MS Sports Magazine May/June 2013 by Mississippi Sports Magazine

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MARSHALL MADNESS... After being snubbed by the SEC coaches by being named 2nd team All-SEC, Ole Miss’ Marshall Henderson stole the show during the SEC Tournament by being named tourney MVP. During the three games Ole Miss played that weekend in Nashville, Henderson scored 71 points (23.6 avg.) to help lead Ole Miss to their first SEC tournament championship since 1981. - Photo by Bobby McDuffie (Inset Right) Marshall Henderson won the C Spire Howell Trophy on March 10, 2013 as the Magnolia state’s top college basketball player this season. He also became the first Rebel to win the award. Henderson led Ole Miss and the SEC in scoring (19.7 points per game), in three point field goals (121) and in free throw percentage (.877). Henderson is the first Rebel to lead the SEC in scoring since Justin Reed in 2004 and he ranks second in the nation averaging 3.9 3-pointers per game. This season, Henderson broke Ole Miss’ single-season record with 121 3-pointers, which ranks third in SEC history. He has also set the Ole Miss and SEC single-season marks for 3-pointers attempted at 327. He has scored double-digit points in all but one game this season and has tallied 12 20-point games and two 30-point games. Henderson scored a career-high 32 points in a win at Tennessee and he ranks third in school history with a 3-pointer in 30 straight games this year. Marshall is pictured here with former MSU and Boston Celtic great, Bailey Howell - Photo by Greg Pevey 2 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

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LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DANCE... Coach Andy Kennedy earned his first NCAA tournament berth on March, 17 by upsetting 13th-ranked Florida 6663 for the Southeastern Conference tournament championship. The Rebels ended the regular season winning seven of eight grabbing their first tournament title since 1981 and their second ever. Ole Miss earned its first NCAA tournament bid (12th seed) since the 2000-01 season when they were a 3rd seed and made it to the Sweet 16. - Photo by Bobby McDuffie

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This shot of MSU 1B Wes Rea speaks for itself. - Photo by Aaron Boersma

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STATE WIDE

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STATE WIDE

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HEAD FIRST... Southern Miss 2B Isaac Rodriguez slides into thrid base during the Golden Eagles 2-1 victory over Ole Miss on April 16 at Trustmark Park in Pearl. At press time, the Golden Eagles (21-18) won their tenth-straight victory as It was the longest winning streak for the school since they won 12 games during the 2010 campaign. - Photo by Bobby McDuffie. MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 9

gettin’ dirty... Thousands of running and outdoor enthusiasts participated at Mississippi Outdoor Adventures in Byram, on April 20, for a day in the sun and mud for the 5th Annual Warrior Dash supporting the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Warrior Dash is the world’s largest running series and is held on challenging and rugged terrains across the world. Participants bound over fire, trudge through mud and scale over 12 obstacles during this fierce 5K. From couch potatoes to novice runners to extreme athletes, Warrior Dash truly is an event for all athletic abilities. - Photo by Greg Pevey 10 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

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BE THERE For Him

www.mssportsmagazine.com Volume 5, Issue 6 SPRING FOOTBALL ISSUE May/June 2013 Published by Pevey Publishing, LLC Publishers Greg & Mendy Pevey Featured Columnists Jake Adams, Rick Cleveland, Derrick Guin, Jake Wimberly Contributing Writers John Davis, Paul Jones, Lanny Mixon Chuck Stinson, Mark Stowers, Jon Wiener Contributing Photographers Aaron Boersma, Madison County Journal, Bobby McDuffie, Greg Pevey, Ole Miss Sports Information, Miss. State Sports Information, USM Sports Information, Matthew Wood Advertising Sales Greg Pevey publisher@mssportsmagazine.com

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Mississippi Sports Magazine™ is published bimonthly by Pevey Publishing, LLC to promote Mississippi’s sportsmen and women, colleges, universities, high schools, communities and citizens in an informative and positive manner. We welcome contributions of articles and photos; however, they will be subject to editing and availability of space and subject matter. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all labeled materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Mississippi Sports Magazine are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Pevey Publishing, LLC is not affiliated with any institution, college, university, or other academic or athletic organization. Subscriptions are $24 (1 year, 6 issues) or $40 (2 years - 12 issues). Make checks payable to Pevey Publishing, LLC and mail to: 405 Knights Cove West, Brandon, MS 39047 or subscribe online at www.mssportsmagazine.com.

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Casius Ware - Ole Miss

Sammy Winder - Southern Miss

CONTENTS...

COMMENTARY

FEATURES

18 Keep on Running Hinds Community College track coach Reginald Dillon has been churning out All-Americans and Olympic medal winners for the last 13 years

22 SPRING RECAPS Paul Jones, John Davis and Lanny Mixon report on the “Big 3” camps this spring as they prepare for the upcoming 2013 season.

34 BIGGEST LOSER Brandon native Patrick House transformed from football lineman to Marathon Man and Healthy Lifestyle

Dicenzo Miller - Miss. State

Where Are They Now? Sammy Winder, Cassius Ware and Dincenzo Miller were three of Mississippi’s best ever at their position. What are they doing today?

To Contact MSM > LETTERS, STORY IDEAS AND PHOTO SUBMISSIONS • Email MSM at publisher@ mssportsmagazine.com or mail to Mississippi Sports Magazine, 405 Knights Cove West, Brandon, Mississippi 39047. Letters should include writer’s full name, address and home phone number and may be edited for clarity and space.

14 REBEL NATION: JAKE ADAMS Questions still exist for Rebels 15 THE DAWGHOUSE: JAKE WIMBERLY Mullen ready to assert himself on offense 16 TO THE TOP: DERRICK GUIN Spring starts a new era at USM 40 RICK CLEVELAND I always play The Ranch

WHAT’S NEXT...

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

MSM’s biggest issue of the year is ALMOST here! We take an inside look at each Mississippi college football team and see where they stack up heading into the 2013 season. The 2013 Football Preview has everything you need to get you ready for the upcoming season. MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 13

REBEL NATION

Follow Jake Adams on Twitter® @OMRebelNation

>>>>>

Questions still exist for Rebels JAKE ADAMS

le Miss entered spring practice 2013 confident in its identity and ready to begin the process toward what it hopes will be an even more successful campaign than the surprising 7-6 season now in the rearview mirror. Indeed confidence is high for this team that returns 19 starters to surpass the seven-win mark, but spring practice served as a stark reminder that the Rebels still have questions. 1. Will Bo Wallace’s shoulder heal and how badly will missing spring practice hurt his performance? 2. Is former star recruit Channing Ward, of whom much was expected, ready to make the leap to starter at defensive end? 3. Would Barry Brunetti or Maikhail Miller assert themselves as the 2nd team quarterback behind Bo Wallace? 4. Will the offense take a step up in tempo and sophistication in year two of Freeze’s system? 5. Who among I’Tavius Mathers, Jaylen Walton or Mark Dodson would grab hold of the 2nd team running back position? 6. Is Lavon Hooks, one of the nation’s top junior college players, the real deal on the defensive line? 7. Who on earth is going to play tight end? While these questions seem minor compared to those that existed a year ago, they’re

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each still critical pieces in the Ole Miss puzzle. And if those questions weren’t enough the Rebels also came to the realization that the depth problems of a year ago are still present. “[W]e got to be realists,” Freeze told reporters. “We’re still a little ways away from having the depth for this league. We were so fortunate last year. We played three receivers pretty much the whole year, five offensive linemen pretty much the whole year. That’s rare that happens. We’re seeing it now in the spring where we get some injuries and it changes your team pretty fast.” The injury bug got so bad that the Grove Bowl became more like a regular practice with game jerseys and the school tried to appease those in attendance by unveiling new Nike uniforms on the jumbotron as part of the event. When all was said and done we were left with but one conclusion - to be continued. Spring practice 2013 was nothing more than a cliff-hanger as nearly every question at the beginning of practice we’re now left to ponder through the excruciating football devoid months of summer until Ole Miss kicks off against Vanderbilt for a national ESPN audience on August 29. The one thing that is clear - Ole Miss still needs more depth and a couple more of those spectacular recruiting classes. More concerning than ever is the status of Bo Wallace’s separated shoulder, which underwent surgery shortly after leading Ole Miss to a 38-17 win over Pitt in the BBVA Compass Bowl. Wallace played through pain for most of the season and still finished with nearly 3,000 yards passing and 22 touchdowns, but he was plagued by decision-making that led to 17 interceptions. The spring would have been a great time to work on those decisions. Instead Wallace watched from the sidelines as backups Barry Brunetti and Maikhail Miller had the reps all to themselves, but despite the extra snaps neither appear ready to fill Wallace’s shoes. Brunetti still looks uncomfortable in the pocket and Miller, although demonstrating impressive athleticism with 60 yards rushing in the spring game, didn’t do anything that demonstrated he is ready to be a starter.

To be fair neither quarterback had the advantage of a healthy offensive line as Aaron Morris missed spring with a shoulder injury and others held out with more minor scrapes and bruises, but the question as to whether Brunetti or Miller would be the No. 2 quarterback remains unanswered and the window appears at least open for incoming freshmen Devante Kincade and Ryan Buchanan to show win that job. The No. 2 quarterback question lingers on. If there’s any urgency in Brunetti and Miller’s performance it’s that the health of Wallace’s should is still an unknown. As of this writing he hasn’t thrown a single pass since his surgery. Even Wallace is curious how his shoulder will perform. In the hard-hitting SEC Ole Miss will always be just one big collision or awkward landing away from needing a quarterback to go in Wallace’s place. When Wallace does finally get back how much will his progress have been delayed by missing an entire spring? Wallace was an able quarterback in his first year as a starter, but he still needed work reading defenses, making decisions and working in other ways to reduce his propensity to throw interceptions. Wallace’s improvement is yet another question that must wait until fall. Questions remain on the defensive line, too, as the Rebels hope for the healthy return of defensive end C.J. Johnson, who went down with a broken fibula early in the spring, the arrival for No. 1 recruit Robert Nkemdiche and where he’ll fit in, and for Ward, a former lauded recruit in his own right to finally claim a starring role in the lineup. Another question to add to the list - the eligibility of cornerback Nick Brassell. The Rebels were torched through the air at times last year, and corner is a position that needs reinforcements. “We need to improve our depth there,” defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said. “I like some of those guys, but sometimes it seems they get distracted. We put a lot of stress on them at times in our scheme. Jason Jones does a great job. Fundamentally we have gotSEE QUESTIONS - Pg. 38

