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The Agenda: Wednesday, Nov. 19

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:46:21 -0600

IN THE NEWS: Criticism of Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom is everywhere, so much that wide receiver Brandon McRae and his teammates can't avoid it. McRae's reaction? "I'm like, man, I tell them they don't know anything," McRae said. "They're not here with us." As I wrote in this morning's C-L, that's the precise reaction his coach would want him to have. But the news in here is a few paragraphs down. As first written on this blog yesterday, Croom spoke on the potential of changes at year's end. His thoughts? "You evaluate things every day, but I'm not going to comment on what my thoughts are until - when I get ready to do something, it will be done," he said. "When I come to the public, the plan will be in place. There will be no speculation. I will have made a decision, and that's the way I'm going to go. So in the meantime, we're going to get ready for Arkansas and Ole Miss." Pressed on how he'd react to pressure from higher-ups to make specific changes, Croom reacted diplomatically. "I'll make whatever changes I feel like that will give us a chance to win toward winning a conference championship, because that's what I came here to do," Croom said. "I will listen - as any employee would to his employer - but ultimately I'll have to make decisions that I can live with and still function as the head coach." Yesterday's news also consisted of the passing of a significant figure in the MSU family, Leo W. Seal Jr. HOOPS AT THE HUMP: Once again, there's basketball at The Hump tonight. North Alabama comes to town, but doesn't come to MSU's RPI. BLOGOSPHERIC CONDITIONS:The Blog's Arkansas news and views come from fine blogs and Web sites like:• WholeHogSports.com, the UA home page of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.• Hog Blog, a cumulative UA blog run by the fine folks at The Morning News. TODAY'S AGENDA: 10 a.m.: Southeastern Conference coaches' teleconference4 p.m.: FB practiceUPCOMIN' FOOTBALLSaturday: vs. Arkansas (4-6, 1-5 SEC), 1:30 p.m. TV: None. Radio: MSU Network (WOAD 105.9-FM in Jackson)Forecast: Sunny, high 51, low 31 (link) UPCOMIN' BASKETBALL Tonight: vs. North Alabama (2-0), 7 p.m. TV: None. Radio: MSU Network (WOAD 105.9-FM in Jackson)

Posted on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:17 GMT at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...ledger.com

A Feast of Links

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:21:13 -0600

View Poll
Big day for me today. I mean, yeah, I've got a ton of writing to do. But more importantly, today's the annual Thanksgiving feast at work. And then tonight, another feast at church. This takes a lot of mental and physical preparation. Had a good practice run at the Alabama game, where the pregame meal consisted of turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole and pecan pie.
Anyway, I also have some links for y'all to feast on, haha. My report from yesterday's weekly press conference:
• Story on finishing strong
• Notebook, focusing on receivers Brandon McRae and Jamayel Smith and long snapper Aaron Feld.
From the other side of the Mississippi River, we can read about brothers Casey and Nathan Dick both getting snaps at quarterback this week.
And don't forget, the Bulldog basketball team (2-0) is back in action tonight against North Alabama. The ladies opened their season with a win last night over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 94-52.

Tuesday Press Conference: Players Speak

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:34:34 -0600

Finally, here are some excerpts from some MSU players at today's press conference:
• WR Brandon McRae, on the receiving corps: “I believe we’re the best in the SEC, to tell you the truth. We just don’t have as much opportunity as other teams, with our situation and stuff. But I think we’re probably like the top in the SEC.”
• McRae, when asked to elaborate about opportunities, lack thereof: “I wouldn’t say not as many plays, but I don’t know how to explain it. I don’t know, I just think we’re the best. I just know that, compared to everybody else.”
Now, I should say that McRae might be the most positive, likable guy I've ever met. It sounds like he's being cocky, but if you're there talking to him, you can tell he's anything but. Nevertheless, he said it. Moving on.
• OL Michael Gates: “It’s been tough not being out there with my fellow teammates. I think we’ve struggled, but at times, especially as the season’s progressed, I think we’ve bounced back pretty good. It feels good to be back in the lineup this week.”
• Gates, on finishing strong: “It hurts not being able to go to a bowl game like we did last year, but at the same time, it’s all about finishing. That’s one thing coach has always harped on and drove home to us. We have to finish. If we don’t finish, we really can’t feel good about ourselves.”
• WR Jamayel Smith: “We still haven’t played the best football we can play. That’s what Coach Croom wants us to do, he wants us to play, go out there as a team and play the best we can play. … I feel like if we do that, we can beat anybody in the conference.”
• Smith, on his recent play: “I’m starting to get a little comfortable. I’m starting to get my confidence back.”

