The Daily Mississippian | January 24, 2024

THE

Daily

MISSISSIPPIAN theDMonline.com

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Volume 112, No. 15

Spring semester delayed due to winter weather Missed class days will not be made up, course add/drop dates are pushed back.

PHOTO COURTESY: GABRIEL MUNIZ

Country artist Kolby Cooper.

PHOTO COURTESY: MACKENZIE ROSS

University of Mississippi entrance sign is surrounded by snow on Jan 15.

Kolby Cooper amps up electric sound at The Lyric LILY GISCLAIR

thedmfeatures@gmail.com

KHARLEY REDMON

A

thedmnews@gmail.com

fter a delay in the start of the spring semester due to severe winter weather, all university campuses will begin in-person, remote and hybrid classes today at their regularly scheduled times.

Starting Sunday, Jan. 14, snow and record low temperatures hit Oxford and much of the Mid-South causing unsafe road conditions. In Mississip-

pi, 29 injuries and 12 deaths have been reported to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency since Jan. 14.

On Jan. 17, Chancellor Glenn Boyce sent an email informing students, faculty and staff of the new start date for the semester and the cancellation of all campus activities Jan. 18 and 19. He also advised students to delay their return to Oxford until Jan. 23 at the earliest.

“Hazardous conditions and extreme temperatures continue with the current forecast predicting tem-

peratures to remain below freezing until Sunday,” Boyce said in his statement. “University facilities crews need sustained above-freezing temperatures and space to operate in order to effectively clear a layer of ice covering roads, parking lots, and sidewalks on campus.”

Closure of the university was subsequently extended until Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Although some worried that the

SEE DELAY PAGE 2

Oxford becomes snow globe town KHARLEY REDMON

thedmnews@gmail.com

While university staff and facility crews worked to get the campus up and running after a week of severe winter weather, the city and county governments were busy making the area outside of campus safe for citizens and travelers, while businesses decided whether or not to stay open.

Starting Sunday, Jan. 14, snow, ice and

low temperatures hit Oxford and much of the Mid-South causing unsafe road conditions and damage to critical infrastructure.

According to Beau Moore, public relations officer for the county, Lafayette County Emergency Management knew about the chances for weather a week out and learned of the scale of impact a couple of days in advance, giving them time to treat roads.

A local emergency was declared

Calling all country music lovers!

The brilliant lights of Oxford’s The Lyric beckon country music fans to join in welcoming up-and-coming country music artist Kolby Cooper.

Known for singles such as “Every Single Kiss,” “It Ain’t Me” and “Fall,” the 24-year-old singer-songwriter has amassed millions of streams through various songs in his discography.

Luckily for enthusiasts of the Bradford, Texas, native, The Lyric is the second venue of his upcoming tour.

Many individuals are purchasing tickets for the Jan. 26 concert, including senior integrated marketing communications major Ruby Jones and sophomore international studies major Emma Lewis. Both

SEE KOLBY COOPER PAGE 5

in response to road conditions on Jan. 18, and throughout the week citizens were encouraged by Lafayette County and the City of Oxford not to leave their homes unless necessary.

Between Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 the Oxford Police Department responded to 46 wrecks and 265 motorists requesting assistance.

“Everyone has been very patient,”

SEE SNOW PAGE 2

NEW RESTUARANTS

JOHN MATTHEWS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

Oxford is planning to bring in familiar food options.

SEE PAGE 5

Ole Miss Men’s Basketball falters away from home RHEGAN VANHOOZER thedmsports@gmail.com

HAILEY AUSTIN / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

TJ Caldwell shakes hands during a game against Vanderbilt on Jan. 13.

Before winter break began, the Rebels were a perfect 6-0 after a dominant win against North Carolina State, and the Rebels’ run did not stop there. The team advanced to 13-0, including a win over an exceptional Memphis team, which could prove crucial

in postseason discussions.

However, the new year brought new challenges with the arrival of conference play.

Ole Miss, one of the last three undefeated teams in the country, faced No. 5 Tennessee in its conference opener on Jan. 4. A road game in Knoxville proved to be a tough task, and the crowd of over 20,000 fans gave the Vols a significant edge.

The Vols’ lock-down defense made a Rebel win quite the strenuous feat, and in the end, the Rebels were simply outplayed, resulting in a 90-64 loss.

With their next game back home in the Sandy and John Black Pavilion, the Rebels were able to regroup and get back on track.

