Local Sports – Page 2 – The Mississippi Link

Ole Miss football player killed in car accident

July 5, 2013 Kermit 0

The Old Miss Rebels “are hurting” head coach Hugh Freeze said after one of their own was killed in a car accident Wednesday afternoon.

Park Coleman Stevens was killed on impact when his truck hit the back of a semi that was crossing a four-lane highway in Chickasaw County, Miss.

Although he was not immediately identified, Cpl. Chris Turnipseed told the Mississippi Daily Journal that “the driver of the pickup was killed upon impact.” […]

Rebels’ Henderson reprimanded by NCAA

July 1, 2013 Kermit 0

The NCAA has issued an official reprimand to University of Mississippi basketball player Marshall Henderson for his conduct following the Rebels’ third-round NCAA tournament game.

After Ole Miss’ season-ending 76-74 loss to La Salle in Kansas City on March 24, Henderson reportedly extended both middle fingers to the crowd as he left the court. Henderson later apologized in a letter posted on Ole Miss’ website.

The NCAA issued the reprimand Wednesday, June 26, saying Henderson’s actions failed to represent the “highest standards of sportsmanship.” The reprimand letter came from Ron Wellman, chairman of the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee and athletic director at Wake Forest. […]

NCAA accepts self-imposed sanctions, praises MSU’s cooperation

June 12, 2013 Kermit 0

The NCAA Committee on Infractions has accepted the self-imposed sanctions levied by Mississippi State University in a case that centered on the actions of a former MSU booster, a former MSU assistant football coach, and a current MSU student-athlete.

The violations were investigated by the NCAA enforcement staff with the full cooperation of the MSU Athletics Department compliance staff. The committee cited MSU for its efforts to fully investigate and uncover the violations. The violations center on the actions of a disassociated former MSU booster and the failure of the former assistant coach to report actions by that former booster to MSU compliance officials. […]

Mississippi offers free fishing weekend

May 30, 2013 Kermit 0

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is offering a statewide free fishing weekend June 1-2.

It kicks off National Fishing and Boating Week, which celebrates the importance of recreational boating and fishing in enhancing quality of life and conserving the country’s natural resources.

The Vicksburg Post reports the department, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will also host the 11th annual Katfishin’ Kids Fishing Rodeo on June 1. […]

Local Sports

MVSU unveils plans to renovate HPER Complex

May 28, 2013 Kermit 1

Mississippi Valley State University is planning $17.5 million in renovations and expansion the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.

MVSU officials say the work will include exterior repairs, life safety upgrades and accessibility upgrades. It will have 2,700 seats for athletic events and 2,800 seats for other programs, such as commencement.

The HPER Complex is the home for MVSU volleyball and basketball games. It has not been renovated or upgraded since its construction in 1977. […]

Mississippi State’s Renfroe wins Ferriss Trophy

May 24, 2013 Kermit 0

The first time Mississippi State coach John Cohen saw Hunter Renfroe play baseball, he marveled at his natural ability.

Three years later, he’s also in awe of his work ethic.

The two traits helped Renfroe have a breakout season. On May 20th, he was named the winner of the C Spire Ferriss Trophy during a ceremony at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

The award, voted on by a panel of professional scouts, college coaches and a media member, is given to Mississippi’s top college baseball player. The 6-foot-1, 216-pound Renfroe leads the Bulldogs with a .362 batting average, 15 homers, 51 RBIs and nine stolen bases. […]

Ex-Jacksonville WR Jimmy Smith serving prison term

May 15, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

Former Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Jimmy Smith has begun serving a six-year prison term in Mississippi for drug possession and weapons charges, online state corrections records show.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections’ website says the 44-year-old Smith entered the prison system in late March and was recently moved to a facility in Yazoo City. He was sentenced by a Madison County court to two years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and four years for possession of cocaine, records show.

WJXX-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., first reported Smith’s sentence. His tentative release date is listed as Nov. 8, 2018. […]

MVSU moving home games to Greenville

March 25, 2013 Kermit 0

Mississippi Valley State will play the remainder of its home baseball games at Greenville’s Legion Field.

Athletic director Ashley Robinson says unsafe playing conditions at Valley’s field in Itta Bena prompted the decision.

Robinson says playing field is not suitable or safe enough to have baseball players risking a possible injury. […]

Southern Miss on probation after NCAA sanctions

March 5, 2013 Kermit 0

The NCAA has put Southern Mississippi on four years of probation and given the men’s tennis program a one-year post-season ban after citing the school with failure to monitor the tennis program.

Two former Southern Miss tennis coaches were cited for unethical conduct after the NCAA said they promised impermissible benefits to athletes – including offering $5,000 and the use of a car to one athlete – and engaging in academic misconduct. The NCAA also ruled that one of the coaches asked a player to lie during the investigation. […]

Henderson imperfect poster boy for upstart Rebels

March 4, 2013 Kermit 0

The talkative and brash Marshall Henderson is the face of Mississippi’s basketball program.

Sometimes that’s good, sometimes it’s not so good.

His play and antics have led to plenty of attention for the No. 16 Rebels (17-3, 6-1 Southeastern Conference), who face No. 8 Florida (17-2, 7-0) in Gainesville on Saturday in a matchup of the SEC’s two top-ranked teams.

Henderson has been so good during his first two months in the SEC that the 6-foot-2 junior has brought a rare spotlight to a program that hasn’t been to the NCAA tournament since 2002. He leads the conference in scoring at 19.3 points per game; he’s averaging more than 21 in SEC contests. […]