Posted on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:04 GMT at http://djbulldogs.wordpress.com/2008/11/...ers-speak/

Nightcap: MSU family "lost our anchor"

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:59:25 -0600

Tonight's nightcap runs the gamut but leads with a note of significance. STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s athletic department lost one of its most significant supporters late Monday night when Gulf Coast banker Leo W. Seal Jr. died after a lengthy illness. He was 84.Seal’s father’s name adorns the M-Club Building that has stood in Scott Field’s south end zone since 1990. It was built after a donation by Seal Jr. And the recently opened Templeton Athletic Academic Center was named after athletic director emeritus Larry Templeton as a result of Seal’s lead gift.“Obviously, we’re very saddened because of the impact he’s made on Mississippi State and the impact he’s made on the entire state of Mississippi,” MSU athletic director Greg Byrne said. “He’s truly one of the great supporters of Mississippi State and will be forever missed.”Byrne had visited Seal often since being named the AD in February and taking over the job’s duties in June. His last visit a few weeks ago was with new baseball coach John Cohen and associate AD Scott Stricklin.Templeton said he last heard from Seal via his wife, Susie, who called Friday night to share news of an MSU flag being sent into space.“The Bulldog family lost our anchor,” Templeton said. “I don’t have all the figures, but as much involvement as I’ve had with Mississippi State, I do not know of a donor, collectively, who has given across the campus as Leo has to all aspects of the campus.”Football coach Sylvester Croom opened his weekly press conference Tuesday with his condolences.A strange injury: Long-snapper Aaron Feld should be available for Saturday’s game, Croom said. He missed the trip to Alabama after a freak injury — he took a football to the eye when special teamers were playing catch after Thursday’s practice. FS Derek Pegues (concussion) and LB Dominic Douglas (ankle, groin) missed practice Tuesday but are expected to be OK for Saturday's game. Hoops vs. UNA: Mississippi State thought it was supposed to have played Akron tonight in its opening game of the Legends Classic.Instead, a meeting with the Zips, who finished with a respectable RPI of 57 last season, didn’t come together, leaving Legends organizers no choice but to schedule Division II North Alabama for tonight at Humphrey Coliseum.A potentially easier win? Maybe. But the Lions, of the Gulf South Conference, won’t factor into the Ratings Percentage Index, that complicated mathematical formula that plays a significant role come NCAA Tournament selection time.“It’s no big deal,” MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. “We still get three games to play, and I’d rather play games than not play games.”The Lions probably won’t be pushovers, either. They return three starters from a team that went 27-9 and won the East Division of the Gulf South a year ago.North Alabama is 2-0 after wins over Shaw and Palm Beach Atlantic. UNA is in the same conference as Montevallo, a team that MSU throttled 88-59 in an exhibition on Nov. 1. Earlier this month, Ole Miss beat North Alabama 115-81.After a nine-block performance by Jarvis Varnado and a 17-point effort by guard Barry Stewart in Monday night’s easy win over Louisiana-Monroe, State will look to start 3-0 for the first time since 2005-06 and for the fifth time under Stansbury.

Posted on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:02 GMT at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...ledger.com

Don't forget

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:12:16 -0600

Been running around like crazy this afternoon, but wanted to remind you: live chat tonight at 7 at clarionledger.com. Ask any and all questions.