THE DAWGHOUSE

Follow Jake Wimberly on Twitter® @jakewim

>>>>>

Mullen ready to assert himself JAKE WIMBERLY

he year was 2008 and Mississippi State fans were growing tired of then head coach Sylvester Croom’s West Coast Offense experiment. Croom was adamant about running his system and even talked about it during his post-game shows. Even after only producing 116 yards of total offense in a 3-2 loss to Auburn, Croom was determined to not change – which ultimately cost him his job. In walks Dan Mullen in 2009 and one of the first things Mullen talked about was his offense and how he would develop and change his offense around his personnel; my how times change. Mullen who was at the right hand side of Urban Myer for over a decade had the track record to prove he would do just that. Be it at Bowling Green, Utah or Florida – the Batman and Robin combination always adapted to their offensive system to their personnel. Mullen adapted and tweaked his offense in his first few years at Mississippi State in how he used Chris Relf and Tyson Lee and even again last year in how he used Tyler Russell – but the Russell experiment seemed to take a downward turn towards the year’s end. Russell started the year off with a bang but finished the season with 2,897 yards and 24 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. His 106yard outing with two touchdowns and four picks against Northwestern in the Gator Bowl seemed to erase everything he did in 2012. Fans grumbled on message boards, radio shows and social media about how MSU’s offense sputtered down the stretch, and after losing five of their final six games and having the winter to evaluate his team, Mullen looks to be making major changes in his offense again based on his personnel. Those chang-

es could cement him as the “offensive guru” so many have raved about over the years if things go as planned. The 2012 season saw Tyler Russell break several school passing records but State’s offense struggled down the stretch as many teams blitzed, focused on shutting down the running game and anticipating Russell to make plays with his arm. You have to go backwards before you can go forwards when talking about Mullen and his offense. Traditionally Mullen seems to like a dual threat quarterback who can make plays both with his feet and his arm. Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, Alex Smith and Chris Relf all thrived in the wide open spread offenses fans grew accustomed to seeing from Mullen. However, former Florida Gator Chris Leak and Tyler Russell while both having good years throwing the football in this offense lacked the play making ability with their feet to really make the offense go. Most years this offense is predicated on the read option or zone read running plays which can be made by a running back and the threat of a running quarterback which opens up the passing lanes. It’s truly a run first then pass type offense. A lot depends on the quarterback’s decision to give the ball to the back or keep it himself based on the defense. Defenses typically have to bring a safety down to defend the run, leaving secondaries in a pinch. When you have quarterbacks in this offense that lack the running ability of those in years past it makes defending the offense easier due to there not being a threat of a quarterback gashing you for run yardage. Back to Mullen’s 2013 offense. After losing three senior receiver’s and very few experienced pass catchers coming back Mullen knew he had to do something different this spring. That difference in the spring is simple in that Mullen is putting Tyler Russell under center and the running back or backs behind him. Typically Mullen runs a quarterback in the shotgun an entire game and while this change or tweak seems simple it does so much for his offense.

Have no fear though Mississippi State fans. Just because Mullen is putting Russell under center doesn’t mean he will stay there and also this does not mean Mullen is going back to a three yards and a cloud of dust approach. Expect to see two tight end sets, three and four wide out sets and more from this look. The first thing it does is helps the running game. Any time a quarterback under center takes a snap and turns his back to the line the defense has to think “run play” which in turn will make the linebackers and defensive backs think twice about jumping into pass coverage now. Secondly Mullen will look to distribute the ball early and often to tight ends Malcolm Johnson, Brandon Hill, Rufus Warren and Christian Holmes. The tight end position is deep and experienced at Mississippi State and look for this move under center to allow for more play action and open up the passing game starting inside with the tight ends and working outside. This move should also allow a bigger taller receiver to get separation and thrive in a play action game. Although the Bulldogs lost three senior receivers, the team’s position in 2013 will look much different. Robert Johnson, Joe Morrow, Michael Carr and many others lining up outside this year will all be 6’-2” or better and have the bodies to go up and get the football. Not to mention faster, speedier receivers like Jamion Lewis and Brandon Holloway. Finally this move offensively will allow better running lanes for guys like Ladarius Perkins, Josh Robinson and others. Any time you have to respect both the run and the pass it helps in play call selection and flexibility in your offense. To many times towards the end of last year teams jumped on the inside running plays knowing Russell was not a threat to tuck the football and run much like Chris Relf was accustomed to doing. Also to many times defensive backs either locked up man to man with a safety free or ran a cloud defense makSEE MULLEN - Pg. 38 MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 15

to the TOP

>>>>>

Follow Derrick Guin on Twitter® @DerrickGuin

Spring starts a new era at USM DERRICK GUIN

pringtime means warmer weather, blooming flowers, and baseball in the air. It also means spring football practice and a spring game. Southern Miss held their first spring game at Petal High School due to the turf being torn up from the tornado that damaged the The Rock. First-year Head Coach Todd Monken was recently at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame to answer questions from fans about USM football. A question that Monken got hit with was about C-USA and USM’s schedule. “It’s something that we will take one game at a time but it’s a schedule that we are excited about playing. This is not the time to gripe about who we play and C-USA,” stressed Monken. “I don’t make the schedule, you don’t make the schedule, and its nothing we can control--Southern Miss needs every fan to pull together and support this outstanding football program.” Monken was very quick to make sure everyone knew that getting Southern Miss back to on track is going to be a work in progress. “Spring practice is an opportunity to get around our players to improve and just try to do things better than everyone else in the country,” said Monken. Coming off an 0-12 season, any wins would be a success for the first year head coach. Monken did not talk much about last year other than about watching film on the players that were returning. One area that USM will be strong in is at running back. The position will be led by Seniors Jeremy Hester and Kendrick Hardy along with Sophomore Jalen Richard. Also joining the talented backfield is Sophomore Tyre Bracken. The offense that Golden Eagle

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fans will see will remind the fans of the spread under former head coach Larry Fedora, but should be more exciting to watch with a lot of different looks and formations. Another area of strength will be the defensive backfield where the Eagles are returning Deron Wilson, Jerrion Johnson, Emmanuel Johnson, Jacorious Cotton and Alex Walters. All of these players received a lot of playing time last year since the defense spent most of the season on the field. Hopefully this year and going forward that will not be the case. Attitudes of the players and the fans will be a challenge for Monken and his staff this fall. Everyone is in agreement with the new coach that this is a crucial time in Southern Miss football and negativity is not needed nor appreciated. Fans need to come out and support the program now more that ever. Understanding that the home football schedule is very weak and not what Golden Eagle fans are used to, but it’s important to support the student athlete to make them a better person and to get ready for what life has prepared. I don’t like the schedule and I also will need to be more positive. The away games are going to not only be a challenge but also so much fun. I plan on going to Nebraska, Arkansas, LA Tech, and East Carolina. Of course I will be at all the home games and let me remind the readers that I went to all home games last year. If Monken can get the Eagles back to a winning season and possibly a bowl game, Monken should be considered for Coach of the Year honors. I am a believer in the new head coach after meeting and chatting with him and the staff. There was a buzz on why Monken retained assistant coach Steve Buckley. I do know that if Buckley had not been around during the transition, USM would have lost most of its recruits. Buckley is a really good recruiter and I know that his heart is at Southern Miss. But for fans to forget last season will be difficult and a challenge for everyone involved. For some reason, USM did not schedule the spring game when there was a home baseball game. Associate Athletic Director of

Marketing and Communications Brent Jones commented, “That is the way the schedule worked out and with the game being played off campus due to the tornado.” Now I am pretty sure that the baseball schedule was released in the fall so not sure on what or why the tornado had to do with it. Guess we can blame this on Former Head Coach Ellis Johnson. Not naming any schools, but the spring game weekend is one of the biggest events on campus with both football and baseball being a major part of it. It’s a great recruitment tool to show off the campus and the atmosphere that Southern Miss has to offer. Speaking of great atmospheres, the three home NIT playoff games in Hattiesburg were just awesome. The ESPN announcers said that Reed Green was one of the most electrifying atmospheres this year out of all the games they covered. Congrats to first year Head Coach Donnie Tyndall for doing a outstanding job and breaking all kinds of records during the 2012-13 season. I said I would have been happy if Tyndall could have gotten 20 wins but to get to post-season play was going beyond expectations. Once again, congrats to the USM basketball team and Coach Tyndall. Moving on to baseball, I am not sure where to go but let’s stay positive. After sweeping Missouri, the Eagles went south to an 11-17 start, but since have reeled off 7 straight wins to put them at 18-17. Baseball is all about getting hot at the right time. Sitting at 5-4 in C-USA, at the time I wrote this column, play is not bad considering we’ve already taken on Rice and Tulane. Pitching has been really good but in most of the losses, it was not getting a hit at the right time. USM still has Memphis, ECU and Houston left on the road and UAB at Home. I am hoping that USM can win all four of the series and maybe win the C-USA Tourney to get them back to a regional. It’s going to be a tough task but I know Head Coach Scott Berry is going do everything possible to get USM in a regional. SEE NEW ERA - Pg. 37

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JUCO REPORT

Keep on Running By CHUCK STINSON Contributing Writer Photos Courtesy Hinds Community College

Hinds Community College track coach Reginald Dillon has been churning out All-Americans and Olympic Medal Winners for over 13 years

ome might think coaching track is essentially just blowing a whistle and telling runners to run and then maybe tossing in a “run faster” if you’re really coaching. Coach Reginald Dillon, the track and field coach at Hinds Community College in Raymond will tell you different. “You just don’t sit out there with a whistle and a stop watch and holler,” says the Tylertown native who is in his 13th year as the head coach at Hinds. Dillon, who studied at Hinds and at Jackson State, sort of fell into his role as the track coach at Hinds Community College. An assistant on the Hinds football staff, he was named assistant track coach under Coach Tony Hughes, who oversaw the program that Dillon was coaching. It was a coaching position he immediately knew he was born to do. “I remember the first year when I did it back on my own. I remember Coach Gene Murphy and Coach Hughes helping me out with the scholarship part and the budgeting. I remember them saying, “If you need us, let us know when you want us out there”. I kept asking, “When y’all coming out here?” They never showed up,” he said with a laugh. “So I just took it on my own right there.” He loved it from the start. In fact, he always had an inter-

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Coach Reginald Dillon

Olympian Trell Kimmons of Coldwater, MS with Coach Reginald Dillon.

