crest near 20 feet on Saturday, the weather service said -- and the average levee height for New Orleans is 20 feet, said meteorologist David Bernard of Fox8 in New Orleans. University of Georgia meteorologist Marshall Shepherd called this "a potentially dire situation."
 
Lighting company to open Indianola facility, hiring 20
A lighting company is opening a distribution center in the Mississippi Delta, investing $1 million and hiring 20. Parmida LED Technologies announced Tuesday that it would open a facility in Indianola. Mississippi Development Authority spokeswoman Tammy Craft says the state will direct $400,000 in federal community development money for renovations and infrastructure. The state is loaning $1.5 million to Sunflower County to buy a building Parmida will lease. Local governments will offer an estimated $550,000 in property tax abatements over 10 years. The state also pledges $500,000 in income, franchise and sales tax breaks offered to companies locating in economically depressed areas.
 
MDEQ board approves world's largest pellet plant
A state environmental board on Tuesday approved the air quality permit for what could be the largest wood pellet plant in the world, opening the door for the controversial southeast Mississippi facility to break ground later this summer. Environmental groups and other opponents of the plant, proposed by Maryland-based Enviva, raised concerns in recent months about dust and other air contaminants that would be emitted by the facility, and a lack of state-mandated controls. But the Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Board unanimously signed off on the permit with little discussion. State leaders, including Gov. Phil Bryant and Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson, say the plant will be an economic boon for Lucedale and George County, and boost a struggling timber market in the southeast corner of the state. The state and George County have offered the company millions of dollars in tax breaks and other financial assistance.
 
State revenue strong for just completed fiscal year after multiple years of mediocre growth
State revenue collections for the just completed 2019 fiscal year grew by 4.9 percent -- the best showing since fiscal year 2014 when revenue grew by 5.1 percent. From a political standpoint, the healthy growth for the fiscal year that ended June 30 comes at an opportune time for the state's political leaders as they face primary elections in August and the general election in November. From a practical standpoint, the strong revenue collections mean legislative leaders and the governor will have a cushion as they work later this fiscal year to develop a budget to fund such items as education, health care and law enforcement. According to the report released by the staff of the Legislative Budget Committee, total general fund revenue collections for the fiscal year running from July 1, 2018, to June 30 was $5.97 billion or $277.4 million more than in the previous fiscal year.
 
Mississippi GOP gubernatorial candidate denied reporter access because she's a woman
A GOP gubernatorial candidate in Mississippi denied access to a female reporter because of her gender, the journalist with Mississippi Today reports. Larrison Campbell was attempting to shadow state Rep. Robert Foster, one of the candidates in the state's upcoming Republication gubernatorial primary, according to an article she wrote Tuesday night. After requesting a ride-along with Foster in late June, Foster's campaign director, Colton Robison, called on July 7 about joining the candidate on an upcoming 15-hour trip, Campbell wrote. Robison allegedly told Campbell that a "male colleague would need to accompany her on an upcoming 15-hour campaign trip" because of the "optics of the candidate with a woman, even a working reporter, could be used in a smear campaign to insinuate an extramarital affair," she wrote. In a statement to The Hill on Wednesday, Foster said before deciding to run, he and his wife committed to following the "Billy Graham rule" to "avoid any situation that may evoke suspicion or compromise of our marriage."
 
Cyrus Ben delivers optimistic message during inaugural address as MBCI tribal chief
Working together and trusting each other is the message newly-elected Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben delivered to members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians during his inaugural address on Tuesday. "We will continue to be blessed by working together and standing together and being a band of people," Ben said during the ceremony at the Silver Star Resort and Casino in Pearl River. "I feel forever proud to be part of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, but I've never felt as humbled and honored to be elected as your Tribal Chief," he said. Ben, the fifth Tribal Chief elected since the Tribe received federal recognition in 1945, won the seat after beating incumbent Phyliss J. Anderson in the June 2 runoff. The 11,000-member tribe, which controls three casinos and several other business ventures, covers 35,000 acres in 10 different counties. Ben said that even though the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and other native tribes have faced adversity, they have also been strong.
 