Posted on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:06 GMT at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...ledger.com

Croom: "When I come to the public, the plan will be in place"

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:46:26 -0600

Tomorrow's story in The Clarion-Ledger will deal with how players and coach Sylvester Croom are dealing with the barrage of criticism they've received from fans in recent weeks. To that end, I got Croom off to the side after his weekly press conference and asked him about it. "The thing I try to bring up to them is asking them not to deal with the criticism that they receive," Croom said. "The thing that I understand is, I tell them all the time, people don't understand what's going on with inside — a football team is just like a family. And no matter what you think from the outside, you don't know unless you're on the inside every day. The thing that I've told them is, that so they'll know, is that — hey, I'll never hang them out to dry. Don't worry about any criticism that the program receives. I'll handle that. I just want to make sure that they stay together and stay focused on their jobs." Croom said the season hase "been very frustrating" for him. Later, I asked some questions that might foreshadow some of the tough decisions he and the powers that be at Mississippi State will face in the coming days and weeks. Croom has long said that he evaluates all aspects of his program — things like staff, personnel, schemes — and makes decisions at the end of the season. I asked him if that were still the case; he said it was. "I evaluate things every day," Croom said. "You evaluate things every day, but I'm not going to comment on what my thoughts are until — (pause). When I get ready to do something, it will be done. When I come to the public, the plan will be in place. There will be no speculation. I will have made a decision, and that's the way I'm going to go. So in the meantime, we're going to get ready for Arkansas and Ole Miss." How would he respond to an athletic director or president requesting certain changes? "I'll make whatever changes I feel like that will give us a chance to move toward winning a conference championship, because that's what I came here to do. I will listen, as any employee would, to his employer, but ultimately I'll have to make decisions that I can live with and still function as the head coach." So how does this impact how the coming days and weeks will play out at Mississippi State? Hard to say, really. Tone-wise, Croom's answer to the final question was methodical, diplomatic and seemed very respectful of athletic director Greg Byrne. And his answer on evaluating things — "when I come to the public, the plan will be in place" — hinted of that he feels such a plan is necessary. Of course, this only continues to set the stage for the decisions that Croom and the program will have to make in the days following next Friday's Egg Bowl.

Posted on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:56 GMT at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...ledger.com

Tuesday Press Conference: Croom Says …

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:53:06 -0600

Some excerpts from coach Sylvester Croom at today's MSU football press conference. This first one's for you, schmuley:
• On long snapper Aaron Feld's eye injury: “After practice was over with, they were out there playing catch, he missed the ball, it hit him in the eye. He got blood in his retina.
• Did Feld see the ball coming: “Obviously he didn’t. I wish he did.” By the way, Feld was cleared today to practice full speed, and he will play Saturday.
• On motivating his players with a bowl bid out of reach: “You play to win the game. That’s the most important thing, and that’s what you play for all the time. That in itself is motivation enough.” He did not say that first sentence as Herm Edwards-type passion, but he meant it.
• On struggles in the run game: “If anything has been disappointing to me about the offense more than anything else this year, it’s been our inability to consistently to run the football as well as I’d like to. Nobody practices the running game more than we have. It seems on game day, for whatever reason, we have not been effective at consistently being able to run the ball. … What we’ll do this week, we’ll do our base things, and see if we can do them a lot better than what we have done up to this time.”
• On the offensive line's overall bulk: “[T]he offensive line when everybody’s healthy and playing the positions that we expect for them to play, our size will be OK. … Our new cafeteria and those kinds of things are set up, how we’re consistently eating well, that’s a part of it as well, making sure our guys have good eating habits and going through another offseason.”
• On WR Jamayel Smith: “He seems to be, even in practice, running a lot better. Jamayel’s had some things to deal with during the course of the year, and it’s been pretty obvious that he hasn’t had the kind of season that we anticipated, that he anticipated. From the time we started camp, he overheated early, he’s had some illnesses, he had some difficult things happen to him in the first ballgame. I think the bottom line, I think he lost his confidence.”

