| Wednesday, November 6, 2019 |
| New MSU Bulldog Coffee Shop opens in downtown Meridian | |
 | A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for a brand new coffee shop in downtown Meridian Tuesday morning. "We're excited to offer this coffee bar in downtown Meridian to better serve the businesses down here, the community at large, and just provide a space for people to come downtown to hang out and have a good cup of coffee," says Terry Dale Cruse, the head of campus for MSU-Meridian. The MSU Bulldog Coffee Shop is all part of the investment that the Riley Foundation and MSU-Meridian have made to downtown Meridian to revitalize the area and boost the local economy. MSU-Meridian officials say that coffee shops are becoming an integral part of a city's downtown area and so this is an exciting time for Meridian. "[Coffee shops] provide an area for people to socialize as well as enjoy coffee; of course we have our MSU ice cream and cheese here and sandwiches, and so I think it's a very important part to the revitalization of downtown Meridian and the community we're trying to build here," Cruse says. |
| U.S. CEOs who win trade barriers for their firms see big compensation boost: study | |
 | The compensation of U.S. CEOs rises sharply when their companies gain import restrictions against foreign competitors, according to a new research paper. The study compared executive pay -- both direct compensation and incentives -- at over 1,000 U.S. companies between 1994 and 2015, before and after those firms won import restrictions through antidumping and countervailing duty orders. It found CEO compensation rose an average of 17% after the barriers were in place. Brian Blank, the author and an assistant professor of finance at Mississippi State University's College of Business, said he expected to find the increase was linked to improved financial performance by the company. "But I didn't find any evidence of better performance at these firms," said Blank in an interview with Reuters. His theory is that the CEOs become more powerful within their firms as result of successfully winning high-profile victories such as trade protection. |
| Mississippi State, Belhaven University partner for dual degree program | |
 | Top officials from Mississippi State University's Bagley College of Engineering and Belhaven University's School of Science and Arts signed an agreement recently to create a new dual degree program for undergraduate students. The partnership offers students an opportunity to simultaneously earn a degree in mathematics, biology, business, chemistry or computer science from Belhaven and an engineering degree from Mississippi State University. "This partnership with Belhaven University will bring excellent students to MSU and expose them to world-class engineering faculty that are leaders in their field," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "I'm proud to partner with Belhaven to create more educational opportunities in Mississippi, and I look forward to seeing these students thrive in our Bagley College of Engineering and then begin an impactful career." |
| Bricklee Miller beats Daniel Jackson in narrow District 4 supervisor race | |
 | Bricklee Miller didn't get too excited about her comfortable 215-vote lead in the Oktibbeha County District 4 supervisor race before the absentee ballots were counted. She finally relaxed at 2 a.m. today when the 831 absentee ballots gave her a 230-vote victory over Daniel Jackson, and the county's remaining 212 affidavit votes will not affect the outcome. Miller, a Republican, became Oktibbeha County's first female supervisor in 2015 when she unseated Jackson, a Democrat. "From a cool drink on the campaign trail to the polling booth today, (the voters) are the reason we were successful," Miller said. Jackson could not be reached for comment this morning. In another tight race, incumbent Democrat C. Marty Haug narrowly defeated Republican Cindy Mills to hold his District 3 Justice Court Judge by 138 votes, 1,728-1,590. Mills is the daughter of former Justice Court Judge James "Jim" Mills, who held the same seat until 2015 when he lost the Democratic primary to Haug and now State Rep. Cheikh Taylor. Haug went on to claim the seat in a runoff. |
| Mississippi Republicans sweep governor, 6 statewide offices | |
 | Mississippi voters handed Republicans continued control of the governor's office and victories in six other statewide races, as they also decided a host of legislative and local offices. Here's a look at the key races on Mississippi ballots: Republicans are keeping their hold on the governorship in Mississippi, despite facing the best-funded Democrat in more than a decade. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves on Tuesday defeated Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood and two candidates who ran low-budget campaigns. Republicans have been governor in Mississippi for 24 of the last 28 years. The last Democratic governor lost in 2003 as he sought a second term. |
| Republican Tate Reeves wins Mississippi governor race | |
 | Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves won the race for Mississippi governor Tuesday night, defeating Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood. Republicans were on track Tuesday to control all statewide elected offices in Mississippi and are expected to maintain super-majority control of the Legislature. It will be the first time since Reconstruction that Republicans control all statewide elected offices in Mississippi. In incomplete and unofficial results, Reeves led Hood on Tuesday night 52% to 47%. After a race filled with attack ads, Reeves took a conciliatory tone in his victory speech in downtown Jackson. "I will try to do what is right for the future of Mississippi," Reeves said. "And I mean all the people of Mississippi." After spending months tarring Hood as a liberal beholden to trial lawyers and national Democrats, Reeves downplayed any acrimony, joking that they disagreed on a few issues. He called Hood a dedicated public servant and asked the crowd to applaud Hood. |
| Tate Reeves defeats Jim Hood, secures Republican sweep of statewide offices | |
| Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves defeated Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood in the governor's race on Tuesday, securing a Republican sweep of all eight statewide offices. The crowd chanted, "Tate! Tate! Tate!" as the next governor took the stage to give his victory speech. Reeves asked the crowd to applaud Hood for his "commitment to serve in public office, forgoing what would otherwise have been a lucrative career in private practice." He focused much of his speech on thanking his family for their support. Reeves, 45, spent his campaign focusing on conservative values and attacking Hood as a liberal. That refrain continued as he thanked about 200 supporters gathered at the Westin in downtown Jackson Tuesday night shortly after his victory was announced. The Reeves win also solidified the first-ever sweep of all eight statewide offices for the Republican Party. |
| Republican wins Mississippi governor race | |
 | Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) will ascend to the state's top job after winning a contentious and competitive race for governor in one of the most conservative states in the country. With 93 percent of precincts reporting, Reeves led Attorney General Jim Hood (D) by a 53 percent to 46 percent margin. The Associated Press projected Reeves would win the race. While Mississippi has long been conservative, it has only recently become a reliably Republican state, as ancestral Democrats abandon their old party. Hood tried to fashion himself as a down-home Democrat, using advertisements to talk about his hunting and fishing habits and his gun. But he quietly used one of the nation's most popular Democrats, former President Obama, to help bolster African American turnout. Obama recorded a robo-call on Hood's behalf that went out Monday night, just hours before the polls opened. |
| Analysis: Lessons from Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia elections may not be what you think | |
 | Voters in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Virginia were gracious enough to go to the polls on Tuesday and give us some tangible results to chew over with 12 months to go before the 2020 elections. Here are some thoughts. Kentucky was not an upset. Inside Elections changed its rating on the governor's race from Lean Republican to Toss-up in mid July after finding Gov. Matt Bevin very vulnerable. So those who were surprised by Democrat Andy Beshear's declared victory weren't paying close enough attention. Suburbs continue to be a problem for Republicans. Tuesday's results continued to demonstrate GOP problems in the suburbs since Trump took office. Mississippi is a red state. State Attorney General Jim Hood was viewed as the strongest possible Democratic candidate. He lost by 5 points. |
| Election 2019 takeaways: What we learned from Kentucky, Virginia, and Mississippi | |
 | The Democrats swept Virginia. The Republicans swept Mississippi. And Kentucky is still too close to call. Tuesday's election might have looked like a draw but Democrats emerged feeling victorious as they head into the 2020 elections since most of Tuesday's marquee matchups were being played on Republican turf. Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, called Tuesday's results a "humiliation" for President Donald Trump. But Republicans downplayed unfavorable results, particularly in Kentucky, saying Gov. Matt Bevin's poor performance there would have been worse had Trump not gotten involved. For all the glee from Democrats surrounding Virginia and Kentucky, consider this: Mississippi Republicans soon will hold all eight statewide offices for the first time since Reconstruction. Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves' victory over Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood, who will be giving up his seat in January, means the Magnolia State will be entirely controlled by the GOP. |
| Delbert Hosemann wins race for lieutenant governor | |
 | Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann will be Mississippi's next lieutenant governor. Hosemann beat his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Jay Hughes 61% to 39% on Tuesday night. In his new role, Hosemann will oversee the state Senate and exercise significant sway over legislation moving through the Capitol. Hosemann has promised to make education a priority and advocated for a version of Medicaid expansion in the state to help struggling rural hospitals. During his victory speech on Tuesday night, he focused on education reform, drawing cheers from the crowd when he mentioned funding pre-kindergarten, teacher raises and career and technical training. "We have great things going on in Mississippi public education and we need to make sure we fund those properly and give them the respect they deserve so all of us can prosper," he said in front of more than 100 people at The South in downtown Jackson. |
| Lynn Fitch elected Mississippi's first female attorney general | |
| Lynn Fitch will become the first woman to serve as Mississippi's attorney general after the Republican candidate defeated Democrat Jennifer Riley Collins on Tuesday. Fitch, who has been state treasurer since 2011, won with nearly 60% of the vote in the historic election. "I'm so blessed to be part of this history," Fitch said Tuesday night. "This is history for the entire state." Fitch said one of her role models was the late former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Gandy, the first statewide female elected official in recent history. Collins, who couldn't be immediately reached for comment Tuesday night, was attempting to not only become the first woman, but also the first African American elected to a state-wide office since Reconstruction. Fitch touted her 34 years of experience, including time as an assistant AG, as preparing her to step into the role of attorney general. |
| John Caldwell wins northern transportation commissioner race | |
 | Republican John Caldwell won the race for Northern District Transportation Commissioner on Tuesday, where he defeated Democrat Joe Grist in the state's general election. Caldwell, a former Desoto County supervisor, received 63.39% of the vote. He told the Daily Journal by phone on Tuesday night that he was humbled and grateful to the voters after winning the race. "We have a lot of work to do," Caldwell said. "It's a matter of being ready to go full speed. We're very encouraged by the people who have supported us." Caldwell's victory comes at a pivotal time for the state when approximately 411 bridges have been posted with weight limits and 65 bridges have been closed in Northeast Mississippi and when the leaders of rural towns have said future access to quality infrastructure will be the economic lifeblood of their municipalities. |
| Republican Shane Aguirre fends off Democratic challenger Cathy Grace | |
| Shane Aguirre has won a second term to his state House seat, according to nearly complete numbers available from the Lee County Circuit Clerk. Aguirre, a Republican incumbent, received about 4,795 votes, amounting to about 62 percent of the vote total. Democratic challenger Cathy Grace received 2,882 votes, according to the most recent numbers available. Aguirre represents House District 17, which is entirely within Lee County, including its western edge, as well as much of western and central Tupelo. Aguirre is an accountant, and has served as the vice chair of the banking and financial services committee in the House. Grace, with a long career spent as an educator, put public schools and education policy foremost in her campaign. She advocated for an expansion of pre-kindergarten in Mississippi and expanded teacher pay. |
| McCaughn, Smith win legislative seats in east Mississippi | |
| Voters in two East Mississippi legislative districts chose new state lawmakers in the general election Tuesday. In Senate District 31, Republican Tyler McCaughn defeated challenger Mike Marlow, a Democrat. The district covers Newton County, Scott County and Northwest Lauderdale County. The seat has been held by Sen. Terry C. Burton of Newton since 1992. Burton did not seek re-election. McCaughn, a Newton attorney, said he will continue what Burton started, by focusing on jobs, education and infrastructure. In House District 84, Republican Troy Smith won over Independent candidate Roy May, receiving about 75 percent of the vote in Clarke County. The district covers most of Clarke County and the eastern section of Newton County and Jasper County. Smith said education would be his top priority as legislator. |
| Senate Race between Scott DeLano, Dixie Newman decided by about 200 votes | |