Their first loss of the season sparked a new level of

motivation for the team, spurring a record-breaking game against Florida.

The 103-85 win was headed by Jaemyn Brakefield, who had a career-high 28 points.

After previously shooting a mere 42.6 field goal percentage against Tennessee, the team upped its game and shot 59.1% against Florida, with

SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 6

PAGE 2 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN |25 JANUARY 2024

DELAY

continued from page 1

missed classroom days would have to be made up later in the semester, possibly interfering with previously scheduled time off such as spring break, Jacob Batte, director of news and media relations, explained this would not be the case.

“The three days lost to the delay will not be made up,” Batte said. “Faculty will adjust their syllabi to ensure that all necessary content is taught during the semester.”

Due to the delay, the deadline to add and drop courses without fees was pushed to Feb. 7. March 8 is the final deadline for course withdrawals.

The last bout of winter weather in December 2022 affected the university’s response to this year’s weather patterns.

“The university’s facilities management team has been on standby this week responding to any issues in buildings and, once it is safe to do so, will begin clearing the roads and walkways on campus,” Batte said.

“Additional winter weather preparations learned from the

December 2022 freeze were implemented earlier this month and have so far proven effective.”

Students responded to the snow, ice and frigid temperatures with surprise, relief and delight, considering if offered the rare opportunity for sledding down hills on campus.

“I was surprised to hear that it would be snowing in Oxford – and for the first time in a few years,” sophomore finance major Richard Mugler said.

Many parents and students were grateful as the delay kept them from having to travel in the unsafe weather. Matt Clark, sophomore integrated marketing communications major and club hockey player, was worried about making it back in time for his first game of the season, which ended up being canceled.

“My car doesn’t have allwheel drive, so spinning out on frozen roads is a high possibility,” Clark said. “With the lack of snow plows in the state of Mississippi, I am worried that it won’t get cleared quick enough for my game on Saturday.”

Many parents also took to social media to express how the delay was beneficial to students returning to campus for classes.

“Thank you. We were trying

to figure out how to navigate the return coming from Illinois,” Nicole Paulsberg Lindsey, a UM parent, said on Facebook.

Lola Lang, a junior integrated marketing communications major from Florida, shared her thoughts about the delay.

“I was ready to go back to school. I’m a little bummed (we didn’t start back) on Monday, but I definitely didn’t mind a snow week,” Lang said.

In addition to impacting school, the weather kept Lang away from work at Starbucks for three shifts.

“Starbucks, being a bigger corporation, gives catastrophe pay so I was still able to be reimbursed for some of my shifts,” Lang said. “Other people weren’t as lucky and they just were out of work the whole week.”

Despite this, Lang thought the university made the right decision to delay the start of the semester.

“I think it was the right move,” Lang said. “I think it’s easier to have a few good days and be able to prepare rather than have school and no one be able to attend classes.”

Mary Evans contributed reporting.

SNOW

continued from page 1 Moore said. “There’s enough county road in Lafayette County to stretch from Oxford to Chicago if it was set end on end. It’s just a slow process.”

While residents were encouraged to keep off the roads, there were still businesses open in Oxford and the surrounding county.

Many that remained open were essential businesses, defined as a service necessary to maintain public health and safety.

Grocery stores such as Kroger and Walmart reportedly experienced high volumes of sales in the lead up to the weather and stock shortages throughout the week. Many shoppers took to social media to post photos of empty shelves at both locations.

The Daily Mississippian reached out to both stores for comment, but was unable to get a response.

Some nonessential businesses also decided to keep their doors open.

Among them, The Library Sports Bar. Employee safety and availability was the primary factor considered in their decision to open, said manager Taylor Cruse.

“I want to stress you know, we certainly did not make anybody come to work that was uncomfortable or felt like they were unsafe,” Cruse said. “We left it up to each individual person to determine that for themselves and then went from there.”

Despite working with a “skeleton staff” and many employees working in new positions, the bar stayed busy with a particularly strong turn out on weekends, Cruse said.= Common Ground Coffee Bar was also open.

“We have a lot of law enforcement and medical staff that still have to work every day, no matter what,” owner Joseph Beck said.

“It’s not about money. It’s just being there for those people who are continuously there for us.”

Beck said that while some employees were able to make it to work on their own, he picked up and dropped off those who could not drive themselves.

