2 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.

com COLLEGE FOOTBALL

COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 3

FOOTBALL MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

2010 2009 Team Statistics
A publication of MS OPP
SCORING 307 321
THE DISPATCH Points Per Game
FIRST DOWNS
25.6
229
26.8
219
Rushing 140 98
P.O. Box 511
Columbus, MS Passing 78 108
39703 Penalty 11 13
RUSHING YARDAGE 2731 1752
(662) 328-2424 Yards gained rushing 3072 2054
Yards lost rushing 341 302
Editor and Rushing Attempts 555 442
Average Per Rush 4.9 4.0
Average Per Game 227.6 146.0
Publisher
Birney Imes TDs Rushing 21 18
PASSING YARDAGE 1732 2640
Comp-Att-Int 153-266-17 187-332-17
Sports Average Per Pass 6.5 8.0
Average Per Catch 11.3 14.1
Adam Minichino Average Per Game 144.3 220.0
Henry Matuszak TDs Passing 9 18
David Miller TOTAL OFFENSE 4463 4392
Total Plays 821 774
James Bailey Average Per Play 5.4 5.7
(correspondent) Average Per Game 371.9 366.0
KICK RETURNS
No.-Yds 61-1514 57-1253
Cover Design PUNT RETURNS
No. -Yds 15-151 13-173
Jackie Taylor INT RETURNS
No.-Yds 17-417 17-147
Photographers KICK RETURN AVE 24.8 22.0
PUNT RETURN AVE 10.1 13.3
Luisa Porter INT RETURN AVE 24.5 8.6
Kelly Tippett FUMBLES-LOST 23-13 22-8
PENALTIES-Yds 67-590 67-517
Average Per Game 49.2 43.1
Graphic Artists PUNTS-Yards 51-1986 60-2372
Average Per Punt 38.9 39.5
Jackie Taylor Net punt average 34.0 35.0
Holona Yarber TIME OF POSS/Game 31:46 28:13
3RD-DOWN Conversions 53/159 56/154
3rd-Down Pct 33% 36%
How to reach us 4TH-DOWN Conversions 14/25 9/18
Sports 4th-Down Pct 56% 50%
SACKS BY-Yards 18-88 20-130
Department: MISC YARDS 13 0
327-1297 TDS SCORED 37 41
FGs-ATTEMPTS 16-21 12-16
ON-SIDE KICKS 0-2 0-1
To report RED-ZONE SCORES 33-44 32-39
RED-ZONE TDs 21-44 22-39
game scores PAT-ATTEMPTS 35-35 39-41
(24-hour line): ATTENDANCE 376,544 264,578
Gms/Avg PGm 7/53792 5/52916
Neutral Site Games 0/0
In Mississippi:
241-5000 Coaching Staff
Head Coach
In Alabama: Dan Mullen

1-888-477-1555 Assistant Coaches

n Manny Diaz
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
E-mail: n John Hevesy

n sports@
Offensive Line /
Running Game Coordinator
n Mark Hudspeth
cdispatch.com, Wide Receivers /
n aminichino@ Passing Game Coordinator
n Tony Hughes
cdispatch.com, Safeties / Recruiting Coordinator

n hgmsports@
n Greg Knox
Running Backs
n Les Koenning
cdispatch.com, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
n dmiller@ n Scott Sallach
Tight Ends
cdispatch.com n Melvin Smith
Cornerbacks/Nickelbacks
n Chris Wilson
Co-Defensive Coordinator /
Fax: Defensive Line
n Jon Clark
662-329-8937 Assistant AD/Football Operations
n Matt Balis
Head Strength Coach
n Rockey Felker
Director of Player Personnel /
High School Relations
n Mark Ouimet
ABOUT THE COVER Courtesy of Mississippi State Sports Information
Mississippi State senior offensive lineman Derek Sherrod will try to help the offense equal the success it had
Assistant Recruiting Coordinator

running the football last season. The Bulldogs led the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards per game.
2009

SHERROD HAS PERFECT BLEND

Caledonia High School product mixes technique, strength to be driving force on offensive line
Sept. 5
Sept. 12
Sept. 19
Sept. 26
RESULTS
JACKSON ST W 45-7
At Auburn L 49-24
At Vanderbilt W 15-3
LSU L 30-26
Oct. 3 GA TECH L 42-31
Oct. 10 HOUSTON L 31-24
BY DAVID MILLER “(Sherrod) has become technical and fundamental in every- Oct. 17 At MTSU W 27-6
dmiller@cdispatch.com thing he does,” Hevesy said. “Plus, Oct. 24 FLORIDA L 29-19
more technical and he’s become a more powerful player Oct. 31 At Kentucky W 31-24
STARKVILLE — Mississippi instead of just being a technician. Nov. 14 ALABAMA L 31-3
State senior Derek Sherrod might fundamental in everything The guy works his butt off.” Nov. 21 At Arkansas L 42-21
be the most unassuming football Nov. 28 OLE MISS W 41-27
player you will meet.
he does.” By the time a player hits his sen-
ior season, he hopes to be at the top
Mississippi State football
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
Sure, he stands 6-foot-6 and of his game and ready to tap every
coach Dan Mullen is weighs more than 300 pounds, but Mississippi State offensive line ounce of potential. Sherrod believes
shown last season after
aside from appearance you won’t coach John Hevesy he’s on schedule with where he
2010
his team defeated the
find him leading the pregame hype thought he’d be when he saw
University of Mississippi
circle or jumping and hollering on led the SEC in yards per game last reserve duty as a freshman in ’07. SCHEDULE
to win the Egg Bowl
the field. season. But even with the success “I really do feel like I’m at the
Trophy. To Mullen’s right,
Sherrod prefers a methodical Anthony Dixon and Chris Relf best of my ability,” Sherrod said. Sept. 4 MEMPHIS

Ole Miss coach Houston

approach to his preparation and how Sept. 9 AUBURN
enjoyed running the ball last season “Working out with (strength) coach Sept. 18 At LSU
Nutt and to Mullen’s left,
he plays the game. He’d rather com- and the prep acclaim he achieved, (Matt) Balis, he’s going to get you to Sept. 25 GEORGIA
University of Alabama
bine his natural ability with an the Caledonia High School graduate maximize everything you got. I can’t Oct. 2 ALCORN STATE
coach Nick Saban. Photo
uncanny sense of detail and focus to wanted to work on becoming a com- say enough about our summer pro- Oct. 9 At Houston

credits: MSU sports

get his job done. plete left tackle. gram and what we got done in the Oct. 16 At Florida

information, Ole Miss

But don’t let the smile and the Sherrod’s aim was to continue weight room. I feel stronger, I feel Oct. 23 UAB
Oct. 30 KENTUCKY
sports information, Kent
smarts fool you, Sherrod is one of fundamental work, an aspect MSU quicker, and the rest of the focus Nov. 13 At Alabama
Gidley, University of
the Southeastern Conference’s top offensive line coach John Hevesy now is on having a good camp.” Nov. 20 ARKANSAS

Alabama.
offensive linemen. mentioned when he was asked Along with center J.C. Brignone, Nov. 27 At Ole Miss
Sherrod was the key bookend for about his offensive linemen.
MSU’s punishing ground game that “(Sherrod) has become more See SHERROD, 15 HOME GAMES IN CAPS

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232 Alabama St. • Columbus, MS • 327-1606 101 Airport Road • Starkville, MS • 662-323-8021
4 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

MAKING MOST
OF ALL OF HIS
PHYSICAL GIFTS
Wright hopes to use his potential, size
to play bigger role in Bulldogs’ new defense
BY DAVID MILLER
dmiller@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — One
look at K.J. Wright is all
you need to tell he’s a foot-
ball player.
At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds,
“built like a linebacker” is
an understatement for the
Mississippi State senior
weak-side linebacker.
MSU defensive coordi-
nator and linebackers
coach Manny Diaz said
Wright’s length and speed
make him unique, and that
he envisions him having a
monster year.
Diaz, a first-year assis-
tant coach at MSU, raves
about Wright’s potential as
if he’s a prized incoming
freshman, almost giddy
about what’s to come in
the team’s new defensive
system.
Even with coaching
experience at Florida State
and North Carolina State,
the former Middle
Tennessee State defensive
coordinator admits proto-
type athletes don’t come
along very often.
“He’s so long and
rangy, and when he goes
somewhere he takes less
Courtesy of Mississippi Sports
Information
K.J. Wright had 82
tackles, including six and
a half for loss last year. He
will be counted on to play
a bigger role this season
in a new defense.
“His arms are so
long, and the
advantage of
having long arms is
in tackling — it’s
like reach for a
boxer — so
physically he’s
gifted in terms of
all those types of
things.”
Mississippi State
co-defensive coordinator
Manny Diaz
steps than you and I to get
there,” Diaz said. “His
arms are so long, and the
advantage of having long
arms is in tackling — it’s
like reach for a boxer —
so physically he’s gifted in
terms of all those types of
things.”
NFL talent evaluators
already know Wright’s tal-
ent and ideal measurables.
NFL.com’s Gil Brandt has
the Olive Branch native
ranked as the No. 5 draft-
eligible linebacker for
2011.
Wright smiled when
asked about the NFL and
See WRIGHT, 15

MSU Football Game /

DawgTalk Call-in Show Radio Affiliates Mullen leads rejuvenated team into season
City Station Frequency BY CHRIS TALBOTT “I think we’ve really raised road schedule is brutal with games
Aberdeen WWZQ-AM* 1240 The Associated Press at LSU, Houston, Florida, Alabama
Amory WAMY-AM* 1580 expectations for State fans and Ole Miss. That has had Mullen
Batesville WBLE-FM 100.5 STARKVILLE — Here’s a word watching those record season ticket
Biloxi/Gulfport WBUV-FM/WQYZ-FM 104.9/92.5 not often heard around here this and really brought them
Bude WMJU-FM* 104.3
sales this season.
Columbia WCJU-FM* 104.9
time of year: Enthusiasm. back to life.” “In the Southeastern Conference,
Corinth WKCU-AM* 1350
As the start of football season when you’re playing on the road
Ferriday, La. KWTG-FM* 104.7
appr oaches, there’s a lot of tough environments,”
Mississippi State
French Camp WFCA-FM* 107.9
Mississippi State Mullen said. “That’s why it’s critical
coach Dan Mullen
Greenville WDMS-FM* 100.7 coach Dan Mullen that we do sell out our stadium, that
Greenwood/Indianola WTCD-FM* 96.9 feels it everywhere we do sell out our season tickets and
Grenada WOHT-FM* 92.3 he goes. Mullen was lifeless Bulldogs played, pushing we have great support at home
Hattiesburg WMXI-FM* 98.1 worried the faithful several opponents to the brink because if you’re going to have a
Jackson WZNO-FM* 105.9 would lose it over the
McComb WAKK-FM* 104.9
despite what was considered the great year it always starts with win-
Memphis, Tenn. KQPN-AM* 730
long offseason, but nation’s toughest schedule. ning home football games.”
Meridian WMOX-AM* 1010 Mullen there are no signs of The team was always on the Mullen has several notable gaps
Monticello WRQO-FM* 102.1 fan fervor tailing off attack and everyone loved it. to fill if Mississippi State is going to
Philadelphia WWSL-FM* 102.3 for the Bulldogs. “He wants us to compete, always make the postseason for just the
Tupelo WXWX-FM* 96.3 “We kind of created this frenzy,” compete,” safety Charles Mitchell second time since 2000. He feels
Tylertown WTYL-FM* 97.7 Mullen said. “As you’re looking at it said. “He brought lots of energy to confident in the defense, which
Vicksburg WVBG-FM* 105.5 at this point, season ticket sales are this program and fun, a lot of enthu- returns Mitchell, defensive end
Waynesboro WABO-AM 990
West Point WKBB-FM* 100.9
up. When you go to different meet- siasm.” Pernell McPhee and linebacker K.J.
Winona WONA-FM* 95.1
ings and clubs around the state There’s that word again, but the Wright.
Yazoo City WBYP-FM*/WELZ-AM* 107.1/1460
everyone’s really excited for the sea- Bulldogs learned enthusiasm only But there are several pressing
son, so I think we’ve really raised gets you so far last season in a num- questions on offense, the most
NOTE: All stations above will carry Mississippi State’s 2010 expectations for State fans and real- ber of close games. Mullen has notable are at quarterback and run-
football games. ly brought them back to life.” spent the offseason preaching the ning back. Though Chris Relf
The stations denoted with a * also will carry MSU coach Dan That kind of reaction to a 5-7 sea- value of finishing plays and finishing rushed for 133 yards and accounted
Mullen’s weekly call-in show, DawgTalk, from 7-8 p.m. Thursdays games. for three touchdowns in a 41-27 win
beginning Sept. 2 (exceptions - Sept. 6 and Nov. 22). Fans can call
son is unusual. But it’s not the final
into the show by dialing 866-998-4893.
result that has Mississippi State The schedule isn’t much easier
faithful amped. It’s the way the once this year, though. The Bulldogs’ See MULLEN, 15

Post-Spring Depth Chart

#
HA
NK
' S
1
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WR 9 Leon Berry
87 Chris Smith
WR 1 Chad Bumphis

LT
OFFENSE

3 Brandon Heavens
79 Derek Sherrod
6-0
6-2
5-10 195
5-10 175
6-6
205
210

305
SR
So
SO
So
SR
PK 37 Sean Brauchle
SPECIALISTS

-OR- 40 Derek DePasquale

P 38 Heath Hutchins
-OR- 39 Baker Swedenburg

DE 90 Pernell McPhee
DEFENSE
5-10 180
5-8
6-1
6-0

6-4
180
205
190

285
SR
SR
SR
FR

SR
hanksbbq.net • hanks1bbq@yahoo.com 75 Blaine Clausell 6-7 305 Fr
57 Johnathan McKenzie 6-6 265 RFR

Getcha Some!
LG 55 Quentin Saulsberry 6-2 305 JR
DT 97 Josh Boyd 6-3 295 SO
68 Templeton Hardy 6-3 300 So
95 James Carmon 6-7 345 JR
C 70 J.C. Brignone 6-1 300 SR DT 94 Fletcher Cox 6-4 300 SO
71 Sam Watts 6-4 305 RFr 60 Devin Jones 6-0 270 SO
Great for tailgating or any time! RG 67 Tobias Smith 6-3 305 SO DE 36 Nick Bell 6-3 265 SO

Menu 74 Mark Melichar

RT 62 Addison Lawrence
6-5
6-4
300
300
Sr
JR LB
99 Sean Ferguson
10 Cameron Lawrence 6-2
6-3 255
225
JR
SO
Sandwiches 76 Phillip Freeman 6-6 305 SR 48 Emmanuel Gatling 6-0 220 SR
Pulled Pork BBQ • Rib • Smoked Turkey
TE 32 Marcus Green 6-1 235 JR LB 50 Chris White 6-4 245 SR
58 Brandon Wilson 6-0 245 SO
88 Kendrick Cook 6-3 250 JR
Plates
LB 34 K.J. Wright 6-4 250 SR
85 Brandon Henderson 6-2 245 SR
BBQ • St. Louis Style Ribs • Smoked Turkey
51 Deonte Skinner 6-2 235 RFR
RB 2 Robert Elliott 6-0 215 JR
Sides
LCB 15 Maurice Langston 5-10 180 SR
-OR- 28 Vick Ballard 5-11 215 JR
Baked Beans • Baked Potato Salad • Coleslaw • Chips
26 Damein Anderson 5-11 195 JR
27 LaDarius Perkins 5-10 190 RFR
Little Smokers
SS 4 Charles Mitchell 5-11 205 JR
8 Montrell Conner 6-2 225 RFR
Pork Slammers • Hot Dog
7 Wade Bonner 5-10 200 JR
FB 35 Patrick Hanrahan 5-11 235 SR
Bulk Orders FS 13 Johnthan Banks 6-2 180 SO
23 Sylvester Hemphill 5-11 235 SO
Smoked Meat • Turkey Breast • Boston Butt •
Shoulders • Loin Back Ribs • St. Louis Ribs 42 Zach Smith 5-11 195 SR
QB 14 Chris Relf 6-4 240 JR RCB 25 Corey Broomfield 5-10 180 SO
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Family Meal Deals • Desserts
COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 5

