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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

‘CampusKnot’: Students create academic, user-friendly website

by Taylor Bowden Contributing Writer

Three years of hard work and dedication are coming to fruition for five Mississippi State University students as they prepare to move forward with their website, CampusKnot.com Hiten Patel, MSU alumni and CEO of “Campus Knot,” said he uses Blackboard as the primary way to view assignments, grades and essentially everything else involved with school aside from attending the class itself. However, where others saw flaws in the online system, Patel said he saw opportunities.

Patel said he and four others worked for most of their college lives perfecting their own vision of what an Internet service such as Blackboard could be.

Ira Hampton, senior biological engineering major and

Staff Writer

Eno Week contest range from casual outings at the Noxubee Refuge right outside of Starkville to Enoing in the courtyard of some of the residence halls on campus.

Pepper Taylor, sophmore whose major is undeclared and codirector for the outdoor and fi lm committee, said she is also a fan of Enoing and encourages students to participate.

Mississippi State University’s Community Emergency Response Team will hold a “Preparathon” Saturday featuring an Emergency Preparedness Fair, half marathon, 5K and family fun run races.

Ryan Akers, assistant extension professor at the school of human sciences at MSU, said the Preparathon includes many different events in addition to the three races.

“The Preparathon is an umbrella term used for a lot of different events that are taking place,” Akers said.

Akers said all profits from the Preparathon goes to three local emergency response agencies.

“The registration fees go back to the Oktibbeha County Fire Department, the Oktibbeha/ Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Service (OSERVS) and the Salvation Army Disaster Response Services,” Akers said.

Akers said there will also be an emergency preparedness fair to promote awareness preparing for an emergency.

“While the family fun run is going on, we will also have a comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Fair; we wanted to raise money for local agencies, but we wanted to mainly promote individual and family and community preparedness,” Akers said.

According to Akers, there will be 34 departments attending the event.

“We’ve got 34 state local and national agencies that have committed to come to this event and spread their preparedness message,” Akers said.

Akers also said a national organization called “Save the Children” will attend to talk to families about how to help their kids prepare for an emergency.

“We also have a national agency called Save the Children coming and their message is going to be designed to talk to families about children in an event of an emergency,” she said.

Akers said there will also be a “hospital” that parents can walk through and get information on preparing for a disaster and emergencies.

“We will have a mobile hospital that they’re bringing in that parents can visit and learn more about emergency preparedness,” Akers said. “There will also be an event similar to the ‘Touch a Truck’ event where kids can actually look at and touch emergency trucks.

Some people may be familiar with ‘Touch a Truck’ where a lot of communities are bring in monster trucks and let the kids play on them and kids love it; we’re doing the same thing except we have emergency response vehicles.”

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Katja Walker | Courtesy Photo

Five MSU students created student-friendly website CampusKnot.com that allows students easy access to class assignments. The website also allows students a chance to create social groups and sell school books via the website.

marketing manager of the website, said he has been there for the long haul.

“A lot of teachers around campus are complaining about

how difficult it is to navigate around Blackboard. What CampusKnot is able to do is take all the difficulty out of it and make it more userfriendly,” Hampton said. “So they

don’t have to go to a user manual or ITS to figure out how to use it.”

Those behind CampusKnot did not set out only to improve but to innovate.

New Maroon camp prepares for summer

by Lacretia Wimbley News Editor

Last summer Student Affairs of Mississippi State University hosted a “New Maroon” camp for incoming 2014-2015 freshmen. The camp was held in Florence, Mississippi at Twin Lakes for the first two days of camp, and the last two days were held on campus. New Maroon hosted a camp-like setting in which counselors assisted and provided the future Bulldogs with guidance.

This year, the camp is set to take place at the same location.

Jack Cutrer, sophomore communication major and

co-director of New Maroon camp, said 82 freshmen attended the camp last summer.

“We’re looking to get a four percent increase, so we want at least 385 freshmen to attend this summer,” Cutrer said.

According to Cutrer, freshmen were allowed to play various interactive games that allowed students to grow into a family.

“At MSU we’re kind of like a family,” he said. “At camp, we really use that to continue the growth of relationships amongst students. It’s such a big deal to get involved. At the camp, students get to ask those questions they want to ask before they get into college.”

Pepper Taylor, sophomore undeclared major and co-director of New Maroon camp, said counselors spend time with freshmen, leading and teaching them Mississippi State traditions.

“They will help them get accustomed to MSU and what the school is about,” Taylor said. “We will have meetings at the end of this semester and all next semester to prepare counselors for camp.”

Taylor said last summer’s New Maroon camp had a successful turnout.

“The good thing is that a lot of the freshman who came to New Maroon camp have connections with us and fellow freshmen,” Taylor said.

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Pepper Taylor | Courtesy Photo

Freshmen enjoyed a game of ʻEgg Bopʼ during last summerʼs New Maroon camp.

SA hosts ‘Eno Week’ photo contest

by John Williams Staff Writer

The Mississippi State University Student Association’s outdoor and fi lm committee hosts the SA “Eno Week” contest from Oct. 12 through Oct. 19. SA Eno Week is an Instagram contest that Maura Trochessett | Courtesy Photo allows students to submit This Instagram photo is the winner of last yearʼs ʻEno Weekʼ competition.

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Response team holds 5K, family fun run races

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pictures of them Enoing ,and the top pictures are then voted on by their peers to determine a winner.

Chandler Pride, sophomore biomedical engineering major and co-director of the SA outdoor and fi lm committee, said he would Eno anywhere in the world.

“I would somehow go over a waterfall going into a natural spring,” Pride said.

Recent contestants in the

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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Jacob Follin | The Reflector

Fossil Extravaganza: On Wednesday, the Department of Geosciencesʼ Dunn-Seiler Museum hosted a ʻFossil Extravaganzaʼ in celebration of National Fossil Day, sponsored by the National Park Service.

Winning entries of the 2014 National Fossil Day art/story contest, open to K-12 students in Mississippi, were on display. The museum also unveiled the new Gainey exhibit, a gift from Nora Gainey through the MSU Foundation.

ENO “For a contestant to enter, they should upload their picture to Instagram and tag @reedsms and @msu_sa as well as use #SAenoweek,” said Taylor.

“If I could ENO anywhere in the world, it would be between two trees over a waterfall in Hawaii.”

Reed’s of Starkville, a local store, has been a

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sponsor of SA Eno week over the last couple of years. This year’s prizes from Reeds include a hanging Eno chair for fi rst place, a pair of Chaco sandals for second place and a Camelbak backpack for third place.

“Prizes can be substituted for one prize of equal or lesser value,” Pride said.

