Mississippi

How Buffalo Wild Wings, Bible study build cohesion for Mississippi State’s new offensive line

Published

2 years ago

August 13, 2024

How Buffalo Wild Wings, Bible study build cohesion for Mississippi State’s new offensive line

STARKVILLE — Grant Jackson appears to be the chicken wing-eating champion among Mississippi State football’s offensive linemen. At least he was one night near the start of the Bulldogs’ preseason camp.

“I think Grant had over 30 (wings) and his fiancé had to stop him,” center Ethan Miner said in early August.

Trips to Buffalo Wild Wings for all-you-can-eat chicken wings are one example of how Mississippi State’s offensive linemen are gelling together before the 2024 season kicks off on Aug. 31 against Eastern Kentucky (5 p.m., SEC Network+).

The group is completely revamped with all five starters from last season departed. The Bulldogs also have a new offensive line coach in Cody Kennedy, hired by first-year coach Jeff Lebby after three seasons at Arkansas.

Talent is necessary at offensive line, but so is the cohesion that’s been noted by Mississippi State coaches since the start of preseason practices.

Miner, a North Texas transfer who’s started 35 consecutive games, appears to be a leader of the group. According to Jacoby Jackson, another offensive lineman transfer, the position group has made trips to church together and had Bible study sessions. Miner conducts it.

“Sometimes we go to Ethan Miner’s house,” Jacoby Jackson said Tuesday. “We go, eat some good food, just bond. You know offensive linemen, nine times out of 10 when we bond, we’re going to bond over some good food, so it’s a good thing that we do.”

MORE: Why this junior college could affect Mississippi State football’s defense in multiple ways

Mississippi State’s coaches have pointed out the offensive line’s chemistry

At the start of preseason practice, Kennedy said the group’s closeness has been something he’s already picked up on.

“That’s been the biggest thing that I’ve seen through my time here is their ability (to) want to hang out with each other,” he said. “They care for each other. That used to always be a given in the O-line world. Now with the fabric of the game and how you’re managing rosters, it’s kind of been a lost art.”

Then after Sunday’s first Mississippi State preseason scrimmage, Lebby noted the offensive line as one of the most improved positions on the team.

“I think the group is really taking great strides since we ended spring ball, and maybe the group that’s made the most improvement between the end of spring and fall camp,” he said. “And then it’s continued to get better. I appreciate their spirit, their work ethic, their toughness and their camaraderie.”

Strong friendships aren’t interfering with competition

Jackson and Miner are about as experienced as teams can find in the transfer portal. Mississippi State also added Memphis transfer Makylan Pounders, who started 10 games last season, and LSU transfer Marlon Martinez, who’s made 45 appearances and four starts in four seasons.

They mix with a group that lacks experience.

“I’ve been at places where you transfer in and the guys don’t like you because it’s a threat,” Miner said. “They’re coming in to compete for a spot. That wasn’t the case at all. It’s definitely brought us closer together.”

Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Mississippi

Mississippi turkey season bag limit, structure proposed for nonresident hunters

Published

10 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

Mississippi turkey season bag limit, structure proposed for nonresident hunters

‘We’re doing this to decrease the pressure we get early in the season. We’re trying to move that pressure on into later in the season.’

If a proposal made in the April meeting of the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is finalized, nonresident turkey hunters will see big changes in the 2027 spring turkey season.

“We’re doing this in a way to impact how hunting pressure occurs and how the harvest happens in the early season,” said Caleb Hinton, Wild Turkey Program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. “We’re doing this to decrease the pressure we get early in the season. We’re trying to move that pressure on into later in the season.”

Turkey hunters enjoy a three-bird bag limit and a little more than six weeks of hunting in spring, which is similar to some other states. What is at issue is when it opens. March 15 is the typical opening date for the regular season, making it one of the earliest in the nation.

That early opening date combined with a growing trend among turkey hunters is where the problem lies.

Mississippi is a destination for early season, nonresident hunters

Possibly more than any other group of hunters, turkey hunters like to travel. For some, it may be a matter of seeing a different landscape and hunting birds under condions they don’t encounter in their home state. For others it may be a quest to harvest each of the subspecies in North America.