“I remember the first year when I did it back on my own. I remember Coach Gene Murphy and Coach Hughes helping me out with the scholarship part and the budgeting. I remember them saying, “If you need us, let us know when you want us out there”. I kept asking, “When y’all coming out here?” They never showed up...” est in track despite never having been a track athlete. During his days at Tylertown High School he would talk to his coach Leon Magee and continues to do so to this day. “I’ve always loved it but it became a passion then (when he started coaching).” His work with athletes will attest to the fact that this is not just a tailor made job but a calling for Dillon. He has coach 19 individual national champions that hold three National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) records. His indoor and outdoor teams are typically ranked in the top ten in the nation. He was also named the 2008 NJCAA Coach of the Year. How does he do it? Attention to detail and

a system that is really not a ‘system’ according to the coach. “Most people say what kind of system do you have and I say we don’t have a track team, we have a track program. We basically have a system of what we do. Sprints, hurdles, relays and jumps. I have a passion for those events and those events have been successful.” He doesn’t coach what he doesn’t have a passion for. So the team is made up of basically runners and jumpers. “I wouldn’t want to take a shot-putter and not devote my time to him. I would rather have a jumper and devote more time to him,” says Dillon. Trell Kimmons, a native of Coldwater, knows firsthand what Dillon can do as a

coach. “He showed a lot of interest in me. He made me realize I didn’t have to go to a big school to be successful and fulfill my dream,” says Kimmons. He adds that he knew right from the start that Dillon had the best interest of his athletes in his heart. “He built a coachathlete relationship with me. He wanted me to also finish school as well. He instilled in me that talent is natural but in order for me to be the best I would have to put in a lot of hard work and be dedicated to move on to the next level.” Kimmons was one of those that proved dedication pays off and he blossomed under Dillon’s guidance at Hinds. During his two years at Hinds from 2004-2006 Kimmons won two national titles in each the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash and as a sophomore, he would set NJCAA records in the process, running the 60-meter dash in 6.53 seconds and the 200-meter dash in 20.89 seconds. He then went on to earn a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics as a member of the 4x100 meter relay team. “Coming out of high school, he got me more fit. He got me stronger in places that I have never been strong. It speaks for itself.” Dillon’s relationship with Kimmons even led him to spend some time coaching Tyson MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 19

Gay of Arkansas in 2007. “When we go overseas to train, we would all be together. Tyson didn’t have a coach his agent asked if I would work with him and I told them that would not be a problem. We still communicate to this day.” As for Kimmons, the coach knew he could be special but he had no idea how special. “Did I know that he was going to be a silver medalist? I can’t say that but I did know that he was going to be talented,” says the coach who considers his star athlete as part of a trio of athletes that really put the Hinds program at a different level. “Trell, Kedrieck Gibbons and Al Winsley are the guys basically got it all to rolling. They were the ones who came in and did what they were supposed to do and people started taking notice,” says the coach. Those guys might have gotten the program to another level but the coach didn’t put the program on cruise control. After a philosophical difference with one of his athletes in 2008, Dillon did some soul searching and some self evaluation. He had too. “It was set in stone for me to work harder. There was a disagreement with me and an athlete about something and I basically took it to heart and that is when I started studying a little bit and started figuring out things here and there. I was trying to come up with a plan every day. That was the part that changed me to be honest with you,” Dillon recalls. “It gave me a different perspective. I was trying to show him I knew exactly what I was talking about. Even after eight years of coaching, that is when it all changed. This is how it’s going to be done and I’m going to do it this way. You are either going to do it or it’s not going to work. And it has been working.” It is part of his growth as a coach. If he expects his athletes to be accountable he needs to be accountable himself. “I’m still learning every day. When you think you know it all you are done”. Dillon says he has always paid a lot of attention to detail and that starts when he begins recruiting kids to his program. “In the recruiting process I ask a kid what he did and I ask him what he did in high school. I write notes down. If I get him in and the training on the weights are not going right for him, I will go back and look at what he did in high school. What he did at that point. Maybe I need to change Trell Kimmon’s Day at Hinds Community College in Raymond.

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“He showed a lot of interest in me. He made me realize I didn’t have to go to a big school to be successful and fulfill my dream,” says Kimmons. “He built a coach-athlete relationship with me. He wanted me to also finish school as well. He instilled in me that talent is natural but in order for me to be the best I would have to put in a lot of hard work and be dedicated to move on to the next level.” something. Maybe I need to add something.” One of the most rewarding parts of his job is when he sees a kid start to “get it”. “It is a real good feeling. We had a kid that was a state champion out of Georgia. He came here running fast. When he got here it didn’t show at indoor meets. You start second guessing yourself. You tell him to trust your training. One of the kids from last year told him to just trust the training because I was running terrible and it came on. We get to indoor nationals and it is finally there and the light has finally clicked on for him. He trusted the training.” Even though Kimmons is far away from Raymond these days, running as a pro for Adidas, he is still is in constant contact with his coach. “I talk to him every day, we talk about workout. Not only do I believe in him but he believes in me as an athlete. At the end of the day I respected him because he was my coach. We have an established that friendship and that bond between a coach and an athlete. He has played a major role in my life.” That is just as important to the coach as watching a guy set a record in his event. He says that he is proudest when the guys move on to bigger schools and then earn their degrees. Ready for not only for their next track event but life as well. - MSM

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MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 21

By JOHN DAVIS

2013 SPRING PRACTICE REPORT

Contributing Writer, The Oxford Eagle

OLE MISS REBELS Defense makes huge strides for Rebels during Spring camp

le Miss wrapped up its second spring football drills under the direction of coach Hugh Freeze a lot differently than in his first season. Injuries to some key players such as quarterback Bo Wallace, wide receiver Donte Moncrief an defensive end C.J. Johnson prevented Freeze and his staff holding a traditional spring football game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Instead of splitting up the team like last year, Freeze decided that the offense and defense remain together after discussing the injury situation with head trainer Pat Jernigan. “We just looked at that injured list and asking Pat do we have a chance at getting any of these guys back that we had on here and him leading us to believe that we would not,” Freeze said. “We felt it was in the best interest to stay offense, defense and not try and divide up and be a true Red-Blue game.” Not having a traditional spring game to grade on film doesn’t mean the Rebels didn’t make progress as a team, far from it. Freeze consistently said several players who will be counted on in the fall showed they can contribute, especially on defense. “The story of the spring is that the defense was way ahead of the offense. I don’t think that is all bad, you have to play great defense to win in this league. We are headed in the right direction there,” Freeze said. “On offense, when we get all our players back and get more consistent at quarterback, we will be OK and be able to move the ball effectively.” Freeze added that he kept things simple on offense for a reason and that the main area he wanted to improve was the tempo on that side of the ball. “We wanted to play fast. I was pleased with our attitude and effort. I couldn’t be more pleased with the attitude they’ve had all 22 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Bo Wallace hopes to return to form after sitting out spring practice while recovering from shoulder surgery during the off season.

spring and you have to give (strength coach) Paul Jackson and his staff a lot of credit for doing that,” Freeze said. “We just have to add some quality depth to us and we have people like Laquon Treadwell and (Robert) Nkemdiche and (Laremy) Tunsil and (Tony) Conner, I just want to get all those guys in here so they can add some quality depth and we can go twos and threes. We have some guys

that we think have a chance at competing for certain positions.” OFFENSE Coordinator Dan Werner didn’t like how the offense moved the ball in the final scrimmage of the spring and how the quarterbacks struggled to protect the ball, but added he was very pleased with the effort turned during the

important for Wallace, who was with the team taking mental reps during the spring. “He’s got to get healthy. He’s still not allowed to throw and I think in three weeks he start throwing, softly. It’s just a matter of staying with the trainer and doing all the things he has to do from that part of it,” Werner said. “When our guys are out doing 7-on-7, he’s got to be the leader out there because the coaches aren’t allowed to be there. So he has to step it up there too. He’s not the real vocal type (leader) but you can see that everyone respects him. You could see during the games last year that they wanted him in there and they felt confident at the end of the game that he was going to make a play.”

Denzel Nkemdiche and 2013 Chucky Mullins Award winner, Mike Marry return in 2013 to lead a much improved Rebel defense.

2013 SCHEDULE Aug. 29................. at Vanderbilt Sept. 7....................SE Missouri Sept. 14........................ at Texas Sept. 21.............................OPEN Sept. 28...................at Alabama Oct. 5......................... at Auburn Oct. 12.................. TEXAS A&M Oct. 19..................................LSU Oct. 26.............................IDAHO Nov. 2................................OPEN Nov. 9.....................ARKANSAS Nov. 16.............................. TROY Nov. 23.....................MISSOURI Nov. 30............... at Miss. State entire spring. “I thought we made great strides compared to last spring so we’re right where we need to be,” Werner said. “Our guys, we know they offense, we’re in good shape there. We just have to move it and protect a little better.” If there was one area that Werner felt was the deepest on offense it would be at the running backs spot. Jeff Scott is returning for his senior season while I’Tavius Mathers and Jaylen Walton, who both shined in the BBVA Compass Bowl, continued to show their talents in the spring. Mathers won the Eli Manning Award given annually to most improved offensive football player during the spring based on spirit, performance, leadership, hustle, determination and dependability. “The guys that really stepped up are the

backs and that’s the one position that we really don’t have a depth issue. I’Tavius, the thing about him is he’s so hard to tackle. The first tackler is going to get a tackle on him and it’s nice to know that when you hand the ball off to him, we’re going to get some positive yards. It’s very rare that he gets a negative play and that’s crucial in our scheme because we’re all about positive yards,” Werner said. “We were hoping a few guys would step up at tight end and we’re still looking for the guy to be that person. I was really hoping that the two quarterbacks (Barry Brunetti and Maikhail Miller) would compete really hard, which they did. One would have a good day and another one would the next day so we really have to study it and I’ll go through the whole spring and actually see who is in the lead right now. “I was just really pleased with how everybody stepped up because of the injuries and guys that wouldn’t be playing very much got a lot of playing time,” Werner added. “Now we know when we do get the other guys healthy that these guys can step in.” At the wide receiver spot, Werner talked highly about sophomore Cody Core. “I think he’s really going to be a good player for us. He’s big, fast, strong and he did step up and made a couple of nice plays (in the Grove Bowl),” Werner said. Freeze, meanwhile, talked highly about the leadership of Ja-Mes Logan, who will be a senior in the fall. “Ja-Mes probably had the best spring of anybody,” Freeze said. “He was solid every single day, and he made some nice plays today. Everyone knows what Ja-Mes can do but I thought he took more of a leadership role.” wallace update Werner said that the offseason would be

Defense Veteran coordinator Dave Wommack had good things to say about his unit, despite have a number of key guys out with injuries. “I still think we made a lot of progress in the spring even without some of our key guys like CJ and Issac Gross being out. There are some obvious things we have to improve at and we will, we’ll get better, but I’m pleased with their effort and I’m pleased with them learning the defensive scheme,” Wommack said. “I don’t think we’re all the way with having the two-deep like we wanted to have but I think our guys are getting better.” An area that is the strength, according to Wommack, over another position on defense it would be linebacker. “That’s such a good room because of the leadership of Mike Marry and D.T. Shackelford. We’ve got plans to use D.T. in a dual role as a defensive end as well as a linebacker. We’ve got some packages that we didn’t get to with him,” Wommack said. “I’m excited about Denzel (Nkemdiche) because his motor runs so well. Serderius (Bryant) is a solid linebacker and I think Temario (Strong) made a big improvement as we went on and Keith (Lewis) did too. That’s five or six guys out there to play in games and it makes it easier for us to go into a 4-3. We spent three or four days on 4-3 which we didn’t do last spring. We got ahead on some of that stuff and I think with the nucleus and the leadership, it’s the strength of our defense.” The area that concerns Wommack the most coming out of the spring is at cornerback. “We have to improve at corner and get some of those guys healthy and back and more consistent,” Wommack said. “I like some of those guys but I think they get distracted because we put so much on the corners sometimes in our scheme. Just the awareness of the situation is really the big thing. (Cornerbacks coach) Jason (Jones), I think, does a great job. I think fundamentally we’ve gotten better there in the spring but I want to see us get some depth. SEE REBELS - Pg. 39 MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 23

2013 SPRING PRACTICE REPORT

By PAUL JONES

Contributing Writer, MississippiState.247.com

MISS. STATE BULLDOGS Mullen uses Spring looking for players to step up to the task

pportunity. That appeared to be the theme word surrounding Mississippi State’s spring session on the gridiron. And that word meant a couple of different things as well with the Bulldogs within spring drills. MSU opened the 2012 season on fire with a 7-0 start only to lose five of its last six games. So this spring presented an opportunity for the Bulldogs to use that bad ending as motivation, and to begin correcting the mistakes that led to that late-season slide. There was also opportunity for numerous younger players, particularly 2012 signees that redshirted last year, to make a move on the two-deep depth chart. More so than other spots, that opportunity presented itself at receiver, cornerback and even with the MSU linebackers. “We started our spring meeting when they came back with that word - opportunity,” said head coach Dan Mullen, entering his fifth season in Starkville. “There is a lot of opportunity for guys to get on the field. There’s a lot of opportunity at every position to go get touches, to go get the ball in your hand, to go make plays. “Even with guys that are behind returning starters, go take somebody’s job. In the secondary there’s opportunities for a lot of guys that redshirted last year to go take playing time this spring, to go take those tackles that are missing. And that’s what is going to be a lot of fun with this spring. That’s the fun part of spring ball, of these guys getting opportunities to go see what they can do.” And that opportunity was one that several guys took advantage of this spring. OFFENSE Many familiar faces returned this spring for the Bulldogs on the offensive side of the ball. 24 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Kaleb Eulls returns in 2013 to anchor a stout Bulldog defensive front. Could All-SEC honors be in store for the rising Junior this season?