 | The special election to determine who will represent Senate District 50 came down to about 200 votes on Tuesday. Rep. Scott DeLano and Biloxi Council President Dixie Newman, both Republicans, watched the votes came in from the five precincts with split Senate districts. It was DeLano and his supporters who were cheering when the unofficial results showed he finished with 1,456 votes to Newman's 1,254, a difference of 202 votes. Newman, wearing a hot pink suit, had tears in her eyes as she praised her "hard-working team" of volunteers who worked on her campaign for 9 months. "We have no regrets," said Newman, who turns 34 on Wednesday. "I wish the best for District 50. I wish the best for our state," Newman said at her campaign party at her coffee shop in Biloxi. Several of her supporters cried as she addressed the crowd. |
| Ag commish vows to keep 'Frankenmeat' out of Mississippi -- unless it's called Frankenmeat | |
| Near the end of Andy Gipson's speech at the Mississippi Hobnob, Gipson, the state's agriculture commissioner, pulled some papers out of his jacket and held them aloft. He told them Mississippi could be sued --- again --- over a new food-labeling law that is days away from being enforced. "The lab-grown meat industry sent a letter threatening to sue me. You know what were gonna do?" Gipson asked the crowd of business leaders. "We ain't gonna settle. Let them sell them that blob of stuff -- 'Frankenmeat' -- here in the state of Mississippi. If it ain't meat, they can't call it meat." It's the latest kerfuffle over a new state law that some have called unnecessary and over-regulation. The law, passed earlier this year, bans non-meat products from using meat-related terms to market their products. |
| 'The kind of voter Trump can't lose:' Working-class white women drift toward Democrats | |
 | One of the essential storylines of the 2016 presidential election was the hidden Donald Trump voter: the person who wasn't surveyed by pollsters or comfortable telling friends or family about who they thought was best to lead the country. Three years ago, thousands of these Americans -- many working-class, residing in the middle of the country -- helped deliver the most astounding electoral surprise in modern history. Now, as they review the Trump presidency a year before his re-election, some are showing signs of turning on conventional wisdom again. It's these voters -- packed in eastern Iowa, central Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, northern Ohio and throughout Michigan -- who will wield outsized influence over Trump's 2020 fate. Republican pollster Patrick Ruffini calls these women the essential voter as it relates to the Electoral College. Trump carried non-college-educated white women by 27 points in 2016. They've been slipping away ever since. |
| U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., broaches sending military into Mexico fray | |
| If Mexico doesn't do more to protect American citizens when they're south of our border, the U.S. government may need to intervene militarily, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., told Fox News on Tuesday. His comments came hours after President Donald Trump offered, via Twitter, to help Mexico "wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth." Both men were responding to the murder of nine people with dual citizenship in Mexico and the United States. During an interview with Fox News' Neil Cavuto, the lawmaker from Dardanelle repeatedly raised the possibility that armed intervention would be required. The U.S. wants to work with Mexico, Cotton said. Terence Garrett, a professor in the Public Affairs and Security Studies Department at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, warned that unilateral military action by the U.S. would come at a cost. "Mexico would never accept any US intervention into Mexico. It would likely result in a war," he wrote in an email. |
| Oceans in Action workshop shows off latest in marine technology | |
 | Collaboration and innovation are happening now on the Gulf Coast as federal, state, local and private organizations get a look at the latest marine technology out there. The Mississippi Enterprise for Technology and The Marine Technology Society's Oceans in Action workshop is underway this week. The three-day workshop is a regional marine technology event focuses on emerging technologies, presentations, meetings, and exhibits of the latest technology. Live demonstrations will also take place at USM's Marine Research Center. Dozens showed up Monday to learn and build connections for the future. "We have got some fabulous speakers lined up. Not just for today but for the next couple of days. And this has really been top notch. We have seen some high quality talks," said Ocean in Action Chairmen Laurie Jugan. |
| New parking lights guide Auburn students to open spots | |
| Technology is casting a broader shadow over on-campus parking at Auburn University. Lights indicating which spots in the stadium parking deck are open were recently added to make finding a spot more efficient. The total cost of implementing the system in the stadium deck was about $181,277, according to Don Andrae, director of Transportation Services. That includes cameras, signage and installation costs. When a light is red, it indicates there aren't any spots available in that local area, and when it shines green, it signals there are open parking spots. Blue lights indicate that handicap accessible parking areas are located nearby. Andrae said each light represents about four to six parking spots. The lights and cameras alone cost approximately $60,000. As part of the project, there will be two signs at the entrances of the deck that will indicate how many open spots are in the deck. |