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI REBELS

Ole Miss 2009 Team Statistics
SCORING
Points Per Game
FIRST DOWNS
OM
384
29.5
266
OPP
230
17.7
211

has new Rushing

Passing
Penalty
RUSHING YARDAGE
Yards gained rushing
122
132
12
2387
2673
106

1824
2243
89
16

Yards lost rushing 286 419

sense of Rushing Attempts

Average Per Rush
Average Per Game
TDs Rushing
503
4.7
183.6 140.3
22
470
3.9

10
PASSING YARDAGE 2844 2267

optimism A t t - C o m p - I n t. 377-205-21 396-198-13

Average Per Pass
Average Per Catch
Average Per Game
TDs Passing
7.5
13.9
5.7
11.4
218.8 174.4
22 12
TOTAL OFFENSE 5231 4091
Picked to finish last Total Plays 880 866
Average Per Play 5.9 4.7
in SEC West, Nutt’s Average Per Game 402.4 314.7
KICK RETURNS: No.-Yds 46-1068 62-1411
PUNT RETURNS: No.-Yds 28-292 13-109
team out to surprise INT RETURNS: No.-Yds 13-260 21-417
KICK RETURN AVE 23.2 22.8
BY CHRIS TALBOTT PUNT RETURN AVE 10.4 8.4
The Associated Press INT RETURN AVE 20.0 19.9
FUMBLES-LOST 20-10 23-11
PENALTIES-Yards 72-564 78-564
OXFORD — University Average Per Game 43.4 43.4
of Mississippi coach PUNTS-Yards 56-2304 81-3243
Average Per Punt 41.1 40.0
Net punt average 36.7 35.4
Houston Nutt made a splash
by adding a single player to TIME OF POSS/Game 29:53 30:07
his roster in August, with 3RD-DOWN Conversions 73/177 57/192
3rd-Down Pct 41% 30%
fans counting the wins for- 4TH-DOWN Conversions 10/19 11/21
mer Oregon quarterback 4th-Down Pct 53% 52%
SACKS BY-Yards 36-248 17-114
Jeremiah Masoli can add to MISC YARDS 0 65
the schedule. TDS SCORED 49 25
Nutt has FGs-ATTEMPTS 15-20 18-25
ON-SIDE KICKS 0-1 1-2
RED-ZONE SCORES 38-43 30-44
tried to tem-
per expecta- RED-ZONE TDS 27-43 15-44
tions by Matthew Sharpe/University of Mississippi Sports Information PAT-ATTEMPTS 45-48 24-24
University of Mississippi senior defensive lineman Jerrell Powe has persevered through off-the field difficulties and ATTENDANCE 390,368 299,677
r eminding Games/Avg Per Game 7/55767 5/59935
Neutral Site Games 1/77928
fans of the is now ready to have a major impact in what likely will be his final season with the Rebels.
talented
Coaching Staff
Nutt
last January.
Gone is
players the
Rebels have
lost since

Dexter
PERSEVERANCE PAYS FOR POWE
Wayne County High standout had to wait to take field, but has transformed into force up front
n Tyrone Nix
Assistant
Head Coach
Houston Nutt

Assistant Coaches

McCluster, who became
the first Southeastern
Conference player with
1,000 yards rushing and
500 yards passing.
“Where’s that 1,500
yards going to come
from?” Nutt asked.
Nutt asked the same
question about the 1,000
receiving yards from Shay
Hodge, who also has
moved on to the NFL.
And then there’s the
departure of Jevan Snead,
who caught Nutt by sur-
prise when he decided to
See OLE MISS, 14
Head Coach/Defensive
Coordinator/Linebackers
n Kim Dameron
BY ADAM MINICHINO Safeties
“Many people probably tion to have a chance to realize a
n Ron Dickerson
aminichino@cdispatch.com dream to play professional football. Wide Receivers
wouldn’t be at this point if “It is the type of character he n Mike Markuson
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
n Derrick Nix
OXFORD — Kentrell Lockett has,” Lockett said. “Many people
knows just about ever y side of they would have went probably wouldn’t be at this point if Running Backs
n Terry Price
Jerrell Powe. Defensive Line
He has seen the domestic side of
through what he has been they would have went through what
n Dave Rader
he has been through. It just shows a Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
the famed grill master, who is through.” lot about him, the determination, n James Shibest
known for his barbecue skills and the character, the motivation, to get Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
n Chris Vaughn
Recruiting Coordinator/Cornerbacks
his knack for making catfish, jamba- back to the caliber player he was in
University of Mississippi senior
laya, and other culinary delights. n Lanier Goethie
Kentrell Lockett, talking about high school and back to the weight. Graduate Assistant
n Clark Irwin
Lockett also has seen the smash- It just shows the type of standard he
teammate Jerrell Powe
Graduate Assistant
mouth side of his University of holds for himself to get back and do n Mike Beaumont
Assistant Athletics Director for Football
Mississippi teammate, who last sea- Lockett also has come to love the what he needs to do.”
Operations
n Andy Commer
son at defensive tackle tied for the side of Powe many people might not Powe has slimmed down from a
team lead in tackles for loss and know. That side of Powe guides his high weight in the 380-pound range Coordinator of Video Services
n Ken Crain
Head Equipment Manager
earned second-team All- generosity off the field and his feroc-
Southeastern Conference honors. ity on it, and has put him into posi- See POWE, 14 n Don Decker
Head Football Strength Coach
n Clifton Ealy
Assistant Athletics Director for Community

City
Amory
Ole Miss Football Radio Network
Station
WAFM-AM
Frequency
1580
Rebels glad to have three at QB Relations

2009
Biloxi WBUV-FM 104.9 Addition of Masoli provides needed depth, gives team new set of options RESULTS
Brookhaven WBKN-FM 92.1 Sept. 6 At Memphis W 45-14
Corinth WXRZ-FM 94.3
BY ADAM MINICHINO lenge for playing time from Sept. 19 SE LOUISIANA W 52-6
aminichino@cdispatch.com
Greenwood WTCD-FM 96.9
former East Mississippi Sept. 24 At S. Carolina L 16-10
Community College All-
Hattiesburg WFMM-FM 97.3
Oct. 3 At Vanderbilt W 23-7
OXFORD — Jeremiah American Randall Mackey. Oct. 10 ALABAMA L 22-3
Hazelhurst WDXO-FM 92.9
Masoli said all of the right Instead, Stanley showed Oct. 17 UAB W 48-13
Jackson WFMN-FM 97.3
things earlier this month at Oct. 24 ARKANSAS W 30-17
he remains a team player.
Kosciusko WLIN-FM 101.1
Oct. 31 At Auburn L 33-20
the University of “We were thin at quarter- Nov. 7 N. ARIZONA W 38-14
Lexington, Tenn. WZLT-FM 99.3 Mississippi football team’s back and bringing him in is Nov. 14 TENNESSEE W 42-17
Louisville WLSM-FM 107.1 media day. Stanley Mackey definitely going to help us Nov. 21 LSU W 25-23
McComb WAZA-FM 107.7
It’s not out at quarterback,” Stanley Nov. 28 At Miss. St. L 41-27
Jan. 2 Okla. St. W 21-7
Memphis, Tenn. WHBQ-AM 560
often a walk- the puzzle,” Masoli said. said. “I’m going to keep con-
Meridian WZKR-FM 103.3
on — let “Whatever the team needs tinuing to do what I do and HOME GAMES IN CAPS

Natchez WKSO-FM 97.3

alone one me to do, I am going to do. what I’ve done the last two
Oxford WQLJ-FM 93.7
who already years. Whatever happens
has earned
That’s my personal expecta-
happens.”
OLE MISS
Philadelphia WHOC-AM 1490
tions as well as team goals.”
an under- Ole Miss’ ability to man- SCHEDULE
Prentiss WJDR-FM 98.3
Later that morning
graduate inside the team’s indoor age its quarterback situa-
Tupelo WWMR-FM 102.9 Masoli degree — practice facility, Nathan tion figures to be a key Sept. 4 JACKSONVILLE ST.
Vicksburg WVBG-AM 1420 question this season. Not Sept. 11 At Tulane
is a featured Stanley said all of the right
Waynesboro WABO-AM 990
Sept. 18 VANDERBILT
speaker. That obligation things — and answered the only will the Rebels have to
West Point WROB-AM 1450
Sept. 25 FRESNO STATE
usually falls only to the head same question numerous replace Snead, who threw Oct. 2 KENTUCKY
Yazoo City WBYP-FM 107.1 coach. times. The sophomore 20 touchdowns and 20 inter- Oct. 16 At Alabama
But given the attention quarterback, who moved ceptions last season, they Oct. 23 At Arkansas
NOTE: Broadcasts can be heard on the Internet through surrounding Masoli’s deci- atop the depth chart after also will have to replace All- Oct. 30 AUBURN
OleMissSports.com’s RebelVision.
sion to transfer to Ole Miss, Jevan Snead left school a SEC running back Dexter Nov. 6 LA-LAFAYETTE
it was natural for the former McCluster (1,717 all-pur- Nov. 13 At Tennessee
year early to declare for the
pose yards, 11 touchdowns) Nov. 20 At LSU
University of Oregon quar- NFL draft, didn’t pout about Nov. 27 MSU
terback to take the podium. Masoli’s arrival, or the fact
“I’m just another piece of he could receive a chal- See QBSs, 14 HOME GAMES IN CAPS

Post-Spring Depth Chart

OFFENSE SPECIALISTS
SE 16 Markeith Summers
85 Ja-Mes Logan
5 Melvin Harris
6-3
6-2
6-7
205
195 RFR
205
SR

SO
PK 81 Bryson Rose

P
46 David Hankins
97 Tyler Campbell
6-0
6-3
6-2
193
222
210
SO
JR
SO
Rodney A. Ray
LT 78 Bradley Sowell 6-7 315 JR 96 Andrew Ritter 6-3 205 SO

70 Emmanuel McCray 6-4 300 RFR

DEFENSE
AT T O R N E Y AT L A W
End 7 Wayne Dorsey 6-6 265 JR
LG 73 Alex Washington 6-4 305 JR
55 Cameron Whigham 6-2 255 FR
60 Josh Tatum 6-5 300 SO
Nse 57 Jerrell Powe 6-2 320 SR
67 Chris Gill 6-5 282 RFR
99 Ted Laurent 6-1 303 SR
C 76 A.J. Hawkins 6-4 305 SO DT 96 Lawon Scott 6-2 310 SR
56 Evan Swindall 6-3 295 RFR
301 Fifth Street South
94 LaMark Armour 6-21/2 280 SR
RG 75 Rishaw Johnson 6-4 305 JR End 40 Kentrell Lockett 6-5 260 SR
62 Michael Brown 6-5 305 RFR 90 Gerald Rivers 6-5 245 SO
Suite B
RT 79 Bobby Massie 6-6 310 SO WLB 15 Joel Kight 5-9 225 SO
54 Logan Clair 6-5 315 RJR 98 Alex Williams 6-4 225 FR
Columbus, Mississippi 39701
TE 83 Ferbia Allen 6-4 235 SO MLB 51 Jonathan Cornell 6-1 235 SR
32 Reggie Hicks 6-2 245 SR 42 D.T. Shackelford 6-1 235 SO

FL 10 Jesse Grandy 5-10 165 SO SLB 9 Allen Walker 6-1 230 SR Phone: (662) 329-0110
52 Mike Marry 6-2 237 FR
21 Lionel Breaux 6-0 198 SR
LCB 4 Marcus Temple 5-10 188 JR Licensed in the States of Mississippi and Florida
QB 12 Nathan Stanley 6-4 215 SO
3 Charles Sawyer 5-11 175 FR
1 Randall Mackey 6-5 190 JR
SS 20 Johnny Brown 6-0 212 SR
8 Jeremiah Masoli 6-5 220 SR
5 Frank Crawford 6-0 185 FR
RB 34 Brandon Bolden 5-11 215 JR
FS 35 Fon Ingram 6-0 205 SR
27 Enrique Davis 6-0 220 JR 1 Damien Jackson 6-2 205 JR
2 Rodney Scott 5-8 200 SO RCB 6 Jeremy McGee 5-10 185 SR Experience • Integrity • Results
FL 33 E.J. Epperson 6-2 250 SO 25 Ryan Campbell 6-0 180 RFR
45 H.R. Greer 5-11 225 SO © The Dispatch
6 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

2009 Team Statistics
SCORING
Points Per Game
FIRST DOWNS
Rushing
ALA
449
32.1
288
153
OPP
164
11.7
188
66
McELROY KEEPS
Passing
Penalty
RUSHING YARDAGE
Yards gained rushing
Yards lost rushing
Rushing Attempts
117
18
3011
3296
285
601
105

1094
1509
415
17

395
GROWING AS
Average Per Rush 5.0 2.8
Average Per Game
TDs Rushing
PASSING YARDAGE
Att-Comp-Int
Average Per Pass
Average Per Catch
215.1
31
2631

7.6
12.4
78.1

2324
346-212-5 449-210-24
5

5.2
11.1
LEADER OF TIDE
Average Per Game 187.9 166.0
Rhodes Scholarship candidate feels stronger,
TDs Passing 17 11
TOTAL OFFENSE
Total Plays
5642
947
3418
844
confident entering second season as starter
Average Per Play 6.0 4.0
Average Per Game 403.0 244.1
BY ADAM MINICHINO Intellectual Journey: From
KICK RETURNS: No.-Yds 34-793 80-2005 aminichino@cdispatch.com Childhood, to Present Day
PUNT RETURNS: No.-Yds 39-587 17-156
to the Future, How I
INT RETURNS: No.-Yds 24-319 5-31
KICK RETURN AVE 23.3 25.1
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Progressed as an
PUNT RETURN AVE 15.1 9.2 Greg McElroy has grown Individual,” has been
INT RETURN AVE 13.3 6.2 up on the football field.
FUMBLES-LOST 16-7 17-7
revised to include an intel-
PENALTIES-Yards 69-598 86-729 From apprentice to lectual problem to over-
Average Per Game 42.7 52.1 backup to starter to come. McElroy now is
PUNTS-Yards 58-2407 96-4036
Average Per Punt 41.5 42.0
national champion, examining if football talent
Net punt average 34.7 34.3 McElroy has traveled a is more learned or if it a
TIME OF POSS/Game 33:31 26:29 long road to the top of the natural skill.
3RD-DOWN Conversions 76/194 58/194
3rd-Down Pct 39% 30% college football world at “It is all outside the
4TH-DOWN Conversions 10/17 9/24 the University of Alabama. box, it is all intellectual, it
4th-Down Pct 59% 38%
SACKS BY-Yards 32-265 20-112
And while the senior is all abstract,” McElroy
MISC YARDS 0 0 hopes to lead the Crimson said. “There is no right
TDS SCORED 52 18 way to do it. You just have
FGs-ATTEMPTS 30-36 12-17
Tide to another champi-
ON-SIDE KICKS 0-0 3-3 onship this season, he also to develop your own prod-
RED-ZONE SCORES 51-59 16-24 would like the opportunity uct, for lack of a better
RED-ZONE TDS 28-59 8-24
term.”
PAT-ATTEMPTS 43-47 16-16
to continue to grow off the
ATTENDANCE 644,084 279,178 football field at a place McElroy said his paper
Games/Avg Per Game 7/92012 4/69794 started as an intellectual
Neutral Site Games 3/81791
where the best of the best
get to study. autobiography and a dis-
cussion of where he want-
Coaching Staff In December, McElroy
ed to take his life. He said
Head Coach
applied for a Rhodes
Nick Saban Scholarship and is in the he met with an advisor and
the project evolved into an
Assistant Coaches process of revising an
n Burton Burns - Associate Head Coach / essay he plans to submit examination of intellectual
Running Backs
Alex Gilbert/University of Alabama Sports Information
University of Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy led the Crimson Tide to a 14-0 as part of his application. problems he has faced and
n Curt Cignetti - Receivers / record and a national championship last season. He said he has improved and feels The essay, which was
Recruiting Coordinator
more comfortable leading coach Nick Saban’s offense. initially titled, “My See McELROY, 13
n Bo Davis - Defensive Line

nJim McElwain - Offensive

Coordinator/Quarterbacks

n Joe Pendry -
Coach/Offensive Line
Assistant Head
Saban keeping team grounded Crimson Tide At A Glance
OFFENSE — Virtually every
playmaker is back, led by
DEFENSE — One of the
nation’s top defenses the past
BY JOHN ZENOR Yep, Alabama was already planning a Heisman Trophy winner Mark two seasons will have a drastical-
n Jeremy Pruitt - Secondary
The Associated Press statue of the coach and celebration back Ingram. He and sophomore Trent ly different look. Gone are three
n Kirby Smart - Defensive Richardson form perhaps the All-Americans and two first-round
nation’s best backfield duo. Both NFL draft picks. Rising star DE
on campus, but Saban was working
Coordinator/Secondary
were preseason first-team All- Marcell Dareus is hard to block
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It was the toward next season — now this season —
n Bobby Williams - Tight Ends /
Special Teams
University of Alabama football team’s night after that 37-21 victory against Texas in SEC picks by league media. but must clear an NCAA hurdle
of glory. A national championship secured. Pasadena, Calif., secured the Tide’s sev- Then, there’s wide receiver Julio first. LB Dont’a Hightower returns
n Sal Sunseri - Assistant Head Another entry in a proud history. Jones — an All-America caliber from a knee injury to fill Butkus
talent — and quarterback Greg Award winner Rolando McClain’s
enth AP national title.
Coach/Linebackers
McElroy. The line has three spot. SS Mark Barron is an All-
And coach Nick Saban was, well, And there was plenty of work to do,
n Scott Cochran - Head Football Strength
and Conditioning Coach
being coach Nick Saban: A perfectionist even though Alabama is widely regarded starters back, including LT James American. There are talented
with a lesson to teach. as the favorite to repeat in both the Carpenter. Redshirt freshman younger players all over the
n Mike Vollmar - Associate Athletics Southeastern Conference and nationally. D.J. Fluker is expected to take place, including CB Dre
Director for Football
“Coach Saban came down on us imme-
over on right side. Despite all the Kirkpatrick and LB Nico Johnson.
talent, Alabama needs WRs Coordinator Kirby Smart has
diately after the game because of the way Just don’t call the Tide “defending”
we played in the fourth quarter,” quarter- Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks gone from working with the sec-
back Greg McElroy said. See SABAN, 13 to be more consistent threats. ondary to coaching linebackers.