But at times, the offense was hampered by the injury bug. Backup quarterback Dak Prescott missed the entire spring session due to offseason surgery to correct a turf toe injury. That meant senior Tyler Russell was joined by a pair of walk-ons - Sam Cowart and John Hand - during offensive drills. Prescott is expected to make a full recovery and return to 100 percent later this summer. But despite the lack of Prescott, having an experienced guy under center still allowed the Bulldogs to try different looks. Among those looks was Russell being under center a bit more than in the shotgun. Russell threw for 2,897 yards a year ago with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

“When you talk about a fifth-year senior quarterback, I mean I expect him in training camp to say I don’t want to throw this route to this guy,” said Mullen. “He has the spring and all summer to get that down. The time is going to come and him say hey, I feel really comfortable making these throws to this guy. “The great thing when you have a fifth-year senior quarterback, he is going to feel very comfortable in making his input. I think some young guys sometimes they want to give input but they don’t know they know enough to give input that makes sense.” Injuries also played a role with MSU’s running backs but there was not a major shortage of depth nor talent. Senior LaDarius Perkins

Dan Mullen made some changes to his staff this offseason in hopes for improved play. Former Pittsburgh Steeler and Batesville native, DeShea Townsend was hired to help shore the defensive backfield.

2013 SCHEDULE Aug. 31.............. Oklahoma St.* Sep. 7....................Alcorn State Sep. 14....................... @Auburn Sept. 21................................Troy Sept. 28.............................OPEN Oct. 5....................................LSU Oct. 12.............. Bowling Green Oct. 19...............................OPEN Oct. 24........................ Kentucky Nov. 2............ @South Carolina Nov. 9..................@Texas A&M Nov. 16........................ Alabama Nov. 23..................@Arkansas# Nov. 30........................ Ole Miss *Houston, TX (Reliant Stadium) ; # Little Rock

returns after a 1,000-yard season but missed the latter half of spring practice due to taking a hard hit in the first spring scrimmage. But Perkins did return the last week of spring drills

but the staff was cautious with his contact. Junior Nick Griffin missed all of spring drills as the junior recovered from ACL surgery. But that left more opportunities for the likes of redshirt sophomores Josh Robinson and Derrick Milton, and both had solid showings this spring. Also getting involved in the ground game was slot receiver Brandon Holloway. Owning the best speed on the offensive side, the redshirt freshman gives MSU a different look in the backfield with his elite speed. Depth was also not a problem at tight end this spring with returning starters Malcolm Johnson and Brandon Hill back in the fold. Junior Christian Holmes was a new face with the tight ends after playing the last two years at linebacker. Sophomore Rufus Warren also played a role this spring at tight end while freshmen Gus Walley and Artimas Samuel were also factors this spring. However, at receiver the two-deep depth chart was a little more wide open. MSU lost five senior receivers from the 2012 roster and that presented quite a battle this spring. Taking advantage were juniors Robert Johnson and Jameon Lewis, who were easily

the top two receivers in the spring. “And that is what you expect to see from those guys,” said Mullen. “They have the most experience of the guys returning and you expect them to step up and lead.” The other starting receiver spot was a battle all spring with the likes of juco transfer Jeremey Chappelle, sophomore Joe Morrow and redshirt freshman Fred Brown. Also entering the mix again was junior Michael Carr, who played at MSU in 2010 and 2011 before leaving the program after the 2011 season. Carr returned to MSU in January as a walkon. “I think over 180 receptions and over 2,200 yards and 22 touchdowns, all missing off of last year’s team,” said Mullen of the receivers. “So there’s tremendous opportunity to become a starter, to become even a role player. You know, there’s a tremendous opportunity to become a star player. There’s a tremendous opportunity for new leadership out there, that all of these opportunities are out there, that guys are trying to step up and develop. “Not just in the off-season, but as it goes more. Those opportunities are out there, they’ve been training. Now they get the opportunity to go out there and earn some of those opportunities out on the field.” Up front, the Bulldogs returned five guys this spring that own starting experience. Leading that group is senior left guard Gabe Jackson, who opted to put his NFL career on hold for another season. Juniors Blaine Clausell and Dillon Day started all 13 games last year at left tackle and center, respectively. Senior right tackle Charles Siddoway also gained starting experience in 2012 and his battle with backup Damien Robinson continued this spring. While Tobias Smith has yet to decide if he is returning for a sixth year, sophomore Justin Malone had a handful of starts at right guard last fall. “Lot of experience back there,” said Mullen. “We need that group to be our staple. They need to lead the offense and be the guys we lean on. That is what you have to get from an experienced offensive line.” defense Position battles were more evident with MSU’s defense this spring, which was expected with the loss of starting cornerbacks Johnthan Banks and Darius Slay along with a few defensive tackles and leading tackler Cam Lawrence at linebacker. Naturally, the most noticeable void left behind was at cornerback. This spring, however, the Bulldogs actually exhibited more depth at that position. Junior Jamerson Love played a lot in 2012 while juco All-American Justin Cox arrived in January and made a push for a starting role this spring. SEE MSU - Pg. 38 MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 25

2013 SPRING PRACTICE REPORT

By LANNY MIXON Contributing Writer, BigGoldNation.com

SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES Golden Eagles begin a new era with Todd Monken

or the second consecutive year Southern Miss completed spring practice under a first year head coach. Out is Ellis Johnson who was fired after his one and only season in Hattiesburg. In is former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken. In 2012, the Southern Miss football program crashed to it’s worst season in program history under Johnson, the 0-12 finish led to his firing after less than a year. That’s the bad news and it’s about as bad as it could get for Eagle fans who were just a season removed from a 12-2 Championship year in 2011. The good news is that there’s still plenty of talent on the team. And it looks like Southern Miss selected the right guy to turn things around. Monken has been up front and honest with fans and media since arriving in Hattiesburg in December. He seems to have a good understanding of the Southern Miss program and the level of expectations from everyone involved in the program. “You want high expectations,” Monken said. “You want to be at a place where winning is expected. And this is one of those places. This is a new era of Southern Miss football. You’ve had that history and tradition - hit what I call a one-year speed bump - but I’m looking with great confidence to the future and not looking back.” When you see Monken on the field, it’s easy to see that differences, he brings a high energy, hands on approach to coaching that Southern Miss needs to right the ship. Monken’s no nonsense personality and direct approach with players, media and fans has been a breath of fresh air. If you’re looking for coach speak and canned answers, he’s not your guy. If you’re looking for straight talk, down to earth conversation and an oc26 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Photo courtesy Southern Miss Sports Information

After an 0-12 season there’s nowhere to go but up for the Golden Eagles. New coach Todd Monken is already changing the attitude of his players and the members of Big Gold Nation.

casional cheesy movie quote, he’s definitely your guy. Monken has been quick to heap praise on Southern Miss players when it’s deserved and being frank and honest about performance when it was lacking. That continued throughout the spring. “With 15 practices, you’re just trying to get to where you play good football,” Monken said. “That’s really what you’re trying to do. Get the guys to play hard and understand assignments and alignment. That’s really what you’re trying to accomplish.” The team appears to be picking up on just that, in the final scrimmage of the year the

Black and Gold Game held this year at Petal High School because of the replacement of the playing surface at M.M. Roberts Stadium. When asked following the spring game if his squad met his expectations after the 15 maximum NCAA allowed practices of the spring he had this to say. “I think they exceeded expectations in terms of want to and buying in by far,” Monken said candidly. “I wouldn’t guess we’d have that after 15 practices. I didn’t feel like there were many days when our energy level was down. Maybe one day when we were in shorts.” This is even a bit more impressive consid-

2013 SCHEDULE Aug. 31................... Texas State Sep. 7..................... @Nebraska Sep. 14....................@Arkansas Sep. 21..............................OPEN Sep. 28................@Boise State Oct. 5.......Florida International Oct. 12...............................OPEN Oct. 19..............@East Carolina Oct. 26................... North Texas Nov. 2.......................@Marshall Nov. 9............@Louisiana Tech Nov. 16.............Florida Atlantic Nov. 23....... Middle Tennessee Nov. 20........................... @ UAB ering that Monken and his staff were forced to dial back the intensity at points to prevent injury to a squad that was already thin in several positions. Monken took time assembling his new staff and was able to put together a staff that is both deep on experience and high on energy. He brought in seasoned experienced coaches who have seen it all and done it all like defensive coordinator David Duggan who brings a wealth of collegiate and professional experience to the table. Duggan, a name familiar to Southern Miss fans, was part of Larry Fedora’s staff for four years in Hattiesburg. Pete Perot the new offensive line coach has more than 20 year collegiate experience, including a previous stint at Southern Miss, is considered to be one of the better teaching offensive line coaches in the South. Former Southern Miss player and coach Lytrel Pollard returns to coach corner-backs and brings a wealth of experience. Derrick LeBlanc is a seasoned college coach and who directs the defensive line. Younger coaches like offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo, running backs coach John Simon and outside receivers coach John Wozniak bring a high level of energy to the offensive side of the ball. Safeties coach Andrew Thacker provides that spark for the defense as he often looks ready to strap on a helmet and get a few reps with the secondary. Monken has blended these personalities and approaches over the past few months as he has gotten to know his staff and they’ve gotten to know him and what he expects. This has created an interesting dynamic that the players have taken to in a short period of time. Often an unsung hero for a football program is the strength and conditioning program. Monken knows this well and brought Mark Smith to head the program. Smith had

Returning QB Ricky Lloyd looks to improve his game in Monken’s wide-open offense.

previously headed Strength and Conditioning programs at Kansas and Tennessee, as well as worked on staffs at West Virginia, Florida and North Carolina State. He also spent time in the NFL working with the New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins. “We feel stronger, faster and more explosive,” senior full-back Bruce Johnson said of the new program. “We’re in the best shape anyone can remember. We were in good shape two years ago, but now we’re back to that point and maybe better. We’re training right and eating right.” Smith’s work with the team is easy for even the novice observer. Players are leaner, more toned and seem to have more stamina. OFFENSE Southern Miss head coach Todd Monken will call plays this coming season from the sideline. Marcus Arroyo holds the offensive coordinator title and will be instrumental in installing weekly game plans. The Southern Miss offense progressed about as well as could be expected in only 15 practices in the spring. Monken takes special pains to insure that

the install goes as smoothly as possible. “They way Coach Monken designed the install (of the offense) it gives us the chance to repeat a lot of things,” Arroyo explained. “I think all of us come from schools that had a lot of inventory (offensive plays and formations) then you hit the wall because it’s so much information,” he continued. “Coach Monken has done such a great job of designing and organizing the install.” Southern Miss returns a stable of running backs that should be the strength of the offensive unit with four backs that have seen extensive playing time in their careers at Southern Miss. Seniors Kendrick Hardy and Jeremy Hester are joined by sophomores Tyre Bracken and Jalen Ricard to give the Eagles a lot of options out of the backfield. Each back has a little different skill set and Monken will allow each to play to their strengths. The receiver corp also has some depth with senior starters Francisco Llanos and Justin Sims returning, Chris Briggs, Dominique Sullivan, D.J. Thompson and Markese Triplett are SEE USM - Pg. 37 MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 27

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Winder’s famous TD leap against Ole Miss is one of the greatest plays in Mississippi’s sports history.