For yet another group, it’s the challenge of harvesting a gobbler in each of the 49 states that have turkeys.

“It seems to be getting more and more popular every year,” Hinton said.

Regardless of why a turkey hunter chooses to travel, it puts a target on Mississippi’s back because for the first few weeks of the season, it’s almost the only game in town, so hunters flock to the state.

In an effort to curb the amount of hunting pressure in those first weeks of turkey season, MDWFP proposed limiting nonresident hunters to two legal gobblers per season and only one of those can be harvested before April 1.

“Hopefully, it will help curb the massive influx of pressure we get the first week or two of the season,” Hinton said.

When will turkey season changes for nonresidents be voted on?

The proposed changes aren’t the first that have been geared toward alleviating pressure on turkeys in the early part of the season by nonresidents. In 2022, the commission passed a rule requiring nonresident hunters to enter a drawing for a hunt on public land during the first two weeks of turkey season. Currently, the number of hunters drawn is limited to 800.

Like that change, the current proposal will pass or fail by a vote of the wildlife commission. In the April commission meeting, the proposal passed an initial vote. It is now in a 30-day public comment period and a final vote will be taken in the May meeting.

Public comments may be submitted at https://www.mdwfp.com/proposed-rules-regulations.

A lifelong outdoorsman and wildlife enthusiast, Brian Broom has been writing about hunting, fishing and Mississippi’s outdoors for the Clarion Ledger for more than 14 years. He can be reached at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

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Mississippi

Mississippi high school addresses social media post, says it won’t tolerate racism or harassment

Published

22 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Mississippi high school addresses social media post, says it won’t tolerate racism or harassment

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) – A Mississippi high school has made a statement after a social media post involving a student surfaced.

Northeast Lauderdale High School officials say they’re reviewing a social media post involving a student.

In a statement, the school said administrators are aware of the post and are “reviewing the situation.”

The school said it is committed to maintaining a safe, orderly and respectful environment for students and staff.

“Neither our district nor our school accept or condone racism, discrimination, harassment, or behavior that is inconsistent with the expectations of our school community,” the statement said.

Officials said they are working with the appropriate parties and will address the matter in accordance with district policies and procedures.

The school added that it cannot share additional details because of student privacy laws.

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Mississippi

Ryan McPherson injury update, Mississippi State star hurts ankle, exits Auburn game

Published

1 day ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Ryan McPherson injury update, Mississippi State star hurts ankle, exits Auburn game

(This story was updated to add new information.)

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball starting pitcher Ryan McPherson exited his May 9 return against Auburn with an ankle injury, according to coach Brian O’Connor.

McPherson tripped behind home plate while backing up a potential throw in the second inning and limped back to the mound. The MSU coaches and trainer examined McPherson before pulling him.

McPherson was making his first start since March 20 after suffering a forearm strain.

The No. 11 Bulldogs (38-14, 15-12 SEC) trailed the No. 6 Tigers (35-15, 16-11) by one run with one out in the inning before getting run-ruled 13-2 in seven innings at Dudy Noble Field.

McPherson threw 34 pitches in 1⅓ innings with one earned and one unearned run allowed, two hits, no walks and no strikeouts.

He did not throw a practice pitch while being examined, and he didn’t limp as he walked into the dugout, either.

Ryan McPherson injury update from Brian O’Connor

O’Connor revealed after the game that McPherson was on a 40-pitch limit, so he was likely going to get pulled soon anyway.

“I would hate for the young man to have a setback because he goes out there and tries to throw to another batter or two and changes this delivery because of an ankle (injury),” O’Connor said. “So that’s what went into that decision. It’s unfortunate, but it was good to get him back out there.”

McPherson, a sophomore, missed six straight starts with his forearm injury. He took Charlie Foster’s spot in the pitching rotation for the Auburn series.

One series remains at Texas A&M before the SEC Tournament.

“We’ll see how he recovers from this and then to see what his availability will be for next weekend,” O’Connor said.