Maura Trochessett is a senior kinesiology major minoring in business administration from Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Trochessett currently serves as the Chief Communications Officer for the Student Association. “There are not any specific contests that we do that are similar,”

Trochessett said. “But students can potentially enter next semester if they do not meet the deadline.”

The #SAenoweek hashtag on Instagram yields over 200 results, and that number is increasing with more and more participation from the contest participants. Last year’s fi rst place winner

was sophomore broadcast meteorology major from New Orleans, Lousiana, Brooke Laizer. Brooke’s winning photo as well as others can be found by searching the hashtag “#SAenoweek” on Instagram.

Students are encouraged to be as creative as possible.

“If I could Eno anywhere in the world, it would have to be at Disney World,” said Trochessett. “I would Eno in the perfect spot that allows me to look straight at the Magic Kingdom Cinderella Castle.”

More information about the Student Association contest can be found at www.sa.msstate.edu.

Pepper Taylor | Courtesy Photo

Freshmen from last yearʼs ʻNew Maroonʼ camp enjoyed various festivities and interactive games to create a ʻfamilyʼ atmosphere for the new Bulldogs. Eighty-two freshmen attended the first camp last summer, and Student Affairs expects a four percent increase in attendance this year.

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“They have gotten involved on campus and really plugged into the university. For me, as a freshman, it was hard because I didn’t really know anyone, but New Maroon camp allows students to get to know people and the university,” she said.

After commending last year’s executive board on a

great job for New Maroon camp, Taylor said this year they know what to expect for a turnout.

“We have more time to prepare this summer,” she said. “We do plan on changing a few things, but keeping it basically the same.”

Students Affairs currently seeks counselors for

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next summer’s camp. An interest meeting for New Maroon camp counselors will take place Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in McCool Hall Taylor Auditorium. Applications can be found online at newmaroon.msstate.edu .

Applications are due Oct. 22 by 4 p.m. in Allen Hall room 611.

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PREPARATHON Akers said the event helps the different emergency services demonstrate what they actually do.

“The agencies don’t get a whole lot of opportunities to do things in central locations like this so it’s kind of like a show and tell for them,” she said.

Erin Kiess, chemical hygiene officer at the

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Environmental Health and Safety Department at MSU, said the Preparathon is important because many people are not very prepared for disasters.

“Mississippi is a hot zone for natural disasters and people are not really prepared,” Kiess said. “The event makes the emergency agencies more known in the community, and

it is a good way to teach people about being prepared for emergencies.”

Jason Townsend, fair coordinator of the event, said he believes the Preparathon and events similar to it really make people more aware of how prepared or unprepared they really are.

“It really gets the mind going and makes people think

about how prepared they are,” Townsend said. “The event gives the different departments a chance to unite and build a stronger connection.

It gives us a chance to work together and shows good collaborative effort.”

The event will be held adjacent to the Bryan Athletic Administration Building on MSU’s campus.

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014 8:33 a.m. A student was arrested for suspended driver’s license, expired tag and no insurance on Lee Boulevard. Justice Court citations and a student referral were issued.

9:45 a.m. An employee reported missing inventory at Herzer Dairy Science building.

6:02 p.m. A student reported lending his vehicle to a friend on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 who has not returned it.

Wednesday, Oct, 15, 2014 9:25 a.m. A visitor reported a missing engagement ring via telephone during the football game on Oct. 11, 2014.

1:16 p.m. A visitor was arrested on Hurst Lane for suspended driver’s license and driving the wrong way.

1:38 p.m. An employee reported damages to the gate at Lee Hall by a Chevy Trailblazer.

3:23 p.m. An employee reported missing inventory at the Templeton Athletic Academic Center.

4:07 p.m. A student was issued a referral for alcohol violation in Oak Hall.

5:17 p.m. A student was arrested in Ruby Hall for minor in possession of alcohol. A Justice Court citation and a student referral were issued.

7:00 p.m. A student’s vehicle was towed for parking in a Zip Car parking lot on Lee Boulevard.

8:00 p.m. An officer responded to a suspicious incident at Allen Hall.

9:54 p.m. A student was arrested at Ruby Hall for minor in possession of alcohol. A Justice Court citation and student referral were issued.

11:29 p.m. A student was passed out at Moseley Hall. The subject was transported to OCH. A student referral was issued.

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014 12:27 a.m. A visitor was transported to OCH from Wise Center for medical assistance.

Noah Siano | The Reflector

During Saturdayʼs game against Auburn, Mississippi State Universityʼs Bulldogs triumphed with a final score of 38-23. After this game, MSUʼs football team was voted No. 1 in the Associated Press poll. Mascot ʻBullyʼ wore a Batman suit and hyped the crowd for the historic game.

KNOT

Katja Walter, one of the minds behind CampusKnot.com said the website is an academic social networking platform.

“You could follow professors from other universities, and they could upload a cool article of something they are interested in,” Walter said. “So while you don’t really have the opportunity of having them there as a teacher, you can follow them and fi nd out interesting things that are happening in the area they teach.”

The idea behind the social functionality of CampusKnot.com is not limited to linking students up to professors across the nation. According to Hampton, their primary focus is much closer to home.

“We’re talking about in a classroom,” Hampton said.

“You know the fi rst day of class is awkward. You may not know this person or know that person. You’d rather message them than see them face-to-face.”

Hampton said CampusKnot.com will automatically sort students into their university’s group, and by entering their course codes, students can then join specific class groups where they will be able to communicate easily between classmates and teachers.

“Groupme is pretty much the go to for group assignments,” Hampton said.

“We’re taking Groupme out of the equation. You don’t need Groupme anymore, you have ‘CampusKnot.’”

CampusKnot.com will also feature a shared calander system where people can upload and update information on anything from class assignments to events hosted by student organizations that everyone following the respective groups can view.

“Since it is going to be campus-based and everyone uses it, you can just post it, and you don’t have

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to print it out and waste the paper, waste the money,” Hampton said. “It goes straight to CampusKnot, and when you post it everyone who is linked with Mississippi State University will get a notification saying ‘Hey, you need to go to this.

This organization is hosting this event.’ I thought that was pretty cool, because I am always late, so I was like hey, I need that in my life right now.”

In addition to easy communication, CampusKnot will tie in several other utilities teachers often use to conduct their classes, such as a tool for in-class polling and uploading image galleries. They are also working on a mobile site, and are in the process of developing an app to go alongside the online service.

Students will be able to post books they wish to sell at their own prices as opposed to taking what they can get at a bookstore. The team is also in the process of integrating CampusKnot. com with the online bookstore site Chegg.com, so students who are buying books can enter the title, edition, author or any other keyword and fi nd the books required for their classes.