Sept. 5
Sept. 12
2009
RESULTS
Va. Tech W 34-24
FLA. INTRTL W 40-14
Hightower eager
Sept. 19
Sept. 26
Oct. 3
Oct. 10
Oct. 17
N. TEXAS W 53-7
ARKANSAS W 35-7
At Kentucky W 38-20
At Ole MISS W 22-3
S. CAROLINA W 20-6
to return to field
Oct. 24 TENNESSEE W 12-10 BY ADAM MINICHINO Championship, and a
Nov. 7 LSU W 24-15 aminichino@cdispatch.com national title.
Nov. 14 At MSU W 31-3 Hightower’s return
Nov. 21 CHATTANOOGA W 45-0 TUSCALOOSA, Ala. —
Nov. 27 At Auburn W 26-21 from a left knee injury that
Dec. 5 Florida W 32-13 Dont’a Hightower is ready forced him to miss the
Jan 7 Texas W 37-21 to go — and the timing is final 10 games of the 2009
HOME GAMES IN CAPS perfect for the University couldn’t have come at a
of Alabama football team. better time.
One season after win- With 16 career starts,
ALABAMA ning the school’s 13th Hightower’s goal this sea-
SCHEDULE national championship, son is to forge a new iden-
the Crimson Tide enter tity for himself and to help
Sept. 4 SAN JOSE ST. the 2010 season having to a new Crimson Tide
Sept. 11 PENN STATE
Sept. 18 At Duke replace nine starters on defense trample a path to
Sept. 25 At Arkansas defense. another championship.
Oct. 2 FLORIDA That unit wasn’t a “I think we can be just
Oct. 9 At S. Carolina slouch. as good as we were last
Oct. 16 OLE MISS year,” said Hightower, a 6-
Oct. 23 At Tennessee Led by linebacker
Nov. 6 At LSU Rolando McClain and nose foot-4, 258-pound junior.
Nov. 13 MSU guard Terrence Cody, “We lost Terrence Cody
Nov. 18 GEORGIA ST. Courtney Davies/University of Alabama Sports Information Alabama allowed only 11.7 and guys like that, but we
Nov. 26 AUBURN points per game en route have (nose guard) Josh
University of Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower said he is back to 100 percent
after a knee injury cut short his 2009 season. He will be counted on to return to form to a 14-0 finish, a
HOME GAMES IN CAPS to help replace linebacker Rolando McClain, who is now in the NFL. Southeastern Conference See HIGHTOWER, 13

Crimson Tide Sports Network

City Station Frequency City Station Frequency
Alexander City, Ala. WBNM-AM 1050 Haleyville, Ala. WJBB-AM 1230
Anniston, Ala. WHMA-FM 95.5 Huntsville WUMP-AM 730
Appalachicola, Fla. WFCT-FM 105.5 WVNN-AM 770
Arab, Ala. WAFN-FM 92.7 WVNN-FM 92.5
Ashland, Ala. WCKF-FM 100.7 Jackson, Ala. WHOD-FM 94.5
Auburn, Ala. WMXA-FM 96.7 Jackson, Miss. WJFN-AM 970
Birmingham, Ala. WJOX-FM 94.5 Jasper, Ala. WJLX 1240/101.5
WJOX-AM 690 Lewisburg, Tenn. WAXO-AM 1220
Brewton, Ala. WKNU-FM 106.3 Linden, Ala. WINL-FM 98.5
Mobile, Ala. WZEW-FM 92.1
Butler, Ala. WPRN-FM 107.7
Monroeville, Ala. WMFC-AM 1360
Centre, Ala. WEIS 990 / 100.5
WMFC-FM 99.3
Chattanooga, Tenn. WUUQ-FM 97.3 / 99.3
Montgomery, Ala. WXFX-FM 95.1
Clanton, Ala. WHPH-FM 97.7
Opp, Ala. WAMI-FM 102.3
Columbia, Tenn. WMRB-AM 910
Panama City, Fla. WBPC-FM 95.1
Columbus, Ga. WEAM-AM 1580
Pell City, Ala. WFHK-AM 1430
Columbus, Miss. WSSO-AM 980
Pensacola, Fla. WTKE-FM 98.1
WSSO-AM 1230
Russellville, Ala. WGOL-AM 920
WSSO-AM 1400
Scottsboro, Ala. WKEA-FM 98.3
Corinth, Miss. WADI-FM 95.3
WWIC-AM 1050
Cullman, Ala. WJDN-AM 1460 Selma, Ala. WHBB-AM 1490
Decatur, Ala. WWTM-AM 1400 WDXX-FM 100.1
Dothan, Ala. WAGF-AM 1320 Spartanburg, S.C. WASC-AM 1530
WAGF-FM 101.3 Tallassee, Ala. WACQ-AM 1130
Fayette, Ala. WLDX-AM 990 Tuscaloosa, Ala. WFNN-FM 95.3
Florence, Ala. WTYK-FM 93.9 WTSK-AM 790
Fort Payne, Ala. WFPA-AM 1400 Vernon, Ala. WJEC-FM 106.5
Ft Walton Beach, Fla. WTKE-FM 98.1 West Point, Ga. WCJM-FM 100.9
Gadsden, Ala. WAAX-AM 570 Winfield, Ala. WKXM-AM 1300
Georgiana, Ala. WFXX-FM 107.7 WKXM-FM 97.7
Dusty Compton/AP
Alabama coach Nick Saban gives instruction at a practice Aug. 7 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 7

SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI GOLDEN EAGLES

USM STILL HAS
BAD TASTE FROM
END OF SEASON
From Special Reports
SOUTHERN MISS
The list of accomplish- SCHEDULE
ments for the Southern
Miss football program is a Sept. 2 At S. Carolina
Sept. 11 PR. VIEW A&M
long, storied one and the Sept. 17 KANSAS
2009 Golden Eagle squad Sept. 25 At La. Tech
helped to add to that Oct. 2 MARSHALL
ledger. Oct. 9 EAST CAROLINA
Southern Miss captured Oct. 16 At Memphis
its 16th-straight winning Oct. 30 UAB
Nov. 6 At Tulane
season, while also reach- Nov. 13 At UCF
ing a postseason bowl Nov. 20 HOUSTON
game for the eighth con- Nov. 26 At Tulsa
secutive year.
The squad was in the HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS
mix for the Conference
USA East Division crown do what we wanted to do.
until the final week of the We didn’t finish how we
regular season, but East wanted to finish and send
Carolina rallied to defeat our seniors off in the win.
Jack Duggan/Courtesy of Southern Miss Sports Information
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jonathan Guerry, left, a former standout at New Hope High School, will be a Southern Miss in We have to use this as
member of the traveling squad and will compete for playing time this season. Greenville, N.C., for the motivation in the off sea-
first time in the last eight son. We’ll work hard and

Guerry wants to be trusted teammate meetings at Dowdy-

Former New Hope High standout eager to show he can contribute on offensive line this year
BY ADAM MINICHINO
aminichino@cdispatch.com
It’s all about trust for Jonathan
Guerry.
That might sound like a simple
concept, but Guerry is just starting
to build relationships and to show
his teammates he can be counted on
in his second season as a member of
the Southern Mississippi football
team.
Guerry, who
helped anchor the
offensive line at New
Hope High School,
redshirted his fresh-
man season with the
Golden Eagles. He
spent all of his time
Guerr y with the scout team,
working to help pre-
pare the defense for what it would
see in games.
The role was a change of pace for
a player who always has been a
leader and a key component of
offenses.
“The main difference is how tech-
nical every step is, how technical
every thought is, and how critical
where you are looking is,” Guerry
said. “In high school, you can get
away with being a good athlete. If
you mess up, you may lose a step
but you can knock them down.
Here, if you lose a step they’re going
to knock you down. Everything is
picked up a few steps.”
Guerry was a second-team All-
State selection by The Clarion-
Ledger and the Mississippi
Association of Coaches as a senior
at New Hope High. He was voted
Most Valuable Offensive Lineman in
“He has definitely
improved. He is in the
rotation with the twos,
and we’re giving him
every possible opportunity
to compete for playing
time.”
Southern Miss offensive line
coach Chris Kapilovic, talking
about redshirt freshman
Jonathan Guerry
Region 4-4A, and graded out at 93
percent average as a senior.
Still, the No. 81 offensive tackle
in the countr y according to
ESPN.com has had to wait his turn.
Guerry admits his “head was spin-
ning” the first few days in practice at
Southern Miss. He said the speed of
the game is quicker and that every-
one is moving faster, not just run-
ning backs and linebackers.
Guerry feels he worked hard in
the spring and in the offseason to
show his teammates he is commit-
ted. He feels he is in a good position
at left guard, the position he played
in high school, to contribute this
season.
Southern Miss offensive line
coach Chris Kapilovic agrees.
Kapilovic said the coaches moved
Guerry to tackle as an experiment
to see how he fared. He said it looks
like guard is a more natural position
for Guerry, who was listed at 6-foot-
4, 290 pounds last season and is up
to 302 pounds this season.
Ficklen Stadium to earn
the crown.
focus on all the things we
didn’t do tonight. We’ll
need to do the little things
Southern Miss then to get that taste out of our
traveled to play in the R+L mouth so that we’re ready
“He has definitely improved,” Carriers New Orleans to go next September, on
Kapilovic said. “He is in the rotation Bowl for the second con- that Thursday against
with the twos (second-string play- secutive season, where it South Carolina.”
ers), and we’re giving him every fell to Middle Tennessee The Golden Eagles
possible opportunity to compete for 42-32 and gave coach have kept that promise by
playing time.” Larry Fedora and his team working hard through
Kapilovic said all players who something to work for spring practice and
redshirt have to make significant heading into this season. through offseason work-
adjustments. He said the redshirts “It’s a bad taste in your outs, and look to continue
typically aren’t in team meetings mouth,” Fedora said of the their winning ways when
learning schemes and techniques. season-ending loss follow-
With only 15 practices in the spring ing the game. “We didn’t See SOUTHERN MISS, 12
and a handful in the bank in the pre-
season, Kapilovic said Guerry hasn’t
had much time to master the termi-
nology and the techniques used by
the offensive linemen.
That’s where the trust comes in.
Guerr y, who is behind Joe
Duhon and James Brady on the
depth chart, said he worked hard in
the spring and in the offseason to be
prepared for the start of training
camp. He said he will “bust his butt
every day” to show the coaches and
his teammates he knows his stuff
inside and out. In his words, he has
to prove to everyone he can “walk
the walk.”
So far, Guerry feels he is making
progress. He said he didn’t mind
moving to tackle to help provide
depth at the position after a player
quit the team. He said he was just
beginning to feel comfortable at
tackle when the coaches decided to
move him back to guard.
“It is more physical,” Guerry said
of playing guard in college. “There
is a lot of banging around in the
inside when you are going against
300-pound linemen who are just as Steve Coleman/AP
big and faster than you. It is not Southern Mississippi quarterback Austin Davis (12) will
face stiff competition from quarterback Martevious
See GUERRY, 12 Young this season.

CONFERENCE USA PREVIEW

Keenum, Houston thinking about league title after missing out

BY TERESA M. WALKER
The Associated Press
Case Keenum and his
talented trio of receivers
will give the University of
Houston a strong chance
at proving offense, every
now and then, really can
win championships.
“There’s no secret, for
us to be successful he’s
got to play at a high level,
and I think our team likes
that,” Houston coach
Kevin Sumlin said.
Conference USA’s most
valuable player is back for
his senior year coming off
a season in which he
threw for 5,671 yards —
the third-highest total in
Football Bowl Subdivision
history. He threw for 44
touchdowns with only 15
interceptions in 2009.
James Cleveland,
Tyron Carrier and Patrick
Edwards all are back as
his targets after each had
more than 1,000 yards
receiving for the nation’s
top scoring offense last
season. The Cougars aver-
aged 42.2 points a game in
2009, a figure that should-
n’t dip much this year.
Houston lost the C-
USA championship to
East Carolina last year on
the road in a 38-32
shootout. But Keenum is
University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum talks with the media July 25 at Conference USA football media
day in Memphis, Tenn.
among nine offensive
starters back, and Sumlin
has a new defensive coor-
dinator in Brian Stewart.
Conference USA is a
league where the West is
dominated by offense and
the East filled with bruising
defenses. That is why UCF,
which has led C-USA in
total defense each of the
past two seasons, is the
favorite in the East. UCF
has the league’s 2009
defensive player of the year
back in end Bruce Miller
for his senior season.
“The team with the
best defense will always
win the Conference USA
title,” said Southern Miss
coach Larry Fedora, who
has nine defensive
starters back himself.
Justin Shaw/AP
Two-time defending
champ East Carolina is in
rebuilding mode with
Ruffin McNeill, one of
three new coaches in the
league — along with
Larry Porter at Memphis
and Doc Holliday at
Marshall.
C-USA might have the
toughest non-conference
schedule in the FBS with
24 games against bowl
teams, including Ohio
State, Oklahoma State,
Rutgers, South Carolina,
Virginia Tech and West
Virginia. That could
make it challenging to fill
the league’s now seven
bowl tie-ins after going 2-
4 in bowls last season.
A look at the teams in
predicted order of finish:
EAST
UCF — Key players:
DE Bruce Miller, CB Josh
Robinson, RB Br ynn
Harvey, WR Kamar Aiken,
QB Rob Calabrese.
Returning starters:
offense 8, defense 7.
Notes: The Knights
have one of the easier
nonconference slates
with a visit from N.C.
State and trip to Kansas
State. UCF also hosts
East Carolina and
Southern Miss, which
could balance their visit
Nov. 5 to Houston. ...
Miller ranked fifth nation-
ally with 13 sacks but will
face more double-teams
without tackles Torell
Troup and Travis
Timmons.
See C-USA, 12
8 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL

EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIONS

HENDERSON HAS
SHOT TO BE MAN
After serving as backup to Mackey last season,
Starkville High product set to be starting QB
BY JAMES BAILEY TODAY’S PAPER
n MORE JUNIOR COLLEGE:
Special to the Dispatch
Coverage of the Itawamba
SCOOBA — “I want to
Community College football
win a state championship
team and the local players
as a starting quarterback,”
on the Indians’ roster this
East Mississippi
season appears in the
Community College’s
Sports section.
Brad Henderson said
recently.
The two years Association poll. EMCC
Henderson spent backing enters this season having
up Randall Mackey, a for- claimed back-to-back
mer All-America quarter- MACJC North Division
back with the Lions, has titles with consecutive 6-0
given him confidence and league marks.
security. The former Henderson believes his
Starkville High School two years on the sidelines
standout played in all 12 have been invaluable in
games last season, com- learning the rhythm and
pleting 60 percent of his movement of college foot-
passes for 475 yards and ball.
five touchdowns. He also “Just to watch Randall
had four rushing touch- manage the game helped
downs on 35 carries. me a lot,” Henderson said.
As the 2010 season “I have game experience,
approaches, there are so I know the pace of the
high expectations on the game.”
Scooba campus, even if In the offseason,
the Lions will move on Henderson concentrated
without Mackey, who is on increasing his speed
now a junior at the and his ability to read
University of Mississippi. defensive backs. He said
Mackey guided the his knowledge of the
Lions to a two-year record Lions’ offense will give
of 19-3. Last year, coach him an advantage and
Buddy Stephens’ team lessen the ability of oppos-
beat Mississippi Gulf ing defensive backs to
Coast C.C. to win the anticipate his moves.
Mississippi Association of “Even though a defen-
Community and Junior sive back may try to read a
College state champi- quarterback’s eyes, I have
onship. EMCC then the advantage,”
defeated Arizona Western
27-24 to win the 2009 See HENDERSON, 11
Mississippi Bowl in
December in Biloxi. MORE EMCC
The victor y helped n Noxubee County High
EMCC finish 11-1 and School standout Fred Tate
earn a No. 4 final ranking is expected to be a leader
Courtesy of East Mississippi Community College Sports Information in the National Junior on defense this
Sophomore quarterback Brad Henderson is in place to take over for Randall Mackey and try to lead the East College Athletic year for the Lions. Page 11
Mississippi Community College football team to another state title.

Welcome to Lion Country

The state champion EMCC Lions went on to win the
Home of the MACJC state
Mississippi Bowl with a 27-24 win over Arizona Western.
n.
football champions!
As the final seconds ticked off the clock at last year’s MACJC state
championship game, everyone in the stands agreed on one thing … they
had never seen a game like it. East Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Coast
tore up Sullivan-Windham Field in Scooba, trading blow for blow, score for
score.

When it was over, the Lions of EMCC had won by the nearly
unbelievable score of 75-71. That’s 75-71, no overtimes. The reaction from
people who weren’t there was always the same: “We’re talking about
football, right?”

Yes, at EMCC, we’re talking about football. We’re talking about players
and coaches with the kind of commitment it takes to chase a dream, the
endurance to weather a long campaign, the discipline to stay focused. We
expect no less in the classroom from all our student athletes, whether they
compete in football, basketball, baseball, softball or golf.

Commitment.
Endurance.
EMCC celebrates its 75-71 win over Mississippi Gulf Coast to claim Discipline.
the MACJC state football championship. EMCC.

