Off to the Big Apple

Today, I hand over the keys to the Mississippi State beat to Parrish Alford, who will take care of Ron Polk’s final three games at the helm of MSU.

My 11-year-old son, Zach, and I are off to New York to see our beloved Yankees play the Mets for the final time at Yankee Stadium. I really do hate this trip was planned well before Polk announced his retirements plans, but I guess that’s baseball. It’s weird knowing I won’t be there.

Anyway, feel free to post your experiences from the weekend if you go. I’ll be checking in from time to time to read the comments.

Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you guys on Monday morning.

Freeman, Collins to have surgery

On his final teleconference, Ron Polk said Cody Freeman and and Ryan Collins will undergo surgery tomorrow morning.

And he again confirmed Ricky Bowen, John Lalor and Justin Pigott will be the starting pitchers.

Then there were three

With Mississippi State’s 4-1 victory against Memphis on Tuesday, Ron Polk’s tenure as the Bulldogs’ skipper was reduced to three games.

In today’s newspaper, I had a column on how different age groups will view Polk’s legacy.

Now I pose the question to you. How do you define Polk’s legacy, and what are some of your favorite Polk memories?

Favre to speak at Ladies Football Clinic

Deanna Favre, that is, wife of Brett.

Sylvester Croom announced on Tuesday she’ll be the guest speaker at the Mississippi State’s 2008 Ladies Football 101 Clinic.

The clinic will be held Friday, June 6, at the Crane Team Theatre in the Holliman Athletic Center and is designed for women interested in learning more about the game of football. The clinic runs from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and lunch is provided.

For more info call the Bulldog football office at 662-325-2534.

Kirby speaks about Grambling job

I just got off the phone with MSU basketball assistant coach Robert Kirby, who interviewed a couple of weeks ago to become the head coach at Grambling.

As of today, no hire has been made, and he hasn’t heard back for a second interview.

Here’s some of what he had to say: “It’s a head coaching opportunity, and I don’t know which direction they are heading. They have a brand new arena, which is very nice, and they just built some new dorms. It’s a nice nice college town.”

“With new arena and dorms, it elevates the job. The thing they don’t have is basketball tradition. But no, I have not been offered the job. All I’ve done is interview for the job.”

“Their goal is to raise every sport and to elevate each sport to the level where football is. It takes a lot of commitment from a lot of different areas. I guess I’ll just sit back and see what happens.”

I asked him about the urgency of hiring a new coach due to recruiting, and he said university officials informed him they weren’t as concerned with recruiting this year as they were with hiring the right coach.

Grambling was 17-19 this past season.

Hey, look who’s on ESPN . . .

Can’t make it to the season-opener against Louisiana Tech in Ruston on Aug. 30? Don’t fret.

It’s ESPN to the rescue. Or is it ESPN?

The network has released its schedule for the fall, and it shows the two Bulldogs squaring off on either ESPN or ESPN2. The time, though, hasn’t been announced.

Polk tweaks rotation

Ron Polk is throwing a curveball to wrap up his coaching career by changing up the pitching rotation for the Arkansas series that begins on Thursday.

Ricky Bowen will draw the start to open the series, while senior John Lalor will be on the mound Friday. Then on Saturday, the regular-season finale, Justin Pigott will get the call.

As for Chad Crosswhite, he’ll start tonight against Memphis but will only pitch a few minutes.

Pegues, Chaney named to Nagurski watch list

How about some positive news?

The Football Writers Association of America, which I am a member of, has announced that Mississippi State seniors Jamar Chaney and Derek Pegues have been named to the Watch List for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

Chaney, a linebacker from Fort Pierce, Fla., was the Bulldogs leading tackler in 2007 with 89, while Pegues, a two-time all-SEC selection from Batesville, has returned a school record three interceptions for touchdowns.

Your year to note: 1986

What’s so special about that year, you ask?

The last time Mississippi State failed to miss both the SEC tournament and an NCAA regional was in 1986.

I guess you can say after the streak hit “Blackjack” the Bulldogs will now start over.

LSU closes Alex Box with win, sweep

Mississippi State had a tough weekend in Baton Rouge, getting swept by a combined score of 40-16.

Sunday’s series finale, also the last game at Alex Box Stadium, resulted in a 9-6 LSU win.

MSU, which fell to 20-32, hosts Memphis on Tuesday before closing out the year against Arkansas, starting Thursday.

In today’s paper, I had two stories on Ron Polk. The first took an in-depth look at his lasting legacy, while the second talked about, what now for 64-year-old retiring coach.

I figured most media outlets would do their big stories later in the week, so I made the pitch to run it today and beat the rush.

That’s it for MSU

Now, they’re officially done.

With LSU’s 15-6 drubbing of Mississippi State on Friday night, the Bulldogs were eliminated from the SEC Tournament for the third time in five years.

State’s season will end a week from today when Arkansas visits Dudy Noble Field, marking Ron Polk’s final games as MSU’s skipper.

The Tigers and Bulldogs resume their series with Game 2 at 3 p.m. today.

Tiger bait or Dog treats . . .

How do you see the Mississippi State-LSU series unfolding this weekend?

A. State sweeps
B. LSU sweeps
C. Bulldogs win two
D. Tigers win two

MSU coach Ron Polk will stick with his rotation of Chad Crosswhite, Ricky Bowen and Justin Pigott.

As for the series, LSU will bid farewell to Alex Box Stadium on Sunday with the series finale. The Tigers will move into the new Box for the start of the 2009 season. And in case you didn’t read the above story, Polk will be a part of the farewell ceremony tonight for old Box. To see how, you’ve gotta read the story.