“We want to thank everybody from the road crews and street department to the other essential workers out there for all of the hours they put into helping our community,” Breck Jones, public information officer for OPD, said.

“It was a true team effort from the top down with everybody pulling the rope in the same direction.”

UM expands mental health services ISABELLE FROST

thedmnews@gmail.com

The University of Mississippi is reevaluating how to help students that are struggling with their mental health.

“Supporting the health and well-being of our students – and our faculty and staff – is critically important, and we are striving to create a campus environment where students have access to all the resources and tools necessary to thrive academically, socially and emotionally,” UM’s Director of News and Media Relations Jacob Batte said.

In early October, the university launched The Chancellor’s G.R.O.V.E Well-being Initiative, which aims to assess the practices and policies in place on campus to support students’ mental health. It also sets out to educate members of the community on how to help those needing mental health assistance.

G.R.O.V.E stands for growth, resilience, outreach, validation and empowerment, which are the key themes of the initiative.

“Well-being and good mental health is a comprehensive effort for our entire campus community,” Co-chair and Director of the University Counseling Center Juawice McCormick said.

One aspect of the initiative is Mindful Monday. Each Monday at noon, UMPR emails students, faculty and staff a link to a 10-minute video about mental health, provided by UM counselors. The videos have covered topics such as mindful breathing, stretching and mental health advice.

“Leaving home to come to college can be really hard. I know freshman year was hard for me, so I think it’s great that the univer-

sity is starting a conversation on mental health,” junior accounting major Caroline Dykes said.

The G.R.O.V.E Well-being Initiative will continue into the spring, and members of the initiative are currently planning events for next semester. Although there is not a set date, they have plans to collaborate with the Associated Student Body to provide mental health information at the union.

Other plans underway are working with campus organizations and ministries to provide individual student check-ins, free mental health first-aid training and a new peer mentoring program.

UM Interfraternity Council President Ashton William Heath believes that the university is taking tangible steps to make mental health a priority on campus.

“I think the university is making great strides to support our students in these efforts,” Heath said.

IFC has also partnered with the William Magee Center for Alcohol or Other Drugs and Wellness Education to offer students access to Manual, a 24-hour service that lets users seek help from licensed therapists on various life and mental health issues.

“Our goal for this partnership was to increase mental health and wellness among our fraternities and limit the number of mental health-related tragedies,” Heath said. “Over the past few years, we have dealt with several deaths involving members across our chapters that could have been avoided if the proper steps were taken to get help.”

IFC plans to continue working with the university and outside resources to find ways to keep students safe.

“We have created a strong movement within our community and campus, but there is still more to continue,” Heath said.

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THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 25 JANUARY 2024 | PAGE 3

Oxford community mourns Guy Catelli BELLA BREWER

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“Guy wasn’t just Guy,” Fish Robinson, lead pastor at Community Church Oxford, said at a memorial service held for Reynolds Russell, known to many as Gaetano “Guy” Catelli.

Though many may not know his name, you probably have heard his songs. Russell was frequently spotted on the Ole Miss campus and around Oxford playing recorded music as he cruised the streets on his bicycle.

Originally from Westchester County, N.Y., Russell was a beloved member of the Oxford community and died in the town he loved on Dec. 12, 2023. A funeral service was held on Dec. 20, 2023, at St. John’s Catholic Church followed by a community memorial service in Bryant Hall at the University of Mississippi.

“What I’m thankful for about my bicycle friend, Guy, is that he was able to bring us together when we wouldn’t

come together ourselves,” Robinson said at the beginning of the memorial. “And it took a New Yorker to do that.”

While many know him as the man with the musical bicycle, Russell had many passions.

He studied economics, he was a photographer and he was enthusiastic about Latin and history.

Molly Pasco-Pranger, a friend of Russell’s and UM chair and professor in the Department of Classics, revealed the origin of Russell’s chosen name.

“I met Guy for the first time in 2011. When I told him I was a Latin professor, he just lit up,” Pasco-Pranger said. “Then he explained to me that he had written a whole book about the Latin poet Gaius Valerius Catullus and that his chosen name Gateano Catelli was because he had named himself after Catullus.”

Pasco-Pranger shared why she thought Russell connected with Catullus.

“In his late 50s, Guy began reading through Catullus and developed a deep connection

“What I’m thankful for about my bicycle friend, Guy, is that he was able to bring us together when we wouldn’t come together ourselves, and it took a New Yorker to do that.”