EMCC Football Schedule

Sept. 2 Miss. Gulf Coast 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 HINDS 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 NORTHWEST MISS.* 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Itawamba* 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Coahoma* 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 NORTHEAST MISS.* 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 PEARL RIVER (HC) 2 p.m.
Oct. 21 Miss. Delta* 6 p.m.
Oct. 28 HOLMES* 7 p.m.
Head football coach Buddy Home games in bold * North Division game
EMCC quarterback Randall Mackey Stephens led EMCC to a North
will play for Ole Miss this year. Division championship his first For more information, call (662) 476-5000 or (662) 243-1900.
year in Scooba – and the Lions
took it all his second year. EMCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs and
activities. Contact Dr. Jackie Stennis with inquiries regarding this policy, (662) 476-5000 or jstennis@eastms.edu.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 9

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
CRIMSON TIDE,
GATORS STILL
LEADING WAY
BY JOHN ZENOR
The Associated Press
Take heart,
Southeastern Conference:
Tim Tebow and Mount
Cody are gone.
That’s right, there will
be no Tebow barreling
over defenders for the
University of Florida, and
no Cody clogging up the
middle for the University
of Alabama.
“The two teams that
lost the most just on paper
is probably Alabama and
Florida,” Alabama coach
Dave Martin/AP Nick Saban said.
University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban reacts after a 32-13 win against Florida in the Southeastern But that was expected,
Conference Championship game on Dec. 5, 2009, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. When it comes to college since those two teams
football, the SEC is SECond to none. arguably had the most to
lose.
MORE PREVIEWS
n The Dispatch will
feature previews of the major
Division I conferences
beginning Sunday, Aug. 22, to
coincide with the release of
the preseason Associated
Press Top 25 poll.
ing to get back on top and
Auburn playing catch-up
with in-state rival
Alabama.
“Every team on our end
of it is going to improve,”
Saban said.
Florida could face a chal-
lenge from Georgia and
receiver A.J. Green. South
Carolina’s Steve Spurrier
has Stephen Garcia back
running his offense.

SECond to none
Despite recent conference realignments, league rules college football land
BY PAUL NEWBERRY
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — Excuse the
Southeastern Conference if it views
the national championship race as a
rather private affair — neighbor
against neighbor, battling it out
through the fall until there are only
two teams left standing, setting up a
final showdown in Atlanta on the
first Saturday in December.
Oh sure, there’s still that little for-
mality known as the BCS champi-
onship game. But down in Dixie,
that extra contest is viewed as noth-
ing more than a chance to really rub
it in, just in case anyone wishes to
defy this indisputable gospel:
When it comes to college foot-
ball, the SEC is SECond to none.
“Every team in the conference
takes pride in being in the SEC, and
we’re not afraid to say that,”
Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams
said. “We feel like we’re in the best
conference, and that’s where the
best competition is. Not to take any-
thing away from great teams in
other conferences, but that’s just
how we feel as a conference.”
The case is compelling.
The last four national champions
have come from the same confer-
ence: Florida, LSU, Florida again,
then Alabama last season — a streak
of dominance unmatched in the 74-
year histor y of The Associated
Press rankings, much less the far-
shorter histor y of the Bowl
Championship Series.
The last two seasons, Alabama
and Florida faced off in the SEC
championship game ranked No. 1
and No. 2, their Georgia Dome
showdown serving as a de facto
national title game, even if both had
to wait another month and win one
more time to be officially crowned.
“In football, it’s about winning,”
Tennessee defensive end Chris
Walker said. “There’s obviously talent
in other conferences, but if you want
to go by winning, I think we’re it.”
No argument there.
See SECOND TO NONE, 10
However, they’re still
the odds-on favorites to
meet in the SEC champi-
onship game for a third
straight year, with the win-
ner likely competing for a
national title — again.
Florida and Alabama have
combined to win the BCS
championship three of the
last four years; the other
one went to SEC rival LSU.
As an added treat,
Florida and Alabama meet
on Oct. 2 in Tuscaloosa,
Ala. That at least guaran-
tees they couldn’t play as
unbeatens in the SEC title
game.
Chasing the defending
champion Tide in the
Western Division will be
two teams led by transfer
quarterbacks, Arkansas
and Ryan Mallett and
Mississippi and newcomer
Jeremiah Masoli. Not to
mention an LSU team try-
“The East is completely
wide open,” Gators coach
Urban Meyer said.
There was plenty of
turnover around the league
in the two most high-profile
positions: Head coach and
quarterback.
Tennessee replaces
Lane Kiffin with coach
Derek Dooley. Vanderbilt
welcomes first-time col-
lege head coach Robbie
Caldwell — thanks to
Bobby Johnson’s midsum-
mer retirement — and
Kentucky’s Joker Phillips
got to remove the in-wait-
ing part of his title.
With Tebow in the
NFL, Mallett is the only
bona fide returning star at
quarterback, though
Alabama’s Greg McElroy
still hasn’t lost as a starter
since eighth-grade.
See PREVIEW, 10

MISSISSIPPI STATE 2010 SEC OPPONENT PREVIEWS

Auburn hopes it will Georgia looking for

live up to fans’ hopes
BY JOHN ZENOR
GAME 2
n Auburn at Mississippi
The Associated Press
State, 6:30 p.m.,
AUBURN, Ala. — ATHENS, Ga. — The
Thursday, Sept. 9 (ESPN)
Auburn University football
coach Gene Chizik liked
what he heard from fans
during the offseason.
Now the question is, will
fans like what they see
when the Tigers take the
field during his second sea-
son.
The first season was up
and down and mostly
deemed a success — partly
due to uncertain expecta-
tions — with an Outback
Bowl win, eight victories
and a near-miss against rival
Alabama.
Perception has changed
somewhat.
The roster is deeper
thanks to a top five recruit-
ing class and several defen-
sive backs returning from
injuries. Maybe that helps
explain the enthusiasm that
has greeted Chizik in recent
months from a fan base hun-
gry to see signs of closing
the gap with the national
champion Crimson Tide.
“It’s the same passion
and energy and excitement
at every place,” Chizik said.
“That’s really cool for me,
because that was one of the
things I wanted to do, is real-
ly pull the Auburn family
back together.
“I feel it and I sense it
when I go talk to people. It’s
really a neat thing.”
The Tigers stirred hope
by racking up a school-
record 5,613 yards last sea-
son, and raised concerns by
yielding more yards than
any other Auburn defense
(4,863). The final two games
were a nutshell version:
Auburn gave up 621 yards
to Northwestern in the
Outback Bowl — and won.
The Tigers held
Alabama to 291 yards —
and lost 26-21 on a late
touchdown drive.
The offense potentially
has more firepower, even
with the graduation of tail-
back Ben Tate. The defense
gets a boost with safeties
Zac Etheridge, Aairon
Savage and Mike McNeil
back from serious injuries;
Savage and McNeil missed
all of last season.
And linebackers Josh
Bynes and Craig Stevens
might get some relief from
newcomers after playing vir-
tually every snap last sea-
son.
Some of the optimism
stems from new quarter-
back Cameron Newton,
who has been praised by
teammates and coaches for
both his athleticism and
leadership since arriving in
January.
His running ability
seems to make the 6-foot-6,
247-pound junior college
transfer potentially a better
fit for Gus Malzahn’s hurry-
up offense than last year’s
starter Chris Todd. The
one-time Florida backup
beat out several contenders
in the spring.
Now, the hard part.
“As I’ve told him, as I’ve
told everybody else, he’s
got to get on the field now
and deliver,” Chizik said.
“That’s the last piece of the
puzzle and the most critical
part. “He can do whatever
he wants in practice. He’s
got to take that to the game
field and deliver.”
He’ll have a veteran
offensive line and a more
experienced receiving corps
to help him out. Left tackle
Lee Ziemba put a pro career
on hold and returned for his
senior season to head a line
that includes four senior
starters.
LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson (9) cuts upfield on a
scramble, his foot carving up a big chunk of the soggy turf
in the second half of the Capital One Bowl against Penn
State on Jan. 1, 2010, in Orlando, Fla. Defensive end Eric
Latimore (56) is in pursuit. Penn State won 19-17.
Miles, Jefferson on hot
seat entering season
BY BRETT MARTEL
The Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La.
— Les Miles and Jordan
Jefferson might be better
off today if LSU had never
recovered that late onside
kick at Mississippi last
season.
Few things could have
galvanized critics of the
coach and his quarterback
more than the ensuing
exhibition of clock mis-
management that left the
Tigers unable to set up a
game-winning field goal
from the Rebels’ 5-yard
line as time ran out.
As the 2010 season
approaches, LSU fans are
still talking about the final
30 seconds of that 25-23
loss to Ole Miss last
November, and Miles is
still answering for it.
“I scrutinized the
coaching — me and oth-
ers,” Miles said recently.
“Some of those situations I
was — even though pre-
pared for (it) — (I) had not
envisioned the time con-
Travis Spradling/AP
GAME 3
n Mississippi State at
LSU, 6 p.m., Saturday,
Sept. 18 (ESPNU)
straints. So what we’ve
done is we’ve added that to
our game week prepara-
tion. Maybe we’re a little
more prepared, a little bit
more ready to play in
those situations.”
With the meltdown in
Mississippi symbolizing
the larger issue of LSU’s
slide from Southeastern
Conference’s elite, Miles
and Jefferson enter a new
campaign on the defen-
sive.
For Miles, the good will
he engendered by winning
the 2007 national title has
begun to fade after a pair
of mediocre seasons.
During 2008 and 2009,
LSU went a combined 8-8
against the SEC and 0-6
against rivals Florida,
Alabama and Ole Miss.
Only games against
See LSU, 10
strong ground game
BY CHARLES ODUM
The Associated Press
University of Georgia foot-
ball team has a new starting
quarterback and a new
defense.
Those could be good rea-
sons to embrace an old
offensive philosophy.
Redshirt freshman quar-
terback Aaron Murra has
never taken a snap in a
game. No other current
quarterback had taken a
snap in a practice before this
summer.
On defense, the Bulldogs
have scrapped their four-
man front for a new 3-4
scheme under new defen-
sive coordinator Todd
Grantham.
That combination means
Georgia will have to play
some old-school football to
win in the demanding
Southeastern Conference.
“We must run the ball
well this year,” coach Mark
Richt said.
A strong running game
was the constant for
Georgia in Vince Dooley’s
quarter-century as coach
from 1964-88. Dooley won
six SEC championships and
the 1980 national title by
keeping the ball on the
ground with such backs as
Herschel Walker, Rodney
Hampton, Willie
McClendon and Lars Tate.
Richt prefers a run-pass
balance to a run-dominat-
ed attack, and junior
receiver A.J. Green is the
team’s biggest star. Even
so, the Bulldogs would
seemingly benefit from
running the ball and taking
pressure off Murray and
the defense.
Murray will be surround-
ed by 10 returning starters
on offense, including three
seniors and two juniors on
the offensive line. Washaun
Ealey and Caleb King are
GAME 4
n Georgia at Mississippi
State, TBA, Saturday,
Sept. 25
considered co-starters at
tailback after sharing the
carries the second half of
last season. Senior fullback
Shaun Chapas is a reliable
blocker.
“I’d be very disappointed
if we don’t run the ball well,
and if we do run the ball well
it’ll take pressure off Aaron
or whoever is at quarter-
back,” Richt said.
Georgia finished its 8-5
season with an upset win at
Georgia Tech before beat-
ing Texas A&M in last
year’s Independence Bowl.
The encouraging ending
wasn’t enough to make up
for a disappointing season
filled with too many defen-
sive lapses.
Richt fired defensive
coordinator Willie Martinez
and two other defensive
assistants before the bowl
game. Grantham was hired
from the Dallas Cowboys’
staff.
Grantham has placed a
fourth linebacker on the
field. He also has added a
new attack mentality to the
unit.
“It’s going to allow me to
put more pressure,” said
Justin Houston, who has
moved from defensive end
to outside linebacker.
Houston led Georgia
with 7 1/2 sacks as a sopho-
more last season. He
expects even bigger num-
bers in the new scheme.
“In that other system I
had to read and I couldn’t
always attack,” Houston
said. “In this system I’m
attacking a lot more.
“It feels great knowing I
basically have just one
assignment, to attack. It’s a
lot of pressure off me. It’s
just one thing I’ve got to do”
10 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL

MISSISSIPPI STATE 2010 SEC OPPONENT PREVIEWS

Florida has high Phillips excited about Razorbacks eyeing

hopes, key questions challenge at Kentucky their next big step
BY MARK LONG
The Associated Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. —
The buzzwords surround-
ing the University of
Florida football team last
fall were “repeat,” “per-
fection,” and “legacy,”
remnants of winning the
2008 national champi-
onship, returning nearly
every starter and being
the over whelming
favorite to do it again.
A year later,
Gainesville is filled with
“uncertainty.”
The Gators have a new
quarterback, four new
assistant coaches, a
revamped defense and
few proven playmakers.
They lost stars Tim
Tebow, Brandon Spikes,
Aaron Hernandez and Joe
Haden, nearly lost coach
Urban Meyer, and
entered fall practice with-
out a clear-cut identity for
the first time in years.
“It’s a little different feel-
ing,” Meyer said. “But it’s
still Florida. It’s still a
bunch of good athletes. Not
good, probably great ath-
letes running around that
field. It’s a year of accounta-
bility and development.
And if that happens. we’ll
have a good team. If it does-
n’t, we won’t.”
Meyer compared this
season to 2007, the year
after Florida won its sec-
ond national title and the
year Tebow took over as
the starting quarterback.
Expectations were high
back then, but the Gators
didn’t have enough talent
or experience to avoid
four losses.
But Meyer and his
players don’t expect
another rebuilding year.
Not even close, really.
Following several strong
recruiting classes, they
believe this is a reloading
GAME 7
n Mississippi State at
Florida, TBA, Saturday,
Oct. 16
year that could include
another trip to Atlanta for
the conference title game.
The Gators begin play
Sept. 4 against Miami
(Ohio).
Florida has represent-
ed the Eastern Division
three times in the last
four years, with the lone
loss coming last year
against Alabama. That 32-
13 drubbing still res-
onates with players and
coaches.
“When you have a loss
so devastating as that one,
you want to go into that
next season hungr y,”
quarterback John
Brantley said. “A lot of
people really have been
doubting us. That’s anoth-
er big thing. We like to be
tested like that. That’s
what gives us a chip on
our shoulders.”
Brantley has waited
three years — even
longer considering his
background — for a
chance to take over
Florida’s offense. He
grew up in nearby Ocala
rooting for the Gators.
His father played quarter-
back at Florida and his
uncle was a standout line-
backer at Florida.
The youngest Brantley
has even bigger shoes to
fill. He’s stepping in after
Tebow, a three-time
Heisman Trophy finalist
who helped the Gators
win 26 of 28 games the
last two years. Tebow was
Mr. Everything at Florida,
ser ving as the team’s
emotional leader and the
offense’s go-to guy. He
also got as much recogni-
tion for what he did off
the field as he did on it.
BY WILL GRAVES
The Associated Press
LEXINGTON, Ky. —
Sleep doesn’t come easy
to Joker Phillips. Never
has.
Five hours a night and
he’s good. Six and the
Kentucky coach finds he
can barely hold his head
up in the afternoon.
Considering the chal-
lenge Phillips faces in his
first year on the job, get-
ting too much sleep won’t
be a problem.
A jumbled quarter-
back situation. A rebuilt
offensive line. A defense
that will be patchwork in
places. An insomnia-
inducing schedule. Oh,
and expectations, a
notion historically
reserved for the school’s
basketball team.
Phillips is fine with
that. More than fine,
actually. The former play-
er and longtime assistant
who took over when Rich
Brooks retired in
January knows there are
worse problems to have
than trying to get the
Wildcats to a bowl game
for a fifth straight season.
The 47-year-old native
of tiny Franklin, Ky., has
been around the program
for most of the last 30
years. He’s familiar with
the pattern: Short bursts
of success followed by
long stretches of medioc-
rity or worse. It’s time for
a change.
“This year is critical,”
he said. “For us, if we can
get to a bowl game and
build on this thing this
year, I think we’ll be real-
ly good for a long time.”
To do it the Wildcats
will have to continue to
build on a theme popular-
ized by Brooks, who
brought the program
back from the dead. To
GAME 9
n Kentucky at
Mississippi State TBA,
Saturday, Oct. 30
change people’s minds
about Kentucky, he said,
the Wildcats would have
to start beating some
teams it hasn’t beaten in
a long time.
Kentucky checked
Southeastern Conference
powers Georgia and LSU
off that list during
Brooks’ tenure. Phillips
knows it’s time to add
Florida, South Carolina
and Tennessee to the list.
“It used to be some of
the teams thought you
can count that
(Kentucky) as a ‘W’ right
off the bat,” he said.
“People expect us to win
a lot of those games now.
To do it the Wildcats
will have to find some
consistency at quarter-
back. Senior Mike
Hartline starts training
camp as the de facto
starter mostly by default.
He has the most experi-
ence, but Phillips has left
little doubt it’s a three-
way race between
Hartline, sophomore
Morgan Newton and red-
shirt freshman Ryan
Mossakowski.
Newton’s mobility
could give him an edge,
particularly while playing
behind a retooled offen-
sive line that will feature
four new starters. Yet
Phillips has stressed the
need for the Wildcats to
be more dynamic in the
passing game.
Big plays through the
air were difficult to come
by, forcing Phillips to use
talented wide receiver
Randall Cobb in the
Wildcat formation where
he would try to make
plays with his legs.
BY NOAH TRISTER
The Associated Press
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.
— The University of
Arkansas football team
came within 10 minutes of
shaking up the
Southeastern Conference
last season before losing a
fourth-quarter lead
against top-ranked
Florida.
Perhaps the Hogs were
merely a year away.
“At the end of the
game, we were in position
to win against a top team,”
Arkansas tight end D.J.
Williams said. “We see it
as where we are as a team
now — able to compete
with everybody.”
There will be no tem-
pering of expectations at
Arkansas now. The
Razorbacks fully believe
they can challenge for
their first SEC title.
Although they’re still
underdogs in a division
that includes defending
champion Alabama, the
Hogs expect to field one of
the nation’s most dynamic
offenses thanks to quarter-
back Ryan Mallett.
Mallett threw for 3,624
yards and 30 touchdowns a
season ago, and from the
moment he announced he
was passing up the NFL
draft to stay in school, the
Razorbacks have been
wondering if this might be
their year.
“The expectations are
something that I put right
out in front of the team,”
coach Bobby Petrino said.
“I told them that it was
great to have the expecta-
tions, the excitement’s
good. It was a good moti-
vating factor throughout
the summer, but now what
it’s all about is work.”
The 6-foot-6 Mallett will
again be the center of
attention, a role he’s com-
GAME 11
n Arkansas at Mississippi
State, TBA, Saturday,
Nov. 20
fortable with. After sitting
out a season following a
transfer from Michigan, he
took over as the starter in
2009 and led Arkansas to
an SEC-best 36 points per
game. The Razorbacks
went 8-5 with close losses
at Florida and LSU.
Not only is Mallett
back, but all his top tar-
gets return as well.
Williams has caught 98
passes in three seasons,
and wide receivers Greg
Childs, Joe Adams, Jarius
Wright and Cobi
Hamilton complement
each other well.
The Razorbacks
received a scare when
Mallett broke his foot in
February, but they said all
along he’d be ready for
fall practice, and sure
enough, he’s back on the
field.
With Mallett apparent-
ly healthy, Arkansas’
biggest remaining ques-
tion mark is on the other
side of the ball. The
Razorbacks have been
among the worst defen-
sive teams in the SEC the
last two seasons.
The Hogs had high
expectations in 2009 too,
but Georgia delivered a
September reality check,
coming to Fayetteville and
emerging with a wild 52-
41 victory.
The Razorbacks haven’t
held an opponent in single
digits since October of
2007. The defense showed
signs of improvement in
that 23-20 loss to Florida
last year, harassing Tim
Tebow throughout in a gal-
lant bid for an upset, but
that game was a bit of an
aberration.

