The Oxford Eagle

Rishaw Johnson dismissed from Ole Miss football team

Patrick Ochs — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:01:50 +0000

Following Thursday’s practice Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt confirmed that offensive lineman Rishaw Johnson has been dismissed from the football team and backup linebacker Brandon Sanders has been suspended indefinitely for breaking team rules.
“It looks like permanently but I still have to further investigate. Right now they’re not on the trip and they’re not on the team,” Nutt said following the team’s practice.

The dismissal is Johnson’s third violation of team policy, having been suspended for the majority of the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

After playing in the team’s first five games last season, the 6-foot-4, 305-pound junior was suspended for the remainder of the season and did not participate in the team’s Cotton Bowl workouts.

Since then, Johnson, a Hammond, La., native, had worked his way back into the coaching staff’s good graces and was a starter against Jacksonville State last weekend.

STEPPING UP: With Johnson’s dismissal, sophomore Josh Tatum will start at right guard against Tulane on Saturday.

Should Tatum struggle, co-offensive coordinator Mike Markuson listed A.J. Hawkins, Patrick Junen, Mike Brown, Evan Swindall, Emmanuel McCray and Chris Gill as possible replacements.

Nutt had said he thought it might be too close to game time to move McCray from left guard to right guard, adding, “but we’ll see. We’re about to have a crash course coming up here in a few minutes.”

Of the aforementioned players, Hawkins started last week at center, while Tatum and McCray made their Ole Miss debuts last week against the Gamecocks.

A native of Suwanee, Ga., Sanders played in 12 games during his Ole Miss career, recording seven tackles in 11 games a year ago after redshirting as a freshman in 2008. Sanders played against JSU but did not register a tackle.

Filling in for Sanders at the SAM linebacker position behind starter Allen Walker will be freshman Mike Marry. (September 9, 2010)

Flu immunization: What should I do?

Oxford EAGLE — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:23:56 +0000

Oxford EAGLE columnist, Dr. Shaun Helmhout, gives sound advice about the upcoming flu season. Her warning – don’t let your guard down now that the CDC has declared the H1N1 pandemic over. (September 9, 2010, Page 12)

Art and style: Souvenirs from the road

Lucy Schultze — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:05:40 +0000

A CONVERSATION WITH: After a life of travel, Erin Abbott Kirkpatrick is bringing a world of creativity to Oxford. The Oxford native has worked on both coasts as a nanny and merchansie retailer. Today, Kirkpatrick, owns Amelia Presents, a quirky little closet of a gift shop that offers a diversion from the standard Square fare. (September 9, 2010, Page 3)

Thursday’s obituaries

Oxford EAGLE — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:50:20 +0000

Bennie Nolan Gossett, 88, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Delay Baptist Church. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday from 5 until 7 p.m. at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley.
Marie Cook Robertson, 77, died Saturday, July 17, 2010. Services were held July 26 at Wade Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed at Laurel Hill Memorial Garden Cemetery.

(September 9, 2010, Page 2)

Two UM students bond from tragedy

Alyssa Schnugg — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:03:11 +0000

Emma Credille and Jenny Urban share a close bond formed from personal tragedies that few others could ever understand.

In March, both girls lost their fathers to suicide.

Both girls are involved in the upcoming “Out of the Darkness” community walk, the signature fundraising event of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention which provides funding for research and local suicide prevention education programs. The walk is slated for Nov. 7 at the Lyceum Circle on the University of Mississippi campus.

(September 9, 2010, Page 1)

Riders return to local transit service

Melanie Addington — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:44:19 +0000

Ridership on the Oxford University transit system is up 44 percent this month as students returned to the university. The system will also be purchasing a new GPS system, solar panels for bus stops and a security camera system due to American Recovery Reinvestment Act funds. (September 9, 2010, Page 1)

Burns-Belfry project nears end

Melanie Addington — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:41:48 +0000

Almost nine years after beginning the project, the Burns Belfry Church renovation is nearing the end. Approving to begin the bid process for the final two phases this week, the Oxford Lafayette County Heritage Foundation will now move forward with a six to eight month construction job. (September 9, 2010, Page 1)

Fall film preview

Melanie Addington — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:35:37 +0000

OXFORD TOWN — Fall is always one of my favorite seasons. Besides the cooler air and relaxing Grove weekends, there are also what usually amount to some of the best films released. Here is a look ahead through October of what to check out. (September 9, 2010, Page 12, 13)

Aggression the key to Conard’s game

John Davis — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:23:50 +0000

Aggression is a key intangible needed to play football at a high level, especially for defenders who must routinely sacrifice their bodies to make tackles and keep opposing teams out of the end zone. For Water Valley corneback/wide receiver Chris Conard, playing with a mean streak, or better yet with a high amount of aggression, has never been an issue.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder routinely sacrifices his body for the betterment of the Blue Devils. As a member of the Wrecking Crew, Conard is the one player who has the ability to make all the finesse plays in coverage as well as hit like a safety or linebacker in the running game.
(September 9, 2010, Page 6)

Devils host J.Z. George for Homecoming Friday

John Davis — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:22:18 +0000

Bouncing back from the first loss of the season and starting to fine tune some mistakes are two things Water Valley Blue Devils coach Brad Embry wants to see his team do Friday night against J.Z. George. The Blue Devils’ annual Homecoming game is set 7:30 p.m. while Homecoming activities are set for 6:30.

WVHS (2-1) lost 10-7 to Calhoun City last week and the big issue was on offense where the Blue Devils were unable to score inside the red zone. (September 9, 2010, Page 6)