If other students have listed that same book their posts will show up along with posts from Chegg. com with retail pricing information.

Also, because it is linked, Walter said even if no one has posted a particular book in the area, students will be able to order the desired book from Chegg.com.

“We’re basically trying to help students out,” Walter said. “Bookstores can be so expensive for students and we just wanted to help.”

Patel said CampusKnot. com and those behind it take the desire to assist students further than helping even the marketplace.

“CampusKnot is a socially conscious business,”

Patel said. “A certain amount of the revenue from CampusKnot will be going to a foundation to be utilized for educational purposes.”

The foundation it will contribute to is called ‘Beingstudent,’ and money it raises goes to buying things like textbooks and laptops for students in need and scholarships.

Patel said he plans on generating revenue from the site from two sources, paid advertising and the job listing service where employers can pay to have openings that they want to fi ll with students posted on the site for entire campuses to see.

CampusKnot is ambitious, seeking to tie in many aspects of academic life and packaging it all together in a manner that is both user friendly and beneficial to the community. After three years of hard work, think tanks, mistakes and corrections the five MSU students are ready to see their project take off.

“Hiten is pretty much the brain,” Hampton said.

“He brought the idea about. Pretty much what Katja, Rahul, and me do is the marketing. We’re trying to get it on State campus. We’re trying to get it to take over.”

Early on, Patel said he had the idea for a better virtual classroom, but it was not until he started taking entrepreneurship classes and going to the entrepreneurship center that he realized it was something that could come to fruition.

Now, CampusKnot.com is a legitimate startup. The website has a public relations team on payroll and also outsource a lot of the technical work to multiple companies. The also havesomeone who handles the bear mechanics of the site and another that designs the user interface.

“We have one group that

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makes it look pretty and another that makes it work,” Walter said.

A lot of the initial start up money came out of Patel’s pockets himself, but after the team assembled they started receiving funds from several locations. A lot came from their success in several business competitions that had monetary prizes for those who rank to intended to be used as startup cash.

Walter said another source of funding came from the student body

themselves.

“The fi rst day of class we had a tent set up on the drill field,” Walter said. “We had CampusKnot t-shirts and flash drives with the logo on it and students could view a short video about the site and if they thought campusknot was a good idea they could sign up as an investor or like on a PR team.”

Walter said they had a beta version completed a year ago and presented that the the entrepreneurship advisory board and got a lot of feedback.

“If you look at it from one year ago to now it looks completely different,” Walter said. “They put a lot of work in over the summer so now we are at a point where this is how we want it. This is perfect.”

From the very beginning, Patel and the crew received advice and support.

“We are thankful for the Mississippi state entrepreneurship advisory board for mentoring and motivating us,” Patel said. “They have an important place in our journey so far.”

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Cinema and movies play My Two Cents of celebrities deserves reconsideration formative role in society Authority Recently, Ben Affleck words organically. Carefully upon it. Perhaps we assume to the appalling conditions of the mining industry at the Contributing Writer time and helped instigate change on a national level.

However, not all movies When I was a child, I always felt a distinct combi- are used as a means of posnation of wonder and amaze- itive change. Perhaps the ment whenever I saw a movie most infamous example of for the first time. On the cinema’s effects on a mass playground and in the class- public is shown in films room, my friends and I would such as the Nazi documenspend time recounting the tary “Triumph of the Will,” events of our new favorite directed by Leni Riefenstahl, movie, re-enacting scenes and D.W. Griffith’s inflamand moments that left lasting matory “The Birth of a impressions on us and even Nation.” Many have attributreimagining the way we felt ed the resurgence of the Ku the movie should have been Klux Klan to “The Birth of a Nation,” as it explores the done.

All these things helped group and its exploits before shape my childhood into a and after the Civil War, memorable and pleasant one and “Triumph of the Will” that has made me who I am portrayed Adolf Hitler as a today. Movies played a very beloved celebrity working to significant role in my devel- eventually create the cult of opment, and I would venture personality that would surto say they have had an influ- round him.

Cinema extends its influence, either great or small, in ential reach to more than just most everyone’s life.

It is impossible to deny the cultural phenomena. Quite a role of cinema in society. Ever few pieces of technology cite since its conception, moving their original visualization to the world pictures have of movies. proven to be Science fiction far more than just a simple “Cinema is movies, specifically, boast tool for enterto a vast array of t a i n m e n t . paramount what was once T h rou ghout society’s thought to history, indi- our be completeviduals have ly fantastical man ipu lated development.” devices but are this technolnow tangible ogy, not only technology. to tell stories A number of movies but also as a unique channel to broadcast opinions — have pushed the envelope opinions that have gone on and made wild demands to change the perspective of technology in order to of entire generations and more accurately portray the achieve real change. The fictional world they create. most common method of In turn, these worlds have doing this comes in the form gone on to inspire others to of documentaries, movies actually create and adapt this that usually focus on a spe- technology for the real world. cific, real life topic with the Perhaps one of the most hopes of initiating change or famous sci-fi movies, “2001: bringing an awareness to an A Space Odyssey” was a huge advancement for technology, issue otherwise not there.

A prime example of not only in movies, because this success can be seen in this movie would also pro“Harlan County, USA,” vide an inspiration point for a directed by Barbara Kopple, plethora of minds that would a documentary revolving go on to shape history.

Nowadays when I see around a strike against the Duke Power Company held a new movie, I no longer in 1972 by the coal miners get the immense mixture employed there. The strike of emotions I once did as a lasted over the course of sev- child, but I do still feel the eral months with tension and pangs of nostalgia and hints incidents of violence rising of mysticism that used to to a boiling point and finally entrance me. After viewing a ending in the death of one of movie, I still feel that lingerthe miners. “Harlan County, ing high of inspiration that USA” was filmed during the makes me want to go out and midst of all this chaos and create something, anything. some believe just the pres- I am sure countless others ence of the crew and their get a similar, if not the same, cameras helped reduce the feeling and that the impact of level of harm of the strike. movies is rooted to our very The documentary went on to core both on an individual win the Academy Award for and global level. So, whether Best Documentary in 1976 direct or indirect, cinema is and, as a product of its suc- paramount to our society’s cess, called public attention development.

by Joshua Reid

Managing Editor Catie Marie Martin

Editor in Chief

Emma Crawford

News Editor Lacretia Wimbley

Multimedia Editor

Opinion Editor

Kelsee McKim

Cameron Clarke

Life Editor

Photography Editor

Copy Editor

Noor Mujahid

Emma Katherine Hutto

John Galatas

Graphic Designer

Sports Editor

Austin Grove

Blake Morgan

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Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu.

Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

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The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff.

The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.

The Reflector staff strives to maintain the integrity of this paper through accurate and honest reporting. If we publish an error we will correct it. To report an error, call 325-7905.

was in the news declaring he doesn’t believe the religion of Islam’s extremely intolerant belief system poses a threat. He also added his thoughts about ISIS. “ISIS couldn’t fill a Double-A ballpark in Charleston, West Virginia,” Affleck said.

Whether or not you or I agree with him, I think it is important to stop and think hard before following along with the ideology of an actor merely because he or she is famous or popular.

I love celebrities as much as the next person. I tend to get a bit excited when I see a movie with Colin Firth, Emma Stone or Keri Russell released. However, I don’t think it’s wise to grant any more weight to what they say than a Tom, Dick or Harry off the street.

Here’s why: The things that attract us to celebrities are their good looks, tone of voice and the roles they’ve played. Let me reiterate — roles. When we hear a man or woman in film deliver a life-changing line in a tense scene, we must remember they are not saying these

crafted by a writer, tweaked by a director and producer, the words finally come to life months or years later through an actor getting paid millions to make it feel authentic.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a hard profession, and I applaud them when the sto-

“Look to real evidence and authorities before forming opinions on important issues.” rytelling is well done. Does Chris Evans really believe “there’s only one God ma’am”? I have no idea.

Some say he’s a Buddhist, so probably not. Regardless, I can still thoroughly enjoy his portrayal of a beloved superhero.

For some reason, many listen to what celebrities say on a matter and form their opinion based in part

since they believe such and such and have turned out successful and beautiful, it means they are somehow correct.

This goes back to the fallacy of “appeal to authority,” which is defined as “using an authority as evidence in your argument when the authority is not really an authority on the facts relevant to the argument.

As the audience, allowing an irrelevant authority to add credibility to the claim being made.”

In this fallacy, we end up giving too much authority to a subject merely because we love or admire it for unrelated reasons.

A few years ago in an interview with Matt Lauer, Tom Cruise vehemently bashed the science of psychology and many modern medicines. In the discussion he implied actress Brook Shields was misled to see a counselor and take anti-depressant drugs when dealing with postpartum depression.

“I really care about Brook Shields. I think here is a wonderful and talented

Mamie Carlstrom is a junior majoring in communication.

She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

woman and I want to see her do well. (But) I know that psychiatry is a pseudo-science,” Cruise said.

I believe Tom Cruise and Ben Affleck have the right to express their beliefs freely. They also have the right to donate millions to the political candidates of their choice. But I do not believe we should take their ideologies to be logical and correct just because the person has many other endearing qualities.

Don’t let an actor or singer persuade you one direction or another on a matter.

Look to real evidence and authorities before forming opinions on important issues.

From The Corner

Student atheletes should be able to profit on their names As the University of Georgia’s Heisman caliber running back Todd Gurley currently finds himself indefinitely suspended for signing autographs for a Georgia memorabilia dealer, the debate over whether or not college athletes should be able to profit off of their likenesses has reopened. Before broaching this issue, let me first say if it is proven Gurley did what he is accused of doing, then he should be suspended for however long Georgia or the NCAA sees fit. With that being said, I think the rules currently in place are ludicrous and very hypocritical on the part of the NCAA. The NCAA states its overall goal is to “safeguard the well-being of student-athletes and equip them with the skills to succeed on the playing field, in the classroom and throughout life.” Does safeguarding the well-being of student athletes equate to not allowing them to use their own name to make money? What harm is it doing to Gurley by signing his name on a jersey or a picture. Gurley won’t ever be able to replace his junior season at Georgia if he is suspended for the rest of the season.

Gurley isn’t the first player to succumb to issues with signing autographs or selling his football-related items for profit, as past high profile college football

players Johnny Manziel, A.J. Green and Dez Bryant all faced similar situations while they were in college.

In particular, Green, another Georgia player, got suspended for four games for selling his own personal bowl jersey for $1,000. You know what’s really funny though? On Georgia’s athletic website at the time, you could buy Green’s generic Georgia No. 8 jersey for $110. You know what else is funny? The NCAA at the time did the exact same thing up until 2013 when it shut down its online store, citing the idea of it having a store as a “mistake.” At the end of the day, the only people not making anything in this scenario are the individuals who have worked their entire lives to compete at such a high level. The level of absurdity surrounding this rule is mystifying.

What’s ironic is that as the debate rages on about whether or not student athletes should be compensated, that issue could be possibly put to bed if the NCAA would give up on trying to regulate players profiting off their names. If the NCAA would banish this rule, it would create something of a meritocracy, where the market would decide who makes what based on their play on the field rather than everyone getting payed equally. No one would complain about the hypocritical approaches of the NCAA or

the university making millions of dollars off its student athletes because these same student athletes would be making money, not from the universities, but in this case from outside sources. Whether it be endorsements or autographs, there is enough money out there potentially for the entire landscape of college sports to change without having to do anything too dramatic.

Sadly, the NCAA will likely stay stubborn in its ways and go down with the ship of its present practices.

For being a nation that values individual freedom, the system the NCAA has chosen to implement does a pretty good job at limiting basic common sense liberties most people in everyday life have the choice to

“I think the rules are currently in place are ludicrous and very hypocritical on the part of the NCAA.” engage in willingly. We have to remember some of the athletes that make it to these big-time college football programs, in some instances, did not grow up with much. If you were in

Zach Wagner is a senior majoring in kinesiology. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.

their position, wouldn’t you be pretty tempted to make some money, especially if you knew it could help out your family or just get you though the year? It in no way makes breaking the rules permissible, but it’s easy to see why so many of these athletes continue to break them, knowing there is a chance they may get caught.

In the end, there is entirely too much money being made by both the NCAA and these universities to not allow student athletes to make anything off the name their parents gave them.

In Gurley’s case, according to multiple reports, he only made a grand total of $400 dollars for 80 items.

If $400 dollars cost Gurley the entire season and hurts his draft status, thus losing him millions of dollars that he can make legally, then I propose the multi-millions of dollars that the NCAA and Georgia made last year should cost them so much more.

Perfectionism taints otherwise pleasant living

by Brittney Coleman Contributing Writer

Being perfect is one of the easiest ways to prevent one from living. The truest statement I have ever heard is no one is perfect and we should not strive to be. We expect to get the perfect score on our test while in school and most of the time there is some type of reward if the perfection is obtained. In addition, what are we really teaching students about life? In order for me to feel accomplished in whatever I do, I must try to be perfect, and if I do score a perfect score on a test, there will be a reward. Otherwise, doing the best I can is simply not good enough.

Teaching students to do the best they can is not emphasized as much any more because many school systems are struggling. In reality, schools do not understand what they are asking their students to do. On the one hand a teacher will tell students to do the best they can on a test, but on the other they praise perfect scores, showing that their real focus

is on more perfect students.

This pushes for unhealthy perfectionism rather than for students to do as well as they are normally capable. Being in school is a privilege and a learning experience. Some students do work harder at some subjects and areas than others. If a student is doing his or her best, this should not be looked down upon, because perfection is often unattainable.

When students get to college they begin to realize that there are more important things in life besides perfection. I am not condoning unsatisfactory grades by any means, but I am saying college and life go by fast and these are some of the best years of one’s life. Therefore stressing too much and constantly striving for perfection to the detriment of the other aspects of life should be avoided, if possible.

Most perfectionists have a fear of failure, and this causes them to want everything to be perfect in their life from school to work and family.

What if I told you failure is the key to success? There are plenty of successful people

who can attest to this observation simply because they know and understand that all failure is not bad failure.

When applying for a job or even for a certain organization, not getting accepted is not always horrible or bad.

Yes, it is a bad feeling, but sometimes there is something better in store.

While in high school I had to cope with the fact life is not perfect and some things are not meant for one to achieve. I applied to work for Leadership Neshoba, and I did not get into the organization, but I also applied for another leadership organization as well. As I was politely declined from Leadership Neshoba, I was getting ready for an interview with the other organization, and I was accepted into the program.

This, to me, showed failure is indeed the key to success not just for very successful people, but for regular people as well. In fact, upon my acceptance into the second organization, I was granted a full paid trip to Washington D.C. to represent my hometown.

There are a lot of famous people who failed and then

realized what they got in return was way better. For example, Michael Jordan was one of the many failures who later became very good at what he did. Michael Jordan did not make the high school basketball team, and the coach told him to come back and try again. This is what failure has done for so many people; it has pushed them to do better.

We all have to remember perfection is one of those touchy subjects because we all have some sort of perfectionism in us, but we must understand being perfect is impossible. In addition, being a perfectionist implies one will do whatever it takes to get there. No one should let perfectionism take over his or her life to the point to where he or she cannot live.

Living is what is important.

When everyone learns to do the best he or she can do and understand failure is a part of life, that is the only way to be successful. Aknowledging I am not perfect and I will never be perfect was one of the best ways that I truly began to live and have liberty in college.

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014

An In-Class Distraction

CLASSIFIEDS POLICY

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Classifieds are $5 per issue.

Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost.

FOR SALE 2008 Puma travel trailer with slide and den. Model 26, sleeps 6. $8,000. Call Jim at 662-694-0656.

PARKING

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HELP WANTED COBRA SECURITY

Part-time work openings.

Contact Lisa at 662-8320646. Must be 18 years old to apply. Backgrounds completed on applicants.

201 S. Lafayette St. upstairs.

CLUB INFO

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday;

deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email club_info@reflector. to with the msstate.edu subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector.

All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability.

MSU BALLROOM DANCE CLUB

Want to dance but don’t know how? Come join the Ballroom Dance Club at the Sanderson on Sunday and Tuesday nights.

MADDAWGS RUGBY

MADDAWGS Rugby is open to all students of MSU and of all skill levels.

The Club practices on Tue, Wed and Thurs from 5:30 to 7:30. For more information go to rugby. org.msstate.edu or e-mail us at rugby-info@org. msstate.edu.

MSU HILLEL

Jews wanted! If you’re

Jewish, let us know!

Like us on Facebook at Hillel @ Mississippi State University. Join us for meetings. For more information, contact Josph Metz at 601-813-7720.

YOGA MOVES CLUB

School or work stressing you out? Get moving into Yoga Moves. Try our moves to get into shape and our relaxation techniques to handle the stress. Yoga Moves meets at the Sanderson Center in Studio C, Thursday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m.

Like Yoga Moves Club on Facebook.

THE STREETCAR CREATIVE ARTS JOURNAL

The Streetcar is Mississippi State University’s creative arts journal open to student submissions.

Submit your art, poetry, shortstories, nonfiction and more before November 25 online at thestreetcarmsu.com.

ASTRONOMY CLUB

The Mississippi State Astronomony Club host a regular meeting this Friday at 3:00 p.m. in Hilbun 150.

Pizza will be provided, and all are invited to attend.

Oct. 14 solutions:

5 THINGS TO KNOW FOR YOUR FRIDAY 1. Ebola contracted in Ohio. A second nurse from Dallas, Texas is displaying signs of Ebola in Ohio. The nurse was visiting family in Akron and planning her upcoming wedding when she first noticed the symptoms of the deadly disease. The new patient is currently hospitalized in Atlanta, and the odds of her further spreading the disease are currently extremely low.

2. Discovery of actress body sparks suicide controversy. What is believed to be the body of actress Misty Upham was found along a river outside of Seattle, Washington this week. Upham starred in the Oscar-nominated film “August, Osage County” and has been missing from her home since Oct. 6, 2014.

3. A not-so-gypsy life. Lady Gaga has recently been spotted wearing a ring on a very important finger, sparking rumors engagement rumors. Lady Gaga is currently dating actor Taylor Kinney and is rumored to have married him secretly.

4. Train crash in Arkansas. A train crash in Arkansas injured 44 people, five of which are currently in critical condition. The passenger sight-seeing train, which was en route from Springdale to Van Buren, and collided with a resting freight train.

5. Number of Americans in poverty reaches appalling heights. Thursday the Census Bureau released a new report stating over 48 billion Americans currently live in poverty. The official poverty line is currently $23,283 for a family of four. Food stamps and tax credits currently keep 13 million Americans out of poverty.

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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

MUW presents comical play, ‘Lysistrata’

by ShaCamree Gowdy Staff Writer

The Mississippi University for Women department of theatre presents: “Lysistrata.” The play will run at 7:30 p.m. in Cromwell Auditorium on MUW’s campus until Saturday.

The play, translated by Nicholas Rudall, is a comedy by the Greek playwright Aristophanes. After years of war between city-states, the cost of the lives of sons and husbands continues to grow.

Now, the women of Greece have come together to create peace even if it means taking extreme measures.

Lee Crouse, director of the play, said he enjoyed working with each crew member. Each time he directs a play, his cast has a great impact on him.

“One of the greatest aspects of any university production is watching the creative work of young artists. I enjoy watching how text on a page becomes action. For ‘Lysistrata,’ that joy has come in exploring

the genre of Greek comedy, creating the physical comedy moments and paralleling a play written centuries ago with today’s society,” he said. “This company of actors and technicians has labored for weeks to create a meaningful story.”

Ariel Holmes, freshman at MUW and a lead role in the play, said she is really excited to show the public the product of the cast’s hard work, and she enjoyed meeting all the people she got the opportunity to work with.

“My favorite part was getting to know all of the people in the production,” she said. “I was able to make some great friends because of this play.”

Holmes was also able to gain some great traits she said she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

“The play made me concentrate on time management because I had rehearsals just about every day, and I had to do homework and go to class on top of learning lines and attending rehearsals,” she said.

Holmes holds two roles in the play, “Woman Number

4” and “Reconciliation.”

Her “Woman Number 4” character is responsible for taking part in a group protest, and “Reconciliation” is a scantily clad woman that the Athenians and Spartans use as a map to agree about territories.

The cast will also include Karen Thead, Saudai Jackson, Allison Jones, Leah Thompson, Katie Welch, Candice Monteith, Quishanta Cummings, Gabrielle Lestrade, Caryann Odom, Olivia Stevens, Marissa Vaughn, Johnathan Best, Graham Young, Gavin Mendus, Chris Ambrose, Kevin Barkman, Ray Sizemore and Devan Tate.

Sara Hardin, freshman nursing major at MSU, said the play will be full of excitement. She said she loves visiting MUW’s campus, and each time she attends an event it grows on her a little more.

“Even though I’m only going to the play to support a friend, I know it will be something great to watch. I have watched her work hard each and every day since she got her role, and I know she will not disappoint,” she said.

Chamber Orchestra Kremlin visits MSU from Russia, provides dazzling performance

ShaCamree Gowdy| Courtesy Photograph

‘Lysistrata,’ a play presented by the Mississippi University for Women, involves a comic plot which revolves around a long-running war in Greece. The women have seen their sons go away to war and never return. Now they watch as their husbands go away. The women from all around Greece, led by Lysistrata, have decided to facilitate the end of the war by refusing to have sex with their husbands until peace is declared. The play will run in Cromwell Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. until Saturday.

Grenada Afterglow Film Festival

presents film, art, music, food

by Noor Mujahid Life Editor

Midterms have begun, late-night study sessions are on the rise and students are at that point in the semester where they are ready for classes to end.

Saturday, students can take a break from mid-semester madness and take a road trip to Grenada, Mississippi where the Afterglow Film Festival will feature seven hours of independent film.

The festival will commence at 1 p.m., and music, film, art and food can be enjoyed until midnight. The Afterglow Film Festival will present a number of musical acts.

From internationally known singer Dent May to

Grenada local May Queen, the festival will have a variety of musical acts for the audience to enjoy.

An array of artwork from artists all over Mississippi will also be exhibited at the festival. The festival will also display scarves made

by Cambodian women as well as jewelry made in Memphis, Tennessee ,which was crafted by Circe Zugno, originally from Amazonas.

The films featured during the festival come from submissions from local residents.

The festival is family-friendly, and the films will reflect the festival’s atmosphere.

According to the event’s website, “the spotlight category is ‘Feel-Good’ films” and they “want viewers to be moved to feel the ‘Afterglow’ of the festival and the small town

atmosphere in Grenada.”

Along with all the music, art and film fun, there will be a number of Mississippi food trucks for attendees to enjoy. The festival will also host an awards ceremony for the films and an after party for added celebration.

Frank Bradford, political science graduate student and Grenada native, said the festival is not one to miss.

“I believe the festival is a great thing for the city and to bring people together to enjoy a variety of films and have a good time,” he said.

As the definition listed on the film festival’s website suggests, attendees of the festival in historic downtown Grenada will be sure to experience the “pleasant feeling that lingers after a positive experience” – an afterglow.

English department welcomes Phong Nguyen to share work

by Bailey McDaniel Staff Writer

Public Affairs| Courtesy Photograph

Tuesday, Russia’s Chamber Orchestra Kremlin performed at Lee Hall. Since 1991, the orchestra has awed thousands with some of Russia’s finest young string players. The group, along with director Misha Rachlevksy, is based in Moscow and travels to several destinations across North and South America and the Far East. The group has given hundreds of performances during its 17 years, along with the production of a catalog containing over 30 recorded CDs.

The English department at Mississippi State University proudly showcases the literary work of both students and faculty alike. Tuesday, courtesy of the English department, Phong Nguyen, published author and editor, will share selections from his newest work.

Nguyen, a VietnameseAmerican who grew up in New Jersey, will meet with the intermediate fiction writing class taught by Michael Kardos, associate professor and co-director of creative writing in the English department, along with the staff of “The Streetcar,” MSU’s

student literary journal, to offer insight on his life as a writer.

Along with this, Nguyen will offer a public reading in Fowlkes Auditorium on the third floor of Colvard Student Union at 5 p.m.

Kardos shared insight about Nguyen’s latest work, and he said he is enthused that Nguyen will visit campus.

“Phong Nguyen’s most recent book of fiction tells alternate histories of historical figures from Joan of Arc to Christopher Columbus to Albert Einstein. It’s a remarkably inventive book, and we’re lucky to have the chance to hear the author read from his own work,” he said.

Nguyen is the editor of the literary journal “Pleiades” and author of two story collections: “Memory Sickness,” which won the Elixir Press

Fiction award in 2011, and “Other Stories and Pages from the Textbook of Alternate History.”

“Pleiades” is a literary compilation of short stories and poems published yearly through the LenaMiles Wever Todd Poetry Prize.

Nguyen is currently a teacher at the University of Central Missouri with classes focused on fiction and American Literature.

Jessica Lockhart, lecturer in the English department, said the creative writing class at MSU met online with Nguyen, and he gave insightful lessons on the publishing world. She said she is excited to be able to hear from him again.

“It will be great to hear some of his creative work and to see how he does things from the other side,” she said.

7 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY,OCTOBER 17, 2014

MSU soccer preview

by Zach Wagner Staff Writer

The Mississippi State University women’s soccer team will look to pick up it first SEC win of the season this weekend as both Vanderbilt and Texas A&M pay a visit to Starkville. The Bulldogs are coming off of a tough game against Florida last Friday that saw them wear down in the second half. The loss dropped State’s overall record for the season to 3-10 for the young Bulldog squad.

One of the bright spots for the Bulldogs this season has been the play of senior Shannen Jainudeen, who leads the team with seven goals on the season. She has been able to use her size and strength to spark the team’s offense, which has struggled at times this season in putting the ball in the back of the net.

Jainudeen will need to keep the hot scoring streak alive this weekend if the Bulldogs want to upset their incoming SEC foes.

Vanderbilt comes into town sporting a record of 5-8-1 and is currently on a four-game losing streak.

Their last game resulted in a 6-2 loss versus Texas A&M. The Commodores, just like the Bulldogs, have been unable to pick up their first SEC win of the season.

Head coach Aaron Gordon described the Commodores at practice on Wednesday as a team that is much better than their record reflects and spoke highly of the Commodores’ offense.

“Vanderbilt is a dangerous team. Their record doesn’t indicate it but they have three good forwards,” Gordon said. “This is a league of forwards, so they can score. They have scored on everyone in the league, so we will certainly have our work cut out for us.”

Statistics paint Vanderbilt as a side with defensive struggles in SEC play. Vanderbilt ranks 12th in goals allowed with an average of 1.57 per

Noah Siano | The Reflector

Kayleigh Henry fights off two Louisiana Tech players.

game and has given up 210 shots, giving them an average of 15 shots per game, which puts it in the bottom three in this category. Goalkeeper Christiana Ogunsami has been forced into making 84 saves on the season, which places her at first in the SEC in saves on the season, and she currently averaged six saves per game for the Commodores.

Offensively, Vanderbilt ranks fifth in shots at 227, with an average shots per game total presently at 16.2l. While Vanderbilt attempts a lot of shots, its main problem seems to be that it does not put shots on target as often as it should.

Of these 227 shots, only 95 have been on the frame of the goal, which equates to an on goal percentage of roughly 41 percent. The Commodores will need to be more precise with their scoring opportunities if they want to continue to be an up-and-coming team in the SEC. In examining a couple of names that stand out for the Commodores, the first player to identify is sophomore forward Simone Charley, who leads Vanderbilt in points and is tied for the team lead in assists. She had a very solid freshman season that was good enough to earn her a

place on the All-Freshman team in 2013. Something interesting to note about Charley is that she is also a member of the track team at Vanderbilt and was good enough to qualify for the NCAA Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, where she placed ninth in the triple jump. The Bulldogs will need to keep Charley in their sights at all times, or she more than likely will ignite the scoreboard for the Commodores.

The other name of significance for Vanderbilt is freshman forward Colby Ciarrocca, who leads the team in goals and has leaped to second on the team in points.

She was named SEC Player of the Week earlier this season, when she was able to score four goals in two games for the Commodores in the early part of the season. With her alongside Charley, Vanderbilt is not short of scoring threats, so the Bulldog defense, which has struggled to find their footing this season, will need to come ready to play on Friday, or it could be a long night for the young back-line.

MSU freshman midfielder Hannah Smith said she thinks the Bulldogs are ready for the Commodores after a good bit of preparation.

SEE SOCCER, 8

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From Downtown

Sports

Egg Bowl has potential to be No.1 vs. No.2 The 2014 Egg Bowl is shaping up to be not only the biggest game of the year for Mississippi State and Ole Miss, but it could be the biggest college football game in the country.

The rivalry has always had prestige in the state of Mississippi. However, it usually does not stand out on the national stage like other rivalries such as Alabama and Auburn, Ohio State and Michigan or even Oklahoma and Texas. The game has more than once been between two teams that had losing records.

It was just nine years ago when a 2-8 MSU team with Michael Henig as its quarterback defeated a 3-7 Ole Miss team with Michael Spurlock under center. The following year was very similar. Ole Miss was victorious in a battle of threewin teams with quarterbacks no one else wanted.

In the following years, Ole Miss would dominate a terribly underachieving Bulldog team, or MSU would beat up on a struggling Ole Miss team.

Sometimes, the underdog would upset the team that seemed better than the other on paper. However, it was extremely rare in the history of the rivalry that both teams were successful coming into the Egg Bowl.

That is why those outside of Mississippi do not treat our rivalry like they do other successful college programs. Many critics thought 2014 would be no different, but they were wrong.

Both MSU and Ole Miss are in an unusual spot, sitting atop the SEC standings with 6-0 records. Both teams are also 3-0 against conference opponents.

The Bulldogs own impressive wins over LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn. Ole Miss also owns a win over the Aggies and a shocking victory over Alabama at home. MSU is ranked No. 1 in the current Associated Press Poll, and Ole Miss is ranked No. 3. Both teams are led by impressive quarterbacks, who run their respective offenses to near perfection.

Tough matchups are ahead for both teams. State still has to battle a rising Kentucky squad on the road and a tough Arkansas team at home. The toughest task before the Egg Bowl will come on Nov.

“The Egg Bowl was once considered the only way to salvage a season for two underachieving teams.”

15 as the Bulldogs travel to Alabama. The Crimson Tide has not looked as dominant as they have in previous years. Nevertheless, it is always tough to get a win at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Ole Miss will travel to Tiger Stadium on Oct. 25 to face LSU. The Rebels also have a tough road task against Arkansas on Nov. 22. In all likelihood, the toughest game left for the Rebels before the Egg Bowl will be on Nov. 1 at home against Auburn. Auburn has already suffered a loss at the hands of MSU,

Kevin Simmons Kevin Simmons is a senior majoring in communication. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@gmail.com.

and another loss will likely knock the Tigers out of playoff contention. Auburn will consider this a mustwin game.

When the dust settles, there is a great chance the winner of the Egg Bowl will in fact be the winner of the SEC Western division. All other SEC West teams have at least one loss, and most still have to play each other. The last and only time MSU has been to a SEC championship game was in 1998, when it lost to Tennessee 24-14. Since the inaugural SEC Championship game in 1992, Ole Miss has never played in an SEC Championship game.

A game once played for the pride of the third or fourth win of the season will be in the spotlight on Nov. 29.

Stubhub.com currently has its cheapest tickets for sale at the price of $294.99, and that is for standing-room only. It is a safe bet to say College GameDay will make another trip to Oxford this season.

The Egg Bowl was once considered the only way to salvage a season for two underachieving teams.

Now, it will likely give one team a ticket to the SEC Championship game.