LSU SECond to none

Continued from Page 9
non-conference teams
helped LSU finish 8-5 in
2008 and 9-4 in 2009.
When the SEC released
its preseason poll last
month, LSU was picked to
finish fourth in the confer-
ence’s West Division.
“We deserve it, having a
lot of young guys coming
in and not finishing things
right in the last couple of
years,” cornerback Patrick
Peterson said. “It’ll give us
motivation to fix things.”
LSU must fix an offense
that ranked 112th among
Division I Football Bowl
Subdivision teams last sea-
son with averages of 123
yards rushing and 182
yards passing. Otherwise,
it may not be just the SEC
games that give the Tigers
trouble.
In 2010, LSU has a
tougher non-conference
slate, opening its season
against North Carolina in
Atlanta on Sept. 4 and host-
ing West Virginia on Sept.
25.
Miles said having more
experience at quarterback
should help LSU handle
the tougher schedule.
Jefferson, who’d shown
promise in a pair of starts
as a freshman in 2008,
became the full-time
starter as a 19-year-old
sophomore last season.
That marked the second
straight year LSU had a
young, inexperienced
quarterback, a trend that
began when Ryan
Perrilloux was kicked off
the team in the winter of
2008.
Last season, Jefferson
was sacked 34 times, rais-
ing concerns about his
ability to read defenses
and be decisive. Still, he
heads into 2010 as the pro-
jected starter.
“I do have a lot to prove,
a lot of things I should’ve
improved on last year,”
Jefferson said. “My wis-
dom has gotten better
from my failure in certain
games, and I’m looking to
be a leader.”
Continued from Page 9
Last season, the SEC had the
best outside record among the six
BCS conferences (47-10, .825), easi-
ly outpacing the next-best Big East
(36-10, .783), as well as the two
leagues generally considered its
main challengers, the Big Ten (36-
15, .706) and Big 12 (39-17, .696).
To those who think the SEC
beefs up its out-of-conference cre-
dentials against cupcake opposition,
that argument was snuffed out by a
15-8 mark against schools from
other BCS leagues. The Big East
(11-9) was the only other confer-
ence to finish above .500 in that cat-
egory, while the Atlantic
Conference (12-15), Big Ten (9-11),
Pac-10 (9-11) and Big 12 (8-10)
lagged far behind.
LSU senior safety Jai Eugene
notices a striking contrast when the
Tigers play outside the conference.
“There is a difference in game
speed,” he said. “Everything moves
a little faster in the SEC. Also, the
Preview
Continued from Page 9
The Tide’s stingy
defense must replace two-
time All-America nose-
guard Terrence “Mount”
Cody and Butkus Award-
winning linebacker
Rolando McClain. But
there’s still running back
Mark Ingram — the
Tide’s first Heisman win-
ner — and fellow Alabama
offensive threats Julio
Jones and Trent
Richardson.
The Meyer-Saban bat-
tle remained intact,
though, when the Florida
coach changed his mind a
day after announcing he
was stepping down last
December after a health
scare.
“The batter y is
recharged,” Meyer said in
July.
And so is the battle for
No. 1 in the SEC.
EAST
FLORIDA — Key players: QB
John Brantley, RB Jeff Demps,
CB Janoris Jenkins. Returning
starters: 6 offense. 5 defense.
Notes: Overlooked with loss
of Tim Tebow, three top receivers
are also gone. Brantley has
played in 16 games with 10
touchdowns and one intercep-
tion. Coach Urban Meyer said a
SEC is definitely more physical.” that success tends to breed more back to the top. Urban Meyer is an
The biggest battles are played success, and no league has a deep- offensive mastermind who restored
out inside the SEC. Auburn- er group of teams that have been to the tradition established at Florida
Alabama. Alabama-Tennessee. the mountaintop. Half of the SEC’s by Steve Spurrier. Les Miles picked
Tennessee-Florida. Florida- 12 members have captured at least up where Saban left off at LSU,
Georgia. Georgia-Auburn. Auburn- one Associated Press national title, Richt has guided Georgia to a pair
LSU. LSU-Arkansas. led by Alabama with seven. In fact, of SEC titles, and Bobby Petrino
“The passion and tradition of four different schools (Alabama, appears on the verge of taking
each program is so strong, it makes Florida, LSU and Tennessee) have Arkansas to national prominence.
those rivalries just huge,” Georgia finished No. 1 in the AP poll over n Big money. The SEC is rolling
coach Mark Richt said. “Every the last 12 years. No other league in dough, thanks to huge television
game you play feels like a big, big can match that depth — or the packages (a $2.25 billion contract
game. When I was at Florida State urgency among the rank-and-file to with ESPN, a $55 million-a-year deal
(as an assistant), that wasn’t always keep winning titles. Fans get a little with CBS) and some of the largest
the case. It didn’t seem like every greedy once they’ve seen their stadiums in the country, which are
game we played was a big monster team hoist the biggest trophy of all. generally filled to capacity.
n Coaching. The best are drawn
game, but every game we play now Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium and
feels like a monster. It’s very diffi- to the SEC like moths to light, Alabama’s Bryant-Denny hold
cult to stay at that peak perform- spurred by the chance to win cham- more than 100,000, Georgia’s
ance week in and week out. But if pionships and the willingness of Sanford Stadium and LSU’s Tiger
you don’t, you’re going to be in trou- schools to dole out big money in Stadium seat more than 92,000,
ble.” hopes of keeping up with their while Florida, Auburn and South
What makes the SEC the neighbors. Nick Saban left the NFL Carolina all have facilities that can
nation’s top college football confer- for a $4 million-a-year job at accommodate at least 80,000. Only
ence? Here are a few theories: Alabama and needed all of three two stadiums in the conference seat
n Tradition. Everyone knows
seasons to lead the Crimson Tide fewer than 60,000.
“bunch” of newcomers from leading tacklers. Battling for QB Returning starters: 8 offense, 2 MISSISSIPPI — Key players:
loaded recruiting class will play. job are freshman Tyler Bray and defense. QB Jeremiah Masoli, RB
Defensive coordinator Teryl junior college transfer Matt Notes — DE Marcell Dareus’ Brandon Bolden, DT Jerrell
Austin replaces Charlie Strong. Simms, son of ex-Giants QB Phil status was unclear entering fall Powe. Returning starters: 3
GEORGIA — Key players: and brother of current Titans’ camp with an NCAA investigation offense, 6 defense.
WR A.J. Green, QB Aaron player Chris. RB Bryce Brown into who paid for a trip to Miami’s Notes — 9 returning starters
Murray, LT Clint Boling. and QB Nick Stephens left team South Beach. Backfield of is fewest in SEC, but Masoli’s
Returning starters: 10 offense; 5 in offseason. Ingram and sophomore Trent transfer from Oregon is a poten-
defense. KENTUCKY — Key players: Richardson might be nation’s tially huge boost. Rebels return
Notes: Switching to three- WR/RS Randall Cobb, TB best duo. Only two defensive players responsible for less than
man front on defense under new Derrick Locke, DE DeQuin starters return, but replacements 42 percent of passing, rushing
coordinator Todd Grantham. DE Evans. Returning starters: 5 include several highly touted and receiving yards. Defensive
Justin Houston and RB Richard offense, 7 defense. youngsters. line remains formidable with
Samuel moved to LB. Entire Notes: Joker Phillips only ARKANSAS — Key players: Jerrell Powe manning the middle.
starting offensive line returns second black head football coach QB Ryan Mallett, WR Greg LSU — QB Jordan Jefferson,
after allowing league-low 12 in SEC. QBs Mike Hartline, Childs, LB Jerry Franklin. LB Kelvin Sheppard, CB Patrick
sacks. Backfield is strong, led by Morgan Newton and Ryan Returning starters: 9 offense, 7 Peterson. Returning starters: 6
Washaun Ealey and Caleb King. Mossakowski battling for starting defense. offense, 4 defense.
P Drew Butler is one of the job. Wildcats have won at least Notes — Most returning Notes — Defense lost 4 of its
nation’s best. seven games four straight years starters among SEC teams. top 5 tacklers. Nonconference
SOUTH CAROLINA — Key for the first time since 1909-12. Mallett and all his key targets are games against North Carolina
players: QB Stephen Garcia, WR Cobb and Locke were AP’s first- back from league’s top scoring and West Virginia. Redshirt
Alshon Jeffery, DE Cliff and second-team all-purpose and passing offense. One of the freshman RB Michael Ford could
Matthews. Returning starters: 8 players, respectively. deepest, best receiving corps be big factor in backfield.
offense, 7 defense. VANDERBILT — Key play- around. Bobby Petrino promoted Peterson and Sheppard are two
Notes: RB Kenny Miles and ers: QB Larry Smith, RB/RS Garrick McGee to offensive coor- of the league’s top defenders.
top four rushers return, joined by Warren Norman, LB Chris dinator. Team leaders in 18 cate- MISSISSIPPI ST. — Key
top recruit Marcus Lattimore. Marve. Returning starters: 6 gories return, but defense was players: QBs Chris Relf and Tyler
Shawn Elliott is third offensive offense, 5 defense. SEC’s worst. Russell, OT Derek Sherrod, DE
line coach in as many years; Notes: Robbie Caldwell has a AUBURN — Key players: QB Pernell McPhee. Returning
Gamecocks allowed 37 sacks tough audition as interim head Cameron Newton, LT Lee starters: 6 offense, 8 defense.
last year. Garcia is the league’s coach after replacing Bobby Ziemba, LB Josh Bynes. Notes: Coach Dan Mullen
leading active passer, but has Johnson in mid-July. Vandy faces Returning starters: 7 offense. 8 said bulldozing QB Chris Relf
been erratic for nation’s 102- 10 teams that made bowl games defense. is “completely different” in his
ranked scoring offense. last season. LB Chris Marve was Notes — Only SEC coaching approach and demeanor from
TENNESSEE — Key play- SEC’s No. 2 tackler. Starting QB staff to return intact. DBs Aairon last season. He’s listed as co-
ers: WR Gerald Jones, TB Larry Smith returns but had just Savage, Mike McNeil and Zac No. 1 with Russell. JUCO
Tauren Poole, DE Chris Walker. four TD passes against seven Etheridge trying to return from transfers RB Vick Ballard and
Returning starters: 5 offense, 6 INTs last season for league’s serious injuries. Newton won the 6-foot-7, 345 JUCO DT James
defense. worst scoring offense (16.3 ppg). No. 1 job in the spring after trans- Carmon could play roles after
Notes: New coach Derek WEST ferring from JUCO. RB Michael going through spring. New
Dooley inherits culture and roster ALABAMA — Key players: Dyer headlines one of the Tigers’ coaches Manny Diaz and
issues. Must replace two top RB Mark Ingram, QB Greg top-rated recruiting classes in Chris Wilson will run the
rushers and passers, and four McElroy, LB Dont’a Hightower. years. defense.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 11

EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIONS

Henderson
Continued from Page 8
Henderson said. “That
gives me enough time to
find a receiver and throw
the ball.”
This year, Henderson
values his leadership role
and the opportunity to help
freshmen adjust to their
surroundings. He believes
leadership is a valuable
asset for a starting quarter-
back, and plans to lead by
example.
“For the kids who are
just coming in, you have to
reassure them and keep
everybody composed and
just be a good leader,”
Henderson said.
First-year offensive
coordinator Andy Siegal,
who coached at the
University of Southern
Mississippi last year, is
impressed with the Lions’
talent, especially at quar-
terback position. He
believes Henderson does a
good job leading the
younger players.
“Brad is a very good
player with a strong arm,”
Siegal said. “We are chal-
lenging Brad to lead the
new guys by showing them
how to practice, how to
approach our classes, and
take notes. It carries more
weight when a sophomore
leads the way.”
Henderson said this
year’s receivers make up
for what they lack in expe-
rience with speed. EMCC’s
offense will continue to
run the spread, but it will
include some new twists
installed by Siegal.
“Coach Siegal has
brought in some new stuff
Bob Smith/Courtesy of East Mississippi Community College Sports Information I really like, but we are
East Mississippi Community College coach Buddy Stephens has been a driving force behind the resurgence of the school’s football program. keeping a lot of the offense
we had last year,”

SUCCESS STARTS AT TOP FOR EMCC

From school president Young to AD Stokes to coach Stephens, leaders have made commitment to re-make football
Henderson said. “We are a
primarily pass offense.”
Henderson knows the
Lions’ success the past two
seasons has increased
expectations, and that a lot
of the burden to lead the
BY JAMES BAILEY “My goal as athletic director is ranked Arizona Western in December in team will fall to him. He
Special to the Dispatch Biloxi. believes the Lions are on
for each sport to win a state and Stephens admits his team never will track to build on that suc-
SCOOBA — Reveling in two successful replace Randall Mackay or coach Ed Holley, cess and, ultimately, to win
campaigns and a No. 7 preseason ranking in national championship.” but believes you just find players or coaches a national championship.
the National Junior College Athletic who will fit in. In the past two years,
Association football poll, East Mississippi East Mississippi Community College “Every season you have to impress what Henderson has played in
Community College isn’t far removed from Athletic Director Mickey Stokes happened in the past is history. That was the two North Division cham-
being the proverbial doormat of the communi- past,” Stephens said. “Each individual team pionships and the school’s
ty college ranks. has to make its niche and mark in history.” first MACJC state champi-
The football program has seen more than desire: an administration that understands Construction on a new stadium that could onship in a backup roll.
its share of highs and lows in EMCC being successful on and of f the field,” be used for multiple sports started earlier This year, as the team
President Rick Young’s seven years leading Stephens said. “Dr. Young is a very ground- leader, Henderson is deter-
this year. School officials remain optimistic
the school. ed human being, an excellent administrator, mined to steer the Lions to
the artificial turf facility could be completed
“When I first became president, we were and is also very accessible. He talks with a another state champi-
this year.
the team everyone wanted to schedule for lot of our recruits when they visit here. It onship and an invitation to
Stokes is in his third year as athletic
homecoming,” Young said. “But I became means a lot for a mom and dad to come on play for a national title.
director overseeing all six campus sports
immersed in the football program, rode the campus and meet with the college presi-
programs. He is committed to assisting stu-
bus to out of town games, and familiarized dent.”
myself with all its aspects.” EMCC Vice President and Director of dent athletes achieve positive results athleti- EMCC
cally and academically. He also oversees all
Young views the Lions’ athletic department
as an essential component of the school.
Athletics Mickey Stokes brings 26 years of
experience and service to the school. He sports’ facilities, support staff, and manages SCHEDULE
“In community colleges, we are able to echoes Stephens’ appreciation of the support the sports budgets. Sept. 2 At Miss. Gulf Coast
reach a lot of young people through sports,” from the school’s president and its Board of Stokes ensures all sports programs abide Sept. 9 HINDS
Young said. “We stress the academic aspects Trustees. by the rules and regulations of the state and Sept. 16 NORTHWEST MISS.
first. Our student-athletes should have a solid “My goal as athletic director is for each national community college athletic associa-
tion. He also monitors eligibility for all six Sept. 23 At Itawamba
educational foundation to build upon, and, sport to win a state and national champi-
more importantly, hopefully we provide an onship,” Stokes said. sports programs on campus. Sept. 30 At Coahoma
opportunity for students to become better This year, Stephens is eager to build on last With the enthusiasm and suppor t of Oct. 7 NORTHEAST MISS.
people.” year’s success. The Lions are the reigning Young, Stephens, and Stokes, EMCC foot- Oct. 16 PEARL RIVER
Third-year football coach Buddy Stephens Mississippi Association of Community and ball is poised to continue its MACJC North
Oct. 21 At Miss. Delta
believes success starts at the top in any suc- Junior College state champions. They went on winning streak of 15 consecutive games and
cessful organization. to claim the 2009 Mississippi Bowl title with a to earn a playoff berth and an opportunity to Oct. 28 HOLMES
“We’ve got what ever y coach would 27-24 win against 2010 preseason No. 2- play again for a state championship. HOME GAMES IN CAPS

