Mississippi
Why Zach Arnett taking Mississippi State in new direction would honor Mike Leach | Toppmeyer
Discussing Mississippi State soccer’s ReliaQuest Bowl win honoring Mike Leach
Mississippi State soccer beat reporter Stefan Krajisnik breaks down MSU’s ReliaQuest Bowl win and the way the crew honored Mike Leach.
Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Mississippi State gained the ReliaQuest Bowl with protection and grit, and the one manner that might shock you is in the event you weren’t following alongside this season or didn’t discover the model of ball the Bulldogs performed all through Mike Leach’s tenure.
Zach Arnett’s protection has been the cornerstone of this program for the previous three seasons.
Mississippi State performed its bowl sport as a tribute to Leach, and the Bulldogs triumphed 19-10 over Illinois by taking part in a model of ball that has Arnett’s stamp on it.
The victory served as a cathartic torch passing after the Leach period ended cruelly and prematurely when the 61-year-old coach died from coronary heart issues in December.
MSU (9-4) swiftly promoted its defensive coordinator to the coach’s chair in a low-risk transfer that supplied not solely the perfect likelihood of continuity and stability at a difficult time but additionally afforded a chance to a 36-year-old coordinator whose profession had been burgeoning.
Arnett have to be his personal man as MSU’s coach. He’ll have to do that his manner. Doing so wouldn’t be a snub to Leach. If ever anybody relished charting his personal course and doing issues his manner – to heck with the critics – it was Leach. Arnett should construct his personal workers and recruit gamers that match his imaginative and prescient even whereas offering continuity and stability for veterans in this system affected by the lack of their coach.
“It’s an emotional sport. We had loads to play for right this moment,” Arnett stated after MSU gained with a brief discipline aim within the closing seconds earlier than tacking on a landing on the ultimate play.
RELIAQUEST BOWL: What’s subsequent for Mississippi State soccer as 2023 season begins with Zach Arnett?
TOPPMEYER: A trick play in Cambodia. Recommendation over Mexican. Laughs with hyenas. That is Mike Leach
Quarterback Will Rogers needed this as badly as anybody. Rogers began for Leach for 3 seasons, and he’s thrown for greater than 10,000 yards. He’ll return to play his senior season for Arnett.
As Rogers put it in a postgame interview with ESPN, Leach “most likely wouldn’t be too pleased with me” after he threw two interceptions in one in all his shakier performances of the season – the Illini have a strong protection, and it confirmed – however Rogers touted the crew’s toughness.
Search for toughness to proceed to be MSU’s foreign money beneath Arnett, even when he makes structural adjustments.
After the sport, reviews surfaced that Arnett plans to make some workers adjustments. Amongst them, receivers coaches Steve Spurrier Jr. and Drew Hollingshead are on their manner out, a supply accustomed to the scenario advised the Clarion Ledger.
And whereas it have to be tough to make such workers strikes so shortly after these gamers misplaced their coach, Arnett will need to have the liberty to guide this program into the long run he envisions. Making an attempt to imitate every part your predecessor did isn’t any method to lead.
Plus, an MSU offense that ranked eighth within the SEC wants a better ceiling whereas Arnett seems to rebuild a veteran protection that may lose key seniors.
Arnett will want an offensive coordinator to run that facet of the ball after Leach known as MSU’s offense for 3 seasons. That offensive coordinator seemingly will need the chance to rent a few of his personal assistants. Forcing an offensive coordinator to just accept the offensive workers he’d inherit isn’t any manner to make sure a professional applicant pool.
Arnett additionally could be smart to faucet somebody to name his protection, so he can deal with his CEO duties as a first-time coach. Arnett was a confirmed defensive coordinator. He’s an unproven coach. No must put on each hats when he can preserve his protection in place however rent or promote somebody to function it. Arnett confirmed a willingness to take action by having linebackers coach Matt Brock name the protection towards Illini.
Mississippi State gained the Egg Bowl on the again of its protection that delivered 15 tackles for loss in that rivalry triumph. The protection stood tall once more Monday, forcing a punt after Illinois gained possession in a tie sport with 4½ minutes remaining.
The cinematic ending would have been for Rogers to go the Bulldogs down the sphere in Leach’s Air Raid. As an alternative, State gashed Illinois with runs, and Simeon Worth gutted the Illini with a 28-yard run to the 2-yard line.
Worth’s 68 speeding yards have been a profession excessive for the freshman.
MSU had time for a few extra offensive performs earlier than a field-goal try. Leach was cautious of kickers, and I puzzled whether or not he’d attempt to punch it ultimately zone and keep away from the sphere aim.
No matter Leach would do, Arnett performed for the sphere aim. Rogers centered the ball, and Massimo Biscardi booted by way of the winner.
In victory, the Bulldogs paid tribute to Leach whereas marking the daybreak of a brand new period.
Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Community. E mail him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and comply with him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.
In the event you take pleasure in Blake’s protection, take into account a digital subscription that may permit you entry to all of it. Additionally, try his podcast, SEC Soccer Unfiltered, or entry unique columns by way of the SEC Unfiltered publication.
Mississippi
Texas vs Mississippi State: Three Bulldog Defensive Players to Watch
Mississippi State football will look to end its three-game losing streak against the nation’s number-one team, Texas. None of the struggles this season for Mississippi State under first-year head coach Jeff Lebby are as prevalent as the defense’s poor play.
The Mississippi State defense has been atrocious, giving up 45 points last week to a struggling Florida offense. However, the group can rally the troops in a huge game, but who will need to step up for that to happen?
Trevion Williams
The Mississippi State defensive line has been problematic in terms of play and injuries this season. Williams garnered a lot of hype coming into the season due to his talent but had struggled with injuries in the past.
However, the former four-star has remained healthy this season but has produced little to no value. Someone on this defensive line has to step up and make an impact, and Willams has by far the most upside, but he has to show it on the field.
Kelley Jones
Jones was another guy who came into the season with a lot of hype and has played well for a redshirt freshman. However, the speedy corner has yet to force a turnover, and if Mississippi State wants to pull the upset, forcing a couple of mistakes is vital.
Texas will undoubtedly test the Mississippi State secondary early in this game, and if Jones can make a play, it may cause the Longhorns to adjust their game plan.
Tcl Jim Hill Vs Florence / Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK
Zakari Tillman
With this season being a rebuilding year for Mississippi State, many young players will likely get extended reps in games. Tillman looks impressive when he is on the field, and he is the size of an SEC linebacker.
The Florence, Miss. native will face his stiffest test to this point in his career. How will he respond?
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Mississippi
Ports along the Mississippi River unified: How it impacts central Illinois
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Ten states, including Illinois, signed a cooperative endeavor agreement which some believe will lead to further economic growth.
The agreement unifies both the inland ports of the Mississippi River as well as its coastal ports in the South.
Robert Sinkler is the Executive Coordinating Director of the Corn Belt Ports, the inland ports in the Midwest. He said this agreement is the first of its kind for Mississippi River ports, as previously there was no unification.
“We’ve never had that kind of port system recognized before and we’ve never really worked closely together between the ports,” he said.
There is a local impact as well. The Illinois River Cities and Towns Initiative is a coalition of several municipalities on the Illinois River, spearheaded by Peoria Mayor Rita Ali and East Peoria Mayor John Kahl.
Brackish water creeping up the Mississippi River may threaten Louisiana’s drinking supply
Anshu Singh is the project manager for the initiative, and spoke about why the group is being formed.
“This will bring the mayors together, to align their priorities with their local port, so that they can influence the investment decisions and also attract much-needed attention to the Illinois River basin,” she said.
Municipalities such as Havana, Henry, and Morris have joined the coalition. It’s sponsored by the Illinois Waterway Ports Commission, which Singh says is just now receiving federal recognition.
“It’s trying to build up the influence to get more investment into the region,” she said.
Sinkler believes the initiative on the Illinois River, along with the multi-state effort for the Mississippi River, will be big economic development tools.
“We can work together to increase economic activity, and we can serve as a development engine from one end of the Mississippi River to the other,” he said.
With more than 100 million tons of freight shipped through the region each year, Sinkler is optimistic that global markets can be tapped into.
“This recognition will increase the profile and actually help us attract more investment from a wide variety of sources,” he said.
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Mississippi
Northeast Mississippi attorney appointed to Court of Appeals. See who
Weddle to start new role Oct. 14.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has appointed a Saltillo-based district attorney to fill a vacant seat on the Mississippi Court of Appeals.
On Wednesday, the governor’s office announced John Weddle will replace former District 1 position 1 Judge Jim M. Greenlee, who retired earlier this year. Greenlee had served on the court since 2016.
Weddle’s judgeship will begin Oct. 14.
“I’m proud to appoint John as a judge on the Mississippi Court of Appeals,” Reeves said in a press release Wednesday. “His years of legal experience and public service make him an excellent addition to the court. I look forward to seeing the good things John will accomplish on behalf of Mississippians.”
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Weddle has been practicing law since 1995. In his time, he has served as district attorney for the First Circuit Court Judicial District since 2015, previously as a public defender in Lee County, as a municipal court judge in Tupelo and as an assistant district attorney for the First Circuit Court Judicial District.
Weddle has also held leadership positions with the Mississippi Prosecutor’s Association as president and treasurer, and he has also served as a special assistant district attorney focusing on crimes against women and children.
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As part of the appointment, Weddle will also have to run in a special nonpartisan appeals court judge race on Nov. 3, 2026, to keep the seat and serve out the remainder of the current judge seat’s term, which ends in 2030.
Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.
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