- Fish Robinson Lead pastor at Community Church Oxford with his work,” Pasco-Prager said. “Catullus is a poet of love, of friendship, of daily life, and all sorts of things. I think what drew Guy to Catullus was the sense that Catullus feels like a human being.

It feels like you know Catullus when you read his works.”

Pasco-Pranger explained that their friendship developed through the love of Latin and the value of education.

“Guy came to our classics events pretty regularly and began to talk in our public readings of classical literature

where he would do these incredible performances of some of the Catullus poems,” PascoPranger said. “He always closed those performances reminding our students how important education was and that education was a privilege and a gift that once you had it, nobody could take it away from you. He definitely lived that out in his life.”

Larry Morris, another friend of Russell’s, reminisced about how excited Russell was to join his friend in becoming a member of the “University Greys,” a Sons of

Confederate Veterans group.

“I knew he was from New York, and he wanted to come to our meetings,” Morris said.

“He would give me a list of names to look up to see if he had a Confederate ancestor so he could join. One night he came to a meeting and said, ‘Check this person out,’ and I checked him out. Sure enough that guy served honorably in the Confederate army.”

Morris explained that Russell had been so excited to join the organization that he immediately called up the national organization to ask where he could send the membership check.

Robinson elaborated on how Russel touched the lives of many in Oxford.

“You’ll notice how this is not even a drop in the bucket of the lives that he touched as he serenaded us with his music, as he challenged us with his questions, as he shared his art with us, as he lived his life, as he loved complete strangers and as he welcomed everybody.

This is Guy,” Robinson said.

The Annex transforms into The Mad Hatter ISABELLE FROST

thedmnews@gmail.com

The Annex, a longtime staple of the Square, closed its doors in December, making way for renovations and the opening of The Mad Hatter, a new 21+ bar that hopes to make a whimsical mark on the Oxford nightlife scene.

Maeve Bradley, general manager of The Annex, Rafters Music and Food and Rafters on the Water for HBC Enterprises, explained why the company decided to go in a new direction.

“I went to the owners, looking back on our numbers over the past couple of years and there’s been a really big decline in students coming here, (who are) our main draw,” Bradley said.

“I understand. Kids outgrow things and outgrow a dive bar experience. There’s plenty of options like that around town.” .

Reagan Plunkett, a junior biochemistry major and former patron of The Annex, shared her thoughts about the bar’s closing, echoing Bradley.

“It’s definitely bittersweet to hear about The Annex closing,” Plunkett said. “As a freshman I

went there often and will definitely always appreciate those memories. Now that I’m older, the thought of a new bar is exciting since I kind of grew out of the stereotypical freshman bar.”

In this new chapter, Bradley hopes to create a unique, welcoming and interactive pub experience for the Oxford community to enjoy.

“The Annex has always had a fun vibe that encourages people to meet and mingle and we’re building off of that,” Bradley said.

“We are opening a brand new concept called The Mad Hatter.”

Having opened Jan. 24, The Mad Hatter offers patrons food, drinks and performances from a slate of local musicians.

The Mad Hatter coined its name from one of Bradley’s childhood memories.

“I grew up on the Jersey Shore, and my parents would take me to this great bar with the same name,” Bradley said.

“I have such fond memories of that place, and when it was destroyed during a hurricane it broke my heart. There are also some fun elements and hidden details all around The Mad Hat-

THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN EDITORIAL staff VIOLET JIRA editor-in-chief

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KHARLEY REDMON enterprise news editor thedmnews@gmail.com

ASHLYNN PAYNE news editor

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JUSTICE ROSE opinion editor

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ter that nod to the name and the story of ‘Alice In Wonderland.’”

In addition to paying homage to the name’s story book origins, The Mad Hatter is also meant to honor the history of the original space and the culture of Oxford through a collection of locally sourced antiquities, Bradley said.

While the décor is being carefully curated, Bradley said the bar allows patrons to decide what kind of experience they want to have.

“We want to keep it whimsical to the point where it’s all up to the eye of the beholder,” Bradley said. “You get to decide if you walk in here and it’s a really fun, flirty and girly environment, or it can be very masculine.”

No matter what experience they choose, Bradley said patrons of the bar will find an interactive experience.

“From choosing bar stools and tables to implementing dueling piano players we really wanted to encourage guests to interact,” Bradley said.

