Sunday, October 5, 2014

WSJ: The might of Mississippi football

The Wall Street Journal published a story Friday lauding the "Might of Mississippi Football":

This weekend, the two biggest games in college football are in the Deep South. Shocker!

These matchups involve highly ranked teams from the Southeastern Conference. You don’t say!

But here is something that is in fact surprising about Saturday’s pair of Southern showdowns: They’re both taking place in the state of Mississippi.

In a turn of events that harks back to the days of the wishbone offense, the center of the college-football world this weekend is the Magnolia State, where two longtime punching bags situated less than 100 miles apart have finally started to punch their weight.....

Half a lifetime is understating it. The Rebels and Bulldogs haven’t both been ranked in the top 15 and facing top-15 opponents since 1953.

For a state that worships the pigskin as fervently as any other, it is a moment that is long overdue. Which leads to an inevitable question: Why has it taken so long?

Mississippi has long been one of the nation’s football hotbeds. High-school football is a statewide obsession: Mississippi is tied for sixth nationally in its percentage of high-school students that play football. It ranks third in NFL players per capita, according to USA Football.....

But for the most part, all of this passion has counted for naught. While neighboring Alabama is home to two of college football’s superpowers, the Tide and defending SEC champion Auburn, Mississippi’s two flagship schools have spent the best part of half a century as SEC doormats....

An obvious disadvantage is Mississippi’s population of 2.9 million, which is almost half the size of Alabama and one third as big as Georgia, another SEC state. But the state’s lagging education system also diminishes the local recruiting base because talented high-school prospects often fail to reach NCAA academic standards.

“And don’t forget that all those other big schools eyeing Mississippi,” said Nutt, who now works as an analyst on Sirius XM’s College Sports Nation channel. “It’s an uphill battle just to keep those recruits you have in state.”

Until recently, the Rebels and Bulldogs struggled to attract top recruits from outside Mississippi because of facilities that were substandard relative to the competition. The schools lacked winning traditions, and the state’s civil-rights history has often undermined efforts to lure out-of-state prospects.....

“The leadership is lot less insular than it was,” said Jake McGraw, public policy coordinator at Ole Miss’s William Winter Institute. “For a long time, we were pretty bad about the people we put in charge of our programs.” (KF note: People don't realize how huge this factor is. LSU went through it with Joe Dean.)....

But the rise of Mississippi’s schools is largely a function of the sport’s economics. In a classic case of a rising tide lifting all boats, the SEC’s success—it has won seven of the last eight national titles—has boosted even its weaker programs to new heights.

The league’s lucrative TV deals provide invaluable exposure, not to mention an annual payout of almost $21 million for the 2013-14 academic year. This has given the Rebels and Bulldogs the financial clout to upgrade facilities and pursue superior coaches, which in turn enables them to target recruits they couldn’t have landed before. In 2012, Ole Miss lured a consensus top-10 signing class headlined by the nation’s top recruit, Georgia defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, and No. 1-rated receiver Laquon Treadwell from Illinois..... Rest of article

1 comment:

NMissC said...

Did you say "mite?"

I am at the holding-my-breath stage about this holding up, based on much prior experience. Don't jinx this, national media!

But, hey, wouldn't an Egg Bowl-decides-SEC-West be glorious?


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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
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