| U. of Florida contributed $16 billion to state economy | |
| Florida's flagship university contributed billions to the state's economy, and the high numbers are no surprise to some. The analysis of the 2017-2018 fiscal year shows UF is responsible for more than one percent of the state's gross domestic product and workforce, as well as more than half of the workforce in Alachua County. UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences commissioned the report, written by UF faculty Alan W. Hodges, an extension scientist; Caleb A. Stair, a lecturer and Christa D. Court, an assistant professor. Hodges said the UF Office of Government and Community Relations and the Vice President of Research asked for the report. In total, the university and UF-related entities contributed more than $16 billion to the state economy in that fiscal year. UF is also responsible for more than 130,000 full-time and part-time jobs in the state. |
| Three days of activities celebrate first generation UGA students | |
 | Carson Kuck, a first-generation student from middle Georgia who currently attends the University of Georgia, vividly remembers gathering his family into the car and praying on the drive to a parking lot with Wi-Fi to check his email after getting word that UGA had released its admissions decisions. After seeing animated fireworks in the acceptance email and feeling emotions he said he could not begin to describe, he was proud his hard work in high school had paid off. In that moment, he knew his life had changed. "Now and forever, my family, my brothers, my future spouse and children's lives are going to be changed," he said. "My family's entire life has been doing what it takes to get me what I need." UGA's First-Generation College Celebration takes place Wednesday through Friday to bring faculty, staff and students together in unity as both "first-gens" and first-gen advocates across campus. |
| Clothing that lasts: Textile exhibit at U. of Missouri serves as a contrast to fast fashion | |
 | For thousands of years, clothing was made only from plants and animals -- cotton, fur, linen, wool, silk, leather, even grass and pineapple leaves. That changed in the 1930s when DuPont invented nylon. It was durable and inexpensive, and it revolutionized the apparel industry. But it also evolved into today's disposable clothing mentality where fast fashion is worn, tossed and quickly replaced. The Missouri Historic Costume and Textile Collection at the University of Missouri has something to say about that. Two textile curators have put together a series of exhibits that take a loving look at the age-old practice of using natural elements to produce environmentally friendly clothing. The series was designed to illustrate the enduring qualities of natural fibers and serve as a healthy contrast to the perils of our throwaway culture. |
| Most Of Nation's Top Public Universities Aren't Affordable For Low-Income Students | |
 | America's top public universities, known as flagships, are generally the most well-resourced public universities in their respective states -- think the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor or the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. They're rigorous schools, and many were built on federal land grants meant to serve the "industrial classes." Today, only four public flagship universities are affordable for students from low-income families, according to a report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy. Access to public universities can be critical for low-income students because those institutions can serve as engines for upward mobility. And these schools aren't living up to their responsibility to remain affordable, says Mamie Voight, one of the study's authors from IHEP. A combination of factors makes many of these schools unaffordable for low-income students. State funding for higher education suffered big cuts during the Great Recession, which contributed to tuition increases. |
| Funding for minority-serving colleges caught in the crossfire of Senate dispute | |
 | More than a month after $255 million in funding for minority-serving colleges expired, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) took to the Senate floor on Tuesday to request unanimous approval to extend the money. Senate Education Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) objected, shutting down the vote but offering to address the funding in a higher education bill he introduced earlier this year. Cardin returned the favor with an objection of his own that stymied Alexander's request for unanimous consent for his bill. The funding, established in 2008, is for schools that primarily educate minority students: tribal colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, and historically black colleges and universities. Many colleges use the money for STEM programs -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- and for scholarships and to improve facilities. The Education Department said money from the current appropriation will carry over into the next year. But the uncertainty around future funding is already having an impact. |
