The Dispatch

August 27, 2017

FOOTBALL
2017
Collegiate
PREVIEW

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2 SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

COLLEGE INSIDE
FOOTBALL Team Page
PREVIEW MSU ...............................................................3-6
2017 Ole Miss .........................................................7-8
Alabama .......................................................9-10
A publication of
The Dispatch Itawamba C.C. .................................................11
East Mississippi C.C. ................................12, 15
P.O. Box 511
Columbus, MS 39703 SEC / National.......................................13-14, 16
(662) 328-2424
Publisher
Birney Imes ABOUT
Managing Editor THE COVER
Zack Plair
The photo by Stan Beall
Sports shows Mississippi State
Adam Minichino
Scott Walters senior wide receiver Fred Ross
Brett Hudson holding the Egg Bowl trophy
Cover Design
after MSU defeated Ole Miss
Tina Perry 55-20 at Vaught-Hemingway
Stadium in Oxford. The game
Photographers featured the largest crowd in the
Stan Beall
Chris McDill history of the rivalry (66,038).
Luisa Porter MSU outscored Ole Miss 28-0
Deanna Robinson
in the second half in the 113th
Graphic Artists all-time meeting between the
Kelly Ervin teams. MSUs 55 points were
Jackie Taylor
the most scored in the series
Production since it scored 65 in 1915.
Tina Perry
Anne Murphy
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 3

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

Athletic Website: www.hailstate.com; Twitter: @HailStateFB; Facebook: www.facebook.com/HailStateFootball; Instagram: www.instagram.com/HailStateFB

COACHING STAFF
Head Coach
Dan Mullen
n Brian Baker Assistant
Coach
n Terrell Buckley
Assistant Coach
n Brett Elliott Assistant
Coach
n Ron English Assistant
Coach
n Billy Gonzales
Assistant Coach
n Todd Grantham
Assistant Coach 2017 Schedule
n John Hevesy Assistant Sept. 2 CHARLESTON
SOUTHERN
Coach
Sept. 9 At Louisiana Tech
n Greg Knox Assistant Sept. 16 LSU
Coach Sept. 23 At Georgia
n D.J. Looney Assistant Sept. 30 At Auburn
Coach Oct. 14 BYU
n Bret Beachner Oct. 21 KENTUCKY
Offensive Quality Control Oct. 28 Texas A&M
Nov. 4 UMASS
n Chris Boniol Special
Nov. 11 ALABAMA
Teams Quality Control Nov. 18 At Arkansas
n Karibi Dede Defensive Nov. 23 OLE MISS
Quality Control HOME GAMES IN CAPS
n John Haneline
Defensive Quality Control Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch
n Patrick Austin The Southeastern Conference coaches and media voted junior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald a preseason
second-team All-SEC pick with senior offensive lineman Martinas Rankin.
Recruiting Specialist

FITZGERALD EAGER TO BUILD ON 2016

n Lee Begley Coordinator
of Football Recruiting
n Jon Clark Assistant 2016 Results
AD/Football Operations Sept. 3 L, 20-21
BY BRET T HUDSON SOUTH ALABAMA
n Rod Gibson Recruiting
bhudson@cdispatch.com Sept. 10 W, 27-14
Specialist SOUTH CAROLINA
n Andrea Hollis STARKVILLE Sept. 17 L, 20-23
Recruiting Specialist Three years ago, Nick At LSU
n Brad Peterson Director Fitzgerald was a pet proj- Sept. 24 W, 47-35
of High School Relations ect for Brett Elliott. At Massachusetts
and Recruiting At the time, Elliott was Oct. 8 L, 14-38
AUBURN
n Drew Raucina an offensive
Oct. 14 L, 21-28
Recruiting Specialist quality con-
At BYU
n Nick Savage Head trol assis- Oct. 22 L, 38-40
Strength Coach tant for the At Kentucky
n Niel Stopczynski Mississippi Oct. 29 W, 56-41
Assistant Recruiting State foot- SAMFORD
Coordinator ball pro- Nov. 5 W, 35-28
gram. He TEXAS A&M
Fitzgerald spent most Nov. 12 L, 3-51
of his time At Alabama
with the backup quarter- Nov. 19 L, 42-58
backs while quarterbacks ARKANSAS
coach Brian Johnson Nov. 26 W, 55-20
prepped the starters for At Ole Miss
Stan Beall/Dispatch File Photo Dec. 26 W, 17-16
games. Nick Fitzgerald rushed for 258 yards and two touchdowns and threw for three more Vs. Miami
Elliott is back in town in the Mississippi State football teams 55-20 victory against Ole Miss last season HOME GAMES IN CAPS
as the quarterbacks coach in Oxford.
just in time to coach Fitz-
gerald again. Elliott will challenge Fitzgerald has Southern at 3 p.m. Sat- have great running backs, 2016 STATISTICS
try to help Fitzgerald im- embraced. urday, Sept. 2, in the and theyre going to take MSU OPP
prove on a sophomore sea- I have to become season opener for both a huge load off me, and SCORING
Points Per Game
395
30.4
413
31.8
son that saw him throw for a better passer and be teams. Were still going hopefully help me become Points Off Turnovers 45 24
FIRST DOWNS 287 298
2,423 yards, rush for 1,375, more consistent, said to stay true to the run an improved passer. Rushing 142 110
and score 37 touchdowns. Fitzgerald, who will lead game and making plays While Fitzgerald put Passing
Penalty
124
21
172
16
It wont be easy, but its a MSU against Charleston with my feet, though. I See FITZGERALD, 6B RUSHING YARDAGE 2997 2308
Yards gained rushing 3234 2592
Yards lost rushing 237 284
RADIO AFFILIATES Rushing Attempts
Average Per Rush
532
5.6
485
4.8
Average Per Game 230.5 177.5
City Station Frequency TDs Rushing 24 17
PASSING YARDAGE 2726 3660
Aberdeen WWZQ* 1240 AM Comp-Att-Int 230-411-10 291-472-14
Amory WAMY* 1580 AM Average Per Pass 6.6 7.8
Batesville WBLE* 100.5 FM Average Per Catch 11.9 12.6
Average Per Game 209.7 281.5
Clarksdale WROX* 1450 AM TDs Passing 24 33
Clarksdale WROX* 96.1 FM TOTAL OFFENSE 5723 5968
Columbia WCJU* 104.9 FM Total Plays 943 957
Average Per Play 6.1 6.2
Conway, Ark. KASR-FM* 92.7 Average Per Game 440.2 459.1
Corinth WKCU* 1350 AM KICK RETURNS: #-Yards 42-868 42-843

French Camp WFCA* 107.9 FM
Greenville WDMS# 100.7 FM
Greenwood/Indianola WTCD* 96.9 FM
Grenada WOHT* 92.3 FM
Hattiesburg WMXI* 98.1 FM
Jackson WRKS* 105.9 FM
Lucedale WRBE* 106.9 FM
Meridian WMOX* 1010 AM
Monticello WRQO* 102.1 FM
Natchez WWUU* 103.9 FM
Philadelphia WWSL* 102.3 FM
Starkville/West Point WKBB* 100.9 FM
Tupelo WXWX* 96.3 FM
Tylertown WTYL 97.7 FM
Vicksburg WVBG* 105.5 FM
Winona WONA* 95.1 FM
Yazoo City WBYP*/WELZ* 107.1 FM/1460 AM
* Station will carry Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullens weekly call-in show,
DawgTalk, held from 7-8 p.m. Thursdays from Aug. 31 to Nov. 21. The only exception
will be Tuesday, Nov. 21.
# WGVM-FM/AM (97.3/1260 in Greenville will carry Mullens weekly radio show only.
Hanks
PUNT RETURNS: #-Yards 19-76 9-133
INT RETURNS: #-Yards 14-300 10-81
KICK RETURN AVERAGE 20.7 20.1
PUNT RETURN AVERAGE 4.0 14.8
INT RETURN AVERAGE 21.4 8.1
FUMBLES-LOST 18-6 16-9
PENALTIES-Yards 68-617 68-561
Average Per Game 47.5 43.2
PUNTS-Yards 63-2453 58-2539
Average Per Punt 38.9 43.8
Net punt average 35.6 41.8
KICKOFFS-Yards 72-4404 75-4571
Average Per Kick 61.2 60.9
Net kick average 41.1 39.0
TIME OF POSSESSION/Game 28:51 31:09
3RD-DOWN Conversions 78/192 78/190
3rd-Down Pct 41% 41%
4TH-DOWN Conversions 14/28 19/28
4th-Down Pct 50% 68%
SACKS BY-Yards 25-158 18-117
MISC YARDS -20 0
TOUCHDOWNS SCORED 52 53
FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS 11-19 15-23
ON-SIDE KICKS 1-2 0-2
RED-ZONE SCORES (41-53) 77% ( 46-57) 81%
Stan Beall/Dispatch File Photo RED-ZONE TOUCHDOWNS (31-53) 58% (34-57) 60%
Former West Point High School standout Aeris Williams had 25 carries for 191 yards PAT-ATTEMPTS (48-49) 98% ( 44-48) 92%
ATTENDANCE 349904 393441
and two touchdowns in the Mississippi State football teams 55-20 victory against Games/Avg Per Game 6/58317 6/65574
Ole Miss last season in Oxford. Neutral Site Games 1/15717

5809 Hwy. 45 N. Columbus, MS

662-327-4233
www.hankschampionshipbbq.com

The Dispatch AWARD WINNING BBQ!

4 SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

Athletic Website: www.hailstate.com; Twitter: @HailStateFB; Facebook: www.facebook.com/HailStateFootball; Instagram: www.instagram.com/HailStateFB

BAKER WILL HOLD BULLDOGS D LINE TO HIGHER STANDARD

BY BRETT HUDSON
bhudson@cdispatch.com

STARKVILLE A
new era for the Mississippi
State defensive line was due
based on personnel alone.
Six seniors on last years
unit, four of them among
the teams top 18 tacklers,
on top of a crop of junior col-
lege additions were bound
to inject the position group
with new blood.
The Bulldogs also will
benefit from a reinvigorated
position coach.
In Brian Bakers first
year as
MSUs de-
fensive line
coach, the
Bulldogs
finished
fifth in the
S out he a s t -
Baker ern Con-
ference in
tackles for
a loss (81)
and were at
the league
average in
sacks (25) Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch
and rush- Former Starkville High School standout Willie Gay will compete for playing time at linebacker in his freshman season at Mississippi State.
Grantham ing defense
(17 7. 5 4 the Cleveland Browns, and been in the league and a I think you see the real mediately: Montez Sweat, MSU could be on its way to
yards allowed per game) the Washington Redskins. great feel for the guys. I maturity and growing in Chauncey Rivers, Deion a new identity for its defen-
in 2016. Baker intends to Almost all of that time was think the group has a bet- guys like Jeffery Simmons, Pope, and Lee Autry. James sive line.
hold that unit to a higher spent as a defensive line ter feel for what we need Cory Thomas, really trying Jackson and Aaron Odom Baker believes the
standard in year two. coach with brief exceptions to do, and I have a better to step up and be leaders also joined the program out group will have the same
Last year, because of four combined seasons feel for them. within the defensive line, of high school. identity but will produce
there were so many seniors, as a linebackers coach, in- Giving them a little bit Mullen said. Ive seen All of them fall under better results.
I dont want to say I followed cluding his last two before more of what they need, just Braxton Hoyett make a Hoyetts wing. We always want to play
their lead, but I sort of let leaving the league after the in general. Understanding bunch of improvement. He Ive been working with hard and fast. Thats how
them lead the landscape, 2014 season. that they are young kids realizes its time for him the young guys and the effective defensive line is
Baker said. That was prob- Baker is confident the and not taking anything for to be a productive player. transfers throughout the played, he said. From that
ably a mistake. I went into it full adjustment to both col- granted in terms of what Grant Harris has got to summer, he said. Its keep standpoint, I dont think
with the pro mentality be- lege and the MSU modus they know. We learned a step up and become a pro- their heads on straight, there will be an identity
cause thats what I had been operandi is complete. His little bit of what to do and ductive player. keeping them focused on change. The methodology
doing. new coaching style has what not to do. With a Fletcher Adams the goal at hand. Its go- of getting them to do that,
Baker referenced his 19- been on display in presea- Even as Baker takes and a Kobe Jones, theres ing to be hard in practice from my standpoint, and
year tenure in the NFL that son camp. more of the reins in the great opportunity for them when its hot outside, but them holding themselves
included stints with the San I know the direction position group, he remains to compete for playing time. we have to keep everybody accountable to what the de-
Diego Chargers, the De- coach (Dan) Mullen and willing to let an alpha dog Joining all of those re- focused. mands are, I think thatll be
troit Lions, the Minnesota emerge as the dominant
coach (Todd) Grantham turners is the aforemen- In applying a more rigid the change.
Vikings, the St. Louis Car-
want to go, Baker said. presence for the group. tioned group of junior standard of performance, Follow Dispatch sports
dinals, the Carolina Pan-
Our expectations are a Mullen is ready to see it, college additions with ex- and doing so in upheaval of writer Brett Hudson on
thers, the Dallas Cowboys,
little more realistic having too. pectations to contribute im- leadership and personnel, Twitter @Brett_Hudson

Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen will look for improvement from a defense that
finished 12th in total defense and 14th in pass defense in the Southeastern
Conferrence in 2016.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 5

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

Athletic Website: www.hailstate.com; Twitter: @HailStateFB; Facebook: www.facebook.com/HailStateFootball; Instagram: www.instagram.com/HailStateFB