While some have been upset about the closing of The Annex, Bradley said that the public’s response has been overwhelmingly positive.

CLAY HALE arts and culture editor

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CAROLINE MCCUTCHEN assistant arts and culture editor

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The doors of The Annex on Jan. 17.

“I am really excited for the direction we’re headed and the feedback we’ve gotten has been positive,” Bradley said. “People are excited about the new menu, craft cocktail menu and dueling pianos on the weekends.

We are hoping everyone can see the thoughtfulness our wonderful team put into this project,”

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Bradley hopes that The Mad Hatter will ultimately serve as a safe place for members of the Oxford community.

“There really is something for everyone. It’s a celebration of Oxford. Overall, we are all very excited to open and let everyone see our dedication and appreciate this great new pub,” Bradley said.

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THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 25 JANUARY 2024 | PAGE 5

KOLBY COOPER

continued from page 1 students have already attended a Cooper concert and enthusiastically anticipate this one.

“I saw him in concert for the first time last year in Tulsa,” Lewis said. “I think one of the best parts of the concert was the energy of the en-

vironment because it was just a crowd of people huddling around the stage that all were excited to see Cooper perform.”

Lewis shared that her experience at the concert made her a fan of Cooper.

“The whole week after the concert I solely listened to his music because I just wanted to keep reliving his performance,” Lewis said. “It definitely made me more of a fan.”

While the unforgettable concert captured Lewis, Cooper’s music and songwriting alone drew in Jones.

“A friend of mine was playing music and played ‘Forget About You’ by Kolby Cooper,” Jones said. “I loved the song, and from then on I was a fan. I’ve been a fan of Cooper for probably four or five years now.”

Both students encourage those who hav-

en’t heard of Cooper to attend his concert in Oxford.

“I would definitely recommend to people to go see him perform since he is such a great, energetic performer, and his music can be very relatable,” Lewis said.

So long as you enjoy country music and Southern rock or even just have an inclination for live music, Cooper’s concert is an ideal opportunity.

“I’m excited that I get to see him perform again,” Lewis said. “I think The Lyric is a great venue for him to play in because it is set up like the venue I saw him the first time, which helped play into his performance.”

Tickets for Cooper’s appearance at The Lyric can be purchased on the venue website.

The story of the Estefans finds its footing in Oxford

AARON BARROW

thedmfeatures@gmail.com

The story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, one of the most popular couples in the history of the entertainment industry, is coming to the Ford Center.

With 26 Grammy Awards and various other accolades for their musical talents gathered between them, the couple has much to show for their work. It was only a matter of time that their story be retold through song and dance.

“On Your Feet!: The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan’’ is a stage production directed and choreographed by Luis Salgado. The play, originally performed as a Broadway production in 2015, recounts the true stories of Emilio and Gloria Estefan and traverses their complex personal lives and careers.

The production begins with a young Gloria, portrayed by

Gaby Albo, as she discovers her love for music in Miami before exploring the relationship between her and Emilio, portrayed by Samuel Garnica.

Albo is a Mexican actress who has worked on a variety of successful productions such as “Aladdin,” “Cats” and “West Side Story” in addition to being a semi-finalist on “The Voice” in Mexico.

Garnica is a Venezuelan actor whose work has included “Matilda,” “El Laurel de Apolo,” “The Tempest” and “The Dropout” as well as an award-winning performance for “La Llamada de Lauren.” In a press release, he elaborated on how much he enjoys being able to honor his heritage in “On Your Feet!”

“Being able to celebrate our culture, roots and ancestors through the Estefans’ story allows me to write my own story in my journey as an artist, which I hope can also inspire others to

PHOTO COURTESY: JASON NIEDLE

Gaby Albo portrays Gloria Estefan during a musical number of “On Your Feet!: The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.” wait to see them on stage again.”

The Estefans’ are not alone in their anticipation of this show.

Sophomore theater major Gavin Lane shared an appreciation for a few of the upcoming production’s key visual elements.

“What immediately sold the show to me were the costumes and set from the promotional material and how they made

the performances, in what little I’ve seen, look so fun and full of life,” Lane said. “All of the dresses look like giant parties, and the sets jumped out at my face.

That, to me, looks like this show is full of love from everyone involved.”

“On Your Feet!” will be performed at the Ford Center on Sunday, Jan. 28.