Sophomore Tate to be leader in secondary

BY JAMES BAILEY
Special to the Dispatch
SCOOBA — Last year,
former Noxubee County
High School all-confer-
ence defensive back Fred
Tate found a perfect fit to
hone his coverage and
tackling skills 20 miles
south of home at East
Mississippi Community
College.
In his first year with the
Lions, Tate had 37 tackles,
four assists, and 15 pass
breakups that played sig-
nificantly in EMCC’s 11-1
record and championship
season.
For a college corner-
back, speed kills. A
speedy wide receiver can
run past you and leave an
untested defensive back
dazed and confused.
On the other hand, a
defensive back whose
work ethic is defined by a
Bob Smith/Courtesy of East Mississippi Community College Sports Information
focus on improving speed
Noxubee County High School standout Fred Tate had a will pay dividends. Those
strong first season last year as a member of the East split-second bursts of
Mississippi Community College football team. He will be speed to step in front of an
counted on this season to be a bigger leader. unsuspecting receiver, to
intercept, and to run for
daylight motivate consci-
entious defensive backs.
Tate is just that type.
He wants to excel at a
level that will assist EMCC
win another championship.
His offseason conditioning
program motivated him to
run, run, and run more so
no wide receiver will ever
best him.
“In the offseason, my
main concern was speed,”
Tate said. “I’ve been work-
ing on my speed and
patience. I like playing on
visitor’s side. It motivates
me when you hear the
fans talking to you. I want
a national championship
this year. Johnny Cockrell
is our other cornerback,
and we make a good team
in the secondary.”
Another aspect impor-
tant to Tate is leading the
new players.
“I want to be a positive
influence,” Tate said. “I try
to lead these guys and
stress the need to work
hard. The new guys ask a
lot of questions, and I’m
glad to help out in any way.”
Tate believes patience
also is a key element for a
successful defensive back.
Associate head coach and
defensive coordinator
William Jones believes
Tate possesses that char-
acteristic.
“Fred came to us from
a very successful champi-
onship team at Noxubee
County,” Jones said. “He’s
very accomplished, com-
petitive, and a good stu-
dent who possess the abil-
ity to play Division I foot-
ball next year. Fred has
improved physically. His
man-on-man ability has
improved a lot. With one
year under his belt, he is
refining the tools of his
trade. All our defensive
backs are faster, leaner,
and better conditioned
athletes.”
Jones stresses defen-
sive backs are the third
level of defense. They
cover receivers whether
man-on-man or zone and
offer run support.
“Our corners play cover-
2 defensive short zone,
deep-third coverages and
also have to be ready for
run support,” Jones said.
“Fred is 208 pounds and he
can physically play the
position well.
Jones returns eight
players in the secondary.
“Fred will really help us
out this year with his expe-
rience,” Jones said. “We
feel good about our sec-
ondary. They watched film
together, played together,
worked out together, and
that makes a difference.
Tate is looking forward
to the first game this sea-
son against Mississippi
Gulf Coast C.C. and lining
up on the corner closest to
the opposing team’s
stands. The sound he
wants to hear is the foot-
ball hitting his hands
while breaking up a pass
or when he uses his 4.5
speed to step in front of an
unsuspecting wide receiv-
er to make an interception
and then scampers down
the sidelines to give his
team six points.
12 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010
Southern Miss
Continued from Page 7
a national television audi-
ence.
Heading into the year,
the Golden Eagles return
42 letterwinners from last
season, including nine
starters on a defense that
finished 10th in the nation
in turnover margin. The
offense returns just four
starters and used the
spring to replace four play-
ers on the offensive line.
Players back for the
2010 season include All C-
USA second-team selec-
tions DeAndre Brown at
wide receiver and Korey
Williams at linebacker.
Center Cameron Zipp,
defensive linemen
Anthony Gray and
Cordarro Law, linebacker
Ronnie Thornton, defen-
sive back C.J. Bailey, and
return man Tracy
Lampley also return after
earning honorable men-
tion picks last season.
Lampley and punter
Peter Boehme also gar-
nered C-USA All-
Freshman team honors.
The Offense
Southern Miss will see
changes near the top of the
coaching ladder, as Blake
Anderson takes over at offen-
sive coordinator to add to his
quarterback coaching respon-
sibilities.
Anderson, who has tutored
quarterbacks Austin Davis and
Martevious Young, will retain
that duty while also calling the
plays for the Golden Eagles in
the booth. Chris Kapilovic
returns as the offensive line
coach and has picked up the
responsibility as the run-game
coordinator. Kapilovic’s line led
the way for a rushing offense
that produced a 1,000-yard
rusher the previous four sea-
sons and was No. 33 national-
ly in 2009.
Barney Farrar returns as
the tight ends coach and Pat
Washington is back to tutor
running backs. New to the
offensive coaching squad is
Kasey Dunn, who will oversee
wide receivers.
Dunn joins the Southern
Miss family after spending the
past two seasons as running
backs coach for the Seattle
Seahawks.
Four starting offensive line-
man graduated and three of the
team’s top four receivers also
departed. Returning from injury
will be redshirt junior quarter-
back Austin Davis and redshirt
senior Martevious Young. Up
front, only center Cameron Zipp
and receiver DeAndre Brown
return. The offense put up more
than 5,000 yards again in 2009
for the third straight year.
Quarterbacks
Davis, a junior from
Meridian, returns as the
expected starter after missing
the second half of the 2009
with a foot injury. In his five
starts, Davis completed 69 per-
cent of his passing attempts
(108 of 156) for 1,165 yards
and 10 touchdowns and two
interceptions.
Guerry
Continued from Page 7
easy. It is just a different type of
challenge.”
Guerr y hopes to earn as
much playing time as possible
this season. He said he tried in
the offseason to be a role model
by working hard in the weight
room and showing his team-
mates how things needed to be
done. He said he is excited to be
a member of the travel squad
and that he will continue to do
C-USA
Continued from Page 7
SOUTHERN MISS —
Key players: WR DeAndre
Brown, QBs Martevious
Young and Austin Davis,
and LBs Ronnnie
Thornton, Korey Williams
and Martez Smith.
Returning starters:
offense 4, defense 9.
Notes: After tearing a
ligament in his left foot last
season, Davis now has to
fight off Young, who threw
for 1,861 yards and 16 TDs.
Coach Larry Fedora also
has Brown, who is expect-
ed to return to his 2008
form when he set the sin-
gle-season record with 67
catches. ... Schedule tough
starting Sept. 2 at South
Carolina, but Houston vis-
its Nov. 20.
MARSHALL — Key
players: LB Mario Harvey,
WR Antavious Wilson, RB
Martin Ward. Returning
starters: offense 7,
defense. 7
Notes: Tough noncon-
ference schedule starting
at Ohio State and includes
Southern Mississippi football coach Larry Fedora speaks Aug. 7 at the Eagle Media Day at the Reed Green
Coliseum in Hattiesburg.
After Davis’ injury, Young led
the Golden Eagles through the
final eight games. He will push
for the starting spot this fall.
Young, who had only thrown for
8 yards in his previous two years
of play, completed 57 percent of
his passes (132 of 230) for
1,861 yards with 16 touchdowns
and just three interceptions. He
also added 294 yards and one
touchdown on the ground and
was the team’s third leading
rusher.
Running Backs
With the departure of the
school’s all-time leading rush-
er, Damion Fletcher, and the
dynamic Tory Harrison, the
coaching staff will need to
replace nearly 70 percent of
the team’s rushing offense
from 2009. The duo combined
for 1,662 yards of the team’s
2,358 total yards in 2009.
They also combined for 18
of the Golden Eagles’ 23 rush-
ing touchdowns. V.J. Floyd and
a stable of heralded but young
tailbacks will look to pick up
where Fletcher and Harrison
left off. Floyd has rushed for
398 yards in his Golden Eagle
career, and has shown he is
capable off handling the load.
His breakout performance
came in 2008 at home against
the University of Alabama at
Birmingham, when he rushed
21 times for 114 yards and one
touchdown.
Redshirt sophomore
Desmond Johnson and sopho-
more Tracy Lampley return as
the only other Golden Eagles
with experience. Lampley
accounted for 122 yards in
2009 with one touchdown,
while Johnson added 72 yards
and a touchdown in one
appearance against Alcorn
State in the season opener.
Redshirt freshman
Kendrick Hardy had an excel-
lent spring and will push Floyd
and the other experienced
backs for playing time.
everything so he can earn his
teammates’ trust.
“I was struggling in the
spring at picking stuff up, but
they know I am getting out
there and performing and
showing them I can do it,”
Guerry said. “I feel like I have
come a long way in the year and
a few months I have been here.
I still feel like I have a long way
to go, and I am going to keep
a visit from West Virginia
and trip to Bowling Green.
The Thundering Herd
hosts UCF and won’t play
Houston... Har vey had
117 tackles and seven
sacks. ... Ward, a sopho-
more, replaces Darius
Marshall, who ran for
1,131 yards and 11 TDs.
EAST CAROLINA —
Key players: WR Dwayne
Harris, FS Emmanuel
Davis, CB Travis
Simmons. Returning
starters: offense 5,
defense 2.
Notes: McNeill at least
has three offensive line
starters back, and Harris,
who had 83 catches for 978
yards last season. But QB
Patrick Pinkney is gone.
UAB — Key players:
WR Frantrell Forrest, FS
Hiram Atwater, LB
Lamanski Ware.
Returning starters:
offense 8, defense 9.
Notes: Replacing QB
Joe Webb is the biggest
challenge after he provid-
THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com
Wide Receivers
In Fedora’s offense, wide
receivers thrive, and 2010
should be no different. After
returning from an injury at the
end of the 2008 season, junior
DeAndre Brown leapt back into
the spotlight by leading the
team in receptions and
yardage for the second con-
secutive year.
Brown caught 47 passes for
785 yards and nine touch-
downs in 2009, and is expect-
ed to eclipse those numbers
this season.
Behind Brown, three lead-
ing receivers have departed
and will be replaced by young,
but inexperienced talent.
Quentin Pierce, the team’s
fifth-leading receiver a year
ago, is the team’s second most
experienced wideout. Pierce
caught 25 passes for 247 yards
and two touchdowns last sea-
son, and has improved through
the spring.
Johdrick Morris and Ryan
Balentine, two receivers who
have shown flashes of bril-
liance, also will compete for
playing time.
Tight Ends
When senior tight end
Leroy Banks departed for a
career in the NFL, Southern
Miss lost its third-leading
receiver. In 2010, senior
Jonathan Massey and sopho-
more Ryan Hanks will carry the
load at the end of the offensive
line.
Massey, the most veteran
tight end on the Golden Eagles’
roster, caught seven passes in
2009 for 62 yards and a pair of
touchdowns in the Kansas
game.
Hanks, a native of Pace,
Fla., caught one pass in 2009
for two yards, but it was a 2-
yard touchdown reception that
was instrumental in a come-
back against Virginia.
striving every day to get better.”
Kapilovic is excited to hear
that talk from Guerry. He said
the race for starting positions is
“wide open” and that he hopes
all of the offensive linemen can
jell into a cohesive unit that is
built on trust.
That shouldn’t be a problem
for Guerry.
“I am just going to do the
best I can,” Guerry said. “My
ed 73 percent of the
offense, though David
Isabelle likely has the
edge. He ran 32 times for
288 yards last year. ...
UAB has 11 of its top 12
tacklers back.
MEMPHIS — Key play-
ers: RG Dominik Riley, DE
Winston Bowens, LB
Jamon Hughes. Returning
starters: six offense, six
defense.
Notes: Porter must find
offense after losing Curtis
Steele and receivers Duke
Calhoun and Carlos
Singleton, who scored 24
of 33 TDs last season. All
five offensive line starters
return. ... Tyler Bass is the
only QB who has taken a
snap for Memphis and
may be moved to receiver.
WEST
HOUSTON — Key
players: QB Keenum;
WRs Cleveland, Carrier
and Edwards; RB Bryce
Beall, LB Marcus
McGraw. Returning
starters: offense nine,
Offensive Line
Four starters have departed
and only senior center
Cameron Zipp returns to a line
that produced a 1,000-yard
rusher for the fourth consecu-
tive year and eclipsed 5,000
yards for the third straight sea-
son.
Kapilovic and Fedora will
lean on Zipp’s leadership while
they find the right fit at all four
outside positions. To get imme-
diate help, Southern Miss
signed junior college players
Jason Weaver (Arizona
Western Community College)
and Lamar Holmes (Itawamba
C.C.) and will look to plug
these experience linemen in
early.
Returning players with in-
game experience include red-
shirt sophomore Joe Duhon,
junior Thomas Edenfield, red-
shirt senior Alex Michael,
Darius Barnes, and junior Ben
Schoenberger (Junior).
Southern Miss also has
potential in redshirt freshmen
Jonathan Guerry, Ed Preston,
and Nathaniel Worrell.
Redshirt sophomore Dyron
White and redshirt junior
James Brady also return.
New to the program will be
O.C. Brown, Seth Reedy,
Taylor Peterson, and David
Fowler.
The Defense
For the second consecutive
year, Southern Miss ended the
season with one of the four
stoutest defenses in C-USA,
and finished in the top 20
nationally in total sacks in
2009. The unit also excelled in
turnover margin, ranking in the
top 10.
To improve on its 2009
campaign, the Black and Gold
will need to improve a pass
defense that finished No. 109
nationally.
Todd Bradford is back to
lead the defense as coordina-
tor. Nasty Bunch alum Deke
redshirt year humbled me a lot,
and it definitely let me know I
wasn’t as good as I thought I
was. You go from being a
Division I prospect and getting
letters, phone calls, and e-mails
from so many different colleges
that it gives you a big head. You
get a little bit cocky. When I got
here it was ver y humbling.
They did a good job of knocking
me down a few notches. It was
defense seven.
Notes: The Cougars
are switching to a 3-4
defense with new coordi-
nator Stewart, trying to
trim the 33 minutes oppo-
nents held the ball per
game in 2009. ...
Mississippi State visits on
Oct. 9, and Houston wraps
up the regular season with
a trip to Texas Tech on
Nov. 27.
SMU — Key players:
QB Kyle Padron, DT
Margus Hunt, WRs
Aldrick Robinson and
Cole Beasley. Returning
starters: offense 6,
defense 7.
Notes: SMU had the
biggest win improvement
in FBS with seven more
victories in 2009. ...
Padron completed 67 per-
cent of his passes for 1,922
yards and had a school-
record 460 yards in beat-
ing Nevada in the Hawaii
Bowl. ... The Mustangs
open at Texas Tech on
Sept. 5 and host
Matt Bush/AP
Adams will continue his duties
as the leader of the defensive
line, while Dave Duggan heads
up the linebacker corps.
New to the coaching staff
for 2010 is Grady Brown, who
will coach the cornerbacks.
Defensive Line
The Golden Eagles will
return an interior line that was
among the best against the run
in C-USA in 2009 and defen-
sive ends who were ferocious
in the backfield.
Under the tutelage of Adams,
the defensive line accounted for
56 percent (50 of 88.5) of the
team’s tackles for loss. Those
players also improved from No.
93 in total sacks in 2008 to No.
18 a year ago.
Along the interior, Anthony
Gray, Terrance Pope, Logan
Hickman, and John Henderson
return with a wealth of experi-
ence. The foursome combined
to play in 51 games in 2009.
Khyri Thornton and Joel Ross
will provide run clogging poten-
tial along the interior in 2010.
Headlining the defensive
ends is Cordarro Law, who led
the team in tackles for loss with
14.5 last season. The
Whitfield, Ala., native also was
second on the team in sacks
with 7.5. Deddrick Jones and
David Boyce will again join him
at the end position.
Roshaad Byrd, whose sea-
son was cut short due to injury
in 2009, also will return.
Andrew Burns, who played
primarily in special teams situ-
ations, also will add depth
along the line. Redshirt fresh-
men Octavius Thomas and
Carlos Powell also will contend
for playing time.
Linebackers
All three starting lineback-
ers, who combined for 317
tackles and were the top three
tacklers on the team, return.
Korey Williams (121 total tack-
les) comes back in the middle.
good for me. It does that to
everybody.
“(Redshirting) made me
hungry. I was really ready to
play the game. (Last year was
like) doing all of the work dur-
ing the week to get a paycheck
and at the end of the week not
getting a paycheck. It made me
know I wanted to be on the
field, not sitting there (on the
sidelines).”
Washington State on Sept.
18 while dodging both
UCF and Southern Miss
in league play.
UTEP — Key players:
RB Donald Buckram, QB
Trevor Vittatoe, WR Kris
Adams, LB Royzell Smith.
Returning starters:
offense 7, defense 4.
Notes: Buckram aver-
aged 132.8 8 yards per
game last season. ...
Vittatoe is second among
returning players to
Keenum in career yards
passing with 9,683 and
career TD passes with 75.
TULSA — Key players:
WR/KR Damaris
Johnson, QB G.J. Kinne,
DE Odrick Ray, DE Cory
Dorris. Returning
starters: offense 9,
defense, 5.
Notes: Johnson totaled
2,693 yards catching pass-
es, running and returning
punts and kicks. ...
Schedule isn’t easy with
trips to Oklahoma State
and Notre Dame in non-
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Ronnie Thornton (114 total
tackles) returns at the weak
side, while speedster Martez
Smith (82 total tackles) is back
at strong side.
Joining them will be Tim
Green, Hendrick Leverette,
Jeremy Snowden, and Scottie
Williams.
Sophomore Jamie Collins,
who played both linebacker
and nickel back in 2009, has
moved into the linebacker rota-
tion after serving as Smith’s
backup last season.
Defensive Backs
Perennial starter C.J.
Bailey suffered an injury at the
close of the 2009 season and
was unable to participate in
many spring practice activities.
Because of his absence,
Fedora has been able to see
what the future holds at the
position.
Redshirt sophomore Marcal
Robinson showed fans what he
is capable off in the 2009 New
Orleans Bowl when he defend-
ed and broke up two passes
and shut down his side of the
field. Robinson will push Bailey
for playing time this season.
The spring also allowed
redshirt freshmen Deron
Wilson, Alex Smith, Jerrion
Johnson, and Gerald West to
come into their own. The four-
some was impressive in the
spring, and each brings a phys-
ical presence to the secondary.
University of Alabama
transfer Alonzo Lawrence also
is eligible to play after sitting
out a season due to NCAA
transfer rules.
At safety, Chico Hunter,
Justin Wilson, and Kendrick
Presley return having gained a
wealth of experience in 2009.
Wilson, who had two intercep-
tions in 2009, and Bailey will be
looked to for senior leadership.
The Special Teams
In 2009, Southern Miss was
among the nation’s best and
the nation’s worst in special
teams categories.
Freshman sensation Tracy
Lampley became the primary
handler of the punt return and
kick return duties and handled
the job as well as anyone in the
country, finishing the season
No. 6 nationally in punt return
yardage. He also added a 50-
yard return for a score against
Memphis.
At kickoff returns, Lampley
and departed senior Freddie
Parham led the way and each
had one touchdown return.
Lampley finished No. 15
nationally as a kick returner,
while Parham was No. 40. The
kickoff returns unit ranked No.
14 nationally and No. 2 in C-
USA.
Another freshman, Peter
Boehme, impressed as the
year went on. Boehme handled
the punt duties for Southern
Miss. He placed 26 of his 54
punts inside the opponent’s 20,
and added 12 boots of 50-or-
more yards while only tallying
three touchbacks.
The kicking duties remain
up in the air. Last season,
Justin Estes was 10 of 13 in
field goals and 28 of 33 in
extra-point attempts, while
Daniel Hrapmann was 4 of 7
and 14 of 18, respectively.
Redshirt freshman Matthew
Little had an impressive spring,
and incoming signee Corey
Acosta will challenge for the
starting position.
conference play.
RICE — Key players: RB
Sam McGuffie; QB Nick
Fanuzzi; DE Cheta
Ozougwu; DT Scott
Solomon. Returning
starters: offense 9, defense
9.
Notes: The Owls are a
year older after matching
Louisiana Tech in 2009
with the youngest starting
lineup in the nation. ...
McGuffie sat out 2009 fol-
lowing his transfer from
Michigan. ... Schedule is
brutal starting with Texas
at Reliant Stadium in
Houston.
TULANE — Key play-
ers: QB Ryan Griffin, WR
Casey Robottam, CB
Phillip Davis. Returning
starters: offense 7,
defense 4.
Notes: Coach Bob
Toledo must replace RB
Andre Anderson and WR
Jeremy Williams, who
combined for 56 percent
of offense. ... Schedule fea-
tures seven home games.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 13