These millennial Democrats are shaking up this year's #MSelex legislative races
Many political observers believe that the U.S. is an ocean experiencing a so-called blue wave of electoral successes by young Democrats -- but could it happen in Mississippi? Progressive activists in the state think so. Generally speaking, they believe the time has come for the Legislature to better reflect the state in terms of race, gender and age. Mississippi Today sat down with four young Democrats challenging longtime incumbents about their campaigns and what this shift means for the future of politics in the state.
 
Mississippi Lottery Corporation Announces Hire of Director of Communications
The Mississippi Lottery Corporation (MLC) officially announces the new hire of Meg Annison as Director of Communications. Annison, of Jackson, Miss., assumed the role July 1, 2019. In tandem with MLC President Tom Shaheen, Annison will serve as the official MLC spokesperson. She will field all media inquiries related to the corporation and will be available for informational updates. Annison is a graduate of the University of Mississippi. Previously, she served as House Information Officer for members of the Mississippi House of Representatives and as Communications Director for the Mississippi Speaker of the House.
 
Private Sector Dominates Ag Research Spending
Public institutions have historically played a major role in studying and developing agricultural technology. But public spending on R&D in the food and farm space has been falling since 2003, while industry spending has taken off, according to analysis from USDA Economic Research Service. Spending on food and farm research by private firms doubled from 2003 to 2014. That includes studies of food and beverage manufacturing, GMO crops, farm machinery, fertilizers and livestock health. Private ag research often focuses on marketable goods and technology, while the public sector is more likely to consider areas with broader social benefits, such as food safety, nutrition and the environment, according to ERS.
 
USM grad new head of Southern Miss business school
A 1991 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and a former faculty member and dean in USM's old College of Business is the new dean of the university's College of Business and Economic Development. John "Bret" Becton officially began his duties on July 1. Becton graduated from Southern Miss with a bachelor's degree in psychology and went on to earn a master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of Tulsa and a Ph.D. in management from Auburn University. Becton served as an associate dean for operations and accreditation at USM's former College of Business from 2014-2017 and was s faculty member in the USM School of Management beginning in 2008. He returns to Hattiesburg from Lafayette, Louisiana, where he was the dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Becton takes over for former College of Business and Economic Development dean Faye Gilbert, who left USM several months ago for the University of Maine, where she now serves as that university's dean of the Undergraduate School of Business in the Maine Business School.
 
Fraternity faces new lawsuit over block party shooting in Jackson
A fraternity is facing yet another lawsuit over a shooting at a block party in 2016 in Jackson that wounded six. Brittany Gray of Jackson, Royshandra Patrice Wilson of Greenville, and Alex Johnson of Clinton have filed a lawsuit against Upsilon Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Barrett Law firm, handling the lawsuit, said it has also filed in the interest of Antonio Thomas and Miyah King, two other victims. The lawsuit was filed June 28 in Hinds County Circuit Court. An initial lawsuit was filed last year by Moral Abram, who was shot in the leg. That lawsuit was also filed in Hinds County Circuit Court, but the fraternity had the case moved to federal court in Jackson. Abram, however, has filed a motion to have his case returned to Hinds County Circuit Court. Abram's lawsuit is against Upsilon Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity at Jackson State University. It also names the alleged shooter, Ryan Davis, and others as defendants.
 
Renovation projects continue at U. of Alabama
The University of Alabama has a series of interior renovations occurring this summer in addition to the new construction, such as the university archive facility and new parking decks. The $7 million renovation of the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library has begun with enlargements to restrooms and upgrades to the elevators to address core infrastructure needs and support future development. The Java City coffee bar on the ground floor is also being renovated. Donna Adcock, director of public relations for University Libraries, said, "Our goal is to have a renovated building that provides modern, efficient spaces for our students and addresses all of the infrastructure needs of the buildings." The library was built in 1939. In conjunction with the plans for Gorgas Library, the university is building a new University Archive Facility at the facilities complex off 14th Street.
 