Oxford Chipotle, Chick-fil-A to debut second locations in 2024

versity of Mississippi. The new lineup includes fast-food chickthedmfeatures@gmail.com en establishments and a highly In the coming months, at least anticipated Minor Hall addition. four new restaurants are expectJimmy John’s has replaced ed open in Oxford and the Uni- Papa John’s in Minor Hall, of-

LYDIA WATERS

‘seguir la tradición,’” Garnica said.

“On Your Feet!” is brimming with exhilaration thanks to the performances, but much of that excitement is due to its iconic songs, such as “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga” and “Get On Your Feet.”

Gloria and Emilio Estefan themselves display their appreciation for the dedication and admiration of all involved in “On Your Feet!: The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estafan.’’

“Having seen both of these talented young performers in the show, we are confident that they will dazzle and delight audiences across the country,” Gloria and Emilio Estefan said in a press release. “Gaby throws herself into the music and dancing with such fervor, and Samuel couldn’t be more charming. They represent the heart and soul of our story, and audiences will surely feel their authenticity. We can’t

Mississippi Press Association Education Foundation

Honoring Honoring Former Speaker Speak Speaker Former

PHILIP GUNN PHILIP GUNN

fering students one free sand- ture both a drive-thru and in- community,” Krumhansl said. wich per week during the spring door dining area for guests.

This Chipotle will hold insemester if they sign up for “The new location will be door seating, mobile ordering the unlimited plus 1, week- a huge aid in helping us serve and a drive-thru line unlike ly 15 or weekly 12 meal plans guests better. Not only will it pro- the other location, giving custhrough Ole Miss Dining. vide more access, allowing people tomers many dining choices.

Jimmy John’s long-stand- to go to either location, but on Connie’s Chicken is building location on Jackson Av- game days especially, having two ing an Oxford operation next enue, tucked into the Goose stores will allow us to serve more to Popeyes on West Jackson Press Education Foundation Creek Mall, remains Mississippi open. guests andAssociation to be more efficient in Avenue.

Connie’s serves a vaA proposed Chick-fil-A lo- our production,” Houston said. riety of chicken options in adcation on Sisk Avenue in OxChick-fil-A is not the only dition to breakfast foods, inford Commons is under re- chain food franchise seeking to cluding their blueberry donuts view by the city of Oxford. open another location in Oxford. and sausage and gravy biscuits.

Chick-fil-A team member Chipotle Mexican Grill is exCreated by Constantine Asand junior psychology ma- pected to debut a second spot in ters and his eldest son Mike jor Reagan Houston, who has Oxford Commons as well in mid- in 1978, Connie’s Chicken has been an employee at the Jack- 2024. Chipotle currently operates been a staple in Tupelo for son Avenue location since a West Jackson Avenue location. more than four decades. The esFebruary, expressed her exFreshman forensic chemistry tablishment is now owned by citement for the new location. major Sophie Krumhansl shared Nickle Smith and Tres Brasell “I think it is a wonderful idea. her opinion on the forthcoming ar- after Mike’s death in late 2020.

It’ll give more access to the oth- rival of Chipotle’s second location.

This location also will ofer side of town that wants their “I plan to visit the new Chipo- fer dinner service, expandChick-fil-A fix,” Houston said. tle for sure, and I am very excited ing their hours past when The new location will fea- to see what they have to offer the the Tupelo location is open.

Honoring Honoring Former Speaker Former Speak Speaker

PHILIP GUNN PHILIP GUNN

Former Rep. Philip Gunn served as Mississippi’s 61st Speaker of the House from 2012-2023

Former Rep. Philip Gunn served as Mississippi’s 61st Speaker of the House from 2012-2023

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PAGE 6 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN |25 JANUARY 2024

BASKETBALL

continued from page 1 four players in double digits.

While the offense was on fire, the defense was just as strong under the 7-foot-5-inch center, Jamarion Sharp. Florida was visibly overpowered as the Rebels set a new program record

with 16 blocks and tied the SEC record for the most blocks in a conference game. Nine of these swats came from Sharp, which set another school record.

After picking up their its conference win against Florida, Ole Miss returned to face Vanderbilt on Jan. 14. With an unselfish team such as this one, different players tend to shine each time they

take the court. In this game, the veteran Rebel Matthew Murrell took center stage.

The victory over Vanderbilt marked Ole Miss’s 15th win of the season and continued an undefeated reign at home.