McElroy
Continued from Page 6
what he can learn attend- for this moment.”
ing Oxford. He didn’t envi- McElroy also should
sion the paper taking the have a better feel for what
turn and likes the new Heisman Trophy winning
direction. running back Mark Ingram,
McElroy already has junior wide receiver Julio
earned his undergraduate Jones, and sophomore run-
degree in Marketing and is ning back Trent Richardson
in graduate school. The low- will be able to do. The
est grade he has earned at return of offensive linemen
Alabama is a B+ in a Barrett Jones and James
Management and Carpenter also should help
Leadership class. provide solid protection. All
“I was just open-minded five players were named
when I started writing it,” preseason first-team All-
McElroy said. “I sent it in to SEC by the media. McElroy
our advisor and he has been was a second-team pick.
helping me along the way Jones, who roomed with
and some things that have McElroy in training camp,
been successful in the past. said McElroy is a “laid-
It is really tough to tell what back” teammate who likes
they want.” to play video games in his
McElroy doesn’t believe spare time. He said
there is a correlation between McElroy has been trying to
the abstract thinking he is get him to play FIFA soccer
doing for his essay and the on PlayStation III and has
Dusty Compton/AP
University of Alabama linebacker Tana Patrick (2) and teammate Dont’a Hightower (30) go through drills at split-second decisions he has been “kicking his butt”
practice Aug. 9 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. to make on the football field. when he does play.
He feels the two thought “He is a great guy, and a
processes are different ways great guy to be around,”
Hightower of handling problems but that
his ability to think critically
Jones said. “Greg is intelli-
gent in his schoolwork and in
Continued from Page 6
provides some help. football. He goes through all
Chapman. I don’t know if he is one “I feel like I am the player I different areas. I am looking for- “On the football field it is of his reads and he makes the
of those guys ever ybody knows ward to this year.” all reaction,” McElroy said. right decisions. He doesn’t
about, but I guarantee you’re going was and a little bit more, Hightower’s teammates know he “I don’t think your book try to force anything in there,
to know about Chapman before the was injured but they aren’t sure
end of the season. We have a lot of knowing I am going to have there is a difference in his play.
smarts or your grade-point and if he doesn’t feel comfort-
average or anything like able with it he won’t throw it.
young guys who are going to come a little more on my “Dont’a Hightower has stepped that really translates to what He plays everything by the
in and help us on defense.” up a lot,” junior linebacker Jerrell you do on the field. I think it book.”
Hightower and junior safety shoulders this year being Harris said. “He has really taken allows you to study your McElroy refined those
Mark Barron are expected to be the control from a leadership standpoint
leaders on the defense this season.
one of the team leaders and is trying to be the head man and
playbook and grasp infor- skills earlier this year in a
mation faster, and grasp return trip to the Manning
It should not be a stretch for and one of the guys who is trying to be more vocal and just more information and to Passing Camp in Thibodaux,
Hightower, who had 64 total tackles, helping everybody out.” study game plans longer.” La., where he talked with
including six quarterback hurries, going to have to make all Said Sophomore defensive back Nearly 90 students are Indianapolis Colts standout
as a freshman. His performance of the checks on defense.” Dre Kirkpatrick, “He is working like selected every year for the quarterback Peyton Manning
earned him All-America honors. In he always has. I feel like the injury Rhodes Scholarship, which about how to play the position
the process, he started 12 of 14 hasn’t even affected him.” enables an individual to study and how to maximize his
games and became one of two fresh- Alabama junior linebacker Defensive coordinator / line-
Dont’a Hightower for one or two years at Oxford work with his receivers so
men to be a regular starter in 2008. backers coach Kirby Smart also has University in England. Two their timing is perfect.
This season, some might expect noticed Hightower’s play. He said people will be selected out of McElroy’s diligence is one
him to duplicate the performance of there is one thing, but when you Hightower already had assumed a a pool of candidates from reason he hasn’t lost a foot-
McClain, the 2009 Butkus Award win- have played football all of your life leadership role but that he is doing Alabama, Florida, and ball game since the eighth
ner, who is now a member of the and it gets taken away from you, it is even more. Tennessee. The list of appli- grade. And while he hasn’t
NFL’s Oakland Raiders. McClain a real big thing. It is good to be back “He looks better this fall and he cants is cut to 12 based on always been the starter for
paced the Crimson Tide with 53 solo on the field.” still has a way to go,” Smart said. each candidate’s essay and his teams, individual acco-
tackles, 105 total tackles, tied for the Hightower said he was trying to “He looks better this spring. Dont’a recommendations. The final- lades don’t carry a lot of
team lead with 14.5 tackles for loss kill somebody the first time he put really has challenged the younger ists are then graded on a host weight with McElroy or other
had four sacks, and two interceptions. the pads back on again after not players to learn the defense and to of categories. members of Alabama’s
Hightower is humbled by the wearing them for five or six months. compete at practice. As long as he Florida State University offense. The players and
comparison to McClain, but says he He said he couldn’t move like he continues to do that he can take on safety Myron Rolle was coaches stressed earlier this
is a different player. He said remembered and that he was trying that role we need him to do.” awarded a Rhodes month at the team’s media
McClain is more of a true inside not to overdo it on his knee. Hightower plans to apply every- Scholarship and studied at day that statistics are great as
linebacker, while he feels he is a Earlier this month at the football thing he learned from sitting and St. Edmund Hall, Oxford long as they create wins.
hybrid, or someone who can move team’s media day, Hightower con- watching this season. He said he University for the 2009-10 McElwain said members
outside and back inside. firmed he feels 100 percent back. still intends to be physical and to do academic year. of the offense — players and
Being compared to one of the “I feel like I am the player I was everything he can to make McClain, The Tennessee Titans coaches — have “ripped egos
school’s all-time greats can provide and a little bit more, knowing I am Cody, and the rest of the former selected him in the sixth out” and are invested in the
motivation. Hightower, though, need- going to have a lot more on my Alabama players proud — and to re- round of the 2010 NFL draft. system together.
ed only to remember the time he shoulders this year being one of the carve his own identity. McElroy would love to At the forefront,
spent off the field waiting to get back. team leaders and one of the guys “I am not a guy who uses finesse follow Rolle’s footsteps into McElroy serves as the “con-
He said those memories will give him who is going to have to make all of to get around blocks,” Hightower the NFL. First, he has mat- summate guy who studies
plenty of drive this season. the checks on the defense. I feel like said. “I am one of the guys who puts ters to attend to at Alabama. everything we do,”
“Hunger was one of the things the expectations are going to be a lit- the guard back in the hole and That road will feature plen- McElwain said.
that motivated me the most,” tle bit higher, so I feel like I have to makes a play. I feel like I am the ty of more scrutiny than he McElroy, who played
Hightower said. “Not being out push myself a little bit more in all same player, if not better.” faced last year. Earlier this with injured ribs in the
year, McElroy was one of 30 national title game victory
Saban quarterbacks named to the
2010 Davey O’Brien National
against Texas, said he is
proud to be part of such a
Continued from Page 6 Quarterback Award Watch selfless group.
champions. pass rusher. His status to List. The candidates were “I think everybody on
“The championship’s a open the season is uncer- selected based on their per- the team from an offensive
part of history and we’re tain with an NCAA investi- formances in 2009 and the point of view is extremely
not going to defend any- gation into a trip he — and expectations they face enter- focused on the details,”
thing,” Saban insists. players from other ing this season. McElroy said. “I think that
He’s hammered that schools — reportedly McElroy might face the is a big reason why we have
much home to his players: took to Miami in the most scrutiny. The 6-foot-3, been so successful. There
Don’t live in last year. Tide spring. 220-pounder led Alabama to were times last year when
players at least seem to be The Tide must replace a 14-0 record and the pro- we hit lulls and we were
listening after two straight All-Americans Terrence gram’s 13th national cham- tired and we didn’t play as
perfect regular seasons. Cody, Rolando McClain pionship last season. well, but for the most part,
“He’s so strong-minded and Javier Arenas on Despite the fact McElroy we always bounce back. We
you don’t even feel like defense, as well as first- passed for 17 touchdowns, very rarely had a two-game
you won anything,” cor- round NFL draft pick the second most in a single skid as an entire offense,
nerback Dre Kirkpatrick Kareem Jackson. season in school history, and I think that is a credit to
said. “I do like the talent 2,508 yards and threw only guys working hard and
Certainly not yet this level we have,” Saban said. four interceptions, Alabama their preparation and guys
season, whatever the “I do like the attitude that ranked only eighth in the giving their very best every
expectations. the players have worked Southeastern Conference in time they step out there.”
For a change, the front- with. I think this is going passing offense (187.9 yards A lot of the credit goes to
runner status stems large- to be a defensive team that per game) and fourth in McElroy, who has molded
ly from a loaded offense, improves throughout the total offense (403 ypg). himself into a leader of the
led by Heisman Trophy course of the season.” McElroy was ninth in best team in college football.
winner Mark Ingram, fel- Alabama won’t have passing average (179.1), He said several times at SEC
low backfield mate Trent much time for the young fourth in total offense Media Days last month that
Richardson, wide receiver defenders to grow up. The Dusty Compton/AP (185.1), and fourth in pass- he “just want(s) to make a dif-
Julio Jones and steady Tide faces Penn State on University of Alabama running back Mark Ingram (22) ing efficiency (140.5). ference,” and there is every
leader McElroy. It’s a col- Sept. 11, then visits Duke. runs a drill at practice Aug. 9 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Ingram The flip side was reason to believe he will do
lection of talent the Tide Plus, fellow SEC power won the Heisman Trophy last season. McElroy’s stewardship of the that again this year.
has traditionally been Florida visits newly expand- football helped Alabama have “A lot of people ask, ‘How
more likely to boast on the ed Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2003, then “fell” to 9-3 blocked field goals in a the third fewest turnovers in are you being motivated?’ ”
other side of the ball. on Oct. 2 in a rematch of the the following season. two-point win over the nation (12). He also was McElroy said at SEC Media
The defense is still past two league champi- McElroy has also been Tennessee. named MVP of the SEC Days. “The way I look at it, if
packed with All-American onship games. part of title teams, playing Josh Chapman is Championship Game. you’ve been to the mountain
types — only now they’re It’s a treacherous on three Texas high expected to replace Cody While proud of what he top, why would you settle
prep All-Americans trying schedule for a team trying school state champions. in the middle of the line accomplished, McElroy for anything less? Our moti-
to make the leap to the to repeat as national cham- It’s given him some idea of this season. The 310- feels more comfortable in vation is coming from some-
SEC. Like the sophomore pions, but a nice one for how to handle this. pounder has played in 29 coach Jim McElwain’s sys- place else this year. It’s com-
trio of cornerbacks breaking in a bigger “As a guy who’s been games and was a third- tem and as a team leader. ing from our accomplish-
Kirkpatrick and B.J. Scott Bryant-Denny. around special teams, real- down specialist behind He said he isn’t sure how ments to become a good
and linebacker Nico The stadium will now ly successful teams, I Cody but doesn’t quite much different or what kind team.
Johnson. hold 101,821, making it the don’t want to have that have the same space-clog- of new identity the offense “We’re proud of what we
Third-team AP All- fifth-largest in football after complacency, that sense of ging size. will have this season, but he accomplished last year. It
American strong safety a 9,000-seat addition. Fitting relaxation,” McElroy said. The backfield is the said there is plenty of room was a great run, great mem-
Mark Barron is the only accommodations for a — “I want to feel pressed. I Tide’s biggest strength. for improvement. ories that we’ll have for the
returning defensive player sorry, coach — defending want to strive for some- Both Ingram, the school’s “I think I have grown a rest of our lives. If you look
who started more than national champion. thing. We understand this first Heisman winner, and lot,” McElroy said. “I think I at us, none of us are wearing
four games last season. The Saban statue, like year is completely differ- the sophomore have come a long way in my our rings. We understand
Linebacker Dont’a his team, remains a work ent from last year. No one Richardson ran for 100- development and understand- that whatever happened last
Hightower missed 10 in progress and is expect- is going to hand us the tro- plus yards against Texas. ing defenses. I feel real confi- year isn’t going to give us
games after a knee injury. ed to be erected sometime phy now because of what Then there’s Jones, a dent. That is probably the advantage this year. We’re
Defensive end Marcell during the season. we accomplished this.” physical, playmaking biggest thing. I feel extremely going to give it our best
Dareus was a star of the Saban has been here A repeat title likely will receiver who was slowed confident in my preparation effort each week. It’ll be a
national championship before. His LSU team won require some good for- somewhat by injuries last and what I have done in the tough task, and it’s some-
game and is a ferocious a share of the national title tune — like Cody’s two season. past 12 months to get ready thing we’re ready for.”
14 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Contributed David Brown/University of Mississippi Sports Information

Randall Mackey was an All-American last season as a sophomore at East Mississippi Nathan Stanley appeared in five games at quarterback last season for the University
Community College. He led the Lions to a state title and an 11-1 record. He will of Mississippi. Jevan Snead’s decision to leave school with one year of eligibility
compete with Nathan Stanley and Jeremiah Masoli for playing time at quarterback remaining helped Stanley move to the top of the depth chart. Now he will compete
this season at the University of Mississippi. with Jeremiah Masoli and Randall Mackey to see who can win the job as starter.