Sammy Winder By JON WIENER Contributing Writer

Photos courtesy Southern Miss Sports Information

ammy Winder will be the first to tell you “The Leap” defied his own physical capabilities. He jumped higher than any running back should jump, dove farther than any running back should dive. The combination of explosion and suspension looked as though Winder was a super hero shot out of a flying machine. The result was a touchdown that sealed a 28-22 Golden Eagle victory over Ole Miss in Jackson in 1980. The play has earned a treasured place in Mississippi’s rich college football lore. Like Mississippi State’s field goal blown back 28 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

through the uprights against Ole Miss in 1983, The Leap now transcends metrics and lengths for myth and legend. ‘The play that I made I don’t know if I could have made that play the day before or the day after – but it was something about that moment and that team and that location that I made that play,” Winder said. Winder, now working as general manager of Waste Pro’s Southaven (MS) division, speaks of the play these days smilingly, a tone dripping in nostalgia. But he believes strongly in the play’s mystic quality. Winder recalls then-head coach Bobby Collins, famous to Eagle players for his inspirational pre-game stories, spun a doozy that day before the game,. “Coach told us, ‘the human body has never been tested.’ He told the story of how this 120

lb. lady driving down the road with her baby in the back lost control of the car, the car flips over, but she kicks the car up with her own legs so that somebody could pull her baby to safety. We were rolling our eyes like ‘Yea, right.’ Well that play is an example of that….I don’t know how I did it,” he said. Winder’s play was just as unbelievable. It defied logic, expectations, and the normal laws of football. But then, so did Winder’s entire career. walk-on to wonder Coming out of then Madison-Ridgeland High School in 1977, Winder didn’t even have a scholarship offer to play ball at Southern Miss. He signed with Mississippi Valley, but had already fallen in love with the Golden Eagle program on a recruiting visit. His heart remained in Hattiesburg. “I didn’t get a scholarship, but that’s where I wanted to go to school,” Winder said. “I was just determined to go down there and play. I felt like that’s where I wanted to be, and it really turned out well when I did, looking back

More important was whom they beat and the flair and moxie with which they did it. Winder’s Eagles went 4-0 against Mississippi State, 2-1 against Ole Miss. They played a tough and immensely exciting brand of football, with the “anyone, anytime, anywhere” attitude that would become the mantra of the Southern Miss program. “From a football standpoint, even though I had some great times in Denver, I think that (time at Southern Miss) was the best four consecutive years of playing ball that I had. It was exciting, “ Winder reminisced fondly. “I played with some great athletes, and the teams that we played on, the games that we won; tying Alabama, that was just like climbing a mountain in college ball, a small college like USM to go over to Alabama and tie them. That was like a win to us. Things like going down to Florida State and winning, That was unbelievable.” But playing and beating your in-state rivals? That was the true testament of the USM glory days. “It’s hard for me to even describe it now. We were supposed to have been the third school in the state behind State and Ole Miss, so to go out and beat them was unreal. So, it was just a lot of excitement to me,” Winder said. “I can recall the bus ride up to Jackson (before the Ole Miss game in 1980), and about twenty miles out of Jackson traffic was backed up nearly to the stadium. We had never seen anything like that before!”

on it.” Did it ever. Winder stayed just one summer in Itta Bena before walking-on at USM in the fall of his freshman year. He produced immediately and went on to shatter nearly every Golden Eagle career rushing record during his time in Hattiesburg. In 1980, his junior season, he ran for 996 yards and led the NCAA with 20 rushing touchdowns. He cracked the 1,000 yard plateau the following year and finished his career with 3,164 yards and 39 touchdowns, still fourth and second respectively in the Eagle all-time ranks. Winder did it with a combined physical skill-set of shiftiness, vision and acceleration. But his nose for the end zone, the most precious and unqualifiable football commodity, was Winder’s calling card. That was the stuff of grit, drive, awareness and belief. “At no time in college as well as the pros did I think I was the best athlete at running back. But I probably was the most determined running back,” Winder said. Like his time at Southern Miss, Winder’s NFL career far exceeded his original designation. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 5th round of the 1982 Draft, but went on to play in two Pro Bowls and three Super Bowls over his nine years in Denver. He still ranks third on Broncos all-time lists with 5,429 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns. He even had his own touchdown dance, the “Mississippi Mud Walk,” which Winder says coach Dan Reeves christened when he saw Winder’s celebration in his post-game show and laughed, “He looks like he’s walking in the mud down in Mississippi!” Winder mud-walked his way into the hearts of Broncos fans, and remembers his NFL days with no regrets, and all humility. But nothing was like those last two years in Hattiesburg, when Winder and a skinny kid from the coast named Reggie Collier took Southern Miss to the top of the state of the beyond. Winder’s teams went 34-13-2 and made two bowl games over his four year career, a time when making a bowl game still meant a lot.

STILL GOLDEN A conversation with Winder about Southern Miss glory days inevitably comes full circle to last year’s darkest ones. As the Golden Eagles floundered their way to a historically inept 0-12 season under now departed coach Ellis Johnson, Winder looked on in disbelief. “It was disheartening to see,” Winder said. “You don’t win a game all season. I never would have imagined through all the years that USM would win not one ballgame. Probably no university or fan of a school would ever think like that. But I think it gives us a chance to regroup and re-grow.” Any sort of optimism from a winless season seems a bit of a reach. But Winder sees it as an opportunity to develop a new attitude. “It may be a good thing in the long run,” he said. “It should give the coaches a chance to reflect back on what went wrong, the mistakes that were made, to inspire the players to try harder, work harder, be stronger, be faster. Even though we had to suffer through that, we’re gonna put that behind us and we’re going forward from here on.” The Golden Eagle brass tapped into their past in hopes of a better future, turning to none other than Winder, along with former backfield mate Reggie Collier, to aid in the re-growth. Winder was part of the search committee that eventually hired coach Todd Monken from Oklahoma State. Winder knows that wins and losses are the ultimate reminder. But he believes Monken’s ability to put people in the seats – a number that dwindled to a precious few thousand as last year’s spiral sunk in – will be equally important. “I was on the committee to name a new coach, and I think Monken will do a good job. He did a great interview, his philosophy was sound and strong, I really like what he brought to the table, and I think you’re going to see it on the field,” he said.” (Monken) sounds like a really good coach, from that Fun N’ Gun offense, and fans love to see that ball flying all around the field.” Count Winder as one of those fans. He makes the commute to Hattiesburg for every Golden Eagle home game. Whether or not he’ll see an improved product on the field remains to be seen. Monken will need a lot of both size and talent to return Southern Miss to the top. Winder admittedly didn’t have an abundance of both. But that didn’t stop him from etching his name as a Golden Eagle legend. The current Golden Eagles could take a cue. “Let’s be real: I’m not going to make the (NFL) Hall of Fame. If I do, I’ll be 90 years old,” he said. “I’d like for people to say I gave my best, I tried hard, and I was determined. That’s good enough for me.” - MSM MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 29

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Ware has always been know as one of Ole Miss’ all-time hardest hitters, evidenced by a hit so hard on Georgia QB Eric Zier that Ware knocked two of the Bulldog QB’s teeth out.

CASSIUS WARE By JOHN DAVIS Contributing Writer, Oxford Eagle

Photos courtesy Ole Miss Sports Information

atesville native and former Ole Miss linebacker Cassius Ware may live almost 2,000 miles away in Las Vegas, but his heart is still in Mississippi. Ware, who played for the Rebels in 1992 and 1993, has been living and working in Las Vegas since the late 1990s but he still keeps up with his beloved Rebels as much as possible. Currently employed in the fitness industry, Ware said he moved to Las Vegas for a change of pace some six years after completing his eligibility at Ole Miss. “My grandmother who raised me, she 30 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

passed away and then in the same year my mom passed away. I just wanted to get away for a while. I was living in Memphis at the time and I had a couple of friends that lived out in Las Vegas so I decided to try something new,” Ware said in a recent phone interview. “My main thing over the years has been fitness. I do some personal training and did some strength and conditioning coaching at UNLV for a year. It was an opportunity to be around sports and football and the camaraderie of the players. I like it out here because there is always something to do, the lights are always on, but the older I’ve gotten, the more I want to be back in Mississippi.” Ware, who lives in Vegas with his 10-yearold daughter, said some of the best times of my life were playing football, at South Pa-

nola, Northwest Mississippi Community College and at Ole Miss under the direction of Billy Brewer and defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn. Staying close to home, so that his grandparents and extended family could watch him play, always factored in to Ware’s school choices. “The big thing about it is I’ve always been a positive guy and proud to be from Mississippi and every school I’ve played for has been 20 minutes from my home of Batesville. Playing at South Panola gave me the opportunity to go further. We had potential, but at the same time, we didn’t have the powerhouse like they do now. To really to get out there, I had to focus and I had to want it and I had to want it really bad,” Ware said. “When I got the opportunity to go to Northwest, I wasn’t going to let anything hold me back from going somewhere and playing college football. My first couple of years at Northwest, it was really a great experience. “In high school, our fundamentals were OK. We were natural athletes and our coach let us play and have fun. He taught us the basics, the things you need to know about football but when I got to Northwest with Coach (Bobby) Franklin, he taught us how to win. He said no matter what was going on, when it was time to play, it was time to win,” Ware added. “That taught me about preparing, from meetings to practice to become a better player and to know the fundamentals to get me to the next level. I played with some of the best players in the country. We went to the junior college national championship two years in a row. We played on one of the highest levels you could play on.” Because the Rangers were so good — they went 11-1-1 in Ware’s sophomore season — playing at Ole Miss was made a little easier, with the exception of how much attention playing for the Rebels garnered. “When we got to Ole Miss, the platform, the stage was huge playing on TV every Saturday. That was just like the icing on the cake. Coach Dunn