In preparation for the advance and a Sunday piece on Ron Polk, I spoke with Skip Bertman and Ben McDonald. I really enjoyed talking to both and I didn’t realize just how close Ben was to signing with MSU.

As for me, it’s back to normal. I’ve been called out of the bullpen to assist in prep coverage this week with tennis and golf, while also working on Gum Tree 10K stories. Crazy week, I tell ya, but I apologize for neglecting this blog the last few days.

Quinton Wesley’s lawyer speaks

Jay Perry, the Starkville-based lawyer who represented Quinton Wesley, was finally able to catch his breath and talk a little about the shooting incident and all that his client is going through.

But let me say one thing . . . I think every 15-17 year-old kid should have to go set through a hearing like I witnessed today. It’s eye-opening and it would probably make kids think twice about their actions.

I can tell you that Mike Brown was very fearful of the sentencing, to the point I thought he was going to pass out. I’ve never seen a man his size so scared.

Anyway, here is what Jay had to say:
“Quinton had a complete lapse in judgment. I want to underscore that at no time was there any attempt to harm anyone. Instead, in the heat of the moment Quinton made a split second decision that not only affected him but his family, teammates, coaches, classmates, friends, administrators, and fans.  He is truly sorry and offers his heartfelt apology to all those people his actions affected. He is incredibly grateful to have another opportunity. He is thankful to be with his family and looks forward to continuing his education somewhere.”

No jail for Brown, Wesley

Just left the courthouse, where Judge Lee Howard suspended the sentences of Mike Brown and Quinton Wesley. Both will be on probation, but neither will serve jail time for the felony charge of firing a weapon on an educational property.

Brown received a two-year sentence, while Wesley was given three years because of a past assault charge. They have little room room for error for the next couple of years, which is how it should be. They were also fined $1,200 and $2,000 respectively, and told they had to report to their respective probation officer once a month.

Both chose not to comment afterward.

 

A few numbers to consider

I know, I know. The road to Hoover is laded with so many obstacles for MSU that you’d need a bulldozer to get to Regions Park.

However, the Bulldogs remain mathematically alive.

But if they are to do the unthinkable and win out, there are two components that can’t be repeated from the Auburn series - hitting just .202 and striking out 28 times.

Here are some more quick facts on MSU.

Today, I’ll be in Starkville for the sentencing hearing for Mike Brown and Quentin Wesley. I’ll blog their fate after the judge announces his decision.

Softball, golf thriving

Often times, the minor sports get very little media attention, if any.

Today, though, they are to be recognized.

An hour or so ago, the MSU men’s golf team learned it earned an NCAA regional bid and will travel to Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga next week for the opening rounds.

As for softball, the SEC tournament begins on Thursday, with the Lady Bulldogs playing Western Division champ Alabama. The winner plays either LSU or Auburn. It’s a single-elimination tournament will be played in Baton Rouge.

Jeff Brantley for hire?

Just got off the telephone with former MSU great and MLB pitcher Jeff Brantley. The purpose of the call was to talk about a farewell piece I’m doing on Ron Polk that will run this Sunday.

The conversation took a major twist, though, when we started talking about the future of the program.

As he was explaining how much he enjoys teaching baseball on all levels and the importance of the new coach understanding the legacy of Polk and the tradition he’s built, I interrupted him and asked, “Would you be interested in the job?”

“I knew you were going to ask that,” the former ESPN analyst said with a laugh, after a brief pause.

Then I responded, “Well, you threw me a softball.”

We then talked briefly off the record about the situation. But he also wanted to go on the record, and here is what he had to say: “It’s always been something that has intrigued me,” he said.

Not a lot, but you can definitely read between the lines.

Brantley is currently working for the Cincinnati Reds as part of their radio crew. He said he has two years remaining on his contract, and that he’s being paid pretty good money.

He’s also recently remarried (to an MSU grad), and they call Ridgeland home.

So, what do you guys think? Would that be a good hire and why?

Dogs still four back

The good news is that Mississippi State didn’t lose any ground for the eighth and final spot for the SEC tournament.

The bad news, though, is that the Bulldogs didn’t gain ground either.

With six to play, MSU remains four games back after losing two of three to Auburn. State has now lost seven of eight series this season.

And if the Dogs are to avoid their first losing season under Ron Polk, they will have to win all of their nine remaining games.

Already, the 28 losses and 17 SEC setbacks are the most in school history, and Mississippi State is currently the only league foe below .500.

Looking at the week ahead

Today, Mississippi State looks to take it’s second baseball series in as many weeks when it battles Auburn on the Plains in the rubber match. The Tigers took Game 1 on Friday, 11-4, while MSU claimed the second on Saturday, 4-3.

As for the rest of the week . . .
• At 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Quinton Wesley and Mike Brown learn how much jail time they will serve, if any. On Friday, the two pleaded guilty to felony charges of possession of a weapon on an educational property. The max is three years.
• There could be an announcement on new contract deals for both Sylvester Croom and Rick Stansbury.
• SEC baseball continues with a road trip to LSU. In midweek action, MSU travels to Middle Tennessee State for games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Brown, Wesley plead guilty

Former Mississippi State football players Quinton Wesley and Mike Brown both entered guilty pleas to possession of a weapon on an educational property, their lawyers told me in an email.

Their penalty for the March 27 shooting incident on campus carries between zero years and three years in jail.

The judge will announce their sentences on Tuesday, a hearing that is set for 1:30 p.m.

I apologize for not having this yesterday. However, I took the afternoon off and didn’t check my email until today. That’s baseball.