| 'Goodness and humor' celebrated as 'Sesame Street' turns 50 | |
| Fifty years ago, beloved entertainer Carol Burnett appeared on the very first broadcast of a quirky TV program that featured a bunch of furry puppets. Blink and you might miss it, but Burnett followed a cartoon about a witch called Wanda, which was loaded with words beginning with the letter w. That show was "Sesame Street" and Burnett, like a lot of kids, was instantly hooked. "I was a big fan. I would have done anything they wanted me to do," she said. "I loved being exposed to all that goodness and humor." This first episode of "Sesame Street" -- sponsored by the letters W, S and E and the numbers 2 and 3 -- aired in the fall of 1969. It was a turbulent time in America, rocked by the Vietnam War and raw from the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King the year before. The media, like today, was going through disruption. |
| Elections limited sensible education discussions | |
| Syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes: After many months of speeches, political ads, TV and radio commercials and social media propaganda, trying to have a serious discussion of education funding in Mississippi is in great measure a fool's errand and an errand that is dependent on one's world view. With all that posturing and number-tossing, did we really learn anything useful or new? The takeaway seems that there is a substantial appetite for higher education funding, but not for the new taxes or the spending cuts in other vital government services necessary to provide that funding. For the record, in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget, Mississippi spent $2.937 billion on education or 52.99 percent of the state's $5.548 billion in Regular General Fund appropriations. That's $2.234 billion or 40.21 percent on K-12 public education and $716.1 million or 12.78 percent on the state's eight public universities and 15 public community colleges. And by anyone's measure, Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative and rich or poor, $2.937 billion is a lot of money. But the question of the worth of that investment, now that's a question heavily dependent on one's world view and partisan and philosophical affiliations. |
SPORTS
| 'He's a player': Tyson Carter leads Mississippi State to season-opening win | |
| Mississippi State needs Tyson Carter to be an offensive juggernaut until junior point guard Nick Weatherspoon returns from his 10-game suspension. In Tuesday night's season opener against Florida International, he was. According to FIU head coach Jeremy Ballard," he's a player." Carter, a senior starting at point guard while Weatherspoon is sidelined, scored 23 points at Humphrey Coliseum as the Bulldogs beat the Panthers, 77-69. "We had a lot of respect for him coming in," Ballard said. "We have more respect for him coming out." Mississippi State stays at home to take on Sam Houston State on Friday at 7 p.m. |
| Tyson Carter's 23 points lead Mississippi State to victory in season opener | |
| Tyson Carter is still learning how to be an efficient point guard. Mississippi State's lone senior torched Florida International with 23 points and made 5 of 9 3-pointers in Friday's 77-69 season-opening win at Humphrey Coliseum. But in his 34 minutes of action, he also committed eight turnovers, some he attributed to mental mistakes resulting from fatigue. In all, MSU shot 54.4 percent from the floor but gave away the ball 18 times. "We just have to do a better job taking care of the ball," Carter said. Some turnovers were inevitable considering the style the Panthers play. MSU spent the days leading into its season opener preparing for a hardwood track meet, knowing full well the Panthers finished with the highest adjusted-tempo last season according to KenPom.com. FIU came into Starkville hoping to create chaos with their fast pace, and for a good portion of the night, it worked. |
| Mississippi State overcomes Panthers' press in season opener | |
| Florida International's full-court press gave Mississippi State fits early on in Tuesday's season opener. But the Bulldogs were finally able to maneuver their offense around it for a 77-69 victory despite committing 18 turnovers. "I knew coming into this game how hard it was going to be with the style that they play," said MSU coach Ben Howland. MSU is without starting point guard Nick Weatherspoon for the first 10 games of the season due to an NCAA suspension so the Bulldogs are relying on senior Tyson Carter and freshman Iverson Molinar to bring the ball up the floor while Weatherspoon is out. Carter committed eight turnovers against the Panthers' press but made up for it with a game-high 23 points, seven rebounds and six steals. The Starkville product was 8 of 16 from the floor and 5 of 9 from 3-point range. "I've been working (at point guard) all offseason but it's different when you get into a game," Carter said. "I've got to make sure I get into shape. Thirty minutes is a lot of minutes to play and fatigue contributed to some of those turnovers and some of those turnovers were just mental mistakes that I've got to correct." |
