Mississippi
Still holding hands and eating Mississippi catfish – The Oxford Eagle
Still holding hands and eating Mississippi catfish
Published 7:40 am Wednesday, May 1, 2024
- Les Ferguson
By Les Ferguson
Columnist
If I’ve done the math right, it was 1983. We were oh-so-young, and so was the World Catfish Festival in Belzoni. The annual event was only six years old, and Belzoni was a tiny delta town. Current statistics show that the city has a population under 2,000. If it was more significant in 1983, it wasn’t by much.
As I said, my now wife and I were very young and with her parents. I only remember a few specifics of what the festival had to offer. Of course, an event celebrating Mississippi’s catfish industry and Belzoni’s epicenter meant plenty of catfish to eat, cooked multiple ways with all the sides and fixings.
I explicitly remember eating hushpuppies, fried onion rings, and coleslaw. I was not tempted to eat chitlins that day — I’d already tried them before, and once was enough. Despite my young age and much higher metabolism, I suspect I’m still carrying a pound or three from that day.
But the best memories of that long ago time were holding hands with my best girl as we wandered through the booths and displays of the event. I can still see her in the bright sunlight, the smile on her face, the twinkle in her eyes, and the highlights in her hair.
This past weekend, Oxford hosted its annual Double Decker Festival around the town square. Before the event, it was estimated that some 75,000 would attend — quite a difference from Belzoni in 1983.
Like many others, my still-best girl and I shuffled from booth to booth. Shuffled is a perfect description — it was so crowded that one could hardly walk. As we did that long ago day, we held hands the best we could amidst the crowd’s crush. I ate catfish and hushpuppies again. My girl bought some art.
It was a good day. It was a day of memories. It was a day of making new memories. And in a funny way, the memories of that long ago day and those created this past Saturday all run together. They tell the story of a life blessed by the presence of another.
I pray you will know, experience, and revel in good, strong, and beautiful relationships — and eat the Mississippi catfish, too!
As King Solomon says, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.”
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 CSB)
LSU baseball found itself Saturday night in almost an identical situation to the night before at Dudy Noble Field.
The Tigers held a multi-run lead over No. 11 Mississippi State. In the series opener Friday night, LSU led the Bulldogs 7-3 before giving it up and ultimately losing in extra innings.
During game two Saturday, the Tigers jumped out to a 7-2 lead over MSU by the fourth inning. LSU’s top bullpen arms couldn’t hold the lead against Mississippi State in game one. One night later, the Tigers’ bullpen gave up another big lead to the home team.
It was déjà vu for LSU as it lost to the Bulldogs, 9-8, to lose its third straight league series.
The Tigers (24-20, 6-14 SEC) have now lost eight straight SEC games, the longest conference losing streak in program history.
Sophomore reliever Cooper Williams gave up a grand slam to Mississippi State’s Jacob Parker in the seven inning that tied the game 7-7. Parker was the only batter he faced.
In the eighth, senior Tiger pitcher Grant Fontenot gave up multiple hits and the Bulldogs scored two runs to take the lead.
LSU chased Mississippi State starter Duke Stone early but reliever Jack Bauers proved to be unbreakable as he gave up just one run on three hits while striking out eight across 3⅔ innings into the ninth.
Sophomore designated hitter Cade Arrambide jumpstarted the Tigers with a two-run home run in the first. He also had an RBI double in the fifth and finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs. Freshmen Omar Serna Jr. had three hits, including the solo homer in the ninth to pull the Tigers within a run. Freshman Mason Braun reached base each of his first three plate appearances.
Grant Fontenot gives up the lead for LSU. Tigers are now three outs away from losing the series.
MSU’s Bauers is mowing LSU hitters down now, up to seven strikeouts.
Mississippi State’s Jacob Parker just hit a grand slam to tie this game up. It’s deja vu for Tiger fans.
Two reach but LSU can’t bring them home. Some insurance runs would be nice for the Tigers.
That’s the most emotion I’ve ever seen from Lachenmayer. MSU gets a runner to second but he got the big strikeout to end the threat.
Braun got a two-out but nothing else for the Tigers.
Danny Lachenmayer masterfully worked around a jam to get out of the fifth inning, preserving LSU’s 5-run lead.
Tigers have blown this game wide open. Arrambide with an RBI double before Eddie Yamin cranked a three-run home run. The question is still being begged though: Can LSU hold onto the lead?
Schmidt is doing a decent job of getting himself out of sticky situations. He gives a up run in the fourth but he limited the damage.
Jack Ruckert ripped a one-out double down the line left field line but William Patrick and Tanner Reaves flied out to end the threat.
Schmidt strikes out a pair and he’s up to 4 Ks so far tonight.
Nothing doing for the Tigers on offense.
Schmidt has looked good through the first couple of innings tonight. One mistake that led to the homer and the walk wasn’t really on him.
More baserunning blunders for the Tigers. I would say that can’t happen but it’s who this LSU team is this year.
William Schmidt gives up a solo home run to Ace Reese. But that was his only mistake in an otherwise good opening frame.
Another hot start for the Tigers in Starkville. They plate three runs in the first, highlighted by a two-run blast from Cade Arrambide. Now the question is can LSU hold a lead?
LSU baseball vs Mississippi State probable pitchers
- LSU – William Schmidt, RHP (4-4, 4.14 ERA)
- Mississippi State – Duke Stone, LHP (6-1, 3.78 ERA)
What time does LSU baseball vs Mississippi State start?
- Date: Saturday, April 24
- Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi
What TV channel is LSU baseball vs Mississippi State on today?
- TV: ESPN2
- Streaming: Fubo
- How to watch online: Watch ESPN
LSU baseball 2026 schedule
| Date | Opponent |
| Feb. 13 | Milwaukee (W 15-5) |
| Feb. 14 | Milwaukee (W 5-3) |
| Feb. 15 | Milwaukee (W 21-7) |
| Feb. 16 | Kent State (W 10-7) |
| Feb. 18 | Nicholls State (W 12-1) |
| Feb. 20 | Indiana (Jacksonville, Florida) (W 14-7) |
| Feb. 21 | Notre Dame (Jacksonville, Florida) (W 9-4) |
| Feb. 22 | UCF (Jacksonville, Florida) (W 11-0) |
| Feb. 24 | McNeese State (L 7-6) |
| Feb. 27 | Dartmouth (W 5-2) |
| Feb. 28 | Northeastern (W 3-1) |
| March 1 | Dartmouth (W 3-0) |
| March 2 | Northeastern (L 13-10) |
| March 4 | at Louisiana (L 7-2) |
| March 6 | Sacramento State (W 15-4) |
| March 7 | Sacramento State (L 5-4) |
| March 8 | Sacramento State (L 6-1) |
| March 10 | Creighton (W 8-4) |
| March 13 | Vanderbilt* (L 13-12) |
| March 14 | at Vanderbilt* (L 11-3) |
| March 15 | at Vanderbilt* (W 16-9) |
| March 17 | at Grambling State (W 7-1) |
| March 19 | Oklahoma* (W 7-1) |
| March 20 | Oklahoma* (L 4-2) |
| March 21 | Oklahoma* (L 4-3) |
| March 24 | Louisiana Tech (W 15-5) |
| March 27 | Kentucky* (L 7-4) |
| March 28 | Kentucky* (W 7-0) |
| March 29 | Kentucky* (W 17-10) |
| March 31 | Southern (W 16-6) |
| April 3 | at Tennessee* (W 7-5) |
| April 4 | at Tennessee* (L 4-1) |
| April 5 | at Tennessee* (W 16-6) |
| April 7 | Bethune-Cookman (L 10-7) |
| April 10 | at Ole Miss* (L 6-3) |
| April 11 | at Ole Miss* (L 12-2) |
| April 12 | at Ole Miss* (L 8-7) |
| April 14 | Northwestern State (W 4-2) |
| April 17 | Texas A&M* (L 10-4_ |
| April 18 | Texas A&M* (L 7-2) |
| April 19 | Texas A&M* (L 5-2) |
| April 21 | New Orleans (W 10-4) |
| April 24 | at Mississippi State* (L 10-8) |
| April 25 | at Mississippi State* (L 9-8) |
| April 26 | at Mississippi State* |
| April 28 | Southeastern Louisiana |
| May 1 | South Carolina* |
| May 2 | South Carolina* |
| May 3 | South Carolina* |
| May 5 | Tulane |
| May 8 | at Georgia* |
| May 9 | at Georgia* |
| May 10 | at Georgia* |
| May 14 | Florida* |
| May 15 | Florida* |
| May 16 | Florida* |
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
EL SEGUNDO — The Chargers used the first of their three fourth-round draft picks to take Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson 105th overall in the NFL draft Saturday morning. General Manager Joe Hortiz then traded up to take Memphis tackle Travis Burke at No. 117 with the second of his three fourth-round picks.
Hortiz sent the Houston Texans picks in the fourth (123rd) and sixth rounds (204th) to select Burke in the fourth round (117th), his third trade in two days. The Chargers began the day with seven picks in the final four rounds of the three-day draft in Pittsburgh.
In addition, the Chargers have one pick in the fifth round (145th) and two in the sixth (202nd and 206th). They didn’t have a seventh-round selection, however. They entered the draft with only five picks, but trades with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns netted an additional four.
The Chargers had only picks on the final day, but ended up with seven.
Thompson clocked a 4.26-second time in the 40-yard dash at the draft combine in Indianapolis in February, said to be the third-fastest time recorded by a wide receiver. Burke was officially listed at 6-foot-8¾ and 325 pounds at the combine.
“It’s God-given,” Thompson said of his speed. “I’ve always been fast my whole life. I’m so excited. It’s a perfect fit I’m excited to get with (Chargers offensive coordinator Mike) McDaniel and get to work. I’d say I’m explosive as a route runner. I think I’m going to fit in perfectly.”
The Chargers completed their fourth-round selections by taking University of Arizona safety Genesis Smith with the 131st overall pick. They used their lone pick in the fifth round to pick South Carolina defensive tackle Nick Barrett (145th), ending a run of four consecutive offensive players.
More to come on this story.
Mississippi
Mississippi will reexamine judicial redistricts after US Supreme Court rules in voting rights case
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves on Friday announced he will call a special session for judicial redistricting once the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a Voting Rights Act case that has broad implications for minority representation throughout the country.
During oral arguments last fall, the Supreme Court appeared poised to strike down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which has been used to counter racially discriminatory election practices. A decision in the case, Louisiana v. Callais, is expected before the court’s term ends in June.
Overturning Section 2 would give state legislatures and local governments the opportunity to redraw maps while preventing minority voters from challenging ones that dilute their influence.. A decision wiping out a pillar of the 1965 Voting Rights Act could help Republicans gain seats in the U.S. House by eliminating Democratic-leaning districts that are majority Black or Latino, especially in the South. Most of those redraws would not happen in time for this year’s midterm elections.
The special session proclamation, signed by Reeves on Thursday, relates to a specific case involving judicial districts for the Mississippi Supreme Court. Last August, a federal judge ordered Mississippi to redraw its Supreme Court electoral map after finding it violated Section 2 by diluting the power of Black voters.
In his proclamation, Reeves wrote that the lack of a ruling in the Louisiana case “deprived the Mississippi Legislature of its undisputed federally recognized right’ to remedy the Section 2 violation.
The governor in a social media post said he hoped the Supreme Court “will reaffirm the animating principle that all Americans are created equal.” He said the Legislature will convene the special session 21 days after the Supreme Court issues its ruling in the Louisiana case.
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