Posted on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:33 GMT at http://djbulldogs.wordpress.com/2008/11/...%e2%80%a6/

Influential MSU donor Leo W. Seal Jr. dies at 84

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:47:46 -0600

We turn to The Sun Herald of Biloxi for a bit of news from down on the Coast: Leo W. Seal Jr., a business icon on the Coast, has passed away. Seal was a giant on the scene of Mississippi State athletics, too. The Leo Seal M-Club Building in Scott Field's south end zone opened in 1990 in honor of Leo W. Seal Sr., a 1911 an alum and football player at then-Mississippi A&M. The $1.1 million facility was given as a gift by Leo W. Seal Jr. Most recently, Seal's contribution was the lead gift on the $10 million Templeton Athletic Academic Center, which is named for athletic director emeritus Larry Templeton. An exquisite board room on the facility's first floor carries his name. On the academic side, the Seal Family Business Complex carries his name, too. Seal has long been known as an influential Mississippi State booster, and senior MSU athletic staff members have visited Seal on more than one occasion in recent months. Seal was 84.

Posted on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:13 GMT at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...ledger.com

Blog Bag: Late Edition

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:21:28 -0600

Sorry so late with this. Monday was busy. I'm en route to Starkville, so hit me. Yes, I'm blogging and driving. I'm a professional. Don't try this at home. Or rather, in your car.

Posted on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:04 GMT at http://djbulldogs.wordpress.com/2008/11/...e-edition/

Praising Douglas; Hoops Recap

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:17:40 -0600

In today's opinion offering, yours truly praises MLB Dominic Douglas and the rest of the defense for what they've done, and continue to do, despite little to no reward for their efforts.
And here is the recap of last night's basketball win against UL-Monroe. Good crowd for a Monday night non-SEC game. Tonight, the ladies open their season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 7 p.m. at The Hump.
Coming up, a busy day in Starkville: Got the 1 p.m. press conference, and I'll hopefully be able to track down Jamar Chaney about his decision to return to MSU next year. I'll have a lengthy story on him for Friday's paper.
As for this week's game with Arkansas (1:30 p.m., no TV), the Northwest Arkansas Times writes about QB Casey Dick and RB Michael Smith trying to return from injuries.
And here's today's random link, about Tennessee cutting out freebies for its ushers. Sad.

Posted on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:05 GMT at http://djbulldogs.wordpress.com/2008/11/...ops-recap/

The Agenda: Tuesday, Nov. 18

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:56:06 -0600

IN THE NEWS: In a season filled with bad news, a glimmer of good news for Mississippi State: Jamar Chaney, the senior linebacker injured in the first game of the season, has told coach Sylvester Croom that he plans to return for 2009. Look for Chaney to make the move to outside linebacker, Croom said. Chaney and K.J. Wright form a solid core for the linebacking corps in 2009. So that means Chaney won't participate in Senior Day activities Saturday at Scott Field. According to a team spokesman, only one Bulldog non-senior will, and that's special teamer/defensive back Jarvis Kyles, a junior who is expected to leave the program. HOOPS AT THE HUMP: Jarvis Varnado scored two points on 1-of-4 from the field — and was easily State's most valuable player in its 78-49 win over Louisiana-Monroe last night. BLOGOSPHERIC CONDITIONS:The Blog's Arkansas news and views come from fine blogs and Web sites like:• WholeHogSports.com, the UA home page of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.• Hog Blog, a cumulative UA blog run by the fine folks at The Morning News. TODAY'S AGENDA: 1 p.m.: Sylvester Croom's weekly press conference, with players to follow4 p.m.: FB practiceUPCOMIN' FOOTBALLSaturday: vs. Arkansas (4-6, 1-5 SEC), 1:30 p.m. TV: None. Radio: MSU Network (WOAD 105.9-FM in Jackson)Forecast: Sunny, high 55, low 33 (link) UPCOMIN' BASKETBALL Tonight: vs. North Alabama (2-0), 7 p.m. TV: None. Radio: MSU Network (WOAD 105.9-FM in Jackson)

Posted on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:58 GMT at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...ledger.com

Countdown to Twilight

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:18:08 -0600

Twilight, from the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers, opens this weekend!!! Yay! Anyone as exicted as I am?