Ole Miss QBs

Continued from Page 5
turn pro after his junior
season.
“The bottom line is he
helped us win 18 games,”
Nutt said. “So you’re miss-
ing so much.”
Expectations for Nutt’s
third season at Ole Miss
weren’t that high because
of those losses and more.
The Rebels were picked to
finish at or near the bot-
tom of the Southeastern
Conference Western
Division by just about
everyone.
Then Masoli entered
the mix and no one’s really
sure what to expect from
Ole Miss now.
There’s no question he
can contribute, especially
in Nutt’s Wild Rebel
offense, after leading the
Ducks to the Pac-10 title
after accounting for 28
touchdowns.
But can he stay out of
trouble? Two brushes with
the law in six months cost
him his place at Oregon
and the Heisman Trophy
Buzz that was building. Can
he win the job? He has 29
practices to learn Nutt’s
two-pronged playbook and
must supplant starter Nate
Stanley. And if he does, can
he overcome the problems
created by four new
starters on the offensive
line?
“It’s scary when you’re
relying on a center who’s
never taken a snap in the
SEC,” Nutt said.
But Masoli is a 5-foot-
11, 220-pound run-pass
threat who might be just
the answer for that untest-
ed line. The walk-on was
just digesting the play-
book a few days into camp
when he first met with
reporters, but he could
already see the possibili-
ties of Nutt’s Wild Rebel
offense.
“I’m a true dual-threat
quarterback,” Masoli said.
“I can run it and I can pass.
To be in this offense under
center will give me a great
chance to showcase those
talents.”
The thought that he
can guide a young, but
promising offense
through a reasonable
early season schedule and
rev things up in October
has players excited.
Continued from Page 5
and All-SEC wide receiver Shay
Hodge (70 catches, 1,135 yards, eight
touchdowns).
The addition of Masoli, a 5-foot-11,
220-pounder, could lessen the impact.
Last year, he led Oregon to its first
Pac-10 title since 2001 and its first Rose
Bowl appearance since 1995. He start-
ed for two years and threw for 2,147
yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed
for 668 yards and 13 touchdowns in
2009.
But off-the-field problems plagued
Masoli. He was suspended for the
2010 season after pleading guilty to a
reduced charge of misdemeanor sec-
ond-degree burglary for his role in a
theft at an Oregon fraternity in
January. Masoli was allowed to prac-
tice with the team in spring drills, but
coach Chip Kelly kicked him off the
team after he was cited for possession
of less than an ounce of marijuana and
driving on a suspended license after a
traffic stop in June.
Nutt said the decision of Raymond
Cotton to leave the program (he has
moved on to South Alabama) left the
Rebels with only Stanley and Mackey
at quarterback, and that didn’t make
him feel comfortable. He said he
understands the risk in bringing
Masoli into the program, but he said
he did his homework and trusts
Masoli knows this is his last chance.
“One of the biggest points we made
was you need us more than we need
you, and I think he understood that,”
Nutt said.
Masoli, who will play this season if
the NCAA approves a waiver request,
reiterated that point at Ole Miss media
day, thanking everyone at the school
for allowing him to transfer. He said
Nutt was the reason he picked Ole
Miss from the half dozen schools he
researched.
Masoli hopes to gain the same
comfort level in Nutt’s offense. His
skills appear to be suited for the “Wild
Rebel” offense, and, like Mackey, he
has the ability to make defenders miss
and to make big plays with his arm
and with his feet.
On the other hand, Stanley, who is
6-5, 215 pounds, is more of a “pro style
quarterback” who will operate in the
pocket. With three quarterbacks, Ole
Miss has greater flexibility to run mul-
tiple looks and to have two quarter-
backs — even three — on the field at
the same time.
“You can guarantee there will be
about five times in a game where our
quarterback has to make something
happen because the defenses in this
league are too good,” Nutt said.
“They’re too fast, so that gives you an
advantage when you have a quarter-
back that says, ‘OK., something
breaks down I can escape, I can make
something happen.’ ”
Mackey, who is 6-foot, 190 pounds,
can do that, too. Last year, he led the
nation with 3,122 yards passing, fin-
ished second in the nation with 32
touchdown passes, and rushed for 579
yards and five touchdowns to help
EMCC (11-1) win a state title.
Stanley appeared in five games for
the Rebels last season. He was 11 of 23
for 163 yards and one touchdown. He
showed promise in the spring, going
11 of 16 for 166 yards and two touch-
downs in the annual Grove Bowl.
Senior defensive lineman Jerrell
Powe was one of the players who
helped welcome Masoli to Oxford. He
joked at media day that he told Masoli
he needed to get used to a bigger
defenders he’ll see in the
Southeastern Conference.
Like many college football players,
Powe watched other games last sea-
son and was impressed with what
Masoli could do. He said he and sever-
al of the Rebels encouraged Nutt to
add Masoli and that they are anxious
to see how he can help the program,
even if it means taking a chance on a
player who has been in trouble.
Nutt said at media day Stanley
would be his starting quarterback if
the season started Aug. 9. It remains
to be seen which quarterback will do
— and say — the right things to earn
that job for the Sept. 4 opener against
Jacksonville State.

Powe
Continued from Page 5
to the 312-320 range. The
hours of training and con-
ditioning and disciplining
himself to do the right
things off the field have
been worth the wait.
This year, the senior
defensive tackle intends to
invest that dedication and
have a season to remem-
ber.
“I always wanted to be
successful in life,” Powe
said. “I just never would
quit. I always wanted to do
it for my family. When guys
quoted me wrong in the
paper, it gave me motiva-
tion to feel like I have to
prove these guys wrong.
There never was any
doubt. It always what is
what is the next stumbling
block (and how am I going
to get past it).”
Powe was a member of
Ole Miss’ 2005 signing
class out of Wayne County
High School, but he attend-
ed Hargrave Military
Academy, where he played
in 2005.
In 2006, the NCAA
Clearinghouse said Powe
had completed his require-
ments with “significant”
assistance. In the legal
quagmire that followed,
comments by Powe’s moth-
er, Shirley, were printed in
newspapers. The com-
ment, “Jerrell really is a
good child, but he just can’t
read” gained national atten-
tion, and proved to be just
the beginning of the
ordeal.
Powe’s mother later
said she never made the
comment. Jerrell said his
mother was misquoted.
The prolonged struggle to
play football left Powe
shaken.
“Early on after he was
denied I talked to him and
he was crying and he said,
‘Why me?’ ” said Lockett,
who was a freshman at Ole
Miss in 2007.
The NCAA denied
Powe’s eligibility three
times. In 2007-08, college’s
governing body barred
him from playing but
allowed him to enroll at Ole
Miss and to receive finan-
cial aid. The NCAA wanted
Powe to show he could
handle the academic
demands of college for one
year before he took the
field.
In 2008, the
Southeastern Conference
ruled Powe was eligible to
play for the Rebels. The
decision left Powe, who
Rivals.com had rated a five-
start recruit, eager to get
started. But Powe had bal-
looned to 380 pounds and
needed time to regain the
confidence, technique, and
instincts that made him
one of the nation’s top
recruits.
Lockett knew Powe
would be able to re-capture
that form.
“Back then, you knew if
you polished that stone up
it is going to shine in a cou-
ple of years, and it is shin-
ing now despite all of the
things he has been
through,” Lockett said.
Ole Miss defensive
coordinator/linebackers
coach Tyrone Nix has
watched Powe sculpt his
body to a manageable
weight and become a force
again up front. He said it is
“remarkable” Powe has
come from where he was
to reach his senior year. He
said Powe never accepted
just getting to Ole Miss and
steeled himself to get back
into top condition and to do
what he needs to do off the
field.
“He has challenged him-
self and it shows up physi-
cally, the commitment to
getting his body in tip-top
shape so he can get the
maximum out of his abili-
ty,” Nix said. “The disci-
pline it takes to get to that
point and maintain speaks
volumes about the kid’s
character, about his love
and passion for the game,
and his demand to be the
best he can be.”
Nix said it has surprised
him to see Powe make
such progress. He said it
often is difficult from the
outside looking in to deter-
mine if a player has the for-
titude and the drive to com-
mit themselves to a goal
and to see it through to the
end. He said Powe is at that
point with less than three
weeks to go before the sea-
son opener against
Jacksonville State.
“I expect great things
(from Jerrell) because that
is what he has produced,”
Nix said. “He is in the best
shape of his life, so, hope-
fully, we’re going to see the
best performance he has
put up so far.”
Ole Miss coach
Houston Nutt also believes
Powe can accomplish big
things this season. The 6-
foot-2, 320-pounder already
has been named to three
preseason watch lists —
Outland Trophy (best inte-
rior lineman), Bronko
Nagurski Trophy (best
defensive player), and
Rotary Lombardi Award
(best lineman). He also
was a first-team pick to the
preseason All-SEC team.
Nutt, who is in his third
season in Oxford, said
Powe’s love for Ole Miss
helped him persevere.
“He’s such a good team-
mate and a good leader,”
Nutt said. “By just listening
to him, he had one goal: He
wanted to play at Ole Miss,
and nothing was going to
stop him. That’s the atti-
tude that you want. Those
kinds of guys are success-
ful. They’re going to get a
degree, they’re going to
make plays for you on
Saturday, and they’re going
to do what’s right and be
good citizens. We took him
to Birmingham (Ala.) for
Media Days (last month),
and he did an awesome job.
He stole a lot of hearts
down there. A lot of people
met him for the first time.
He handled himself great.
He’s genuine, unselfish,
and has a good heart, and
he can play football.”
Powe also can cook.
Lockett, who said he is
“great friends with Powe,
often teams with Powe to
play host to barbecues. He
said they typically have
competitions to see whose
barbecue is better. The
friends at the party benefit
the most because Powe
makes sure everyone gets
their share before taking a
little for himself. The
lifestyle is part of the disci-
pline he follows to stay in
shape, but Lockett said it is
part of Powe’s character.
“He doesn’t really do it
for himself,” Lockett said.
“He does it for everybody.
He will sit there and grill
pounds of chicken and
slabs of ribs and he will
maybe eat a rib or a piece
of chicken, but everything
else will be for everybody.
He is not going to eat until
he is full. He is going to do
this for y’all and tell every-
body, ‘Y’all have fun.’ ”
Powe also can play foot-
ball. ESPN’s Mel Kiper
rated Powe the No. 2 sen-
ior defensive tackle in the
land, while Lindy’s has him
as the nation’s No. 5 defen-
sive tackle and the No. 8
NFL talent in the SEC.
Powe’s face lights up
when asked if he would
consider a possible return
for another year at Ole
Miss. There is the possibil-
ity Powe could be granted
another year of eligibility,
but his reaction to the
question says it all.
“I think I have paid my
respect because I definitely
want to move on,” Powe
said. “If I have to use that
other year, I will, but I think
I have paid my respect.”
While it is tempting to
think ahead to a possible
career in the NFL, Powe is
focused on this season. He
said it is a source of motiva-
tion to be a first-round NFL
draft pick. To realize that
goal, though, he said he
will continue to eat all of
the right things and to con-
tinue to hone his technique
so he can take the next
step.
It’s a step Powe has
looked forward to ever
since the denials gave him
pause about his chosen
path, but never caused him
to doubt himself
“I always thought it
would be easier to go back
and to tell people what you
did as opposed to what you
didn’t do,” Powe said when
asked why he stayed at Ole
Miss through all the set-
backs. “There never has
been no doubts. I always
want to be successful, and I
knew what I wanted to do,
and I knew what I had to
do. I just had to get down
on the weight.”
Lockett always believed,
too. Together, they will
lead a defense that returns
six starters and will show
the nation a side to Powe
everyone needs to see.
“His character and his
sense of humor are going
to rub off on you immedi-
ately and you’re going to be
like, ‘Oh, OK I see why he
is in the predicament he is
in and where he came from
a couple of years ago,’ ”
Lockett said.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 15

Mullen
Continued from Page 4
against the University of Mississippi in
the Egg Bowl, is he ready to take over as
full-time starter? And if he’s not, is red-
shirt freshman Tyler Russell the right fit
for Mullen’s run-first offense?
Mullen has said the competition is too
close to call and showed last year he
doesn’t mind playing two signal callers.
But Relf has been preparing himself to
take over the team after playing in 10
games last season while sharing time
Wright
Continued from Page 4
whether moving to a new
position helps his draft
stock. He knew he would
have to answer the ques-
tion at Southeastern
Conference Media Days.
“Like I tell people all the
time, ‘If I have zero tackles
and we win, I’m just as
happy,’ ” Wright said. “My
thing and focus is doing
anything I can to help my
team win. The NFL is not
my main concern.”
The Bulldogs’ new
attacking defense, which
simplifies reads and utilizes
strong line play, will have
Wright playing away from
the line of scrimmage after
spending the past three
seasons manning the
strong side.
Wright describes the
new defense as “real
dynamic,” which could
help the senior improve on
the 82 tackles, six and a
half tackles for a loss, two
sacks, and two forced fum-
bles he recorded in ’08.
Plus, he thinks the
defense could help his draft
stock.
“A lot of NFL teams run
it, and it’s something we’re
going to pride ourselves on
doing a real good job of,”
Wright said. “It’s real multi-
ple, and you’re going to see
us make a lot of plays.”
So whether Wright is
thinking about the league
directly or indirectly, he
already has a believer in
Diaz, his fourth defensive
coordinator in his MSU
career.
Despite playing with
simplified reads, Wright
and the rest of the defense
Sherrod
Continued from Page 3
with starter Tyson Lee, and has gotten Sherrod has the most start- plays. Dixon’s 51-yard
positive reviews. ing experience entering the
“I feel my touchdown run against
“I think he’s had a great offseason,” 2010 season. He also is one knowledge of the Houston is a perfect exam-
Mullen said. “He picked up where he left of the few remaining play- ple, as Sherrod hopped
off this offseason. If you look at what he’s ers from MSU’s last bowl
game has improved over a fallen defender to
done and the improvements he’s made,
he didn’t just sit and get satisfied with
team in ‘07, making his tremendously.” hook a linebacker who
influence on the team’s sniffed out the play and
that game. I think that really gave him untested backups vital. shot the gap. Dixon cut off
some confidence to grow as a quarter- Mississippi senior
MSU guard Quentin offensive lineman Sherrod’s block and scam-
back this offseason and become a much
Saulsberry remembers the Derek Sherrod pered for the score.
better all-around player.”
struggles of his first years Sherrod finished the play
as a starter in ‘08, when he
was played out of position at
right, so I look to him a lot,
to see how he practices and
by throwing the linebacker
to the ground.
right tackle. The example in gets better every day.” To Sherrod, plays like
experienced a learning teams, had 14 tackles as his first season as a full-time MSU’s quarterback situ- that require just as much
curve after Diaz and for- the next nearest linebacker starter was Sherrod. ation could result in a full- mental work as athleticism.
mer University of on the stat sheet. “We always say, ‘He time starter or a rotation “You have to be a smart
Oklahoma defensive line Experience is danger- doesn’t say too much but like last season, when player to do your best,“
coach Chris Wilson joined ously thin, but Wright he leads with action,’ ” Chris Relf subbed for Sherrod said. “You could
the team in the spring. believes the team can work Saulsberry said. “Derek is starter Tyson Lee in down- be the biggest, strongest,
Wright’s position around it. real crucial to our offensive and-distance situations. and fastest, but if you don’t
change added to the tran- “The young guys are line having success. The Sherrod’s role won’t know your plays you’re not
sition, but he didn’t take just getting into it, and it’s a leadership and the exam- change with quarterbacks. going to get far. Heading
long to acclimate to play- big responsibility for me ple — he helps other play- He’s going to protect the into this year, I feel my
ing in more space, Diaz and Chris to teach them ers get better. He pays edge. His pass protection is knowledge of the game has
said. how to practice and teach attention to details, takes just part of his skill-set, as improved tremendously.
“When you show up for them the plays,” Wright good steps, gets good hand his quickness and versatili- That’s the biggest reason I
your last spring practice, said. “Leadership was one placement. ... He likes to ty give Hevesy the option of expect to play much better
and all of a sudden there’s a of the things me and the make sure everything is pulling him on counter than I did last season.”
new guy explaining new coaches talked about this
ways of doing things and offseason. It’s all about
new terminology, that’s a keeping the confidence in
little unsettling,” Diaz said.
“You can tell from the 15th
them because the more we
learn and the more we rep BIG-BORE POWER.
day of spring to the first day
of fall camp he’s really
it, that’s when the fun starts
and we’ll be able to domi-
IN A SINGLE SHOT OR SIDE-BY-SIDE.
made a lot of improvement nate offenses.”
and is more comfortable Physically, Wright said
with his job, and the under- his focus has been about
standing we don’t need him playing with proper “bend,”
to be good, we need him to as taller players typically
be great for us to be a great have a tougher time gener-
defense.” ating full force in football
To go from good to technique.
great, Wright will need to Wright and the rest of
nurture a young lineback- the defense have spent con-
ing corps that lost current siderable time working on
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Paul graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor of science
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16 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL