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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
DLs Lockett, Powe tabbed All-SEC by media
Ole Miss’ defensive line is expected to be a strength for the team this year and the improvement and experience shown over the last few seasons was visible in this year’s Southeastern Conference preseason All-SEC team released this morning.
Defensive tackle Jerrell Powe and defensive end Kentrell Lockett, both seniors, were selected to the team that is voted on by the media each year. The 6-foot-2, 320-pound Powe made the first team, while the 6-5, 260-pound Lockett made the second team. Powe was also a first-team member of the Coaches All-SEC team that was released earlier this week. (July 23, 2010, Page 6A)
Mallett, Hogs could be a contender
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett could have avoided the Southeastern Conference’s annual Media Days event if he wanted to. The 6-foot-6, 238-pound Texarkana, Ark., native could be getting ready to take part in an NFL training camp instead of taking questions from a room full of reporters like he did on Thursday.
While the lure of playing in the NFL might have been attractive for a time after the 2009 season ended for Mallett, he ultimately felt like coming back to help the Razorbacks was the right choice for him personally, and the entire program.
Mallett’s return to Arkansas not only helps solidify Bobby Petrino’s tenure at the school, it has elevated the Razorbacks in the pecking order of schools that could win the SEC West title this year, a fact that seems to be the most pleasing to Mallett. (July 23, 2010, Page 6A)
Vanderbilt quick to move forward
Bobby Johnson may not be the head coach at Vanderbilt any longer, but his name, and the man that replaced him, was still a big topic at the Southeastern Conference’s Media Days Thursday. Johnson abruptly retired from his role as head coach just nine days ago, a move that not only caught the rest of the league off guard, but his staff and team as well.
Vanderbilt athletic officials have done a good job of making a quick transition from Johnson’s tenure into that of supporting new, interim coach Robbie Caldwell. That fact shows in the school’s 2010 football media guide. Besides the records and years that Johnson coached in Nashville, there is only one other page that lists his name in the team’s media guide. His retirement story, located on Page 28, simply lists Johnson’s accomplishments between 2002 and 2009. In this league, the longer a team spends looking back, the easier it is to get beat. (July 23, 2010, Page 6A)
New-look UGA has high hopes
Ten offensive starters returning from last year, plus the installation of a new defensive scheme, have helped turn the Georgia Bulldogs around in the view of many prognosticators eyes heading into the 2010 season.
Georgia, under the direction of Mark Richt, always seems to have lofty preseason expectations placed on them. But after having a sub par 2009 in which the defense was much maligned and the offense grew stagnant in key situations, some changes had to be made by Richt.
The hiring of former Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Todd Grantham and his installation of a 3-4 scheme has been well received according to Richt, while those 10 returners on offense and the best punter and place-kicker in the league give the Bulldogs a lot to be excited about heading into the year. (July 23, 2010, Page 7A)
Brown commitment makes No. 14 for Rebels
Thursday night the Rebels picked up their seventh commitment of the week, and their 14th for the 2011 signing class, in the form of Arkansas cornerback/running back Artez Brown.
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound athlete is considered a three-star athlete by Rivals.com and a two-star cornerback by Scout.com. The Newport,Ar., native picked Ole Miss over Arkansas, Arkansas State, Baylor, Memphis, Kansas and Tulsa.
As a junior, Brown had 1,406 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing. He also recorded over 50 tackles and three interceptions on defense. (July 23, 2010)
With ‘Bias: MC standout doing his homework
How much abuse can a high schooler take on the gridiron? Madison Central receiver Tobias Singleton is about to find out.
One year after losing to South Panola in the Class 6A North Half title game, and being ranked No. 1 in Mississippi for most of the season, Jaguars coach Bobby Hall thinks his squad can be even better in 2010.
Despite losing 19 starters — two of which are Ole Miss signees Carlton Martin and Bryon Bennett — Hall feels confident his squad can once again make a deep run in the playoffs.
Perhaps the most important player on the Jaguars this season is none other than Singleton, who is considered one of the top recruits in Mississippi.
Just how important is Singleton to the Jaguars’ projected success? He’s so important, that the Jaguars plan to get the ball in his hands at least 20 times a game, whether it be as a receiver, returner on special teams or quarterbacking Madison Central’s wildcat formation.
And that’s just the way Singleton wants it. (July 23, 2010, Page 7A)
Mullen attempts to add to rivalry
Make no mistake about it, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has an innate ability to upset Ole Miss fans and inspire his football players all at the same time. Mullen told a room full of reporters at the Southeastern Conference’s Media Days Wednesday that he calls Ole Miss “the school up North” for a reason and it was all in the attempt to emphasize how important the rivalry is to his program. (July 22, 2010, Page 1B)
‘The Circus’ is in full swing
The unofficial start to college football has arrived. The Southeastern Conference’s Kickoff 2010, also known as “Media Days,” got underway Wednesday afternoon at the Wynfrey Hotel. For those that don’t know much about Media Days, it’s a three-day convention that consists of the 12 league coaches trying their best to talk up their teams, talk down expectations and generally not answer a question that’s overly controversial.
As Paul Finebaum, Birmingham’s caustic sports talk show host, so eloquently put it, Media Days is like the circus coming to town. I agree with that description of the event, but with one little extra detail. It’s like the circus is coming to town, but just before the train carrying the company hits the depot, it derails sending all the cars in different directions. In a nutshell, one story turns into many. (July 22, 2010, Page 1B)
Golson highlights busy day for Rebels
When something pertaining to a big life decision feels right, you just know it.
Wednesday morning, Senquez Golson made official what he’s known for several weeks when he called defensive line coach Terry Price to inform him that he wants to play for the Ole Miss Rebels. (July 22, 2010, Page 1B)
Thomason headed to Southern Miss
A chance to pitch at the Division I level again was something Josh Thomason has been hoping for ever since he left Ole Miss.
The former Lafayette County High standout originally signed with the Rebels in the hopes of becoming one of the team’s main starters in time. That opportunity didn’t work out like Thomason was hoping and after spending two years at Navarro Community College in Texas, Thomason is getting his second chance to pitch for a major college.
Thomason, the 2007 EAGLE Player of the Year, recently signed a scholarship offer to play for coach Scott Berry at Southern Miss. The experience Thomason gained in Texas, coupled with his ability to still throw in the low 90s, was appealing to USM, who signed eight pitchers this year to help bolster the rotation. (July 22, 2010, Page 2B)