ULM-MSU Postgame Quotes

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:47:23 -0600

Coach Rick Stansbury:
• On Jarvis Varnado (9 blocks): “He can control the game doing other things. He erases a lot of mistakes from other people and allows us to get out and get in some transition.”
• On Varnado's 2 points: “We’ve got to get better getting that ball inside the paint. Jarvis has to get better at getting that ball where he can score it from. He’s got to do a better job of moving and sealing, and we’ve got to do a better job as a team getting it to him.”
• On hitting early 3-pointers against the zone: “They played zone 35 more minutes, probably 30 minutes at least. We made some shots early. But you can’t live by shooting threes, deep threes, against the zone.”
• On his 5-and-5 platoon: “I’m still tuning those two units. As you could see, that second unit brings some things, too. They bring us a little toughness, they bring us some energy. I like that right now. I thought the second half we kind of wore on their team. I feel our depth kind of got into them.”
• On sophomore forward Kodi Augustus (12 points, 8 rebounds): “He did OK. He’s doing OK. I have to get him to play tougher. You can’t go in there and rebound the basketball with one hand. You’ve got to stick your nose in there. It’s no secret, that’s the area he’s got to get better at.”
A couple of players quotes now:
• Varnado: “It ain’t about how many I score. It’s a team thing. The guys were hitting their threes tonight, the guards were doing a good job, Kodi was doing a good job. I just stick to what I do best and rebound and block shots.”
• Barry Stewart (17 points): “This team’s a balanced team, not like in the past really, we had two guys we really went to.”

Posted on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:17 GMT at http://djbulldogs.wordpress.com/2008/11/...me-quotes/

Hoops: MSU 78, La.-Monroe 49

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:21:47 -0600

The Bulldogs rolled tonight, jumping out to a 17-4 lead. Jarvis Varnado had nine blocks in the first half, one shy of the school record he set last year, but he had none in the second half. He had 11 rebounds and 2 points.
Barry Stewart led MSU with 17 points. Dee Bost had 14, Kodi Augustus 12 and Ravern Johnson 10.
Starkville native Jarvis Hill had 19 points to lead ULM.

Posted on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:09 GMT at http://djbulldogs.wordpress.com/2008/11/...monroe-49/

No VMI-ing, at least not tonight

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:21:46 -0600

Mississippi State closed out an impressive 78-49 win over Louisiana-Monroe at Humphrey Coliseum here a few moments ago. The skinny: Jarvis Varnado had nine blocks, all in the first half; Barry Stewart scored 17 to lead MSU; MSU outrebounded ULM 29-7 in the second half; MSU shot 9-of-21 from behind the three-point line. Bottom line, State took care of business, which is the first order of business in these early-season games. The Louisiana-Monroes and Centenarys of the world don't exactly create a buzz of an atmosphere at The Hump (an announced 4,410 came tonight), and they undoubtedly are hard to get up for if you're a player, too. As mentioned on The Blog earlier today, Kentucky has found out the hard way about this dangerous syndrome two years running, losing to Gardner-Webb and VMI in Rupp Arena in back-to-back years. And Sunday, Alabama was shocked on its home floor by Mercer. A few moments ago, I asked MSU coach Rick Stansbury if he brings up those upsets to his team. He said Mercer's win over Alabama yesterday was a "perfect example." "You better be ready these days," Stansbury said. "All these little teams can play. This little team had some athletes. They're going to beat some poeple, now.""... You have to get your minds ready to play at the same level no matter who youre playing every night. And that's difficult to do. Sometimes we have to use things to help them see that, the Mercers, the VMIs. You hope you don't have to. You don't want to use artificial motivation." Next up: North Alabama, Wednesday night at The Hump.

