Jackson Free Press

Gloom, despair and agony on me.
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery.
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.
Gloom, despair, and agony on me …
– As heard on "Hee Haw" (1969-1992)

Will this be the fall of our discontent? Let's face facts, Mississippi college football fans, things don't look good for the home teams. None of the state teams are picked to finish higher than second in its conference or division. The best you can say about any state team is that its prospects are "uncertain."

Mississippi State? Don't get your hopes up. Ole Miss. Ditto. Southern Miss? Sure, they might have a winning season, but do the Golden Eagles have what it takes to contend in the new-look C-USA? Jackson State? New coach Rick Comegy is bringing back the old uniforms. Whether he can bring back the Tigers' winning ways in a SWAC that is much changed remains to be seen.

But there is a bright side. Newell Field, where Belhaven plays, looks much nicer these days. Mississippi College and Millsaps are playing one another again. Hardly anybody got arrested at Ole Miss during the offseason. And nobody in the state wears uniforms as ugly as Oregon's (except when USM is in that ugly-ass all-black gear).

You're a fan, so you don't have to be logical about your team's chances. Everybody is undefeated right now. Anything can happen up until kickoff. A turnaround is always just around the corner. You gotta hope. You gotta pray. You gotta believe.

Or, you gotta get your bet down on the opposing team.

So what's going to happen this college football season? Here are Doctor S' SWAGs (sophisticated wild-ass guesses).

Jackson State
Coach: Rick Comegy (first season)
Stadium: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson
2005: 2-9 (2-7 SWAC)
Radio: 1300 AM/105.9 FM

The James Bell Error is over. In three seasons, Bell led JSU to an 8-23 record, and he turned the Tigers from a SWAC underachiever into a conference doormat. Things got so bad that Bell got the boot in October as JSU was on its way to a season-ending seven-game losing streak.

Enter Rick Comegy, a proven college coach who compiled a 90-26 record in his 10 seasons at Tuskegee. He has overhauled the roster by bringing in nine transfers from Division I-A schools, giving the team an instant infusion of badly needed talent. He also recruited like a champ, signing quarterback Jimmy Oliver, a two-time juco All-American at Pearl River CC.

The defense has just two starters back, led by defensive back Vincent Dancy, a preseason first-team All-SWAC choice

Outlook: Uncertain. The Tigers will be better, but they have a long way to go before they return to being the SWAC powerhouse of old. The SWAC's upper-tier teams have left JSU behind in recent years. As always, Tiger Nation is insanely optimistic, and even Comegy publicly poo-poos the preseason poll that picked JSU to finish fourth in the SWAC West.

"There was a time when Jackson State was a dominant team," Comegy told The Associated Press, "and we're in a perfect spot to bring that back."

Comegy might be right. But the Tigers won't return to top of the SWAC pack this season.

Schedule: Sept. 2, Paul Quinn; Sept. 16, Tennessee State (at Memphis, Tenn.); Sept. 23 Mississippi Valley State; Sept. 30, at Texas Southern; Oct. 7, Alabama State (at Mobile, Ala.); Oct. 14, Southern; Oct. 21, at Grambling State; Oct. 28, at Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Nov. 4, Alabama A&M; Nov. 11, Prairie View A&M; Nov. 18, Alcorn State

Ole Miss
Coach: Ed Orgeron (second season 3-8)
Stadium: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford
2005: 3-8 (1-7 SEC)
Radio: 97.3 FM

When will Coach Ed Orgeron learn not to name his starting quarterback six months early? When he was hired in 2004, he immediately named Micheal Spurlock (aka "The Bust") as the starter for 2005. You all remember how that turned out.

This year, Orgeron anointed Brent Schaeffer when he signed him out of the College of Sequoias. Schaeffer put Rebel Nation out on a window ledge while he spent all summer going to school to become eligible to become a Rebel. Schaeffer finally showed up at the start of preseason practice and has looked good so far running the Rebels' new offense. Schaeffer started the first three games of his freshman year at Tennessee. Then he lost his job, got hurt and was thrown out of school for punching another student in view of a security camera. Maybe he belongs on defense.

Speaking of defense, the Rebels have the makings of a good unit, led by linebacker Patrick Willis. But Willis' health could be a question mark.

Outlook: Chaotic. There's always something swirling around Oxford. You can expect somebody to tear off his shirt or throw a chair any minute now. The Rebels' schedule is reasonable (just three preseason Top 25 teams), but Ole Miss doesn't have enough bullets to hang with the SEC elite. "We want to win now," Orgeron told The Associated Press. "I will never settle for anything less." This season, Ed, you will have to settle for six wins.

Schedule: Sept. 3, Memphis; Sept. 9, at Missouri; Sept. 16, at Kentucky; Sept. 23, Wake Forest; Sept. 30, at Georgia; Oct. 7, Vanderbilt; Oct. 14, at Alabama; Oct. 21, at Arkansas; Oct. 28, Auburn; Nov. 4, Northwestern (La.) State; Nov. 18, at LSU; Nov. 25, Mississippi State

Mississippi State
Coach: Sylvester Croom (third season, 6-16)
Field: Scott Field, Starkville
2005: (3-8, 1-7 SEC)
Radio: 105.9 FM

Bulldog Nation still loves Coach Croom. He says this season will be different as he finally has personnel to run his West Coast offense. But why did it take him almost two seasons to realize that Omarr Conner is not a college quarterback? Croom's loyalty to Conner was almost Sherrill-esque. Now Michael Henig is the quarterback, and Conner is at receiver, where he belongs. Running back Jerious Norwood left Starkville for the NFL, and Brandon Thornton gets first shot at replacing him—easier said than done. The defense, led by linebacker Quinton Culberson (a Provine High alum), should be strong. 17 starters are back, but, considering last season's record, that may not be a good thing.