Things went off the rails in the next two games against LSU and Auburn. The Rebels took two massive body blows in back-to-back losses on the

road –– first against LSU 89-80, then against Auburn 82-59 just a few days later.

Of the three conference games the Rebels have played on the road, they are 0-3 with an average margin of loss of just over 19 points. Needless to say, Ole Miss has yet to figure out how to bring its home court confidence on the road.

This team is incredibly im-

pressive, especially considering how lackluster the Ole Miss teams have been in recent seasons. The Rebels are first in the nation for blocks per game and third in winning percentage. At least three Rebels rank within the SEC’s top-20 list in assists, steals, blocks, points per game and rebounds. If you have not seen this team play, you should.

Nick Saban: college football’s greatest story LUKE DUNAVANT

thedmsports@gmail.com

In the wake of a 12-2 season and a loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl, Nick Saban shockingly announced his retirement as the head coach of Alabama on Jan. 10.

With 28 seasons under his belt, many people consider Saban to be the greatest college football coach in the history of the sport. He has been named Coach of the Year six times.

His accomplishments include seven national championships, 11 SEC championships, 49 first-round NFL draft picks and many more. Under Saban’s leadership, the Crimson Tide has had a record of 29271-1 in college football games.

Saban’s journey to Bama Saban started as a graduate assistant at Kent State in 1973.

He moved on to be the linebackers coach for the same team and was later hired by Syracuse to be its linebackers coach. After Syracuse, Saban went on to be the defensive backs coach for three teams: West Virginia, Ohio State and Navy. Michigan State hired him to be defensive coordinator in 1983.

Then, the NFL came calling.

The Houston Oilers, now the Tennessee Titans, hired Saban to be the defensive backs coach in 1988. Saban went back to the college level to get his first head coaching gig at Toledo in 1990.

A year later, he went back to the NFL to be the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.

However, Michigan State came calling again in 1995, hiring Saban to be the head coach.

In 2000, Saban made his

first appearance in the SEC, becoming the head coach of the LSU Tigers. His team won the BCS national title in 2003.

He left Baton Rouge to become the Miami Dolphins’ head coach. After two devastating seasons, with Saban’s team going 15-17, Alabama came calling in 2007, and Saban answered. The rest is history.

An impressive coaching tree Throughout his career, Saban established one of the most impressive coaching trees in football, with many of his former assistants find-

ban Myer at Florida in 2010.

After his stop in the swamp, he was head coach at South Carolina and has found a home with the Georgia Bulldogs as part of their back-to-back national championship runs.

Lane Kiffin is one of the more famous Saban assistants.

He was hired as the offensive coordinator of the Crimson Tide in 2014 before becoming head coach at Florida Atlantic University in 2016. Kiffin joined the Ole Miss Rebels in 2020. After securing a win at the Peach Bowl against Penn State, Kiffin is primed to lead Ole Miss once again for the 2024 season.

ban’s retirement announcement, the University of Alabama announced that Kalen DeBoer is the school’s new head coach. DeBoer, who was recently named Associated Press

coach of the year, is coming off a 14-1 season. His Washington Huskies played in the national championship game, losing to Michigan. The Crimson Tide is certain they got their guy.

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Nick Saban enters the stadium for a 2016 game. ing success as head coaches.

Jimbo Fisher was one of Saban’s LSU hires, where he served as offensive coordinator. In 2010, Fisher was hired as head coach of Florida State, where he won a national championship Will Muschamp was an assistant at LSU and followed Saban to the Miami Dolphins.

He was picked to succeed Ur-

Kirby Smart was an assistant coach at Alabama until he received an offer to coach at his alma mater, Georgia, in 2015.

Since joining the Bulldogs, he has given Saban a run for his money several times and has won two national championships.

Who’s next?