MULLEN HOPES NEW PIECES HELP BULLDOGS GROW FROM 2016

BY BRET T HUDSON
bhudson@cdispatch.com

STARKVILLE
Vanderbilt football coach
Derek Mason stood at the
podium at Southeastern
Conference Media Days
last month and used the
2014 Mississippi State
Bulldogs as his example.
Mason had a young
team, while MSU coach
Dan Mullen had a veter-
an team when they met in
2014. MSU outgained Van-
derbilt 502-228 in a 51-0
victory on Senior Night in
Starkville.
Masons point: Im-
provement comes with
experience. This season,
MSU will look for more
improvement than it has
experience.
Defensive position
coaches agree the Bull-
dogs have to set a higher
standard after that group
finished 12th in the SEC in
total defense in 2016. New
defensive coordinator
Todd Grantham will look
to a group of newcomers Kelly Price/Mississippi State Athletic Media Relations
to help bring about a new Dan Mullen begins his ninth season in Starkville after guiding the Mississippi State football program into unprecedented territory, including
mind-set. Many of those the fastest ascent from unranked to No. 1 in college football history and a school-record seven-straight bowl games. This season, he and the
newcomers bring height- Bulldogs face plenty of questions.
ened expectations due to
their junior college experi- welcomes Montez Sweat Southern, a triple option That doesnt bother
ence. Grantham has seen (who also could see time Mississippi State has always been team, Louisiana Tech, the teams unquestioned
a similar mentality from
those seven players.
at outside linebacker),
Lee Autry, Deion Pope,
doubted as a program. Weve always which consistently ranks
at the top of Conference
leader in the locker room.
Mississippi State has
They work hard and
have adapted to the things
and Chauncey Rivers.
If Grantham has his
played with a chip on our shoulder. It USA in offense, and LSU,
which is under the di-
always been doubted as
a program, MSU junior
we have asked them to do,
Grantham said. I expect
way, all of them and more
will play.
always feels like we are picked last. rection of new offensive
coordinator Matt Cana-
quarterback Nick Fitzger-
ald said. Weve always
those guys to be an import- I think you have Mississippi State junior quarterback da. Road trips to Georgia played with a chip on our
ant part of what we do. to play a lot of guys up Nick Fitzgerald and Auburn follow. Both shoulder. It always feels
Junior college trans- front, Grantham said. teams have large num- like we are picked last. I
fers Johnathan Abram and If you are going to win bers of returning starters think weve kind of em-
Jaquarius Landrews will a lot of ballgames, that the game to allow them to quiss Spencer. Grantham on offense. braced that, weve used
compete for playing time means you are leading in play at maximum effort at also said there are ways The uncertainty about that to motivate us.
in the secondary. Anoth- the fourth quarter. Gen- the end of the game. to get all three on the field MSUs defense could It doesnt matter what
er junior college safety, erally, if you are leading Thats why Grantham at the same time to give have played a role in it people outside these walls
Brian Cole, was expected in the fourth quarter they wont be afraid to get breaks to most of the oth- being selected to finish think because we know
to be in the mix, but Mul- will throw the ball and it creative. He said earlier er front defenders. sixth in the SEC West by what we have is special.
len announced earlier this takes a lot of energy to in the preseason the top MSUs defense will the working media at SEC We know what we can do.
month Cole will have to rush the passer, so I think three players at outside have to learn as it goes Media Days. Most nation- Follow Dispatch sports
take an academic redshirt. it is real critical you keep linebacker are Sweat, against an early schedule al prognostications have writer Brett Hudson on
The defensive line guys fresh throughout Gerri Green, and Mar- that features Charleston MSU finishing 6-6 or 7-5. Twitter @Brett_Hudson
6 SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017
Athletic Website: www.hailstate.com; Twitter: @HailStateFB; Facebook: www.facebook.com/HailStateFootball; Instagram: www.instagram.com/HailStateFB
Nick Fitzgerald broke nine school records during his sophomore campaign in 2016.
He also set two Southeastern Conference records while leading the conference in
total offense at 3,798 yards.
Fitzgerald
Continued from Page 3
up some gaudy numbers,
there are others he knows
can get better. Last sea-
son, Fitzgerald ranked
ahead of only Trevor
Knight in completion
percentage in the South-
eastern Conference. He
also was among the SECs
worst in fourth-quarter
quarterback rating and
third-and-long comple-
tion percentage.
Elliott is focused on
helping Fitzgerald prog-
ress in the finer aspects
of quarterbacking in his
second year as the teams
starter.
My assignment is to
make Nick a quarterback,
and I love that, Elliott said.
Hes embraced wanting to
be a quarterback, not just
an athlete. Thats been the
whole project even since
I was an analyst when we
first got Nick.
Elliotts prior work
at MSU has helped him
understand Fitzgeralds
mechanics. He feels Fitz-
gerald, who was listed
at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds
MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
on the 2016 roster, has
a throwing motion that
is pretty natural, pretty
smooth. He said one of
his goals is to help Fitz-
gerald better utilize his
arm strength.
His weight transfer,
he uses a lot of his arm,
Elliott said. Hes got a
big arm, so he gets away
with it, but hes always
had trouble and I think
a lot of it is because he
doesnt use his legs. He
doesnt get his feet in the
ground. He doesnt drive
and transfer the weight.
While Elliott has made
it clear there will be new
quarterback standards for
Fitzgerald, MSU coach
Dan Mullen has his own
new standard for Fitzger-
ald unquestioned team
captain.
Mullen said that is a lot
of responsibility to give to
a junior with one year of
starting experience, but
its one he deems neces-
sary. He has seen Fitzger-
ald rise to it.
This is his first time be-
The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Practice Snapshots
From upper left: Former Starkville High School
standout Gabe Myles, wide receiver Donald Gray (6),
former Columbus High standout Kylin Hill,
running backs Nick Gibson and former West Point High
standout Aeris Williams, and offensive lineman
Elgton Jenkins spent better part of the last two months
preparing for the 2017 season. This week, they and the
rest of the Mississippi State football team will focus on
Charleston Southern for its season opener at 3 p.m.
Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville.
Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch; Kelly Price/MSU Athletic Media Relations
Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch
ing in this role of a return-
ing starter in camp, Mul-
len said. I want to see how
he takes the reins in each
stage. I think hes improved
on it, but hes also going
through a learning curve of
how to lead.
Said Fitzgerald, Im
not really a yeller. I prob-
ably wont give a halftime
speech. But I do expect
people to take care of
their business because
Im expected to take care
of mine. I think I just need
to be a little more vocal
with it and better at pat-
ting people on the back.
Fitzgeralds team-
mates are confident he
will be able to settle into
the role of team leader.
Hes comfortable,
man. He knows, wide re-
ceiver Donald Gray said.
I cant explain it. Nick is
just a man sitting on the
couch watching TV with
some chips. Thats how
comfortable he is.
Follow Dispatch sports
writer Brett Hudson on
Twitter @Brett_Hudson
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach
Matt Luke
n Wesley McGriff
Associate Head Coach/
Defensive Coordinator
n Phil Longo Assistant
Coach/Offensive
Coordinator/Quarterbacks
n Jason Jones Assistant
Coach/Co-Defensive
Coordinator/Secondary
n Jack Bicknell Jr.
Assistant Coach/Offensive
Line
n Maurice Harris
Assistant Coach/Recruiting
Coordinator/Tight Ends
n Derrick Nix Assistant
Coach/Running Backs
n Jacob Peeler Assistant
Coach/Wide Receivers
n Bradley Dale Peveto
Assistant Coach/Lineback-
ers and Special Teams
n Freddie Roach
Assistant Coach/Defensive
Line
n Zach Brown Graduate
Assistant, Defense
n E.J. Epperson
Graduate Assistant, Defense
n Emmanuel McCray
Graduate Assistant, Offense
n Josh Robinson
Graduate Assistant, Offense
Football Support Staff
n Paul Jackson Head
Football Strength
Conditioning Coach
n John Miller Associate
A.D. for Football Operations
n Ben Aigamaua
Assistant A.D. for
Community Relations
n Tom Luke Assistant
A.D. for Player Development
n Chris Rippon Assistant
A.D. for Recruiting Operations
n Lee Wilbanks Assistant
A.D. for Player Personnel
n Chris Buttgen
Coordinator of Football
Media
n Ken Crain Head
Equipment Manger
n Pat Jernigan Head
Athletic Trainer
n David Corrao Senior
Player Personnel Analyst
n Bruce Johnson Senior
Player Personnel Analyst
n Sean Patterson Senior
Player Personnel Analyst
n Ishmael Aristide Player
Personnel Analyst
n Brennon Chapman
Player Personnel Analyst
n John Kyle Davis Player
Personnel Analyst
n Autumn Clark
Coordinator of Recruiting
Operations
n Kyra Kendrick
Coordinator of Recruiting
Operations
RADIO AFFILIATES
City Station Frequency
Amory* WAMY 1580 AM
Brookhaven* WBKN 92.1 FM
Corinth* WXRZ 94.3 FM
Greenwood* WYMX 99.1 FM
Hattiesburg* WFMM 97.3 FM
Hazlehurst* WDXO 92.9 FM
Jackson* WFMN 97.3 FM
Laurel* WLAU 99.3 FM
Lexington, Tenn.*WZLT 99.3 FM
Louisville* WLSM 107.1 FM
McComb* WMPK 93.5 FM
Memphis, Tenn.*WHBQ 560 AM
Meridian* WZKR 103.3 FM
Natchez* WKSO 97.3 FM
Ocean Springs* WOSM 103.1 FM
Oxford* WQLJ 105.1 FM
Philadelphia* WHOC 1490 AM
Prentiss* WJDR 98.3 FM
Tupelo* WWMR 102.9 FM
Vicksburg* WVBG 1420 AM
Water Valley * WOSF 105.5 FM
Waynesboro* WABO 990 AM
Yazoo City* WBYP 107.1 FM
* Carries RebTalk live at 7-8 p.m. Mondays
NOTE: The Season: Ole Miss Football will
appear on the following television stations:
Fox Sports South (4:30 p.m. Friday), Cox
Cable (6 p.m. Tuesday), WCBI-Columbus
(10 p.m. Thursday), WMDN-Meridian and
Hattiesburg (6 p.m. Thursday).
Clear-bag policy in effect for season
From Special Reports
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. In the interest
of enhancing existing security measures at
games involving Southeastern Conference
schools, the SEC will implement a new se-
curity policy regulating the size and type
of bag that may be carried into all stadiums
in which SEC schools host games, begin-
ning with the 2017 football season, it was
announced Wednesday.
Although the new conference-wide bag
policy will be in effect beginning with the
2017 football season, a number of SEC in-
stitutions implemented the policy during
the 2016 football season. The policy was
approved by a unanimous vote of the
leagues athletics directors.
SEC football stadiums are among the
largest venues in the world of sports, so
safety and security are issues that must al-
ways remain a priority for our events, SEC
Commissioner Greg Sankey said. We be-
lieve this policy is an important enhance-
ment to the security measures already put
in place by our institutions.
Fans are encouraged not to bring any
types of bags inside SEC stadiums during
football games; however, the following out-
lines bags that are permitted:
n Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or
The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 7
OLE MISS REBELS
Athletic Website: ; Twitter: @OleMissFB; Facebook: www.facebook.com/olemisssports; Blog: www.olemisssports.com/blog
2017 Schedule
Sept. 9 UT MARTIN
Sept. 16 At California
Sept. 30 At Alabama
Oct. 7 At Auburn
Oct. 14 VANDERBILT
Oct. 21 LSU
Oct. 28 ARKANSAS
Nov. 4 At Kentucky
Nov. 11 LOUISIANA
Nov. 18 TEXAS A&M
Nov. 23 At MSU
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
Stan Beall/Dispatch File Photo
Shea Patterson took over at quarterback in the final three games of the 2016 season and finished with 880
yards and six touchdowns. He rushed for 169 yards on 41 carries.
OLE MISS, PATTERSON LOOK TO O LINE
BY BRET T HUDSON position on this team ers because of their ability on the
2016 Results
Sept. 5 L, 34-45
Vs. Florida State
Sept. 10 W, 38-13
bhudson@cdispatch.com that can handle this, field and off the field. WOFFORD
Sept. 17 L, 43-48
its you guys, said With several receivers to replace
OXFORD Matt Luke was ALABAMA
Luke, who replaced and questions remaining about the Sept. 24 W, 45-14
looking for a stabilizing force in the Hugh Freeze on July running game, Ole Miss offensive GEORGIA
locker room when he took over the 20. I challenged line could provide more than a Oct. 1 W, 48-28
Ole Miss football program as its in- those guys to extend calming presence. It could be the MEMPHIS
terim head coach. their leadership from Patterson engine of the offense. Quarterback Oct. 15 L, 30-34
The former offensive line coach outside of that room Shea Patterson knows his team- At Arkansas
turned to the players he knows best. to the entire team. mates who make up the offensive Oct. 22 L, 21-38
I told the guys if theres one They do have the ability to be lead- See OFFENSE, 8 At LSU
Oct. 29 L, 29-40
AUBURN
Nov. 5 W, 37-27
GEORGIA
SOUTHERN
Nov. 12 W, 29-28
At Texas A&M
Nov. 19 L, 17-38
At Vanderbilt
Nov. 26 L, 20-55
MSU
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
2016 STATISTICS
UM OPP
SCORING 391 408
Points Per Game 32.6 34.0
Points Off Turnovers 53 72
FIRST DOWNS 298 270
Rushing 99 137
Passing 177 116
Penalty 22 17
RUSHING YARDAGE 1793 2956
Yards gained rushing 2012 3253
Yards lost rushing 219 297
Rushing Attempts 422 546
Average Per Rush 4.2 5.4
Average Per Game 149.4 246.3
TDs Rushing
PASSING YARDAGE
17
3779
31
2579
Comp-Att-Int 289-483-14 206-350-8
Average Per Pass 7.8 7.4
Average Per Catch 13.1 12.5
Average Per Game 314.9 214.9
TDs Passing 27 15
TOTAL OFFENSE 5572 5535
Total Plays 905 896
Average Per Play 6.2 6.2
Average Per Game 464.3 461.2
KICK RETURNS: #-Yards 37-839 45-921
USA TODAY Sports PUNT RETURNS: #-Yards 10-60 15-177
Hanks
INT RETURNS: #-Yards 8-150 14-132
Ole Miss defensive lineman Breeland Speaks talks to the media last month at Southeastern Conference Media KICK RETURN AVERAGE 22.7 20.5
Days in Hoover, Alabama. Speaks had 28 tackles, one sack, and eight quarterback hurries last season. PUNT RETURN AVERAGE 6.0 11.8
INT RETURN AVERAGE 18.8 9.4
REBELS LOOK TO FRONT TO LEAD DEFENSE
FUMBLES-LOST 13-5 22-8
PENALTIES-Yards 59-520 82-691
Average Per Game 43.3 57.6
PUNTS-Yards 54-2323 57-2401
Average Per Punt 43.0 42.1
Net punt average 38.3 40.4
KICKOFFS-Yards 79-4982 81-5132
BY BRET T HUDSON too. The Rebels are I think weve got to be the foun- Average Per Kick 63.1 63.4
bhudson@cdispatch.com
Net kick average 41.3 40.3
experimenting with dation of this team, the offensive TIME OF POSSESSION/Game 25:56 34:04
3RD-DOWN Conversions 68/169 75/180
cornerbacks in an at- line and the defensive line, Ole 3rd-Down Pct 40% 42%
OXFORD Seven players start- tempt to deal with the Miss defensive line coach Freddie 4TH-DOWN Conversions 6/16 9/14
ed at linebacker last season for the departures at safety. Roach said. If we can establish that
4th-Down Pct
SACKS BY-Yards
38%
20-140
64%
26-153
Ole Miss football team. As a result, the and continue to get better, were go- MISC YARDS
TOUCHDOWNS SCORED 47
0
50
0
Terry Caldwell and Rommel Ma- defensive line will ing to have a chance. FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS 22-23 20-23
ON-SIDE KICKS 1-1 1-2
geo, who played in seven and 11 be asked to provide a Haynes Those guys know they have RED-ZONE SCORES (48-57) 84% ( 45-48) 94%
games, respectively, have exhaust- stabilizing presence a lot of guys returning and a lot RED-ZONE TOUCHDOWNS (31-57) 54% ( 35-48) 73%
PAT-ATTEMPTS (41-43) 95% (48-49) 98%
ed their eligibility. while the rest of the defense figures of good players. Its one of those ATTENDANCE 454368 308161
See DEFENSE, 8
Games/Avg Per Game 7/64910 4/77040
The secondary has its issues, things out. Neutral Site Games 1/63042
PVC and do not exceed 12 inches x 6 inch-
es x 12 inches;
n One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags
(Ziploc bag or similar); and
n Small clutch bags, with or without a
handle or strap, that do not exceed 4.5 x
6.5 (approximately the size of a hand).
n An exception will be made for medi-
cally necessary items after proper inspec-
tion at a gate designated for this purpose.
An approved logo no larger than 4.5 x
5809 Hwy. 45 N. Columbus, MS
662-327-4233
3.4 may be displayed on one side of a per-
missible clear bag.
Prohibited bags include, but are not www.hankschampionshipbbq.com
limited to: purses larger than a clutch bag;
briefcases; backpacks, cinch bags, and fan-
ny packs that are not clear and/or exceed
the size restriction; luggage of any kind;
computer bags/cases; camera bags/cas-
es; binocular bags/cases or any bag larger
than the permissible size.
Fans will be able to carry items allowed
into the stadium in a permissible clear bag,
such as binoculars and cameras.
This policy pertains to bags and is not
an all-inclusive list of items that are pro-
hibited from being taken into the stadium.
Therefore, fans should be aware of institu-
tional policies regarding prohibited items
that may not be brought into that stadium.
The Dispatch AWARD WINNING BBQ!
8 SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

