Soak it in
Yesterday the MHSAA State Championship press conferences took place at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum in Jackson. Every head coach was there, along with three players to represent their team and school.
Not only did I get to meet legendary sportswriter Rick Cleveland [I’m sure you know him], but I had a chance to talk with others. Speaking with Oak Grove’s Damon Stewart, Javarian Jenkins, and Graham McCarty, I wished them luck. Before I went to take my seat, I also reminded them to “soak it in” this week.
For these three seniors, it will be the last time they put on a Warriors helmet and Oak Grove uniform to play for their head coach and staff this Friday night. It will be the last time under the lights on a Friday night that their fellow classmates will be there to watch this group of young men perform together.
Yes, it will be great if they win. What is important though is that they soak up this last week of practice, camaraderie with their teammates and coaches, and enjoy the Friday night lights.
Soak it in, Warriors.
The coaching carousel in Mississippi
I’m glad that my column was delayed a day because this seems the more accurate time to write this.
Last week I was told that no matter what happened in the Egg Bowl, Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead was gone. Two weeks ago, we were told publicly that Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke was returning in 2020 no matter what happened in the Egg Bowl. Meanwhile, Southern Miss head coach Jay Hopson was fighting for a Conference USA Championship appearance two weeks ago.
My how times have changed.
In the past 96 hours, we have learned that Moorhead is staying [my belief is due to the postgame rant], Ole Miss found the funds to fire Luke, and Golden Eagle Nation wants Hopson gone.
The coaching carousel in Mississippi sure is interesting. As of now, Moorhead is safe. I believe Hopson is safe. Who knows what Ole Miss will do to try and save the growing de-commits from their recruiting class along with angry underclassmen who stormed out of the team meeting.
All I know is it is fun to speculate and see where the carousel stops.
Fantasy football playoffs draw near, and I beat my co-worker
I entered three leagues this season. One was last minute and involved a few friends, the other was with a gaming streamer that I follow, and the last in a Facebook group I moderate.
I bailed on the Facebook group one pretty early. However, I am in the thick of things in the streamer league, and am 10-2 in the league with fellow Sports Editor James Pugh. While he gave me a good game, Pugh fell to Head Coach Eric Taylor [my fantasy football team name] last week 142-129. Jimmy Garopollo out-dueled Tom Brady and was the key to victory for my team who sits at double-digit wins on the season and has a four-game lead on second place.
I fully expect to decimate the competition come playoff time, making the Hattiesburg Impact readers proud, asserting dominance over the Laurel Impact region. I know you all will be eager with anticipation to hear my playoff victory stories.