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The Information Technology Services degree is for you if you enjoy…  working with computers and working with people  learning new hardware and software  helping others solve technology problems and showing users how to use their technology  creating and delivering technology training using advanced technologies learning about the world of business ITS Coordinator: Dr. Chien Yu CYu@colled.msstate.edu The Industrial Technology degree is for you if you enjoy…  working with your hands to apply manufacturing applications and processes  wish to have a wide choice of career paths, e.g. production, human resources, quality etc.  desire to become a manager or supervisor in the manufacturing sector Industrial Technology Coordinator: Dr. John Wyatt— JWyatt@colled.msstate.edu The Technology Teacher Education degree is for you if you…  have a passion for teaching  wish to earn a license to teach at the 7-12 grade levels in the areas of technology, economics, business, and career pathway experience  wish to gain a solid foundation in business, technology, and education which can be transferred to a variety of career opportunities, including starting your own business or working in a business as a manager or technology trainer TTE Coordinator: Dr. Pamela Scott-Bracey— PBracey@colled.msstate.edu Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development Industrial Education Building 662.325.2281 Web page: iswd@msstate.edu

Sports REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM FRIDAY,OCTOBER 17, 2014

Fourth and Long

Would head coach Dan Mullen leave?

Due to recent struggles at the University of Florida, head coach Will Muschamp looks to be as good as fi red at this point in the season.

The Florida Gators look like an absolute disaster on the football field. Quarterback Jeff Driskel cannot pass for more than 200 yards in a game, and the other skill position players are just as weak. Muschamp is known as a strong defensive coach, but do the Gators have a strong defense on which to rely? No. Early this year Florida gave up over 600 yards to an Alabama team that struggled to score 14 points on the Arkansas Razorbacks this season. All of this to say, Muschamp’s days in Gainesville, Florida appear to be numbered.

Gator fans have begun a website calling for Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen to right the ship for Florida. Mullen inherited a tough situation at MSU where success does not come easy, and now, Mullen is now on almost every coach of the year list around the country.

Would Mullen leave Starkville for his old stomping grounds? He was the offense coordinator for Florida before making the move to MSU. Florida is usually perceived as a better job, the facilities are some of the best in the country and it is one of the best areas for recruiting in the country. MSU cannot compare to all of that. It should be an easy conclusion to make. But is it?

In 2011, Penn State came knocking on the door for Mullen. Miami also made a push for him before the school opted to go with Al Golden. Teams have

Blake Morgan

Blake Morgan is a junior majoring in communication. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@gmail.com.

Dan Mullen in Death Valley. MSU won the game 34-29.

been interested in Mullen before, but he has always stuck with the team that took a chance on him six years ago. Mullen’s fi rst head coaching job was in the SEC West--MSU gave him his shot before any other team.

Florida has an athletic budget that dwarfs Mississippi State’s budget, but Muschamp does not make much more than Mullen.

Muschamp is just the ninth highest paid coach in the SEC. Mullen is tenth. Florida has the ability to throw money at Mullen, but it would require having to possibly double what they currently paying. In years past, there would have

Emma Katherine Hutto| The Reflector

been no way for Mississippi State to match what Florida would offer, but now, due to the SEC Network, SEC teams will have more money in their athletic budget than ever before. MSU would be able to match the offer Florida would put in front of Mullen.

Then, of course, there is stability and job security. Mullen has been in Starkville for six years now and has built the program from the ground up. The fan base questioned Mullen at times, but now that he has MSU playing like the best team in the country, fans are all in. This is shaping up to be a magical season in Starkville. A Col-

lege Playoff birth would buy Mullen years of unquestioned loyalty from the MSU faithful.

At Florida, Muschamp led the Gators to the Sugar Bowl in 2012, but now looks like he will not be the head coach by the end of the season. MSU has never known winning and celebrates it, but Florida expects it every year. Mullen also spent six years recruiting the players he wanted to run his system.

To start over at a place that demands victories immediately with players that are not supposed to run Mullen’s zone-read heavy offense could be a tough sell.

The fact there have been rumors Mullen and current Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley do not get along could hurt Florida’s chances as well.

Mullen has put so much time into the MSU football program to make it a winning one. Why would he leave for Florida and start all over? Ten years ago Florida would have been the easy choice, but times have changed and Mullen is proving he can build a team that can compete and win at the highest level in the SEC. Would he leave for Florida? Possibly. But the reasons to stay stack up against those to leave.

SOCCER

“I think we had a really good practice (Wednesday) and were ready,” she said.

“We have a lot to get organized for Friday, but today’s intensity was good, and I think we will be ready.”

Turning toward Sunday’s match against Texas A&M, Gordon anticipates a tough match-up versus a veteran squad, who he is glad to be playing at home rather than on the road.

“They’re a different animal. A&M is a senior lead team, with a whole lot of good players and traditions with success,” he said. “The good thing is we have them on a Sunday, so everyone has to go through the whole Sunday routine, and we have them at home.”

The stats don’t credit the Aggies as a good offensive team, but rather the best offensive team in the SEC. The Aggies rank fi rst in goals with 37 on the season, giving them an average of 2.64 goals per game. Along with goals, they also are tied for fi rst in assists in the SEC with 33. They have attempted 309 shots on the season, with 144 of those being on goal, and lastly, they rank fi rst in total points with 107, which is 10 more than the next closest team. As the stats suggest, A&M is an offensive juggernaut, who is not shy about lighting up the scoreboard as it has scored more than three goals in a game seven times this season.

While the offense is the strength of the team, the defense stacks up mostly average by SEC standards.

They come into Starkville ranking eighth in points allowed, 10th in shutouts with only four and sixth in shots allowed with 140. The Aggies have given a goal up in each of their previous five games and will look to end that streak Sunday.

CONTINUED FROM 7

The No. 11 Aggies are led by senior attackers Shea Groom, Kelley Monogue and defender Meghan Streight. Groom leads the team in goals with 12 and also in points with 26.

Groom has already earned an SEC Player of the Week award this season and was named to the First Team All-SEC team in 2013, after netting 14 goals last season. She is one of the most potent scorers in the SEC. Midfielder Monogue is A&M’s leader in the middle of the pitch and does a little bit of everything for the Aggies. She leads the team in assists with seven, and also in shots with 59 attempts on the season. Monogue has also added nine goals on the season placing her second on the team. Monogue earned Second Team AllSEC in 2013 and may be well on her way to receiving a First Team selection if she continues to play at this high level.

Lastly, Streight is the leader of the Aggie defense. She also performed well enough last season to be selected to the All-SEC First Team and has started every game since her freshman campaign. If the Bulldogs want to score on Sunday, they will have to go through her.

MSU freshman Mallory Eubanks pointed out a couple of areas emphasized at practice this week that could be big going into this weekend’s match-ups.

“I think one-vs-one defending, taking people on and just really trying to connect, so that we’re an offensive threat but also helping our defense will be key,” she said.

The Bulldogs take on Vanderbilt Friday at 7 p.m. and Texas A&M Sunday at 1 p.m. As always, admission is free at the Mississippi State Soccer Field.

BULLY SAYS

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