Mississippi
Two key Deion Sanders, Colorado staffers heading to Mississippi State
Following Colorado’s loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday evening, Deion Sanders staffers Vincent Dancy and Phil Loadholt are leaving the program to join Mississippi State per a report by Steve Robertson of 247 Sports. Loadholt served as the Buffaloes’ offensive line coach and Dancy served as defensive ends coach.
Dancy, an HBCU graduate from Jackson State University, became part of Colorado’s staff in 2022 after Deion Sanders left the Tigers. Prior to that, he spent five seasons as the head coach at Mississippi Valley State. His coaching journey began in 2009 as a graduate assistant at JSU, where he later became the safeties coach in 2012. In 2014, he took on the role of defensive coordinator at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. Dancy initially joined Colorado as a quality control analyst but then was promoted to defensive ends coach.
Loadholt is a Colorado native, playing middle and high school football in the state. He committed to Colorado out of high school but was unable to enroll due to academic troubles so he went to Garden City Community College before eventually heading to Oklahoma. His stellar play for the Sooners caught the attention of the Vikings, who selected him with the 54th pick in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played for the Vikings until 2015.
Related Colorado Football NewsArticle continues below
According to Robertson’s report, Loadholt was considered last December for an off-the-field analyst role on Coach Jeff Lebby’s staff. However, the Loadholt chose to join Coach Deion Sanders at Colorado. Now, both staffers are joining a Mississippi State team that has seen immense struggles. The team finished 2-10 in Lebby’s first year at the helm of the program.
Lebby surely looks to enjoy the turnaround success that Sanders experienced in his first two seasons leading Colorado. The Buffaloes finished the season 9-4 and boasted the 2024 Heisman Trophy Winner in Travis Hunter. Loadholt and Dancy are expected to stay with their position groups in their new roles with Mississippi State.
Mississippi
Mississippi Association of Coaches Inducts Six New Members
Six new members were inducted into the Mississippi Association Coaches Hall of Fame on Friday.
Five electees and one surprise honorary inductee announced at the evening’s end.
Each says the MAC HOF is a special one and this is the ultimate honor for a coach in Mississippi.
Mississippi
Fort Worth youth baseball team rescued after floodwaters trap families in Mississippi
Members of a Fort Worth-area youth baseball team were among dozens of people rescued from rising floodwaters in Mississippi as Tropical Storm Arthur brought heavy rain and dangerous conditions to the Gulf Coast.
According to a release from Cajun Navy 2016, volunteers conducted multiple water rescues along the Biloxi River in Gulfport over the weekend as rainfall caused water levels to rise and flooded homes and roadways.
Among those evacuated were members of The Pickles, a Fort Worth-area youth baseball team.
Trey Williams, communications director for Cajun Navy 2016, said the rescue effort began when the mother of one of the players contacted the organization through Facebook seeking help. Initially, the situation did not appear urgent, but rising floodwaters overnight quickly changed conditions.
“They were just wanting to get to their game,” Williams said. “But overnight, the water rose a great bit, and it really did become more of an emergency situation where we needed to get them out of that house.”
According to Williams, volunteers working alongside the Gulfport Fire Department evacuated 12 players, nine adults, and three dogs; two German shepherds and a Labrador, from the flooded property.
The group was staying in an Airbnb near the Biloxi River when floodwaters began surrounding the elevated home. Williams said fast-moving water and changing currents created dangerous conditions for rescuers and those trapped inside.
“The most important thing was that water was very swift and fast-moving,” Williams said. “In that situation, it’s always best to get people out of harm’s way.”
The team rescue was one of several operations conducted by Cajun Navy 2016 during the storm response.
Williams said the rescue reflected the mission that inspired the organization after the historic Louisiana floods of 2016.
“It was neighbors coming together to help neighbors,” Williams said. “Every time we help somebody, they’re very grateful and relieved. In this situation, everybody was safe, everybody got out okay, and that’s why we’re here.”
Mississippi
Iconic Mississippi foods and top US foodie states
A conversation on the history of Black cuisine in America
Black chefs and authors, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Chef Thérèse Nelson, Chef David Rose, and Chef Ameer Natson discuss the origins of soul food and how Black chefs have contributed to American food.
Miguel Fernandez, NorthJersey.com
When you think of Mississippi food, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? The state has lots of iconic offerings, including biscuits, tamales and mud pie.
Talker Research surveyed 5,000 Americans for Hello Fresh. They talked to families about how much they cook at home, pride in local recipes and the states they think have the best cuisine in the U.S.
“Food has always been about more than just sustenance — it’s how we connect, share stories and pass down traditions,” said Michelle Doll Olson, senior manager of culinary development at HelloFresh US. “From California shrimp tacos and Minnesota Juicy Lucy, to Louisiana gumbo and New York bagels, the dishes that define each state carry generations of family memories and cultural pride.”
The average American reportedly cooks 12 meals at home every week. That’s three breakfasts, four lunches and five dinners.
Sharing food is a matter of community pride.
Get your groceries easily with Hello Fresh
What does Mississippi taste like?
New Hampshire was proud of its apple cider donuts while Utah bragged about “fry sauce.” Ohio loves its “buckeyes.”
People said the most iconic Mississippi foods are fried catfish and soul food.
Which states have the best food?
The Top 5 foodie states, according to the survey, were:
- California
- New York
- Texas
- Louisiana
- Florida
Residents of neighboring Louisiana were the most confident (94%) that they had the best cuisine.
What dishes and flavors represent other Southern states?
According to the data, here’s what other Southern states say represents them.
- Alabama: banana pudding, pinto beans and cornbread
- Arkansas: catfish, country fried chicken
- Florida: seafood, key lime pie, fresh orange juice
- Georgia: peach cobbler, seafood boils
- Kentucky: fried chicken
- Louisiana: crawfish, Cajun cuisine, gumbo
- North Carolina: barbecue, knoephla soup
- South Carolina: soul food
- Tennessee: barbecue
- Texas: Tex Mex, barbecue
- Virginia: ham
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@usatodayco.com.
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