“...one of the most memorable moments was my first game when we played against Auburn. I was late being cleared by the clearinghouse. They cleared me about five days before the game and I got excited and nervous all at the same time. I caught a fumble in the air and ran it back 92 yards for a touchdown. I had eight to 10 tackles that game and won the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. That was kind of like welcome to the SEC. I never had a bad day after that.” put us in a great position to be able to play natural and play hard and beat up on some guys. Ole Miss, that was a great experience,” Ware said. “At Northwest, we weren’t on TV or doing a lot of interviews but when we got to Ole Miss, it was showtime. For me it was kind like I was able to show everything I learned on every level and help my team win.” Ole Miss was Ware’s top choice, again, due to his family as well as playing alongside De-

wayne Dotson, who was one of four team captains in 1993. “The number one reason I chose Ole Miss was my grandparents. They raised me so they were 20 minutes down the road. It gave them the opportunity to see me play. All my friends and family that I grew up with, that support right there was amazing. There was no way I was going to California when there is nobody I know and play any kind of sports,” Ware

said. “The next thing that got me to Ole Miss was Dewayne Dotson. He was already there and when I came on the visit he said ‘man, I need some help.’ He looked at me right in the face. That was it. I didn’t even hesitate. We clicked real good. His birthday is on the 8th of June and my is on the 11th. We were roommates when I got to Ole Miss and we never had any problems. He was like a mentor, a big brother to me. It’s always a good thing.” There were several memorable moments for Ware during his two years in Oxford. The first was a 45-21 win over Auburn, while some others included the 17-10 win over Mississippi State, which was made famous by “The Stand” as well as the 13-0 shutout of Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. Ware had 10 tackles, including two sacks, to earn Liberty Bowl MVP and Defensive Player of the Game honors. “I look back and think about it all the time but one of the most memorable moments was my first game when we played against Auburn. I was late being cleared by the clearinghouse. They cleared me about five days before the game and I got excited and nervous all at the same time. I caught a fumble in the air and ran it back 92 yards for a touchdown. I had eight to 10 tackles that game and won the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. That was kind of like welcome to the SEC. I never had a bad day after that,” Ware said. “We played a lot of good games. I can remember the Alabama game over there and they went on to win the national championship. I can remember some good plays. We tackled them and hit them in the mouth really good and let them know that we there to play. My first year we also played in the Liberty Bowl and I just came off a bowl the year before at Northwest. Plus I was born in Memphis and I had about 50 to 60 tickets. It was the coldest day of my life playing. That was a big moment my first year. “The win over Mississippi State, that’s when we really understood the meaning of the Egg Bowl and why it means so much to the school and the players and the fans. We showed that nobody was going to beat us that day.” Ware said he didn’t come back to an Ole Miss football game this past year but he gets back to Mississippi as often as he can. He is very aware of what head coach Hugh Freeze has accomplished and how special he thinks he is to the program. “I love coach Freeze, he’s a good coach and a great motivator. I think that was one good thing that we needed and I like how he thinks,” Ware said. “He’s a great recruiter. He’s doing a great job and I think he’s going to go far. I think he has a lot of passion and if this is his true passion, he should be at Ole Miss forever. I can easily a national championship in the next five years.” - MSM MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 31

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

If you made a list of former Mississippi State football players that best exemplified the character and qualities you want in a Bulldog, the name Dicenzo Miller would be one of the first names you would write down. Known for his heart and leadership, Dicenzo is one of the most beloved Bulldogs of the past several years.

DICENZO MILLER By PAUL JONES

Contributing Writer, mississippistate.247.com Photos courtesy Miss. State Sports Information

t has been more than a decade since Dicenzo Miller suited up for Mississippi State and ran through opposing SEC defenses. But the former Bulldog tailback still holds those college memories close to his heart as do thousands of MSU fans that remember his talent on the field. The Weir native still has his name etched in the MSU record books whether it was his career rushing totals or single-season rushing totals. From 1998-2001, Miller rushed for 2,208 career yards and led the Bulldogs in rushing in back-to-back seasons. 32 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

More importantly, he was part of one of MSU’s most successful runs ever on the gridiron. Miller was a freshman on the Bulldogs’ 1998 squad that reached the SEC Championship game and also played in three bowl games at MSU. So what made that run so successful? Hardnosed football, said Miller. “We just practiced physical football and then went and played physical football on Saturday,” said Miller. “Our coaches always instilled in us to be physical and when you practice that way, you play that way. We got after it every day and it would translate to the games. “But I was taught in high school, too, to be physical by my coach - Coach (Joe) Gant. When I got to Mississippi State playing physical was still the big thing so it just carried over

for me.” Always known for producing solid running backs, Miller experienced that trend while in Starkville. And there was plenty of daily competition in practice. “That was a lot of fun and we all brought something different to the table,” said Miller. “J.J. Johnson was a big, physical runner when I first got there but he could take it to the house on any play, too. Then Chris Rainey was a very athletic guy and then me and Dontae Walker got our chance to be the guys. “The thing is, we all learned from each other and that made all of us step up our game. I learned to lower my shoulder more from those guys. I was very fortunate and blessed to have that group to play with in college.” As noted above, Miller encountered much team and individual success and produced a lot of special memories for Bulldog fans. And some of his favorite memories of his playing days are also familiar ones for Bulldog fans. “One would definitely have to be that Florida game (a 47-35 MSU win in 2000) where we beat them up pretty good,” said Miller. “I still get calls and messages on Facebook about that game and it was one of the best games of my career. Then the long run at BYU was also one of my best runs, too. “I had several but for me, just playing in the SEC was a big thing for me. Just to compete with the best and see so many of those guys move on to the NFL, it was fun for me every Saturday to compete against that kind of talent. I definitely miss gameday. I don’t miss the practices but I do miss gameday.” Back to that BYU game, Miller recalls that special moment for other reasons, too. “It was a different atmosphere for us play-

“...just playing in the SEC was a big thing for me. Just to compete with the best and see so many of those guys move on to the NFL, it was fun for me every Saturday to compete against that kind of talent. I definitely miss gameday. I don’t miss the practices but I do miss gameday.” ing in that kind of air,” said Miller. “At the end of the day, though, it was about playing football and we had a mission to represent Mississippi State and the SEC. That run was my longest run (78 yards) and probably my top highlight. But it felt like I ran 200 yards after going from sideline to sideline. It took forever it seemed (laughing). “And I promise you, I didn’t come back into the game until about the third quarter. I couldn’t catch my breath out there. Once you got going you were fine but it was still tough. The good thing is we went out there a day early to get used to the air. But when you run 78 yards it is still hard to catch your breath.” Before Miller reached the college level, he

produced one of the best prep careers ever by a Magnolia State running back. In fact, until this past season when Noxubee County’s Darrell Robinson passed him up, Miller held the single-season mark for rushing touchdowns (51) and still ranks among the state’s best in career touchdowns. But that was at Class 1A Weir High School, said some of his doubters. Many said Miller couldn’t cut it in the SEC but that only put a big chip on his shoulder. “That motivated me a lot,” said Miller. “I had a lot of friends in Louisville, West Point and Starkville that used to tell me I couldn’t do all of that in Class 5A. That would motivate me every game in high school and then it mo-

tivated me when I got to State. I got Player of the Year for the whole state my senior year but they still said I did all of that because I played at a 1A school. “Then when I got to State, people said I was too small and that I couldn’t take the pounding. All of that just added on to that chip on my shoulder. And that chip is still on my shoulder.” But these days, Miller is also motivating other players at the prep level. Following his graduation from MSU, Miller coached at Copiah-Lincoln Community College for three seasons and then got his first job in the high school coaching ranks at J.Z. George High School. After returning to Copiah-Lincoln in 2011 for one season, Miller was back in the prep ranks last fall coaching at Eupora High School. Helping coach football and basketball, Miller and the Eagles reached the Class 2A state title game last December. “I love it,” Miller said. “I love coaching and it is a great experience. You get to try to lead kids in the right direction and I try to help them as much as possible. You try to lead them away from the same mistakes you made and it is about building relationships with kids. “A lot of kids I coached at Copiah-Lincoln and J.Z. George still stay in touch with me today. It is very rewarding knowing you had an impact on someone’s life and that they appreciate what you did for them. That is really the rewarding part - making a difference in someone’s life.” Like all kids on the gridiron, Miller did dream of playing in the NFL one day. But at an early age he also felt he would be a coach some day. “I actually thought about it a lot in junior high and in high school,” said Miller. “My first goal was to be in the NFL and then after that I wanted to get into coaching. Around my junior year or so at Weir, I really started to think a lot about coaching. I always saw a lot of guys get hurt and I knew I had to have something to fall back on. I knew coaching and working with kids was something I had a good knack for doing.” And being with kids is a full-time job for Miller off the field, as well. Recently married, Miller and his wife have six kids and yes, they are also involved in sports. “I have two kids and she has four so we are the ‘Brady Bunch’,” said Miller with a laugh. “Three of the boys are playing sports and my youngest son starts playing travel baseball this year and league ball. Then in the fall they play football. It is a lot of fun for me, too. I get to coach on Friday and then go watch them play on Saturday. The oldest is 11 years old and they are talking about him playing fullback. So that is kinda cool, too.” - MSM

MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 33

AROUND MISSISSIPPI

PATRICK HOUSE

Brandon native transformed from Football lineman to Marathon Man and Healthy Lifestyle By Mark Stowers Contributing Writer Photos Courtesy Madison County Journal and Matthew Wood

34 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

e was told to stop. It was his third Boston Marathon and Patrick House had run them all with the vigor and determination that helped him win the title of NBC’s Biggest Loser – 2010. But this was something his determination couldn’t beat in running shoes. Two cowardly terrorists had brought one of the world’s most beloved athletic competitions to a standstill. Backpack bombs had ripped through onlookers and cheering spectators. Three would die, hundreds more would be scarred for life. The runners who hadn’t finished would have to stop, find their loved ones and team members and simply go home. “A couple of friends of mine were running in their first marathon and we got a call from a buddy of mine at the finish line and he filled us in on what was going on,” House said. “A policeman told us to keep running but at mile 24 and a half they made us stop.” Race officials had moved the finish line to that point and away from the carnage and destruction that lay on Boylston Street in downtown Boston. Cell phone towers were shut down so there were no outgoing calls. Text messages were sent to friends and family. “We let them know we were alive. It was a wild afternoon and we went back to the hotel to get off the street,” House said. “All my friends and family who were close to the finish line were all okay and all of the 202 Run to Research team (Patrick was raising money for the American Liver Foundation) that I was running for were all okay.” But he didn’t want the terrorist to win this race or to stop his. So he didn’t. On his way home he started thinking about the whole incident in Boston – and just how lucky he was to come out alive and unharmed. He explained it all on his Facebook page. “It’s strange, but the gravity of the situation and tragedy in Boston is just setting in. I decided this Boston marathon I was gonna stick with a couple friends pace

and help them through their first marathon,” House said. “Could have saved my life. I ran my 20-mile run in the military park in Vicksburg in 3:07:00, averaging a 9:20 mile pace. I had 6.2 miles left to finish a marathon, and figured on it taking me just over an hour. So I have my personal marathon goal that I would have shot for at 4:10:00. First bomb at finish line went off at the 4:09:50 mark, meaning had I accomplished my best time – I’d have been at the finish in the thick of it.” And that would have put his friends who were helping track his progress right at Ground Zero of the disaster. “Amazing how one decision could possibly have saved my life.” House eventually made it back to Mississippi to his Vicksburg home where he decided to simply “finish the race” by running a whole new one. He posted again on his Facebook page to “celebrate” the capture of the second bomber. “I’m going to do what Bob Harper taught me to do, ‘Stand up and finish what you started!’” he wrote. “To honor all the injured and killed in the bombing and for all the thousands of runners who didn’t get to finish, I’m going to run the full 26.2 miles of the Boston Marathon.” House went to the Vicksburg YMCA track and put in all 88 laps in honor of the Boston Marathon. He accomplished his task. He paid it forward – the mission of the 10th season of NBC’s Biggest Loser that he had won in 2010. But a few years ago, it was hard to think this could all be possible, much less happening.