Just a few days after Sa-

SUDOKU©

Puzzles by KrazyDad

HOW TO PLAY

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE 52- General on Chinese ACROSS 1- Web address starter; menus; 5- ___ Crunch; 53- Defense grp. since 9- ___ Blanc; 1949; 13- Yorkshire river; 57- Airline to Tel Aviv; 14- Thin as ___; 58- Exodus origin; 16- Nabisco cookie; 60- Let’s just leave ___ 17- Golda of Israel; that; 18- Like soft-boiled eggs; 61- Old Italian money; 19- Tidy, without fault; 62- Theme; 20- Biblical gift bearers; 63- Foot part; 21- Delivery room docs; 64- Den; 22- Resides; 65- Word in many college 24- Spicy stew; names; 26- June 6, 1944; 66- Greek goddess of 27- Blast from the past; victory; 29- Small piece of lean meat; DOWN 33- Elected; 1- Soccer star Mia; 34- The majority of; 2- ___ yellow ribbon...; 26- Prescribed amounts; 46- Blemish; 35- Undoing; 3- Math course; 48- Savory jelly; 27- Chicago’s airport; 36- Stumblebum; 4- Time spans; 49- Unit of an 28- Towering; 37- Fight, disturbance; 5- King of pop; 29- Nick of “Cape Fear”; insurgency; 38- Hindu title; 6- Island off Venezuela; 30- Elephant parts; 50- Inter ___; 51- Delhi wrap; 39- ___ take arms 7- Gives a bad review; 31- Wearies; 52- Class; against...; 8- Diarist Anais; 32- Oklahoma city; 54- Longfellow’s bell 41- Cereal grain; 9- Minter; 33- Prepare food; town; 42- Cooked in oven; 10- Hurler Hershiser; 34- Had in mind; 55- Short nail; 44- Foundation; 11- Oscar winner 37- Small satellite; 46- Sanctify; Patricia; 40- Like the tiny mouth of 56- Will-___-wisp; 59- Obtained; 47- 1/100 of a monetary 12- Small fry; a sponge; 65- Brit’s raincoat; unit; 15- High explosive; 42- Sandwich initials; 48- Female choir voice; 23- Has been; 2543- Eternal; 49- Offhand; Falsehood; 45- Afternoon social;

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 with no repeats.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

CHALLENGING

Crossword puzzle provided by BestCrosswords.com (www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission.

t a a

e e s e s , d n .

THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 25 JANUARY 2024 | PAGE 7

Mississippi is never ready for snow, but should it be?

LIBBY FLANAGAN / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

DAVID RAMSEY

thedmopinion@gmail.com

Snow has always reminded me of a distant relative that I see once every couple of years. This distant relative is always someone I wish to see until he finally arrives. When he comes over for the holidays, he’s

ĭȦȦΈ͊͆​͆З͈̓ͅЗ͈͊͂ͅΈʯɣΈ ʣƔǨƢƛʿȦƢΈ̋ɣʿʋΈǑʋƢƢΈʉʿɣʯƢΗ

offered a warm welcome until his political opinions begin with. Throwing in ice and snow doesn’t help. start to flow with a glass of bourbon. All of a sudden, Many of my northern friends wonder why Missiswe are counting down the days until his departure. sippi access to snowplows or ice trucks is limited.

Ole Miss and Northern Mississippi were hit with Having this equipment, however, is a problem bean intense winter storm which I welcomed with cause it makes no sense to spend taxpayer dollars on wishes of snowball fights in the grove, snow angels, equipment that only gets used at most once a year. and immaculate snowmen. After the first day, howUnfortunately, there isn’t an easy solution to ever, like my relative, I’ve been steadily this kind of unexpected weather, so the solution counting down to the days I can drive to intense winter weather in Mississippi is comto Chipotle or walk to the square with- munication. Because many of the state’s residents out the threat of a bruised tailbone. have not had to experience this weather often, The result of the winter storm made unnecessary risks get taken. By effectively comroads all over Oxford completely im- municating the risks and helping citizens prepassable and even caused busted pipes pare for the weather, lives (and cars) can be saved. throughout campus, flooding multi-milDuring times like this, it is important to stock lion-dollar sorority houses. The weather up on food (my diet has consisted of ramen and has not only put roads and houses out of peanut butter jelly this week) and check with loPASS service, but it has also stayed around for cal governments’ web and social media pages to 3.792 x 4 a surprisingly long time. Long enough have a good idea of when it is safe to move around. to where Ole Miss had to officially deOxford has done an excellent job informing its citlay the start of school until the 25th to izens, and may we pray that winter weather in the fuensure students’ safe arrival on campus. ture can bring fluffy snow, and less ice on the roads.

The problem with winter weather like this is that Mississippi’s infrastructure cannot hold its own. Mississippi David Ramsey is a junior public poliinfrastructure is notoriously sub-par to cy leadership major from Madison, Miss.

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