OLE MISS REBELS

Athletic Website: www.olemisssports.com; Twitter: @OleMissFB; Facebook: www.facebook.com/olemisssports; Blog: www.olemisssports.com/blog

Stan Beall/Dispatch File Photo

Former Starkville High School standout A.J. Brown had 29 catches for 412 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman at Ole Miss last season.

LUKE: REBELS NEED TO BE MENTALLY TOUGH, USE BLUE-COLLAR APPROACH

BY BRET T HUDSON
bhudson@cdispatch.com
OXFORD Although the South-
eastern Conference has seen a plenty of
coaching changes in recent years, not
many men have faced situations like the
one Matt Luke inherited
Still, the former Ole Miss football
player and longtime assistant coach
reached out for help.
I spoke with (Missouri coach) Barry
Odom, but mainly Ive re-
lied on (Duke coach and
former Ole Miss coach
David) Cutcliffe, (former
Tennessee coach Phillip)
Fulmer, and (Colorado
coach Mike) MacIntyre,
guys that are a part of
Luke my coaching tree that de-
veloped who I am, Luke
said. Be yourself and itll be good.
Thats the advice I got from everybody.
The Ole Miss football program was
thrown into flux when former coach
Hugh Freeze resigned July 20.
USA Today first reported last month
that a January 2016 call between Freeze
and a number tied to a female escort
service was raised as a potential issue
to Ole Miss by the lawyer of former Ole
Miss coach Houston Nutt in his lawsuit
against the school.
According to USA Today, Nutts at-
torney emailed Ole Miss general coun-
sel and mentioned a phone call Coach
Freeze made that would be highly em-
barrassing for all of you and extremely
difficult to explain.
In the news conference announcing
Freezes resignation, Ole Miss Vice Chan-
cellor of Athletics Ross Bjork said the
January 2016 call, initially attributed as a
misdial, led the athletic department to
look into Freezes phone records. He said
a concerning pattern was discovered
that led to Freezes eventual resignation.
Bjork said that had Freeze not resigned,
Ole Miss would have exercised the moral
turpitude clause in his contract and fired
him, and that no settlement or buyout was
involved in his departure.
After being named interim head coach,
Luke has tried to bring stability to the pro-
gram. He is confident he can restore the
peace.
I just wanted them to know Ive been
preparing for this job my entire career,
Luke said when asked what he told the
players after Freezes resignation. I want-
ed to make sure they knew what I felt.
Ive seen it done right. Ive seen people
have success at every level. You take all the
experiences youve learned from and put
your stamp on it.
Luke acknowledged he has three as-
sistant coaches with experience as head
coaches. New offensive line coach Jack
Bicknell Jr. Lukes successor at that po-
sition was Louisiana Techs head coach
from 1999-2006 before a seven-year stint
in the NFL. Ole Miss special teams coor-
dinator / linebackers coach Bradley Dale
Peveto led Northwestern State for four
years, while new offensive coordinator
Phil Longo was head coach for two years
at LaSalle, a Football Championship Subdi-
vision (FCS) school.
Luke, who played center at Ole Miss
from 1995-98 and is in his 10th season as
a coach at the school, hopes to have the
interim tag removed from in front of his
name after the season.
Luke is in charge of a program with a
talented roster especially on offense
but is in the midst of long-running NCAA
investigation that already has caused the
school to impose a one-year bowl ban for
this season.
As for how a Luke-led team will carry
itself, he said he doesnt have any plans to
work away from Freezes template.
We have a chance to be the most men-
tally tough team in the country, Luke said.
I think we have to have a blue-collar men-
tality. We earn everything. Ninety-five per-
cent of everything we do will be the same.
Off the field, Luke set a standard for
player conduct before entering presea-
son camp. Two defenders, cornerback
Ken Webster and linebacker Detric Bing-
Dukes, were arrested for shoplifting short-
ly before preseason camp and Luke sus-
pended them for the season opener against
South Alabama. Luke also suspended tight
end Octavious Cooley indefinitely for a vio-
lation of team rules.
Even if the Rebels keep most of their
scheme the same, they will do so with new
coordinators: Longo on offense and Fred
McGriff on defense.
In a time of transition, Ole Miss offense
returns quarterback Shea Patterson and a
veteran offensive line.
Patterson, a 6-foot-2, 203-pound
sophomore from Shreveport, Louisiana,
took over for the last three games of the
season after starting quarterback Chad
Kelly went down with a season-ending
anterior cruciate ligament injury. Patter-
son engineered a 23-point fourth-quar-
ter comeback in his debut as the starter
in a 29-28 victory at No. 8 Texas A&M.
He set school freshman quarterback
records with 338 passing yards and 402
total yards.
Patterson, the sixth true freshman to
start at quarterback in school history (first
to start three games), was 72-for-132 with
880 yards and six touchdowns. He also
rushed for 169 yards on 41 carries.
Patterson has seen the players come to-
gether for each other.
Its tough with all the outside sources,
but we cant be invaded by it, Patterson
said. We have to grow up, and at the same
time, do our job. This affects peoples lives.
Ive never been around a group of guys
thats worked as hard as we did this sum-
mer and this past spring.
Wire reports were included in this
story.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett
Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson

Defense
Continued from Page 7
situations where you take it
upon yourself, which causes
you to work day in and day out.
The headliner is Marquis
Haynes, a preseason All-Amer-
ican and three-time team sack
leader, who is closing in on
school records for career sacks
and tackles for a loss. Haynes
had seven sacks and 11 tack-
les for a loss last season, which
ranked in the top 20 in the
Southeastern Conference.
Despite Haynes, Ole Miss
still finished last in the SEC in
rushing defense. The Rebels
were 13th in total defense (461.2
yards per game). Only Missou-
ri (479.7) was worse. That unit
will have a different set of tasks
under new defensive coordina-
tor Wesley McGriff.
Were not going to run up
the field. Were not going to cre-
ate vertical seams, Roach said.
Were going to play blocks.
Were going to be gap sound.
Were not trying to blow up the
field and create havoc.
Dont think, though, that the
Rebels wont be aggressive on
defense. As McGriff put it, Were
going to be simple, fast, and at-
tacking. Well be a 4-3 attacking
defense. We dont want to be in
survival mode. We want to be in
attack mode so they can go out,
adjust and problem solve.
In moving to a gap-eating
defensive line, Ole Miss can
rest assured it has the interi-
or linemen to do it. Breeland
Speaks and Benito Jones return
after starting multiple games in
2016.
While that defensive line
tries to set the tone early in the
season, Ole Miss interim head
coach Matt Luke hopes the new
system installed by McGriff
can give the new players on the
back end more time to adjust.
Knowledge equals confi-
dence equals playing fast. Thats
our goal: keep it simple, let the
kids go play hard, Luke said.
We have some ability, we have
some guys coming back, and we
have some young guys that have
played some football that will
be better because of that expe-
rience. We want to play simple,
sound, hard-nosed football.
Ole Miss will be without line-
backer Detric Bing-Dukes and
cornerback Ken Webster, who
were arrested for shoplifting
prior to the start of preseason
practice. Luke suspended the
players for the season opener
against South Alabama.
McGriff doesnt plan on let-
ting their absence impact the
preparation.
You have to look at it like
an injury. You have to coach for
depth, he said. Theyll be in
the rotation, and we just have
to do a tremendous job of devel-
oping them so that when they
returns to competition, theyre
ready.
Follow Dispatch sports
writer Brett Hudson on Twitter
@Brett_Hudson

Offense
Continued from Page 7
line have that potential.
They were always so
good, especially the last
three games last year,
Patterson said. They
made my job easy. They
have everybody coming
back and theyre going to
be that much better.
The starting offensive
lines Ole Miss used at
the end of the 2016 sea-
son are intact, at times
down to the position. Left
tackle Greg Little and
right tackle Alex Givens
return after starting the
final five regular-season
games. In the interior,
Javon Patterson, Jordan
Sims, and Sean Rawlings
have starting experience.
Patterson and Sims have
it at multiple positions.
Luke is just as excited
as Patterson, saying he is
fired up about the line be on both sides of the
and its depth. He would
know better than most.
He spent the last five sea-
sons as the Rebels co-of-
fensive coordinator and
its offensive line coach.
Luke, a four-year cen-
ter foe Ole Miss from
1995-98, is in his 10th
season as a member of
the coaching staff. He
took over following the
resignation of Freeze.
When I made the de-
cision to hire an offensive
line coach, I made the de-
cision to be a head coach,
Luke said. Im going to
field. I may not be able to
help it and may gravitate
more toward the offensive
linemen, but Im going to
be on both sides of the
ball and be encouraging.
Luke referenced his
hiring of Jack Bicknell
Jr. as the teams offen-
sive line coach. Bicknell
comes to Oxford after
seven years in the NFL
with four teams. Bicknell
also has 24 years experi-
ence as a college coach,
including an eight-year
stint as head coach at
Louisiana Tech.
The hiring of Bick-
nell was announced July
28, days before Ole Miss
started preseason prac-
tice. He said his first days
were more consumed
with learning the system
and players names as
opposed to their skills. It
didnt take him long to re-
alize he has plenty of tal-
ent at his position group.
I see guys that can
play. I see guys that have
great size, Bicknell said.
I could screw some
things up, I know that.
The nice thing is I have
coach Luke I can talk to.
In a way, Bicknell is on
even footing with his play-
ers despite his late arrival
in that theyre all learning
new offensive coordinator
Phil Longos system.
But Bicknell isnt read-
ing into the challenges of
taking on a job this late
in the process. For a man
who has coached as long
as he has, there is little
about football Bicknell
cant teach. He just has to
learn the right words.
Football is football.
A drive block is a drive
block. A pass set is a pass
set, so theres a lot that
carries over, he said,
but theres going to be
some technique things I
may say slightly wrong,
and were going to have to
work through it.
Follow Dispatch sports
writer Brett Hudson on
Twitter @Brett_Hudson
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 9

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

Athletic Website: www.rolltide.com; Twitter: http://twitter.com/UA_Athletics

2017 Schedule
Sept. 2 Vs. Florida State
Sept. 9 FRESNO STATE
Sept. 16 COLORADO STATE
Sept. 23 At Vanderbilt
Sept. 30 OLE MISS
Oct. 7 At Texas A&M
Oct. 14 ARKANSAS
Oct. 21 TENNESSEE
Nov. 4 LSU Alabama Athletic Media Relations Alabama Athletic Media Relations
Nov. 11 At MSU Jalen Hurts threw for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed Bo Scarbrough rushed for 812 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
Nov. 18 MERCER for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman last season. This He earned Offensive MVP honors for his performance in the College
Nov. 25 At Auburn season, he hopes to take Alabama one more step to a national title. Football Playoff Semifinal against Washington.
HOME GAMES IN CAPS