Posted on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:52 GMT at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...ledger.com

Petrino Says …

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:46:55 -0600

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino just got done with his weekly press conference. I listened in, and here's what I heard:
• On RB Michael Smith, who's recovering from a shoulder injury: “Michael practiced last night, looked very quick, fast. I think his legs are back, feeling good.”
• On possibly playing two QBs, starter Casey Dick (concussion) and backup/little brother Nathan Dick: “I’m never going to say never. … I don’t anticipate doing that, but who knows?” Petrino said Casey Dick will be evaluated daily.
• On Nathan Dick, a redshirt freshman: “I’ve been impressed with how serious he’s taken it, how prepared he’s been for every practice, the leadership he’s shown stepping into the huddle, and just the different guy that comes out, the different personality that comes out when you step up to No. 1.”
• On his team's general health: “We’ll be as healthy as we’ve been all year, I think.”
• On MSU's defense: “They have a very good defense, very similar in some of the things they do to South Carolina. They go back and forth between a four-man front and a three-man front. They’ll pressure you. They try to get an extra guy down into the box somehow to stop the run, whether that’s seven guys or eight guys or nine, depending on what personnel group you have in the game.”
• On MSU's offense: “The biggest concern you have is their ability to run the ball, add option to the package and then their quarterback can do two things: He can throw the ball deep, or he can scramble around. So we have a challenge to make sure we keep him in the pocket and defend the deep pass.”

Posted on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:20 GMT at http://djbulldogs.wordpress.com/2008/11/...%e2%80%a6/

Can Mississippi State get VMI'ed tonight?

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:46:54 -0600

It's November, the leaves are flying off the trees and the breeze is chilly. I'm wearing a black pullover. I've got to figure out a way to squeeze in dinner tonight in the space of about 10 minutes. What does all this mean? Why, it's time for The Blog to begin dissecting one of its favorite topics — college basketball. Louisiana-Monroe visits Humphrey Coliseum tonight for a 7 o'clock tip. The Warhawks are 1-0 after a come-from-behind 56-54 win over Morehead State, a team from one of The Blog's favorite conferences — the Ohio Valley. ULM erased a double-digit halftime deficit en route to the win. Mississippi State is 1-0, of course, after a 77-55 lid-lifting win over Centenary. A night before that, tiny Virginia Military Institute, a team picked to finish in the bottom half of the Big South, beat Kentucky in Rupp Arena. So is State vulnerable to being VMI'd tonight at home? Maybe. ULM is led by 5-foot-11 senior guard Tony Hooper, who was named a second team all-Sun Belt guard in the preseason. The Warhawks were picked to finish fifth in the seven-team West Division of The Belt. Two years ago, they were picked to finish last and finished first. Last year, the exact opposite. Louisiana-Monroe has lost 24 straight games to Southeastern Conference opponents dating to a win over Arkansas in the 1992-93 season. So can ULM win? Of course. But one of the things that worked in VMI's favor was its fast-paced, shoot-a-lot offense. ULM doesn't seem to have that. Oh and there's this: ULM is coached by fourth-year boss Orlando Early, a former assistant for Mark Gottfried at Alabama. So he knows a little about having played Rick Stansbury-coached teams, if that's worth anything.

Posted on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:38 GMT at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...ledger.com

The Agenda: Monday, Nov. 17

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:32:58 -0600

IN THE NEWS: Mississippi State's men's basketball team spent the first two weeks of November slowly working into game shape against exhibition opponents Montevallo and Oklahoma City. Now, the test begins. Saturday's lid-lifting win over Centenary sparked the start of a stretch of seven games in 15 days for this young team. The second in that stretch is tonight when Louisiana-Monroe visits for a 7 p.m. tipoff at The Hump. MSU coach Rick Stansbury said the approach with such a jam-packed early season schedule is a little different when it involves a young team like he has. FOOTBALL, TOO: MSU's football team, now officially eliminated from bowl contention, has to regroup and find motivation for the final two games of the year. The first is Saturday against Arkansas, a 4-6 team that will need to beat MSU and LSU to become bowl-eligible. Here's a scouting report on the Hogs in this morning's C-L. In beautiful Northwest Arkansas, we learn about the still-improving Razorbacks in the Northwest Arkansas Times. Friend of The Blog Tom Murphy, the UA football beat reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, points out that Arkansas has allowed more sacks than any other school in the country. HOUSEKEEPING NOTE: This will be an incredibly busy week for The Blog, but the intent is to not let you know about it by letting things fall through the cracks here. The usual ramp-up to a football game week is increased by three men's basketball games and is made a little bit more tense with the ongoing questions about what will happen at the end of the year with the football program. As usual, I hope you'll turn here — and follow 'kyleveazey' on Twitter — for the latest. BLOGOSPHERIC CONDITIONS:The Blog's Arkansas news and views come from fine blogs and Web sites like:• WholeHogSports.com, the UA home page of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.• Hog Blog, a cumulative UA blog run by the fine folks at The Morning News. TODAY'S AGENDA: 10 a.m.: Sylvester Croom's weekly news conference4 p.m.: FB practice7 p.m.: MBB game vs. Louisiana-Monroe.UPCOMIN' FOOTBALLSaturday: vs. Arkansas (4-6, 1-5 SEC), 1:30 p.m. TV: None. Radio: MSU Network (WOAD 105.9-FM in Jackson)Forecast: Sunny, high 55, low 33 (link) UPCOMIN' BASKETBALL Tonight: vs. Louisiana-Monroe (1-0), 7 p.m. TV: None. Radio: MSU Network (WOAD 105.9-FM in Jackson)