Outlook: Gloomy. The NCAA sanctions are over and the MSU program appears to be improving, but the schedule is a killer. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play three teams ranked in the Associated Press preseason Top 10: No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 West Virginia and No. 8 LSU. State also has to play No. 15 Georgia. Five wins by the Bulldogs would be progress. Six wins would be coach-of-the-year stuff.

Schedule: Aug. 31, South Carolina; Sept. 9, Auburn; Sept. 16, Tulane; Sept. 23, at UAB; Sept. 30, at LSU; Oct. 7, West Virginia; Oct. 14, Jacksonville State; Oct. 21, at Georgia; Oct. 28, at Kentucky; Nov. 4, at Alabama; Nov. 18, Arkansas; Nov. 25, at Ole Miss

Southern Miss
Coach: Jeff Bower (16th season, 103-72-1)
Stadium: M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg
2005: 7-5 (5-3 C-USA)
Radio: 1180 AM/103.3 FM

Since C-USA started playing football in 1996, Southern Miss has won or shared the title four times, the most recent in 2003. Can the Eagles keep it going? They're picked to finish second in the C-USA East, but they have to do it with a new quarterback, Jeremy Young. And he's going to have to throw a lot if the running game matches the 2005 season. The Eagles have four starters back on a talented offensive line, but seven starters back on a defense that gave up too many big plays last season.

Outlook: Fuzzy. Coach Bower led USM to 12 consecutive winning seasons and never cracked a smile all that time. Considering how their schedule was fouled up by hurricanes, the Eagles were lucky to finish 7-5 in 2005. This season's non-conference schedule is potentially brutal, with trips to Florida and No. 17 Virginia Tech, plus a visit by N.C. State. The Eagles also have to go on the road to play preseason C-USA favorites Central Florida and Tulsa. So can the Jaundiced Buzzards wake up the echoes and win another C-USA title? No. But they can go to a bowl game.

Schedule: Sept. 2, at Florida; Sept. 9, Southeastern Louisiana; Sept. 16, N.C. State; Sept. 26, at Central Florida; Oct. 3, at Tulsa; Oct. 14, Houston; Oct. 21, at Virginia Tech; Oct. 28, East Carolina; Nov. 5, at Memphis; Nov. 11, at Tulane; Nov. 18, UAB; Nov. 25, Marshall

Belhaven
Coach: Don Lee (second season, 5-6)
Stadium: Newell Field, Jackson
2005: 5-6 (4-4 MSC)
Radio: 930 AM

Outlook: Underwhelming. The Blazers came close to making Don Lee's first season special. They were 5-5 but flamed out in the finale against Mississippi College 52-16. Lee knows the Blazers blew it: "We had three tough loses last season," he said. "Against Mississippi College, we were flat from the time we got off the bus. The Bethel College and Lambuth University games were a great opportunity to win the Mid South Conference West Division, but we lost both games due to turnovers and a lack of execution." The Blazers have 16 starters back including receiver Graylin Allison. But Belhaven is still playing catch-up with the MSC's top teams.

Schedule: Aug. 26, at Concordia-Selma; Sept. 9, Southern Nazarene; Sept. 16, at Texas College; Sept. 23, Georgetown; Sept. 30, at Bethel; Oct. 7, Union; Oct. 14, at West Virginia Tech; Oct. 21, Lambuth; Oct. 28, at Campbellsville; Nov. 4, at Shorter; Nov. 11, Cumberland

Millsaps
Coach: Mike DuBose (first season)
Stadium: Harper Davis Stadium, Jackson
2005: 2-7 (1-5 SCAC)
Radio: 1240 AM

Outlook: Dim. It's a long way from Coach Mike DuBose's last college head coaching job at Alabama to the quaint campus on North State Street. On the bright side, Millsaps has seven home games this year and 14 starters back, including rusher Tyson Roy. But DuBose doesn't have enough talent on hand for the Majors to make a dent in the SCAC.

Schedule: Sept. 2, Mississippi College; Sept. 9, Louisiana College; Sept. 16, Huntingdon; Sept. 30, Lincoln; Oct. 7, Centre; Oct. 14, Austin; Oct. 21, DePauw; Oct. 28, Sewanee; Nov. 4, at Rhodes; Nov. 11, Trinity

Mississippi College
Coach: Norman Joseph (second season, 2-8)
Stadium: Robinson-Hale Stadium, Clinton
2005: 2-8 (1-8 ASC)

Outlook: Ugly. The Choctaws were seldom competitive in 2005. And they're not playing the team they beat the worst, Belhaven, this season. The Choctaws (who are no longer on the NCAA's "hostile mascot" list) have 17 starters back including quarterback Adam Shaffer. But unless MC's defense can figure out how to stop somebody, it's going to be another long year in the ASC.

Schedule: Sept. 2, at Millsaps; Sept. 16, at Texas Lutheran; Sept. 23, McMurry; Sept. 30, at Hardin-Simmons; Oct. 7, Louisiana College; Oct. 14, LaGrange; Oct. 21, at Mary Hardin-Baylor; Oct. 28, East Texas Baptist; Nov. 4, at Howard Payne; Nov. 11, Sul Ross State

Mississippi Valley State
Coach: Willie Totten (fifth season, 16-28)
Stadium: Rice-Totten Stadium, Itta Bena
2005: 6-5 (5-4 SWAC)

Outlook: Puzzling. The Delta Devils have 20 starters back, including the SWAC's preseason offensive and defensive players of the year, quarterback Aries Nelson and linebacker Tyler Knight. If Valley is going to live up to the preseason poll that had it finishing second in the SWAC East, the Devils are going to have to find a way to beat Jackson State, something Valley hasn't done since 1994. Even James Bell's Tigers never lost to Valley.

Schedule: Sept. 2, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (at Chicago); Sept. 9, at Southern; Sept. 16, Alabama A&M; Sept. 23, at Jackson State; Sept. 30, Concordia-Selma; Oct. 7, Grambling State; Oct. 14, at North Dakota State; Oct. 21, at Texas Southern; Oct. 28, Prairie View A&M; Nov. 4, Alcorn State; Nov. 11, at Alabama State

Alcorn State
Coach: Johnny Thomas (ninth season, 40-48)
Stadium: Jack Spinks Stadium, Lorman
2005: 6-5 (5-4 SWAC)
Radio: 90.1 FM

Outlook: Road-weary. Alcorn State has 13 starters back, including quarterback Tony Hobson and running back Johnny McCoy, plus the entire defensive line. But who made up the schedule? The Braves have just three home games this season. And the NCAA doesn't like the Braves' nickname, so it stuck them on the organization's "hostile mascot" list. Ouch. The Braves are going to be away from Lorman too much this year to do anything special.

Schedule: Aug. 31, at Louisiana-Monroe; Sept. 9, at Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Sept. 16, at Langston; Sept. 23, Alabama State; Sept. 30, Morehouse (at Los Angeles); Oct. 7, at Prairie View A&M; Oct. 14, Texas Southern; Oct. 21, Southern; Nov. 4, at Mississippi Valley State; Nov. 11, at Alabama State; Nov. 18, at Jackson State; Dec. 2, at Grambling State

Delta State
Coach: Rick Rhoades (fifth season, 26-17)
Stadium: Travis E. Parker Field, Cleveland
2005: 7-4 (6-3 GSC)
Radio: 93.1 FM

Outlook: Hazy. The Statesmen have plenty of firepower returning including quarterback Scott Eyster, who has thrown for more than 9,000 yards in three years as DSU's starter. The Statesmen also have two preseason All-Americans back on defense, linebacker Michael Eubanks and cornerback Monterio James. Great things are predicted for the Statesmen, who are ranked 23rd in one preseason poll. But it's meaningless unless Fightin' Okra can find a way to beat Valdosta State and North Alabama.

Schedule: Sept. 2, West Virginia Tech; Sept. 9, at Stephen F. Austin; Sept. 16, at Henderson State; Sept. 23, Ouachita Baptist; Sept. 30, at Southern Arkansas; Oct. 7, at Arkansas Tech; Oct. 12, Valdosta State; Oct. 21, North Alabama; Oct. 28, at West Georgia; Nov. 2, West Alabama; Nov. 11, Arkansas-Monticello

Previous Comments

ID

80388

Comment

J-State will come back with a vengeance... State has a brutal schedule, but should still have a better season than its had since tanking the 2000 season with an 8-4 record. umiss should consider themselves lucky to win a single SEC game. No OL, no WRs and P-Willie (and P=Willie only) on defense = OUCH.

Author

millhouse

Date

2006-08-23T20:52:04-06:00

ID

80389

Comment

Besides being an Ole Miss fan, I'm posting this article about Jerrel Powe for a reason. I hope you will read it. OK.... Notice anything about this article? It is well researched. It is well written, and full of information. Good reporting for a story put out late in the day. If the city reporters and editors would put in half the reporting these two did in this story they may not have to worry about lost readership! Pretty bad when the sports page reporters can report circles around the local guys! Hotty Totty!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-08-31T20:17:23-06:00

ID

80390

Comment

I must strongly disagree. First of all, Ole Miss is probably going to lose in court. They are setting themselves up for a major hit by the NCAA. If he plays in any games while this is worked out and they lose, NCAA will make them forfeit. NCAA does not like challenges like this and they will start looking for an excuse to bust Orgeron. I'm sure that the NCAA had quite a few questions about someone who is going to a "prep" school in Virginia then is taking a bunch of "correspondence" hours at BYU and then enrolls at Ole Miss. Ole Miss is pretty stupid going to court against the NCAA over this one as they will probably lose and then get punished by the NCAA. There is probably a good reason why the NCAA did not clear him and its not because they feel like picking on Ole Miss.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-01T00:08:21-06:00

ID

80391

Comment

wwwwooooooooooohaaaaaa.... he CAN"T READ????????????????????????????????????????????????? and he wants to go to college? No way. I'm sorry but college IS higher education. HOW did he get to his senior year of High school without his mother knowing that he COULD NOT READ and needed help? At what point does she wake up and realize that her son is illiterate and something is wrong? When he is 17? Where the hell was she when he was 6,8,10,12? what a piece of crap mother. Go ahead and fire away at me but none of you posters if you have or had kids, would let your kid make it to 12th grade and NOT know he could not read like she is claiming and not know what kind of education he is getting even if you had to work two jobs as a single parent. I know countless single parents, most are not well off to say the least and they know if their kids are not able to read before they are 17. I feel sorry for him, I really do. I think the best thing for him is to attend a junior college or a school that can help him learn and become more literate and if he is as good as he is supposed to be on the field, then when he is 20 or whatever the minimum age is, he can try for NFL or other professional leagues.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-01T00:15:23-06:00

ID

80392

Comment

Here is what a friend of mine, who is an education specialist wrote me about Powe: That is incredibly sad...there are programs designed specifically for kids in his situation. Instead, we're going to rush him into COLLEGE when he can't read. Forget his athletic career; they're ruining this kid's life. Pretty simple what needs to happen. he needs some strong guidance, get the fack away from football, and enrolled into an intensive, reading intervention program. Dude's life is toast if he can't read. ####ing pisses me off. Being able to read vs playing football...well, nevermind.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-01T00:35:13-06:00

ID

80393

Comment

Dude, get off the sauce and read my post. My post is about the reporting. I have no other motives. If you can't see that the reporting is more in depth and more detailed than what we get in our FRONTPAGE stories, day in and day out, then you may be a "non-reader." My god, this article is longer then a sunday perspective story and its about a football player who isn't even on a team yet! And the sports stories regularly are better written than the Metro stuff. I have a family member that has had a similar learning disability, really didn't grasp reading until her early 20's, so you kingfish just sux right now. He whose players are without sin, cast the first stone. Still Hotty Totty!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-01T01:00:56-06:00

ID

80394

Comment

I have no problem with your post and you are right about the reporting. What I see is a kid who is being used. I see a kid who's mother does not give a crap about him. Sorry, but no halfway decent parent doesn't just discover when he is 17 the kid is illiterate. I see a kid who has probably been used by football coaches and is being used by football coaches. Like my friend wrote, he doesn't need to be worrying about football. He needs to be in an intervention program for reading. He is going to be a failure in life if he can't read. Making it to pros and staying there more than a year or two is a crapshoot. Even if he did and can't read, he'll be taken advantage of (remember Joe Louis and Mike Tyson?). I'm sorry for your family member. I have two blind neices. Kids are born with problems. However, I bet your family members parent knew all about the problem before he/she was 17. He sued the NCAA? How is the attorney paid for? He is known in Jackson as an ethical one and is not a cheap one. Someone is paying his fee.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-01T08:06:15-06:00

ID

80395

Comment

Kingfish, I didn't read the article (because sports = boring), but, tell me, does the kid not have a FATHER who could also be held accountable? Or is everything always the mom's fault? As a mom, I really want to know what level of blame I'll be expected to bear, and how much I can shift to my husband.

Author

kate

Date

2006-09-01T08:27:43-06:00

ID

80396

Comment

Okay, now that I've read the article, Kingfish, you are a complete ass. First, the guy is listed as "learning disabled", so it's not like he's just lazy and his mom is an idiot. Second, how in the hell can you blame the MOM ONLY when there is NO MENTION OF A FATHER. The woman is listed as a single mother. How arrogant do you have to be to criticize this woman, knowing as little about her life as you do. She obviously fed, clothed and educated her son as best she could, to the point where he's apparently a sought after athlete. Why in the HELL is this the mom's fault, when the DAD is not even around?!?!?

Author

kate

Date

2006-09-01T08:31:37-06:00

ID

80397

Comment

You are right Kate. Not knowing your kid can not read until he is 17 years old should not be criticized at all. Did I EVER say he was lazy? Now YOU are putting words in my mouth. I blame the mother and system on him. He is 17 years old and can't read. His mother says she just didn't know til now that was the case. You're a parent. go ahead and tell me even if you were single working 2 jobs you would not know that your kid made it that far without knowing how to read. This is too funny. You have a kid who has been used by coaches. He gets to his senior year of high school and can not read. His mother claims she had no idea. He has coaches trying to stick him in a senior college for which he is obviously not prepared or capable of at THIS point in his life. What he needs is special help and put into a program like my friend stated that will give him the skills he needs to compete in life. Yet for pointing all of this out I'm an a**? this is too funny. I want the kid to be able to read and write and given the skills to get a job in life and take care of himself and his family, not how many sacks he can make so Winthrop P. Elderidge of Dewey, Cheatum, & Howe Law firm can sit in his sky box at ole Miss games drinking bourbon while telling everyone he got that player on the field and how he is dumb as **** but can hit a qb. But I'm the a**. And you'd be surprised at how easily the learning disabled label is thrown out now today. If a kid can't read at that age, they'll say he is learning disabled. I will agree on father? Where is dad? Just one more example of him being let down by those around him.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-01T09:00:13-06:00

ID

80398

Comment

In this day of kids who can't read analog clocks due to digital ones, and can't tie a shoelace because of Velcro, I can see how a kid could just make good enough grades to move forward without being able to fully read. How do you know he isn't almost an idiot savant when it comes to comprehending through audio and visual means? How do you know he isn't a wizard in math or with logic? He may have a degree of dyslexia that is just now being recognized? He is obviously smart enough and talented enough to be a Parade All-American. So, now he may have an opportunity to get the help he needs, in a more productive atmosphere, and still pursue a skill that best suits him – football. Yet, all you can do is find the opportunity to bash him, his mother, and the system. It’s most likely because you “like” some other school. Sad really sad! Trust me; I know first hand how the pursuit of sport has disenfranchised a large number of lower socioeconomic citizens. I know how much it helps many students too – be it going on to a more successful athletic career or in the boardroom. And, I know you can lead a horse to water; but you can't make him drink - which may be the case with him and education. But, that doesn't excuse the vitriol coming from you just because you dislike Ole Miss or State or Southern MS or J-State, or whoever. It’s not like many Div. 1-A schools are putting out Rhoads Scholars left and right and that includes whatever school you root for/went too! And by the way, by the time my family member was 17 she had been in and out of several “Special education” programs; and, it still took awhile before it all sank in. But, she still held a job, still worked hard, and still had enough sense to know right from wrong. But, now you have sucked me into your false web of blogness when my whole point was that these sports writers actually had several sources and more in-depth reporting about a football player then the Metro stories about what really can affect us we read everyday.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-01T09:37:28-06:00

ID

80399

Comment

Pikersam, now you are putting words in my mouth like kate did. Where did I bash him? I didn't criticize him at all. In fact, if you READ what I wrote, I want to help the kid. However the most important thing to everyone in his life right now is FOOTBALL not his learning to read. No one has said he is a genius at math or anything so I will assume he is not. Face it, some kids are not cut out for college. Does not mean they are bad, does not mean they can not make it in life, just means they are not cut out for college. However, I will bet you dinner at Ticos that if he goes this route, in 5 years he will be out on the street or winding up similar to Dontae. You DO remember how he was coddled don't you? If he goes my route and gets actual help, he is then ready for some education and can get a job where he can at least provide for himself. However, if you want to take up for the football pimps, go ahead. and face the fact, his m orhter had no clue as to what was going on. Claiming she didn't know he could read . Uh huh. either she was that neglectful or knew the coaches etc were just passing him on.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-01T09:52:07-06:00

ID

80400

Comment

What part of the restraining order do you "non-read?" Lafayette County Chancery Court Judge Edwin Roberts Jr. said Ole Miss must allow Powe to enroll in school by Friday — the final day students can enroll for the fall semester. Roberts also said in court papers that because Powe has met the NCAA’s minimum requirements for academic eligibility, Powe should be placed on athletic scholarship and be allowed to practice with the team, in accordance with NCAA rules and the binding scholarship papers Powe and the university signed in February. A hearing for a preliminary injunction is set for Sept. 11. Jeff Alford, an Ole Miss spokesman, said the school will abide by the court order, even though under NCAA rules athletes who are not certified by the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse cannot receive an athletic scholarship. “It’s an unprecedented situation,” Alford said. They are fighting for this young man to KEEP his scholarship and be able to get a better education. He will be allowed to practice per NCAA rules. No where in the article does it say he could play besides where the reporter injects his opinion. What this story is about is the fact that Powe signed a contract with Ole Miss for a scholarship and they are going to challenge Ole Miss for withdrawing the scholarship per the fact that the NCAA Clearing House denied him eligibility. Ole Miss is being forced into this situation, not the other way around. And I'm sure if this was your school it would be alright. But, that's right, Kingfish went to a school were all the players were top in their class and never got into any trouble or were coddled by the school – in any sport! You feel sorry and that is just too bad. I feel good he may NOW get to go to a school that has a very good education department which may mean he will get top notch support in overcoming his obstacles. If a student or two in the education department are able to help Powe then it is a Win/Win for all involved. The students get a great opportunity to better their teaching skills, and Powe gets the help he needs.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-01T10:36:03-06:00

ID

80401

Comment

Oh yeah... I meant to add... "Hell yeah... Damn Right!"

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-01T10:37:41-06:00

ID

80402

Comment

Kingfish, it's incredibly easy to imagine scenario's where family members don't know about problems. It happens all the time, every day. People drink, do drugs, abuse, embezzle, etc. Shit happens. The kid was obviously doing well in other areas, and if he hid the fact he couldn't read from his momma, that does NOT mean that she is, by default, "a piece of crap mother" who "does not give a crap about him". Did she screw up, somewhere along the line? Yes. But does that mean that she's "a piece of crap" who automatically "does not give a crap about him"? Hell no. You absolute villification of the mother is just plain repulsive to me. You'd better pray that your kids never have any problems, because, if they do, it's clearly because you are a piece of crap. Oh, wait. Not you. It'd be their MOM's fault, so I guess you're off the hook.

Author

kate

Date

2006-09-01T11:13:02-06:00

ID

80403

Comment

My cousin was 19 before his folks realized he had a higher level reading disability. He was so social, so verbally talented and so charming that his teachers didn't catch on to the reading part. He did alright but ran into problems hitting harder stuff in college prep and standardized tests. He got some special reading rehab for learning disabilities & it did help him.

Author

Izzy

Date

2006-09-01T11:19:59-06:00

ID

80404

Comment

Laurel, so sorry to hear that your Aunt was such a piece of crap, who didn't give a crap about her child ;-).

Author

kate

Date

2006-09-01T12:36:30-06:00

ID

80405

Comment

Kate, I really don't care what you think. No mother in your eyes can do anything wrong. I have every right to villify her. That kid got out of high school not knowing how to read and she didn't know? That is pretty damn sad no matter what excuse you come up with for it. "obviously doing well in other areas"? Besides hitting people can you name for me an area where he was doing well? Its not like she had a wreck or a one time accident or mistake. That is an ongoing process for 12 years. She admits she never knew he couldn't read. Where the hell was she for all those years? OH thats right Kate, she is not responsible for anything. By the way, I'll say it too, the father is a piece of crap for not being around and involved in his life. I don't want anyone thinking I'm a sexist hater as I am a gender-neutral one. Pikersam, first of all some legal things need to be explained here. In alot of TRO cases, there is no notice to the other side or the other side has no chance to be heard in the intitial TRO hearing as irreperable harm might result if its not heard immediately. However, they have to hear the case from both sides in two days. Why did the NCAA deny him eligibility? You don't know because their side probably was not heard. However, now that it is going to court, it might be heard and Ole Miss and Powe will look real bad if there is some questionable things in his transcript or education. The fact of the matter is that it is higher education. He can't read. He does not need to start there. Junior, excuse me, community colleges do pretty good work with those type of students, some better than others obviously. As for your little insult about it would be ok if it were my school, no it would not be. I'm not a fan of factories that take illiterate kids, just care about football, and turn out players with no degrees and can't function in society. Its why I don't like Dale Brown or Nolan Richardson but like Nick Saban and John Thompson. However, if you want to villify me because I think to be admitted to a university you should be able to read and write, go ahead.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-01T14:25:42-06:00

ID

80406

Comment

Kingfish, you wrote: Kate, I really don't care what you think. No mother in your eyes can do anything wrong. I wrote: Did she screw up, somewhere along the line? Yes. What part of "Yes she screwed up" implies that I think that "she did no wrong". What I object to, if it's not clear, is your arrogant judgment that she is, to quote "a piece of crap" who "does not give a crap about" her son. You're an ass to condemn a woman, to essentially call her worthless and uncaring, based on one newspaper article about her son. Has no one in your family ever had a problem that others didn't know about? No hidden alcoholics, no hidden abuse, no hidden learning disabilities? What do you say to Laurel? Do you say that her Aunt is a piece of crap, a worthless human being as well? Good lord, the woman raised her son, kept him fed, clothed, healthy and in school. He was passing, being moved up from grade to grade, and it's solely her fault that he's not reading? Give me a break. To say that his only accomplishment is "hitting people" is to completely denigrate the discipline and ability it takes to be a college level football player. I don't place nearly as much value on athletic ability as most of the rest of the state, but I do know that for a kid to be recruited to play college sports, they have to have more to them than the ability to "hit people." Success in sports takes discipline and focus, just like anything else. The fact that this kid is trying to get into college speaks well for him and his mother. The fact that he can't read speaks poorly for our educational system and, to a certain extent, his mother. The fact that the boy can't read does NOT make her "a piece of crap" who "didn't give a crap about him." It makes her a human being, who, from what I gleaned from that one article, did a good job of raising her son, and her mistake seems to be in relying on the school system to educate her son, or at least to let her know if they were failing to educate her son. I don't think that makes her a piece of crap. To sum up: Quit labeling people as "Crap." It's gross, it's de-humanizing, and it pisses me off. People are people. Not crap. Even arrogant jackasses are people.

Author

kate

Date

2006-09-01T15:38:10-06:00

ID

80407

Comment

Going back to the original post: Having seen MSU live and in person (complete with my maroon-and -hite attire) last night, I can report that the defense looks pretty solid, but the West Coast offense still leaves much to be desired. Henig' shoulder injury will keep him off the field in the next few weeks, giving back-up QB Rutland a chance to grow and shine (and maybe replace Henig) under what you accurately call a killer schedule. We really screwed up with the 4th and 1 in the 3rd quarter, only to have SC add insult to injury with a beautiful trick play (it appeared be a flea flicker, but I'm not certain) that earned them a few more points a couple of downs later. That was when most of the MSU crowd left the stadium. We stayed til the final 2 minutes, but it was pretty much over at the beginning of the 4th quarter.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-09-01T15:54:13-06:00

ID

80408

Comment

Going back to the original post: Having seen MSU live and in person (complete with my maroon-and-white attire) last night, I can report that the defense looks pretty solid, but the West Coast offense still leaves much to be desired. Henig's shoulder injury will keep him off the field in the next few weeks, giving back-up QB Rutland a chance to grow and shine (and maybe replace Henig) under what you accurately call a killer schedule. We really screwed up with the 4th and 1 in the 3rd quarter, only to have SC add insult to injury with a beautiful trick play (it appeared be a flea flicker, but I'm not certain) that earned them a few more points a couple of downs later. That was when most of the MSU crowd left the stadium. We stayed til the final 2 minutes, but it was pretty much over at the beginning of the 4th quarter.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-09-01T15:55:05-06:00

ID

80409

Comment

Educating athletes might seem like a good idea but it's actually the greatest threat to Division 1-A football programs known to exist. Let me explain. Player "X" is recruited by State U. He happily goes from athletic dorm to cafeteria to practice field Monday-Friday and happily slams into other players every Saturday. Administration sells 70,000 tickets @ $25 each every weekend + TV & conference money. Player happy, fan happy, college administration happy. One day, player "x" encounters new person on the way to cafeteria or practice field. This person, for whatever misguided reason, (e.g. communism, religious belief) takes it upon himself/herself to "educate" the athlete. Soon, the athlete learns that "college" is, in fact, a "collection of buildings," where "learning" takes place while he's on the practice field. What's more, he "learns" that the college makes about $2 million per home game while paying him nothing, even though he could break a leg and be out of luck the rest of his life. Now, he's angry-so angry, in fact, that he turns pro early. Now he's making millions, but still feels cheated at what the college did. The fans, meanwhile are now deprived of a good team and quit going to the game. This decreases ticket and TV revenue. Player angry. Fans angry. Administration angry. See how dangerous education is? We must stamp out this idea now!

Author

Mr PR Professional

Date

2006-09-01T16:14:00-06:00

ID

80410

Comment

Gee, Kingfish, sure looks like a lot of bayou bengal fans got all giddy once Jerrel committed to LSU - albeit briefly. But, I'm sure the coaches at LSU turned him down once they knew his mother was a piece of crap! I'm pretty sure I heard recently that LSU was like the Vanderbilt of Louisiana or something? No football pimps to be seen here in Baton Rouge... move along.... I think when you tout the fact that Nick Saben had a clause in his contract that netted him an extra $25,000 if he got the LSU program into the top half of the SEC in graduation rates, and another $25,000 if they got into the top 2, then you may have academic issues in your program. BTW: he did neither. And I know that Ole Miss has graduation problems too! Bad ones! But, none of this crap you posted was ever intended when I posted about the reporting of the story. Now back to my orginal point: Our Metro section articles are watered down, spoon fed, crap as compared to the better reported sports stories about local football. That is not a good thing!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-01T17:01:16-06:00

ID

80411

Comment

First Piker, get the name right. Second. WHen Saban came there LSU was pretty damn low in terms of graduation rates thanks to Dinardo who took a very lax attitude towards discipline and academics. Saban was as tough as Croom on going to class, graduating etc. He demanded as a condition of his employment that a brand new academic center be built. . He has kicked off or disciplined numerous players who didn't take academics seriously. SOme decided they didn't need to go to class, he either booted them or they shaped up. Frankly, you will not find a serious SEC football person who doesn't respect Saban as a coach and will say that Saban didn't try to improve those kids in the classroom and on the field. LSU did back off of Powe. Tuberville recruited him very heavily since he was a Freshman than backed off when he realized the academic troubles Powe was having. I still think Piker the best thing for Powe is to go to junior college, work on improving his academic skills such as reading, etc., then go to a senior college if he has done the required work. If that is Ole Miss, I have no problem with that. I hope he does well. However, I think it is just a game and I'm more concerned with his education. If I seem a little mad it is because I don't care for the football factory approach. I don't care for the coaches who take kids who probably shouldn't be in a university, coddle them, use them for 2 or 3 years on the field, then when their eligibility is up they have no skills that will help them in the real world. I didn't like Dinardo for that reason. I didn' tlike Dale Brown as well (seeing what happened to his players after college is sickening). I think this kid has been neglected and used and those that defend the way he has been raised, educated, and used are enablers.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-01T20:40:57-06:00

ID

80412

Comment

and Piker, in terms of your original post, yes it has gone down. I enjoyed reading a commentary every day on the front page. Now if we get commentary every other day we are lucky and the coverage has been tremendously dumbed down. The result is I rarely read the sports page in Jackson anymore.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-01T20:42:25-06:00

ID

80413

Comment

Well you sure know a lot about recruiting for several colleges and "why" they chose whomever for not being very interested in the "football factory approach." Isn't recruiting the main factory of the system? You think your coach passed on a player because he has a learning disability or because it would WASTE a scholarship on a player who would not be able to play? Trust me, your team has it's share of players who *wink, wink* have learning disabilities or made it in on *wink, wink* correspondence courses. The academic stats pre, during, and post Saban prove that to be true at least at LSU - and at Ole Miss for that matter. But, don't try to fool us that you suddenly became a fan of your team based on the coach. You can like or dislike coaches and players; but, you probably aren't turning your back on your University and you probably hope they make choices that are for the best. They may be and they may not be? Heard anything more about the Auburn Prof. who basiclly passed several players so they could play for the past several years? For something that made the NY Times it sure got quiet quick! Now that is a real tradegy. Are you confident that your University isn't doing the same thing? Happened at Tenn. Happened at UGA. Hmmm....? Since you will never realize it, you really were highly offensive in your first post. wwwwooooooooooohaaaaaa.... he CAN"T READ????????????????????????????????????????????????? and he wants to go to college? No way. I'm sorry but college IS higher education. HOW did he get to his senior year of High school without his mother knowing that he COULD NOT READ and needed help? At what point does she wake up and realize that her son is illiterate and something is wrong? When he is 17? Where the hell was she when he was 6,8,10,12? what a piece of crap mother. Go ahead and fire away at me but none of you posters if you have or had kids, would let your kid make it to 12th grade and NOT know he could not read like she is claiming and not know what kind of education he is getting even if you had to work two jobs as a single parent. I know countless single parents, most are not well off to say the least and they know if their kids are not able to read before they are 17. emphasis mine. You were wrong to assume she is a piece of crap. You were wrong that none of us posters may have experienced a similar situation. So, I am asking you to drop this since you have basically ruined my intended purpose of the original post. Let's agree to disagree on this, and for the record, I hope Powe gets help period. Ole Miss or wherever.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-01T21:30:07-06:00

ID

80414

Comment

Piker, I am aware of the academic scandals at UGA and Auburn. I think you and I would both agree on Tennessee as well. Then there was Sherill who's methods culminated in Dontae. Give credit to Spurrier, he ran his program pretty clean. As for Saban, he didn't take chances on at risk kids that he knew probably were not up to the academics of college. He had a pretty high rate of recruits making it to college. I don't take back anything I said. I don't care if its offensive. The fact is, you have a kid, probably a good one, get to his senior year of high school. the mother admits she didn't know he didn't know how to read. I think its criminal. I think its also criminal that he got this far without knowing how to read and had teachers and coaches watching over him the whole way. Did they really do him any favors. What you seem to have missed was that I am not against Powe. I think he has been let down by those close to him and that it has gone on for years. Also, do not insult my personal integrity. I did not just become a fan because of the coach. I did get turned off by Dinardo not just because of losing but because he had no discipline on the team, had thugs like Cecil Collins and Larry Foster, had a major problem of having recruiting classes that were acclaimed yet had horrible attrition rates before they made it to campus and if they did, staying on campus. and I have news for you. Ever seen Sabans playbook? You can get them on ebay. if you can't read, there is no way in hell you are going to be able to understand his defenses. Better yet, if Powe can not read, there is no way he'll be able to make it in NFL with the complicated blitz packages, defenses, etc. And people like Bellicheck run the same defenses he runs. However, I will say I'm sure he took some at risk recruits, but no one who couldn't read either. Anyway, I stand by my opinion. and am done with this thread. I simply hope that Powe gets the help he needs to read and make it in school.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-02T00:59:49-06:00

ID

80415

Comment

Ok, but I want to leave with this. The biggest movement by the elite programs way ahead in the game, of which several SEC schools are part of, are using Sony Playstations and XBoxes to teach the players their playbook. Even Joe Pa used it at Penn State, and they credit it as one of the reasons it may have helped last season. They program the playbooks with details into the removable memory chip, and the player puts its in the game console and vola he has the whole playbook at his hands! Instead of just study the X's and O's they can actually watch the play unfold and see how it does against certain defenses before you even get out on the practice field.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-02T01:33:04-06:00

ID

80416

Comment

Did not know that but am not surprised. Saban's playbook had over 50 blitz packages, see what I mean? Systems like that require players with intelligence. at least I am consistent. This issue is one of the main reasons I don't like Dale Brown. When you look out how his players turned out after college, where they were there for for years, its pretty damn sad. Guys with 4 years of college working as security guards, UPS drivers, assistant fast food managers and I'm talking guys in their 30's and 40's. Two of his guys are pretty much out of the coaching business. For someone who grew up dirt poor and who claimed to understand the value of an education, he, like Nolan Richardson, did a very poor job of preparing his kids for life after college and to me was just a basketball pimp. After reading Rick Cleveland this morning, its as It thought. All those classes at BYU probably are what got him in trouble. Keep in mind that the NCAA in a TRO case probably has not really presented their side yet. And if that is the case, then someone gave him some REALLY bad advice because other players have gotten in trouble over that.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-09-02T09:25:55-06:00

ID

80417

Comment

Kingfish you keep smoking whatever it is that makes you think that somehow a child cannot be good at math and reading and still not learn the X's and O's. Why would LSU have one of the lower graduation rates in football and the team still be able to learn Dick Saban's blitz package? And if you say it is because they are leaving early, then the program is a very active football fatory as you so amply put it. You should only be rooting for Nothwestern and BC if you can't see this! Here look at this study about the graduation rates of the teams in last years bowl games. It's called: APR Rates and Graduation Rates for 2005 06 Bowl-Bound Teams -Significant Gap Between African-American and White Student-athletes Needless to say, LSU was one of the worst teams playing in a bowl with both a low graduation rate and one of the largest gaps between white and black graduation rates. Where 61% or the whites graduate and a mere 35% of the blacks from the football program. Look I am tired of arguing with you because you are taking it too emotionally and sounding like the yahoos who call into sports radio or cruise the fan websites and blog about nothing. Now we find out Powe IS dyslexic and it was discovered late. I am proud my university is allowing him to enroll (part time), get help, and practice (practice only) with the team. Yeah, I guess they should just ship him off to another military academy or to some community college where the level of attention he would get, as a big time footballer, would be none! AT a Div 1 University he can get better attention because the school has a long-term vested interest in this man. And, yes that is to get him on the football field! But, that's right his mom is "a piece of crap" because he had dyslexia. I can't believe her. Worst, I can't believe you are so shallow about his problem.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-02T11:20:49-06:00

ID

80418

Comment

Now back to my original point. We now have about 5 articles from the Ledge, all in depth, about this guy. Yet, they barely give us 5 articles about the city in a week. And, most are about Melton's antics. Unless he really messes up, like we found out last night. Then it is crickets until they figure out how to spin it so their other politican friends will still like them!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-02T11:26:14-06:00