Auburn University hotel earns coveted ranking from AAA
The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center is celebrating its achievement of obtaining an AAA Four Diamond Rating, placing it among the best in the country according to the travel organization's inspection standards. The hotel is owned by Auburn University and managed by The Ithaka Hospitality Partners. It has 236 guestrooms and suites, as well as 27,000 square feet of newly renovated meeting and event space. Located at 241 S. College St., the hotel is adjacent to the new South College parking deck. AAA's Four Diamond hotels account for just 6.3 percent of the more than 27,000 AAA-inspected and approved Diamond Rated hotels, assessed on comfort, cleanliness, security and available services and amenities. The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center is one of only a select few properties in the state of Alabama, and the only in Auburn, to attain the rating.
 
'Hit the ground listening': Jay Gogue prepares for his time as interim president
Jay Gogue's first order of business as Auburn University's interim president was finding a watch. "When you're not going to meetings all the time, you don't need a watch, you just sort of know what day it is, so that was a little different," he said with a chuckle. After serving as Auburn University president from 2007-2017, Gogue retired with his wife, Susie, to Auburn. But when his successor, Steven Leath, abruptly resigned less than two years on the job, Gogue's two-time alma mater came knocking. And he answered. "When somebody like Auburn asks if you would consider coming back for a few months or whatever it is while they go through the search, I said, 'Sure, I'd be delighted to do it,'" Gogue said, reflecting on many memorable years on The Plains. Three items immediately came to mind for him to prioritize: getting ready for summer graduation, gearing up for 5,000 freshmen in August and preparing the University's budget for presentation in September.
 
Governor forces vote on controversial U. of South Carolina presidential finalist while students away
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has successfully pressured the University of South Carolina's board of trustees to cast a vote on a controversial candidate for president, said Trustee Charles H. Williams. McMaster has called every member of the school's board of trustees pressuring them to support former West Point Superintendent Robert L. Caslen to be the next president of USC, Williams said. A vote is scheduled for this Friday at 10 a.m., Williams said. "(McMaster) has met with some board members and said if they didn't call a meeting he would," he said. "I don't think it's appropriate." "This political pressure, it ain't right," Williams said. USC's longest serving board of trustees member, Eddie Floyd, supported the governor's involvement and said he will vote in favor of Caslen at Friday's meeting. "I think the governor being involved is very good," Floyd said. "He has a strong history with the university."
 
New UT-Knoxville chancellor announces office hours, ORNL partnership plans
Five days into the job, University of Tennessee's new chancellor Donde Plowman has talked to nearly a thousand people: 14 internal one-on-ones, nine sit-downs with donors, two group meetings and a gigantic freshmen get-together with more than 700 incoming freshmen with their families. She's not stopping there. Plowman said starting this week she plans to hold weekly office hours in the campus library to meet with students, staff, faculty, or anyone else who needs to bend her ear. Plowman said she is excited to plan celebrations for the school's quasquibicentennial (225th) year as a university. "It's a great time to pause and think about what makes us strong, what has brought us to this point and how we're going forward," she said. One way Plowman hopes to attract more students and increase research at UT is through the newly approved Oak Ridge Institute, an "umbrella," that will encompass the University of Tennessee's current research partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and make way for new ones.
 
Raises OK'd at U. of Arkansas for officials; chancellor in line for jump of 3.1%
Joe Steinmetz, top campus administrator for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, received his first salary increase since starting as chancellor in 2016 after a board of trustees vote Tuesday. Steinmetz now earns annual compensation of $714,000 after a raise in his salary to $464,000 from $450,000. The 3.1% increase in salary goes along with annual deferred compensation of $250,000 for Steinmetz. In the past, Steinmetz has turned down a salary increase, UA spokesman Mark Rushing has said. Information released by other universities to the Democrat-Gazette shows variations in pay for top campus leaders. Jim Coleman, UA's provost and executive vice chancellor, now earns a salary of $321,484, up from $315,180, an increase of 2%. Coleman also receives a $12,000 car allowance.
 
Prosecutors place blame on ex-LSU student in Max Gruver's hazing death
Two former members of LSU's now-banned Phi Delta Theta chapter testified Tuesday they saw an obnoxiously loud Matthew Naquin hand Max Gruver a bottle of 190-proof liquor and order him to chug from it the night the 18-year-old pledge died of alcohol poisoning following a 2017 hazing event at the fraternity house. But Naquin, who is standing trial on a felony negligent homicide charge in Gruver's death, wasn't the only Phi Delta Theta member who ordered pledges to drink alcohol the ill-fated night of Sept. 13, 2017, Ryan Isto and Patrick Forde told a six-person jury and two alternates. Isto, who was Naquin's roommate at LSU, said he also saw Sean-Paul Gott, of Lafayette, hand alcohol to pledges and tell them to drink. Forde also said he witnessed Gott scream at pledges and order them to drink. "Did you ask pledges to drink that night?" prosecutor Morgan Johnson asked Isto. "Yes," he answered, adding he did not ask Gruver to drink because he "didn't know him well enough."
 
UGA assists in first statewide assessment of peer support
Individuals in recovery from addiction or mental illness often struggle with managing wellness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Without any assistance, many cycle back into hospitals, jails or homelessness. Georgia's peer support program helps people achieve well-being and independence, and will soon benefit from work conducted by University of Georgia researchers. Over the next 16 months, researchers at the UGA School of Social Work will develop an assessment tool, or measurement standard, that the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities can use to gauge peer support settings across the state. The project will help state policymakers identify and address service inequalities.
 
U. of Missouri names interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity
NaTashua R. Davis will serve as MU's interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity starting July 26, Chancellor Alexander Cartwright announced Tuesday morning. Davis is currently the executive director of the university's Access and Leadership Development Unit. Her appointment comes after Kevin McDonald, the current vice chancellor, announced that he will be departing MU this summer for a similar role at the University of Virginia. Currently, Davis oversees development and programming in the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, including the Men and Women of Color Honor & Ambition initiatives, the Emerging Leaders Academy and the Graduate Scholars of Excellence program. She also serves as the director of the federally funded MU McNair Scholars Program, which aims to support and engage first-generation college students and students from underrepresented communities.
 
Michigan college sues over $5 million donated to U. of Missouri
A Michigan college is making a claim on $5 million donated to the University of Missouri by alumnus Sherlock Hibbs, who died in 2002. The lawsuit against the MU Board of Curators alleges the university isn't spending the money according to Hibbs' wishes, spelled out in his will, and therefore Hillsdale College in southern Michigan is entitled to the $5 million as a third-party beneficiary if MU doesn't fulfill the requirements of the will. The Missouri Supreme Court on July 1 ordered the venue of the lawsuit be moved from St. Louis County, where it had been filed, to Boone County. Hibbs' will required the university to establish three chairs and fund them with $1.1 million each, and three distinguished professorships, two with $567,000 and one with $566,000. The will requires each of the chairs and distinguished professors to be a "dedicated and articulate disciple" of the Ludwig von Mises Austrian School of Economics, which emphasizes free markets, private property and limited government.
 
Colleges work to inform students on dangers of identity theft and phishing
With college students facing issues such as phishing or identity theft, some university and college security departments are incorporating different strategies in order to raise awareness of cybersecurity issues. The number of individuals reporting identity theft in recent years has increased, and according to Consumer Reports, college students are more susceptible to identity theft than any other age group. Additionally, according to a report from the Federal Trade Commission, student loan identity theft increased in 2017 and 2018. "The younger generations are much more willing to freely give away their information," said Joel Garmon, chief information security officer at the University of Pittsburgh. "At this point in their lives, they don't feel they have the need to be guarding it, so they'll sometimes hand out anything or everything. Their willingness to give out information -- many times needlessly -- is a big hurdle."
 
UT-Austin to provide free tuition to students with family incomes below $65,000
Seeking to make college more affordable, the University of Texas will use some of its oil money to dramatically expand the financial aid it offers to low- and middle-income undergraduates on its flagship Austin campus. The system's governing board approved a special $160 million distribution from its endowment Tuesday, which school officials expect will fully cover the tuition and fees of students whose families earn up to $65,000 in adjusted gross income a year starting in 2020. The funding, which will be used to create a new financial aid endowment, will also let UT-Austin alleviate tuition costs for students whose families earn up to $125,000 annually, if they demonstrate financial need. School officials estimate about a quarter of its undergraduates from Texas -- 8,600 students -- would have their tuition fully paid under the new plan, and an additional 5,700 would receive financial aid from it.
 
U. of Alaska's accreditor warns that funding cuts could threaten system's status
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is warning Alaska legislators that a 41 percent cut to the state university system's budget could threaten its accreditation status. "I write today to share my concern over the proposed reduction in funding, and urge you and your colleagues to ensure the University of Alaska campuses are provided adequate funding to continue the delivery of high-quality public education to the citizens of Alaska," Sonny Ramaswamy, the commission's president, wrote in a letter to the Alaska Legislature. "Failure to properly fund these institutions could have disastrous effects, including the potential loss of accreditation, that could be felt for generations. I urge you to please reconsider this year's drastic budget reductions being proposed." Other groups have urged Alaska's Legislature to override a $130 million system budget veto by Republican governor Mike Dunleavy.
 
Neshoba County Fair 2019 political heat should include more than the thermometer
Syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes: There will be just over seven hours of political speaking at the 2019 Neshoba County Fair, but most of the attention will focus on a half-hour on Thursday morning, a half-hour on Thursday afternoon, and a half-hour or so on Wednesday afternoon. Gubernatorial contenders Tate Reeves, Jim Hood, and Bill Waller Jr. speak back-to-back between 10:10 to 10:40 a.m. on Thursday. The Attorney General contenders speak Thursday afternoon back-to-back. The secretary of state candidates will speak back-to-back on Wednesday. ... The Wednesday political speaking will be divided, as usual, by a break for the traditional Meridian Day program from 11:15 a.m. until 1 p.m. ... For more information, visit www.neshobacountyfair.org.


SPORTS
 
Mississippi State women in gold-medal game
Mississippi State's women will go for the gold today at the World University Games. Playing in Italy as USA Team, a roster of past, present and future MSU basketball players will take on defending champion Australia today at 1 p.m. CDT. "There are people in this profession and players who play their whole career that don't get this kind of opportunity," said MSU's Vic Schaefer, head coach of USA Team. "I'm really happy for our players." The red, white and blue Bulldogs defeated Japan 89-84 on Monday to reach the gold medal game, while the Aussies defeated Portugal 56-49. USA Team is 5-0 in Naples, needing big rallies against Japan and in the quarterfinals against China to advance. Schaefer's squad outscored those opponents a combined 41-22 in the fourth quarter to reach the championship game. It's been a coming-out party for 6-foot-2 McDonald's All-American Rickea Jackson, who's averaging 23 points a game to lead the USA.
 
How's Tommy Stevens fitting in at Mississippi State?
Former Penn State quarterback Tommy Stevens is fitting in well at his new school. The graduate senior is at Mississippi State now after he decided to transfer out of the Lions' program following spring practice to reunite with old offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead. He'll be a part of a three-way battle for the chance to take first-team reps during summer camp, as Keytaon Thompson is a highly-regarded returner while Garrett Shrader is a true freshman and former Penn State recruiting target. Others are in the mix to replace Nick Fitzgerald as well, which means Moorhead will have his work cut out for him come decision time before the Bulldogs' opener opposite Louisiana-Lafayette on Aug. 31.
 
'How can I help?': Mississippi State senior willing to step up in any role
Alec Murphy has heard a certain sentence in his head all spring and summer. "Your key and what you need to master is the inside run." A year ago at this time, those words didn't pertain to the now senior running back from Nixa, Missouri. Murphy spent his first three years on Mississippi State's campus as a running back before transitioning to linebacker for his redshirt junior season. That position change wasn't one he anticipated making when getting to MSU in 2015. Murphy came to State as one of the best running back prospects out of Missouri. He combined for 2,840 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons at Nixa High School. But with just one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, Murphy has more tackles than carries -- and neither number is a high one. Six to two. It's hard for anyone to hear words like the ones Murphy has been hearing in his head for months and believe them to be true when they haven't held much weight for the majority of his time in maroon and white. Murphy isn't one to dwell on missed opportunities, though.
 
Mississippi State's Jake Gautreau tabbed National Assistant Coach of the Year
After helping the Mississippi State baseball program to consecutive trips to the College World Series for just the second time in program history, assistant coach Jake Gautreau was tabbed as the D1Baseball National Assistant Coach of the Year on Tuesday. "Jake has done a great job working with our hitters and infielders, along with serving as our recruiting coordinator," MSU coach Chris Lemonis said in a news release. "He was instrumental in transitioning from one coaching staff to another, helping both teams reach the College World Series." Under Gautreau's guidance, MSU batters notched historic numbers during the 2019 season. The Bulldogs led the NCAA in doubles (166), finished second in hits (755) and ranked fifth in team batting average (.315).
 
Mississippi State's Reggie Perry learning from overseas experiences
Just more than a month ago, Mississippi State sophomore forward Reggie Perry's future was decidedly unsettled. With his name still entered in the NBA Draft and the June 10 early-entrant withdrawal deadline fast approaching, MSU looked as though it would need to replace the former five-star recruit in 2020. That changed on May 28, when Perry decided to return to Starkville for his sophomore year -- writing on Twitter "The marathon continues." In the time since Perry's announcement, the big-man has continued to flash the impressive skillset that earned him All-SEC Freshman honors in 2019. A member of the U19 USA National Team during its recent run to the FIBA World Cup title in Greece, Perry averaged 13.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in seven contests. He was named to the FIBA World Cup All-Star 5 Team and earned Most Valuable Player Honors after helping Team USA to a 7-0 record and a 93-79 victory over Mali in the championship game Sunday.
 
Significant changes are on the way for the Southern Miss baseball staff
The Southern Miss baseball staff has mostly seen stability as Scott Berry enters his 11th year as head coach, but there will be significant changes entering the 2020 campaign. Texas A&M coach Rob Childress has hired USM associate head coach Chad Caillet as an assistant and USM volunteer assistant B.A. Vollmuth has decided to step away from the program and enter private business. Both men have played prominent roles for USM baseball with a combined total of 21 years at Southern Miss as either a player or coach. This will mark the second time in three years that Berry has had to replace a key member of the staff after Michael Federico as hired as the head coach at Louisiana-Monroe in 2017. Berry said that he's had about a dozen candidates reach out to show interest in the job since Caillet's departure was first reported late last week.
 
U. of South Carolina won't add alcohol sales at Williams-Brice in 2019
South Carolina will not sell alcohol outside of premium areas for the 2019 football season at Williams-Brice Stadium as it continues to evaluate the SEC's new alcohol policy, athletics director Ray Tanner said in a radio interview on 107.5 FM on Tuesday. That is a continuation of South Carolina's previous setup when the SEC did not allow beer and wine sales in general seating areas. Tanner said this policy decision only extends to the upcoming football season and added that USC continues to consider potential alcohol sales at basketball and baseball games in 2019-2020 and for football games starting as soon as the 2020 season. "You're gonna have people that are gonna say, 'Why aren't we doing this? We should be doing it right now,' and we're not there yet," Tanner said. There's a lot (with) the president, the board of trustees, we're not there logistically. A lot of things have to happen. We've been anticipating there's gonna be a change, and we've taken a look at it, but there's a lot of work to be done yet."
 
It's official: LSU names Eddie Smith new volunteer hitting coach to replace Sean Ochinko
LSU baseball has its new volunteer. The school announced Tuesday afternoon that it has hired former Tulane assistant Eddie Smith to be its new volunteer/hitting coach. Smith, who played under coach Paul Mainieri at Notre Dame, replaces former LSU standout Sean Ochinko in that role. "We're extremely excited to add Eddie Smith to our staff, and we're very fortunate to have him," Mainieri said in a statement. "Eddie is a very experienced coach with a proven track record of success. He combines his intelligence and coaching ability with a tremendous work ethic, and he is going to be a very impactful asset to our program." Smith, 35, worked as Tulane's hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for the past two seasons. LSU is limited to having two full-time paid assistants: pitching coach Alan Dunn and recruiting coordinator Nolan Cain. A Southeastern Conference-sponsored proposal to allow schools the discretion to add a third paid assistant for baseball and softball was voted down in April by the NCAA Division I Council.
 
Report: Razorbacks top NCAA in meal spending
The University of Arkansas spent $7 million on meals for athletes during a two-year reporting period that ended in 2017, according to an analysis of nutritional spending by Forbes that was published Tuesday. The $3.5 million-per-year average is the highest in the NCAA, according to Forbes, $400,000 more annually than Ohio State, which was second in spending at an average of $3.1 million per year. According to Forbes, eight programs -- Michigan, Iowa, Texas A&M, Texas, Minnesota and Kansas, in addition to Arkansas and Ohio State -- averaged spending more than $2 million annually on food for athletes in 2016-17. The figures do not include money spent on athletes at away competition sites. The report stated that Arkansas' athletes are provided two meals each day at the Jerry and Gene Jones Center for Student-Athlete Success, a 55,000-square-foot dining and tutoring facility that opened in 2015. Public universities are required to report how much they spend on meals for athletes each year. In fiscal year 2018, Arkansas spent $3,550,375 on non-travel spending, a total that includes meal allowances in addition to food and snacks.
 
Gators take next step in digital evolution
Attention Gator Nation: It's time to mark Aug. 1, 2019, on your electronic calendars. The University Athletic Association will be launching the new Florida Gators App, where fans can connect his or her Ticketmaster account to the app. This will allow fans the opportunity to store their tickets (season, package, or single-game) on the app and enter Ben Hill Griffin Stadium using their phone. This feature will be available for all fans (including students) this fall. This is the first time in school history that UF students will not have to go to the student ticket-office outside Gate 13 during the week of a game to pick up his or her tickets. Their tickets, with seat locations, will be sent directly to them on their phone during the week of a home game. "Our primary goal is to transform the gameday experience," said UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin. "This app, along with its features and the new Wi-Fi system inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to handle its capabilities, allows us to provide enjoyment and convenience to our fans when they attend games or receive information from us."
 
Clemson football will consider another facelift for Memorial Stadium
Clemson spent more than $95 million on stadium improvements from 2004 to 2015. But according to athletic director Dan Radakovich, Clemson could spend more to upgrade stadium amenities, including a new scoreboard and premium seating behind the east end zone. t is the trending strategy for many college programs, who are thinking bigger by building smaller. Instead of expanding, they are repurposing their real estate and replacing conventional bleacher seating with innovative enclosures, suites and clubs. Radakovich said Clemson would like to augment Memorial Stadium without tampering with its traditions, obstructing scenic sightlines or drastically altering its current capacity, 81,500. When it comes to stadium atmosphere, Clemson's most formidable rival is not in Columbia. It is in your living room. To fill Memorial Stadium for seven Saturdays each fall, Clemson must convince fans to abandon the comforts and conveniences of their home viewing experience.
 
David Sansing, esteemed historian, who lived a most wonderful life and knew it
Mississippi sports columnist Rick Cleveland writes: Professor David G. Sansing, who died July 6 at age 86, surely will be remembered as one of the state's most respected and prolific historians. He dearly loved Mississippi and its history, and he wrote eloquently and often on the subject. But that's not how the late Willie Morris, the splendid Mississippi author, introduced Sansing to me back in the early 1980s. "Rickey, this is Professor David Sansing, the eminent historian who teaches here at Ole Miss," Willie said, his eyes already twinkling at his next line. "But more importantly, Dr. Sansing is the Emperor of the South End Zone." This was back when the south end zone at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was nothing more than bleachers. This was before all the concrete, glass and the luxury suites, back when an eclectic cluster of writers, professors, bookstore owners, bartenders, bohemians and occasional famous visitors would gather to cheer the Ole Miss Rebels. They called themselves the South End Zone Rowdies. Sansing, a highly respected faculty member, could have sat on the 50-yard line. He and his wife, Lib, preferred the end zone.



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