HURTS, DEPTH IN GROUND GAME WILL FUEL TIDE

Hurts will try to build on impressive freshman season Scarbrough, Damien Harris lead deep group in backfield
2016 Results BY EHSAN K ASSIM Hes very mature, Alabama BY JOHN ZENOR remain supportive of each oth-
Sept. 3 W, 52-6 Special to The Dispatch wide receiver Calvin Ridley The Associated Press er, even down to getting water
Vs. USC said. Once you become the for a fellow back.
Sept. 10 W, 38-10 TUSCALOOSA, Ala. Not starting quarterback, you have TUSCALOOSA, Ala. Based on the end of the last
WESTERN many freshmen can walk into to take that role, and that is Damien Harris doesnt believe season, Scarbrough appears
KENTUCKY one of the top college football exactly what he did. I think he Alabamas tailbacks will be likely to start out as the fea-
Sept. 17 W, 48-43 programs and immediately lead bickering over carries, or lack tured back for the Crimson Tide
does a really good job.
At Ole Miss the team to a perfect regular of them. this season but theres plenty of
Sept. 24 W, 48-0 Still, questions remain about
season, as well as to the College See RBs, 10
KENT Hurts ability to throw the ball, Bo Scarbrough said theyll
Football National Champion-
Oct. 1 W, 34-6 despite the fact he threw for
ship game.
KENTUCKY 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns
Jalen Hurts did that for
Oct. 8 W, 49-30 (nine interceptions) last season.
Alabama in 2016.
At Arkansas Hurts also ran for 954 yards and
He came within
Oct. 15 W, 49-10
seconds of lead- 13 touchdowns.
At Tennessee
ing Alabama to Alabama brought in Brian
Oct. 22 W, 33-14 Daboll as offensive coordinator
TEXAS A&M back-to -back
championships, to help Hurts continue his pro-
Nov. 5 W, 10-0 gression.
At LSU but he fell short
when Clemson I think hes helped Jalen
Nov. 12 W, 51-3
Hurts quarterback De- mentally, Saban said. I think
MSU
Nov. 19 W, 31-3 shaun Watson hes got a better understanding
CHATTANOOGA threw a game-winning touch- and confidence, especially in
Nov. 26 W, 30-12 down with six seconds remain- the passing game, of what he
AUBURN ing. needs to do and whats expect-
Dec. 3 W, 54-16 After the 35-31 loss, Hurts ed of him. I see a lot of improve-
Vs. Florida told the media in the locker ment from that standpoint.
Dec. 31 W, 24-7 room, My sophomore season Daboll wasnt able to work
Vs. Washington starts now. with Hurts during the summer,
Jan. 9 L, 31-35 Hurts maturity and ability but he has gotten to know Hurts Alabama Athletic Media Relations
Vs. Clemson to take command of a program well since practice started in Alabama running back Damien Harris had 146 carries for a
HOME GAMES IN CAPS See HURTS, 10
have been noticed. team-leading 1,037 yards and two touchdowns last season.

INSIDE THE TIDE

n KEY GAMES: Florida State, Sep. 2, in n RUN DABOLL?: It became a popular
Atlanta; LSU, Nov. 4; at Auburn, Nov. 25. mantra on social media playing on the
n SEASON OPENER: Alabama new OCs name for Tide fans who want
continues its recent tradition of opening to see more running from talented backs
with big neutral-site games, winning in such like Damien Harris (1,037 yards) and Bo
matchups the last five years by an average Scarbrough (812 yards, 11 touchdowns).
of 25 points. The Seminoles could be the Theyre joined by Josh Jacobs (567 yards)
strongest first-game opponent during that and freshman Najee Harris, one of the
stretch. The game is set for the newly most heralded recruits of the Saban era
completed Mercedes-Benz Stadium. and a January enrollee.
n THE OC: New offensive coordinator n PREDICTION: Alabama figures to
Brian Daboll replaces Steve Sarkisian, or contend for a fourth straight playoff berth
Lane Kiffin, depending on how you look at whatever happens in the Florida State
it. He spent the past 17 seasons as an NFL game. After that, the Tide is likely to be
assistant with stints running the offenses in heavily favored over the next four games.
Miami and Cleveland. Dont look for Road trips to SEC West foes Texas A&M
wholesale changes in Alabamas offense and Auburn await later in the season while
but Saban has praised Daboll for his work Tennessee and LSU visit Tuscaloosa.
with Hurts passing among other things. By The Associated Press

2016 STATISTICS COACHING STAFF

UA OPP Head Coach
SCORING 582 195 Nick Saban
Points Per Game 38.8 13.0
n Derrick Ansley Defensive Backs
Points Off Turnovers 136 34
FIRST DOWNS 315 217 n Burton Burns Associate Head Coach/Running Backs/
Rushing 181 71 Special Teams
Passing 122 125 n Brian Daboll Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Penalty 12 21
RUSHING YARDAGE 3675 959
n Karl Dunbar Defensive Line
Yards gained rushing 4044 1573 n Brent Key Offensive Line
Yards lost rushing 369 614 n Michael Locksley co-Offensive Coordinator/WRs
Rushing Attempts 639 476
n Tosh Lupoi co-Defensive Coordinator and Outside LBs
Average Per Attempt 5.8 2.0
Avgerage Per Game 245.0 63.9 n Joe Pannunzio Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
TDs Rushing 33 5 n Jeremy Pruitt Defensive Coordinator /Inside LBs
PASSING YARDAGE 3154 2968 n Scott Cochran Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Comp-Att-Int 265-417-9 273-507-16
Average Per Pass 7.6 5.9
n Ed Marynowitz Associate Athletic Director for Football
Average Per Catch 11.9 10.9 n Bobby Williams Special Assistant to the Head Coach
Average Per Game 210.3 197.9 n Jody Wright Director, Player Personnel
TDs Passing 26 15
n Ellis Ponder Director, Football Operations
TOTAL OFFENSE 6829 3927
Total Plays 1056 983
Average Per Play
Average Per Game
6.5
455.3
4.0
261.8
RADIO AFFILIATES
KICK RETURNS: #-Yards 28-547 57-1212
City Station Frequency Jackson, Miss. WJQS 1400
PUNT RETURNS: #-Yards 34-528 20-213
Anniston WHMA 95.5 Jasper WJLX 1240/101.5
INT RETURNS: #-Yards 16-398 9-96
Apalachicola, Fla. WFCT 105.5 Lewisburg, Tenn. WAXO 1220
KICK RETURN AVERAGE 19.5 21.3
Arab WAFN 92.7 Linden WINL 98.5
PUNT RETURN AVERAGE 15.5 10.6
Ashland WCKF 100.7 McComb, Miss. WHNY 1250
INT RETURN AVERAGE 24.9 10.7 Meridian, Miss. WALT 910/102.1
FUMBLES-LOST 26-10 26-13
Auburn WMXA 96.7
Birmingham WJOX 690/94.5 Mobile WZEW 92.1
PENALTIES-Yards 86-660 58-471 Monroeville WMFC 99.3
Average Per Game 44.0 31.4 Brewton WKNU 106.3
Montgomery, Prattville, Selma
PUNTS-Yards 65-3045 111-4755 Centre WEIS 990/100.5
WDXX 100.1, WXFX 95.1, WLWI 1440
Average Per Punt 46.8 42.8 Chattanooga, Tenn. WUUQ 97.3/99.3 Nashville, Tenn. WPRT 102.5
Net punt average 39.9 37.5 Clanton, Ala. WHPH 97.7 Opp WAMI 102.3
KICKOFFS-Yards 110-6930 49-2916 Columbia, Tenn. WMRB 910 Panama City, Fla. WBPC 95.1
Average Per Kick 63.0 59.5 Columbus, Ga. WIOL 1580/95.7 Pensacola, Fla. WBSR 1450
Net kick average 40.2 41.7 Corinth, Miss. WADI 95.3 Rome, Ga. WSRM 93.5
TIME OF POSSESSION/Game 30:56 29:04 Cullman WFMH 1340 Russellville WGOL 920
3RD-DOWN Conversions 91/208 73/238 Decatur WWTM 1400 Scottsboro WKEA 98.3, WWIC 1050
3rd-Down Pct 44% 31% Dothan WBBK 93.1 Spartanburg, S.C. WASC 1530
4TH-DOWN Conversions 10/17 4/22 Florence WYTK 93.9 Tallassee WTLS 1300/106.5
4th-Down Pct 59% 18% Fort Payne WFPA 1400 Tupelo, Miss. WZLQ 98.5
SACKS BY-Yards 54-433 24-143
Ft. Wltn. Beach, Fla. W TKE 98.1 Tuscaloosa WFFN 95.3, WDGM 99.1,
MISC YARDS 0 0
Gadsden WAAX 570 WTSK 790
TOUCHDOWNS SCORED 74 21
Georgiana WFXX 107.7 Vernon WJEC 106.5
FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS 22-29 16-21
Haleyville WWWH 92.7 West Point, Ga. WCJM 100.9
ON-SIDE KICKS 0-0 2-3
Huntsville WUMP 730, WVNN 770, 92.5 Winfield WKXM 1300/97.7
RED-ZONE SCORES (58-65) 89% (21-25) 84%
RED-ZONE TDS (40-65) 62% (12-25) 48%
Jackson, Ala. WHOD-FM 94.5
PAT-ATTEMPTS (72-73) 99% (19-19) 100%
ATTENDANCE 712747 346411
Games/Avg Per Game 7/101821 4/86603
Neutral Site Games 4/76625
10 SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