| Reggie Perry, Iverson Molinar give Mississippi State added boost in win over FIU | |
| Reggie Perry rumbled into the open court. Crossing midcourt with the Florida International defense on his back, Perry flicked a slick, right-handed bounce pass to redshirt freshman guard D.J. Stewart for an easy transition layup midway through the opening half of MSU's 77-69 win over Florida International on Tuesday at Humphrey Coliseum. "I feel like that's what I'm best at," Perry said of getting out in transition. "I feel like it's just about making the right reads and it's one of my best attributes, so I'm really comfortable with it and coach (Ben) Howland has a lot of faith in me." Entering the season, the 6-foot-11, 250-pound center was expected to be a dominating post presence -- so much so he was named to the preseason first team All-SEC team. But Tuesday it was Perry's complementary play and an impressive offensive display from freshman Iverson Molinar that aided the Bulldogs in their season-opening victory. |
| More preseason honors for Mississippi State's Reggie Perry | |
| Preseason honors continue to roll in for Mississippi State's Reggie Perry. Perry earned a place on the preseason watch list for the Naismith Trophy, the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 and the NABC Preseason Top 20 Player of the Year watch list. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound sophomore forward from Thomasville, Georgia started 18 of 34 games for the Bulldogs last season averaging 9.7 points and 7.2 rebounds. Perry was also a Preseason All-SEC first team selection and earned the most valuable player at the FIBA World Cup over the summer. |
| Did boos at other sports events drive Trump to Alabama's expected cheers? | |
 | The question perhaps is not so much if embattled President Trump will be warmly received at Saturday's college football showdown in Tuscaloosa. Instead, maybe the question is if Trump -- fighting an impeachment inquiry threatening his presidency -- is searching for the cheers after getting booed at a World Series game last month and a mixed reaction at a UFC event last weekend. If not for the, at best, lukewarm reaction at those two sporting events, would Trump be traveling to see No. 1 LSU play No. 2 Alabama? And at an event where he figures to receive overwhelming cheers? Jess Brown, a retired political science professor at Athens State University, began his answer with, "We'll never know." But he speculated that, yes, two mediocre receptions pushed Trump in search of a definitive avalanche of cheers. "I think they were looking for a high-profile venue where he would get cheers and he would get no mixed response or boos," Brown said. |
| Alabama-LSU: Joe Burrow thinks Trump attending game is 'pretty cool' | |
| President Donald Trump plans to attend the marquee game of the college football season when No. 1 Alabama hosts No. 2 LSU on Saturday in Tuscaloosa. And Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow has zero issues with that. "Regardless of your political views, that's pretty cool, having the president at your game," Burrow told reporters Monday. "It doesn't matter whether you're a Democrat or a Republican. The president at the game is pretty cool." Preparations have already been made for the president's arrival, with gates at Bryant-Denny Stadium opening at 11:30 a.m. -- three hours before kickoff -- and fans being encouraged to arrive in advance of the start time to account for increased security screening measures. |
| LSU football practice report: Gov. John Bel Edwards attends practice | |
 | The No. 1-vs.-No. 2 showdown between LSU and Alabama is drawing so much national attention, President Donald Trump is expected to attend at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. In LSU's practice Tuesday afternoon, Gov. John Bel Edwards got a close look at the Tigers himself. Edwards, who hosted the football team's freshmen at the Governor's mansion in June, struck up a friendship with LSU's Ed Orgeron shortly after the head coach was hired full-time after the 2016 season and has since been near the team on several occasions. Edwards was scheduled to speak to the team on Tuesday, according to Edwards spokeswoman Christina Stephens. LSU athletic director Scott Woodward also watched during the open portion of Tuesday's practice. LSU safety Grant Delpit was not seen for the fourth straight media viewing of practice, although Orgeron said Monday that he expects the unanimous All-American to play against Alabama. |
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