Local Sports

Hickerson’s bust presented to Ole Miss

The Pro Football Hall of Fame bust of the late Gene Hickerson has found a permanent home at University of Mississippi.

The Oxford Eagle reports that the bust was presented to Ole Miss by Hickerson’s family. Hickerson helped the Rebels to the 1955 SEC title and a 1956 Cotton Bowl win over TCU, plus a victory over Texas in the 1958 Sugar Bowl.

Hickerson went on to play 15 seasons for the Cleveland Browns as the lead blocker for three Hall of Famers – Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell. […]

National Sports

Police: UM’s Henderson appeared to have drugs; suspended indefinitely

The Oxford police chief says Mississippi guard Marshall Henderson appeared to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana and cocaine during a traffic stop in May.

Henderson, a 6-foot-2 senior from Hurst, Texas, was suspended indefinitely by coach Andy Kennedy on Wednesday for “violation of team rules,” but no other reason was given.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the traffic stop, citing a police report. […]

Uncategorized

First black judge of Miss. to speak at Alcorn diversity event

In 1963, Constance Slaughter-Harvey enrolled in Tougaloo College. There she met civil rights leader Medgar Evers shortly before he was assassinated. His brutal death inspired her to get involved in the civil rights movement and help bring about changes in Mississippi.

After graduating cum laude from Tougaloo College with a degree in Political Science and Economics, Slaughter-Harvey continued her fight for social equality while attending law school at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and persevered to become the first black woman to receive a law degree from that institution in 1970. She later became the first black judge in the state of Mississippi.

As a trailblazer, Slaughter-Harvey will speak on a panel of “phenomenal female firsts in Mississippi at Alcorn State University on Monday, April 22. […]

Top Stories

Ole Miss trailblazer, James Meredith to receive Harvard award

Dean Kathleen McCartney has announced that Civil Rights activist, author, and political adviser James Meredith will receive the Harvard Graduate School of Education Medal for Education Impact, the highest honor given by the school, and speak at the 2013 Convocationceremony on May 29.

“Just over 50 years ago, Mr. Meredith walked through the doors of the University of Mississippi, becoming the first African American to enroll in the previously segregated school. In doing so, he forced America to look in the mirror and become a better nation. Fifty years later, he is still working to address inequality in America’s schools,” McCartney said. “At HGSE we know that education is a civil right. James Meredith endured beatings and bullets to fight for that right. His courage and determination cannot be overstated. Today, we all walk in his footsteps and through the doors he opened.”

According to Meredith, the award will be the first he has accepted in 50 years. […]

National Sports

Ole Miss hires Kentucky women's assistant Insell

Matt Insell, who has spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the nationally-ranked University of Kentucky women’s basketball program, has been named head coach of the Ole Miss women’s basketball team, athletics director Ross Bjork announced.

Insell has helped guide Kentucky to four 20-win seasons and four trips to the NCAA Tournament in his time in Lexington. The Wildcats have ended the last three seasons ranked in the top-25 and are currently ranked No. 7 heading into the team’s Sweet Sixteen game Saturday.

Insell, who was responsible for the guards while also having recruiting and player development duties, served as the top assistant coach and helped UK ink three top-10 recruiting classes and seven McDonald’s All-Americans. […]

National Sports

Mississippi's Johnson out with broken fibula

Mississippi defensive end C.J. Johnson is out for the rest of spring practice after suffering a broken fibula in his right leg during Wednesday’s practice.

Johnson was expected to have surgery Thursday, according to school officials. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said Johnson’s recovery time is expected to be about three months.

The 6-foot-3, 233-pound junior played in all 13 games last season and led the Rebels with 61/2 sacks last season. […]

National Sports

Freeze, Mississippi trying to keep momentum

Most of the recent news about Mississippi’s football program relates to the surprising and star-studded recruiting class Hugh Freeze landed in February.

The second-year coach is excited about bringing in that new talent. But for the next month, he’s focused on improving what he already has on the roster as the Rebels go through spring practice. […]

Local Sports

Mississippi’s Jones out for season with injury

Mississippi forward Aaron Jones is out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a loss to Kentucky earlier this month.

The 6-foot-9 sophomore has been one of the 16th-ranked Rebels’ most important reserves this season, averaging 3.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He’s also second on the team with 32 blocks.
[…]

Local Sports

‘Blind Side’ family relishes Big Easy Super Bowl

A knowing grin spread across Sean Tuohy’s face as he considered the uncanny connections between the hit film that changed his family’s life and the fact that Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Oher played in and won his first Super Bowl in the Big Easy. (The Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31)

New Orleans is where Tuohy grew up and went to high school with author Michael Lewis, who wrote “The Blind Side.”

The book led to the movie, which depicted the Tuohys’ rewarding experience as Oher’s adoptive family. Actress Sandra Bullock, who starred as Sean Tuohy’s wife, Leigh Anne, owns a home in New Orleans. […]

Education

Ole Miss starts writing fines for smoking ban

Smokers on the University of Mississippi campus have received their last warning.

After several years of limiting smoking to designated outdoor areas, Ole Miss officials last August banned all smoking on university property. The smoke-free policy was introduced during the fall semester with warning-only citations, but fines have now begun, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports. […]