House was not able to complete the 2013 Boston Marathon due to the bombing.

Back in time – Late 1990s. As a football player for Brandon High School, House was good enough to get scholarship offers and he decided to play at Division II Delta State University. Like many college athletes, Patrick House would work his body hard and then feed it well to rebuild, re-energize and re-hydrate. But the Brandon native suffered a back injury during his sophomore season. He tried to rehabilitate it but in essence his playing career was over. And though he had to leave the field of play, he still had the mentality and eating habits of an active, large, college-level football player. “I was an athletic kid playing sports and being outside and loved being active,” he said. “But then I hurt my back and that was the onset of my weight gain. I continued to eat like I was playing football still. I was getting no exercise – no anything. I lost all the practices and working out and games.” House went on to graduate in 2005 and took on the stresses of everyday life with a wife, two kids, mortgage payments and “not enough month at the end of the money.” He ballooned up to 425 pounds. In 2007, House auditioned for season five but didn’t make the final cut but the producers kept an eye on him. MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 35

“I went to the open casting call in 2010 and started the whole audition process again,” he said. After waiting several months and passing all the levels of auditioning and background checks, he made the final 50 that would be cut down to 16 contestants for the show – and he made it. The show started filming in June for three months then made the final four. “I had three months back in Mississippi to train and get ready for the finale,” he said. “We had to run a full marathon and then we got weighed to see who had lost the most weight.” House won the weigh in and made the final two to win the show. He just had to wait for America to vote in the other contestant. “Winning the Biggest Loser was one of the biggest things I’ve ever done,” he said. “It was a life journey for me. The time away from my family was hard. But I knew it was going to be a social game as much as a weight loss.” House’s wife, Bradley, took on the challenge as well. During his stay at the Biggest Loser ranch, she changed their family’s diet and lifestyle and shaved off a few dress sizes of her own. “She lost 50 pounds on her own while I was at the ranch,” he said. “She changed her lifestyle by getting active and sticking to her diet.” So he took all those lessons and experiences and continues his lifelong health path. “Since I won the Biggest Loser I’ve been staying active and healthy and participating in events like the Boston Marathon,” House said. “Since winning the show I’ve been focused on keeping the weight off and maintaining and constantly working to improve my body and my health.” He had to break bad habits and life-long wrong thinking about food in order to stay on a healthy path. And he’s even lost more weight. “I’ve got more muscle and I’m leaning my body down and lowering my body fat percentage,” he said. “A lot of my training for the Boston Marathon has transformed my body.” And he’s in better shape than when he won. On the Biggest Loser, House shaved 181 pounds of his 400-plus pound frame. Today, he’s at a lean 210 and out on the road making appearances for Biggest Loser and provides motivational talks. He also authored a book, “As Big as a House” that tells his inspiring story and gives readers a deep look into his path. “I’m really happy with the success I’ve been able to have since the show,” he said. “I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m applying what I learned on the show everyday.” Today’s House – Not So Big But Oh So Nutritious Looking back on his whole endeavor, the 30-year-old father knows that a lot of his weight gain could have easily been avoided so he’s taking steps so those he can help early don’t have to follow his full path. “I don’t want people to go down the same road I did as a formerly obese adult. If I could go back I’d try to have a better understanding of the whole dietary and nutritional side of eating and not look at food as a treat,” he said. “I’d look at food’s nutritional value.” And he understands and sees his role as a parent in helping his kids. “Childhood obesity problems across the country – the third and fourth grade kids aren’t buying the Little Debbie Snack cakes, it’s the parents,” he said. “We want to encourage the parents. Until the parents make the change the kids will never be able to.” And most of all – it’s not a diet. “It’s a lifestyle change,” he said. “I’m not on any kind of diet, I’m on a lifestyle change. I don’t do the same things I used to do. And that’s what needs to happen. The family changes their lifestyle.” House won the Biggest Loser Grand Prize - $250,000 – but more than that he won the ultimate prize – learning how to live and teach a healthy lifestyle. To follow along or learn more about House’s journey, you can click on his website, www.biggestloserpatrick.com or his Facebook page. - MSM 36 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

USM - Continued from Pg. 23

also experienced pass catchers. Jerrell Aaron, Ricky Bradley, Jr., and Cooper Harrington are also expected to contribute this year. The offensive line under Pete Perot is improving but must continue to focus on becoming more physical and tougher over the summer and into fall camp. Perot will also continue to work to develop solid depth at the position. Quarterback is the big position in question for the Eagles right now. By the end of the spring only two signal callers were healthy enough to take part in the Black and Gold Game. Junior walk-on Cole Weeks and redshirt freshman Kyle Sloter. Weeks passed for 310 yards on 27 of 41 passing and ran for a 12 yard score. Sloter was 13-23 for 161-yards and a touchdown. Ricky Lloyd also competed during spring but didn’t take part in the Black and Gold Game as he was still recovering from an season ending knee injury he suffered last fall. “Ricky probably had the best spring of anyone,” Monken said. “But, he was limited in what he could do so it’s hard to tell.” Weeks had the best spring game and opened some eyes. “He’s a feisty son of a gun and a good competitor,” Monken said. “You can win with guys like that. He has guys around him that want to play well. Is he limited? Sure, but as coaches we have to find ways to win if that’s who we’ve got.” This summer true freshmen Parker Adamson (Oxford, Miss.) and Nick Mullens (Hoover, Ala.) will be on campus to compete. Each started for their respective states in this year’s Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic. Also, don’t count a late transfer that could factor into the mix, as several have been rumored to be considering Southern Miss. “I’ve said that the quarterback has to have guys play well around them,” Monken said. “That’s true but to win at a high level at the level we want to win at the quarterback is an important position. Look at the teams who win and win big, they all have good quarterbacks.” DEFENSE David Duggan jumped at the chance to return to Hattiesburg and take over the Southern Miss defense. He spent four years as an assistant under Larry Fedora and many believe he played a vital role in turning the Southern Miss defense around in 2011 that lead to the 12-2 Championship campaign. “I just looked at is as a great opportunity,” he said of taking over the Eagle defense. “This is a program with a rich defensive tradition. It’s a great place to coach defense.” The defense returns 11 players that started multiple games a year ago and features a lot

of guys who have played significant snaps for the Eagles. This experience is going to be vital if the Eagles are to begin the turn around in Hattiesburg. From a scheme Duggan will employ multiple defensive alignments but will base out of a 4-3. “It’s a little more traditional of a 4-3,” he said. “I’ll be coaching the Spur backer with the other linebackers and the Bandit will work with the defensive line. We’re going to be real multiple.” The 4-3 with a Spur and Bandit can morph into a 4-2-5 or a 3-4 at the drop of the hat by moving players around before the snap. The defensive front is expected to be a strength for the Eagles if they can develop some depth at the interior line position. First line defensive tackles Khyri Thornton and Rakeem Nunez-Roches are NFL caliber tackles that will likely be the best tandem in the conference this year. Only Adam Williams saw many snaps a year ago in a back-up role. The staff will be counting on someone from a group of four highly touted defensive tackles to step up and provide that needed depth. The defensive end position is pretty good shape going two deep with Dasman McCullum, Michael Smith, Anthony Wilson and Octavious Thomas. Will Freeman will also factor in when he fully recovers from an injury suffered last in 2012. “We’re trying to find out who is going to step up,” Duggan said. “We can’t play with four guys. We have to be able to rotate guys like it’s a hockey shift.” The linebacker position is an area of concern heading into the summer workouts. The Eagles are thin in the middle. Three players who started games last year will return in Allen Howze, Jerrion Johnson and Dylan Reda. Also figuring into the mix is Justin Penn, C.J. Perry and Tarrick Wright. Ta’Dren Kennedy and Lelland Ducksworth will also provide depth. There’s not a lot of help coming, with only one linebacker in the 2013 signing class, Pearl (Miss) High standout Evan Osbourn. The secondary is expected to be a strength of the defense with a returning starters at both the corner-back and safety positions. Senior corner Deron Wilson leads the unit and is the most experienced returner in the secondary, but he’s not the only Eagle who has seen a lot of snaps in the secondary. Jacorius Cotton, Alex Smith, and Alexander Walters are all seniors who have seen it all at Southern Miss. Underclassmen Emmanuel Johnson, Kalen Reed, and Ed Wilkins are also expected to play major roles. Urell Johnson who sat out last year after transferring from Texas Tech along with redshirt freshmen Antonio Thomas and Marcus Turner could work into the rotation as well.

Special teams Southern Miss is in pretty good shape on the special teams front. They return Corey Acosta who proved his worth over the past two years as a competent place kicker. He’ll be back up by Larson Real who had a solid spring including a 40 yard field goal in the Black and Gold Game. Matthew Mosley and Cliff Mosley will compete for punting duties. Lance Schuffert and Hunter Graves will handle snapping responsibilities. Southern Miss returns experience in the return game with Bracken and Hester returning kick-offs and Llanos and Sims returning punts. FORECAST It won’t happen over night, but expect Southern Miss to return to their winning ways under Monken. Some, including Monken, expect it to be sooner rather than later. “We’ve got enough right now to compete and win football games,” Monken said. “I’ve said that all along.” The Eagles have a long way to go and a short time to get there, but if what we have seen in the spring is any indication of just how far they can go in a short period of time, Southern Miss and first year head coach Todd Monken may just get back to where Southern Miss fans expect them to be, winning ball games, going to bowl games and competing for championships, sooner rather than later. - MSM NEW ERA - Continued from Pg. 16

USM is in the Top 15 in the nation in baseball attendance averaging over 3,300 a game. Rice is the only other C-USA team with close to the same average. LSU, of course, leads the nation in attendance with Mississippi State and Ole Miss in the Top 8. Those attendance numbers say a lot about college baseball in Mississippi. Finally, I would like to take my hat off to the student-athletes that made All-Conference Academic Honor Roll. Over 120 Student Athletes accomplished outstanding GPAs while playing for the Golden Eagles. Be sure to congratulate the men and women of Southern Miss on their performance both on and off the field. Don’t forget to join the Eagle Club and get those season football tickets. USM needs our dedication and support. Give me a shout out on Twitter or Facebook. And remember, Southern Miss—To The Top! - MSM

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MSU - Continued from Pg. 23

Also heavily in the corner mix were the likes of sophomore Cedric Jiles and redshirt freshman Will Redmond. Plus, sophomore Taveze Calhoun missed spring ball while recovering from shoulder surgery and will re-enter the competition at corner in the fall. Cox played safety during his juco days at East Mississippi Community College but is slated to remain at corner for the Bulldogs, said Mullen. “Obviously if you can play corner for us and be a dominator at corner that’s where we want to go,” said Mullen of Cox. “But obviously he was a pretty dynamic player at safety. When you look at those crossover type guys. Jay Hughes is a guy that probably can play a little bit of corner, play a little bit of safety. “Justin Cox the same way, Taveze Calhoun the same way. There are some hybrid guys that we have back there which does give you that flexibility to get the best guys on the field and put guys in the position where they can be most successful.” Speaking of Hughes, he started late in the 2012 season at free safety and senior Nickoe Whitley also returns at the other safety slot. Whitley suffered through the 2012 campaign and was never 100 percent following an Achilles heel injury in 2011. But early returns this spring showed Whitley playing like his old self. Of course, also new this spring on defense were several coaching changes. Geoff Collins served as co-defensive coordinator in 2012 but was promoted to defensive coordinator in January. Then David Turner, who coached at MSU before, returned as the defensive line coach and former NFL standout Deshea Townsend is now coaching the Bulldog corners. One consistent theme with MSU’s defense was a more aggressive demeanor, which sat well with the Bulldog defenders. “Yeah and he has a lot of energy and a lot of excitement,” said Mullen of Collins. “You want a defense that plays with that energy and that type of intensity that plays fast. I like to see it.” Collins also coaches the MSU linebacker and that group proved to be the deepest spot on defense this spring. Senior Deontae Skinner, sophomore Benardrick McKinney and junior Matt Wells are returning starters while senior Chris Hughes and junior Ferlando Bohanna both made pushes for starting jobs this spring. McKinney ranked second on the team a year ago with 102 tackles and was a consensus Freshman All-American while Skinner had 62 tackles and five tackles for loss. Despite that starting experience back, it didn’t keep redshirt freshmen Beniquez Brown and Richie Brown, and sophomore Zach Jackson, from making their share of 38 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

plays this spring. Beniquez Brown actually led MSU in its first two spring scrimmage - totaling a team-best nine tackles in one scrimmage and gathering two interceptions in another. “Ideally, in the SEC you’d like to be at least two-deep,” said Mullen. “I’d like to have 22 starters on defense. The opportunities are there that we roll through a two-deep. A twodeep plus even in some times on defense. You look at some of the top defenses in the country, they’re rolling guys through in the top defenses in the SEC anyway. They’re rolling guys through and we’d like to get that way, and I think linebacker position is one where we might have the opportunity to be able to do that this year.” One of MSU’s defensive weaknesses in 2012 was a lack of pass rush. But Collins and company and that new aggressive approach looked to change that starting this spring. Defensive ends Denico Autry and Preston Smith are both returning starters and combined to tally 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 2012. Sophomore Ryan Brown, however, pushed Smith this spring and that duo alternated at a starting role. Redshirt freshman A.J. Jefferson and Torrey Dale experienced their initial college spring and were steady on the second team. Inside on the defensive line, a trio of juniors returned in P.J. Jones, Kaleb Eulls and Curtis Virges. For much of the spring, Jones and Eulls held a firm grip on starting roles but sophomores Nick James and Quay Evans also got looks with the first-team defense. “We’ve got to improve our rush and the guys all know that,” said Turner. “That is what we gotta have and there is only one way to do it and that is to get better. We have some guys that have played SEC football and some guys still feeling their way around. But some form or fashion we gotta have guys to get the job done.” Special teams One aspect of MSU’s spring that didn’t feature many questions was special teams. Senior Baker Swedenburg has been the Bulldogs’ starting punter the past two seasons and has been one of MSU’s most consistent punters in history. Swedenburg averaged 41.1 yards a punt last year and allowed just six punt returns yards the entire year, a number that was the lowest in the country. Sophomore Devon Bell was one of just five true freshmen to see the field in 2012 and the strong-footed placekicker shook off a slow start to finish strong last year. After missing his first three field goal attempts, Bell made 14-of-21 field goals for the season and was 43of-44 on extra points. MSU did, however, have to break in new faces in the return game. Banks and Chad Bumphis handled punt returns last year but

Lewis stepped into that role this spring and was backed by Whitley. On kickoff returns, Robert Johnson, Lewis, Holloway and Redmond all received long looks this spring. Lewis and Johnson both returned kickoffs last year as did Perkins while Lewis had a kickoff return for a touchdown in the Egg Bowl. - MSM REBELS - Continued from Pg. 21

That concerns me not having that much right there.” SPECIAL teams Punter Ryan Campbell returns after a redshirt season as does Andrew Ritter, who has handled kickoffs for the Rebels in past seasons. Both are seniors. Ritter has taken over the place-kicking duties after the departure of Bryson Rose and he showed some promise there, although he missed two field goals during the spring game over 40 yards. Freshman Andy Pappanastos also went through the spring and showed a big leg on field goals, making two in the spring. Will Denny, a junior, returns as the long snapper making the special teams unit one of the more veteran groups on the team. - MSM QUESTIONS - Continued from Pg. 12

ten better there in spring, but I want to see us develop more depth.” An eligible Brassell would certainly help, but again, like the rest of the questions I have about Ole Miss - to continued. Despite all the questions the Rebels are still in a far better place than this time one year ago. The injuries should heal, an impressive number of starters return from a team that won seven games, and there’s a confidence, thanks to leaders like Denzel Nkemdiche and Donte Moncrief, that Rebel Nation will like the answers. See you in August. - MSM MULLEN - Continued from Pg. 13

ing Russell throw into some tough spots. With the bigger receivers and experienced tight ends as well as running backs this move makes perfect sense. You put your fifth year senior who is a traditional passer in a more “pro style” look giving him every opportunity to make plays and check into the right plays. If this spring experiment works in the fall, Dan Mullen will have again successfully adjusted his offense to his personnel, and he will cement himself as a true offensive guru. Not to mention Tyler Russell could owe Mullen big time come next year’s NFL draft because if the offense flourishes then so does Russell which means he could be the first Mississippi State quarterback taken in the draft since quarterback turned running back Don Smith in the eighties and that is a beautiful thing. - MSM

MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE - 39

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I always play The Ranch RICK CLEVELAND

ur foursome was on the fifth tee looking out over the lake in front of us. Billy and I were playing out of one cart, Buddy and Red were in the other. I was just about to hit my tee shot when I saw some movement out of the corner of my left eye. It was our cart, rolling down the hill, picking up speed and heading directly into the lake. I hollered. Billy started running down the hill after the cart, tripped right at the edge of the water and splashed in head-first. Buddy and Red, who has since gone on to that 19th hole in the sky, just laughed and laughed. I probably would have laughed, too, but the cart was carrying about $1,000 worth of golf equipment, and understand, those were 1976 dollars. Good, I thought. Billy will fish out our clubs, and I won’t even have to get wet. But, no, Billy grabbed the ice chest, which was carrying about 10 bucks worth of beer. “Billy,” I hollered, “what about our clubs?” “First thing’s first,” Billy hollered back. About that time golf pro James Ray Carpenter was heading down an adjacent fairway in his golf cart. Pro saw it all, and just turned around his cart and headed back to get a tractor and a winch. He had done this before. The B. O. Van Hook Golf Course, formerly known as the USM Golf Course, closed nine years ago. Forever. The Hattiesburg area had more courses than it had golfers to support them. The weeds, which always were plentiful at The Ranch, have taken over and are four and five feet high now. An unknowing passerby would never know it was once a golf course. Truth is, it was never a great golf course. In fact, those of us who loved it most — and, God, we did love it — called it “The Ranch,” which was short for “The Goat Ranch.” I’m not sure even goats would have eaten some of those strands of weeds. But it was our golf course, ant beds and all. Some of us practically grew up whacking golf balls out of those sticker patches that kept us from playing bare-footed. Mama would fix a bag filled with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and drop us off bright and early. We’d play basically from daylight to dark. We didn’t think twice about walking 36 or 54 holes in the day and playing Little League baseball at night. I broke 100 for the first time on that course. Then 90, then 80, then...well, that’s as far as it got. 40 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

We learned important life lessons there. Our foursomes were integrated when our schools weren’t. A crusty, lovable codger we nicknamed Super Duck taught us to play gin rummy. An always smiling hustler named Bender taught us not to gamble for more than we had in our pockets. When asked about the pressure of playing high stakes tour golf, Lee Trevino replied, “This isn’t pressure. We’re playing for other people’s money. Pressure is when you play for 10 bucks and you don’t have a dime in your pocket.” Yes, and pressure is when you go home and tell your daddy you lost 50 dollars you don’t have a dollar to your name. We had a group of us that played every day: Jud and Scott and Andy and Bobby. Mike and Burke and David and Kevin. We called it golf. We could have called it Jud wins. Jud Vance, the first golfer ever to get a full scholarship at USM, always beat our brains out. My brother Bobby and I played with Andy Burkett the first day Andy ever stepped foot on a golf course. He made an 8 on the par-4 first, a 10 on the par-5 second and a 12 on the par-5 third. The fourth hole was an evil, 210-yard par 3, with a green about the size of a training bra. It would still make my top 10 list of all-time difficult par-3s. Andy took a 3-wood out of his bag. This was back when woods were really made of wood. Andy had what can best be described as a whirlybird swing, and the binding on that old, scuffed-up 3-wood was loose. At the top of his swing, that binding whirled and twirled every which way. Somehow, his club connected with the ball, which went soaring high above the pine trees along the right side of the fairway. And then it started to curve back to the left, directly at the green. And then it bounced once on the fringe, rolled a few feet and dropped into the hole. Bobby and I started hollering. Andy stood there as if he didn’t understand what all the commotion was about. His expression said it all: “Well, isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?” Yes, and Andy promptly followed the ace with a 10 on the par-4 fifth. · The first hole was a 282-yard par 4 with small, elevated green that was as hard as slate. Most people stepped to that heavily divoted first tee thinking they could drive the green. But here’s the deal: When they didn’t drive the green, they knew they had no chance on the second shot. The green was just too hard to hold. Once, good old Burke almost drove the green, shanked his chip shot, shanked it again, and again, and again and still again— until he was right back in front of the green in almost the same spot where he had shanked the first. It happened. But then so much happened at The Ranch. May it rest in peace. Let’s put it this way: It has been my good fortune to play famous golf courses all over, including Augusta National. And yet when I play golf in my dreams, I always play The Ranch. - MSM

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