Posted on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:59 GMT at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...ledger.com

Croom Speaks; Players of the Week

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:24:29 -0600

As I wrote in the below post, the big news of the day was senior LB Jamar Chaney applying for a medical hardship in hopes of returning next season. He broke his leg in the season opener.
But there was plenty else discussed on this morning's Sylvester Croom teleconference. Some nuggets:
• On if he feels bad for his defense: “I feel bad for whole team. I think people forget, this is an entire football team. Everybody out there has played hard all year.”
• On where the offense breaks down: “I know exactly where the breakdown starts happening. At times we don’t do things like we practice. The effort’s good, but if we block well, you might miss a read. If the protection’s good, we might miss a read as far as the throw. We might make the throw, but the catch isn’t made. … That’s what we’ve dealt with all year long.”
• On the general disappointment of this season: “We’ve had lot of things happen. Some things have not gone our way, and we’ve created some misfortune for ourselves. We started off, didn’t have quite the leadership we had last year. Some have emerged, and that’s been a positive. … It’s just been a struggle from start to finish. But I’m proud our guys have competed all year, and that’s a positive.”
• On how this year's affected him: “I’ve gotten a lot more mentally tough. I’ve grown a lot thicker skin. You do that, I guess, as you get older.”
• On center D.J. Looney, who made his first start Saturday: “I knew there were going to be some mistakes on his part, but I thought he played with a lot of poise, and he fought them all night long.”
• On what he expects when Arkansas comes in Saturday: “Those guys want to end on a good note just like we do. I think it’s going to be two teams out there battling for pride and respect.” And, in Arky's case, a bowl game.
• On what must be one to make next year better: “This recruiting year is absolutely critical to the future of this program. That’ll make three straight good recruiting years. … The ability to get players, I mean top SEC players, was extremely difficult, and the last two years we’ve been able to do that. For us to have a quality program in the future, we have to maintain this class.”
Also, the SEC has released its players of the week:
• Offense: WR/RB Percy Harvin, Florida
• Defense: CB D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt
• Special teams: KR Javier Arenas, Alabama
• Offensive line: T Michael Oher, Ole Miss
• Defensive line: DE Jermaine Cunningham, Florida
• Freshman: WR A.J. Green, Georgia

Posted on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:46 GMT at http://djbulldogs.wordpress.com/2008/11/...-the-week/

Chaney to Return

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:24:29 -0600

Coach Sylvester Croom said on this morning's teleconference that senior middle linebacker Jamar Chaney wants him to apply for a medical hardship and plans to return for the 2009 season. “He and I were just talking the other day, we were standing out at practice talking, he said, ‘Coach, I've already made my decision, I want to come back.' I told hm I appreciated that he let me know.”
Croom said Chaney will move to outside linebacker next year, which he thinks is a better fit for him. “On paper right now, with the guys we've got committed and him coming back, that’ll definitely be one of our stronger positions.”
Chaney broke his leg in the season opener against Louisiana Tech.

Posted on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:24 GMT at http://djbulldogs.wordpress.com/2008/11/...to-return/