Athletic Website: www.rolltide.com; Twitter: http://twitter.com/UA_Athletics

DUAL-THREAT HOLCOMBE CONFIDENT ABOUT TIDES TITLE HOPES

BY EHSAN K ASSIM
Special to The Dispatch
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.
Growing up in Tuscaloosa, Al-
abama, Keith Holcombe always
has had his sights on following
the footsteps of his father, Dan-
ny, an offensive lineman for
Bear Bryant and the Alabama
football team from 1980-82.
Following a standout career
at Hillcrest (Ala.)
High School in
which he earned
status as a four-
star recruit, Hol-
combe chose to
play for Nick Sa-
ban and Alabama
Holcombe over Georgia
Tech, Mississippi
State, North Carolina State, and
Kentucky.
You can say its a dream
come true, Keith said. Ive al-
ways dreamed of coming over
here and playing for the Uni-
versity of Alabama. Ive gone to
countless games at Bryant-Den-
ny Stadium, and now being out
here is one of the coolest mo-
ments I have had.
While Danny Holcombe ar-
rived at Alabama a year too late
for Bryants last national cham-
pionship in 1979, Keith backed
up Reggie Ragland on the Ala-
bamas 2015 national champion-
ship team.
As a sophomore in 2016,
Keith recorded 24 tackles, one
tackle for a loss, and a pass
deflection. He will try to have
a more prominent role at line-
backer this season as the Crim-
son Tide tries to replace Reu-
ben Foster, Tim Williams, and
Ryan Anderson. All three went
to the NFL.
I am still working middle,
Holcombe said. Pretty much
all the linebackers know both
positions. Its pretty much the
same. Its just the concept of
our defense. Were all just kind
of rotating, getting the feel of
everything.
Holcombe originally com-
mitted to Mississippi State, but
he switched to Alabama after
receiving an offer he hoped to
get but never expected to.
Mark Garner, Holcombes
baseball coach at Hillcrest
High, said Keiths commitment
to play at Alabama affected
his stock in the Major League
Baseball First-Year Player draft
in 2014.
He was recruited by sever-
al colleges for baseball, but he
was also drafted for baseball,
Garner said. He told the pro-
fessional teams that wanted
to draft him in higher rounds
that he was going to play foot-
ball. That made him drop down
in the draft a pretty good bit.
The Diamondbacks drafted his
rights in the 37th round, but he
told them he was going to Ala-
bama to play football. Football
is his passion, his love.
Garner still believes Hol-
combe could have a future in
baseball if he decides to pursue it.
He was a heck of a baseball
player, Garner said. He had
all the tools scouts look for in a
baseball player. He has a great
potential future in baseball. I
think Keith Holcombe can do
whatever he wants to do.
Holcombe still goes back to
Hillcrest High to watch games.
He talks to the players on the
baseball and football teams. Gar-
ner isnt shy about the role Hol-
combe has played for Hillcrest.
Keiths a totally different
animal when it comes to most
of the kids that come through
our program, Garner said. As
far as a person goes, they dont
get much better. Hes a great
representative of your school
and program. When you talk
about him on your team or on
the field, hes one of those guys
that you as a coach you dont get
many of those these days. You
wish your program was made
up of these boys.
Holcombe embraces being a
key figure at Hillcrest
I know where I am from, and I
am proud of it, he said. My par-
ents still live down that way, so I
go down there every chance I get
to. Its always fun going back to
where you came from.
Keith sustained a shoulder
injury playing baseball that cut
his season short, but he plans to
play again.
I wish I could be out there,
but thats how the cards drew
out, he said. But I am excited
to have another opportunity.
An outfielder, Keith hit .250
with a .344 on-base percentage
in 13 games for the Crimson
Tide. He had surgery after
the football A-Day game in the
spring, but believes hes back to
100 percent.
Rehab was great this sum-
mer. I am back full speed, ev-
erything back, limbered up. I
am ready to go for the season,
he said.
Holcombe enjoys playing
baseball and football, but he
knows the importance of sepa-
rating the seasons and working
to do well in both.
His focus remains squarely
on the football field and helping
Alabama reclaim the national
title this season.
I am excited to go through
camp and get ready for the sea-
son, see if we can get another
national championship, he
said.

Attention to detail will help Alabama climb back to top of sport

BY EHSAN K ASSIM
Special to The Dispatch
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.
Nick Saban has every-
one in the Alabama foot-
ball program dedicated to
paying attention to detail.
That mentality was on
display at the Southeast-
ern Conference Media
Days last month when
Minkah Fitzpatrick
pinpointed players not
wearing the right socks
to team meetings as an
example that showed Ala-
bama was losing its focus
prior to facing Clemson
in the College Football
National Championship
game.
Attention to detail is
something Sabans top as-
sistant coaches focus on.
Brian Daboll was brought
in to run the offense from
the NFL. He has worked
with Saban in the past and
with Bill Belichick, the
coach of the Super Bowl
champion New England
Patriots.
Ive got a lot respect
for both of them. (I)
learned a great deal, prob-
ably, from those two men
more than anybody in
this profession, Daboll
said. Detailed, orga-
nized, demanding, expect
you to do it the right way.
Theres no excuses to be
made. You have a job to
do, you go do it. Our man-
tra is Do your job, and
everyone in the organiza-
tion has to do their job.
Daboll doesnt believe
he will have to make a
huge adjustment coming
from the pro gram be-
cause Saban runs the pro-
gram the right way.
The philosophy of
the organization and the
structure and the detail
that coach Saban pro-
vides is very similar to
the system I came from,
he said. Coaching fun-
damentals is coaching
fundamentals, so whether
youre coaching a 30-year-
old man or an 18-year-old
young man, a 19-year-old
young man, you still got
to coach the fundamen-
tals and make sure they
do it properly.
Saban worked with
Belichick with the NFLs
Cleveland Browns from
1991-94 and has respect
for how he runs his teams.
We want to be well and 23 touchdowns (nine
organized in our presen-
tations and how we teach
the players, he said I touchdowns.
think conceptually that
helps players understand
and learn more efficient-
ly and effectively. Of all
the people Ive ever been
with, Bill Belichick prob-
Its just the mentality we have as a
team. The past is in the past and the
present is now.
Alabama sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts
ably does this as well as
anybody. For Brian to
have been in that system
and that organization for
a long time, I think, is re-
flected in his organization
and in his teaching pro-
gressions he has for the
players.
One of Dabolls prima-
ry responsibilities is soph-
omore quarterback Jalen
Hurts.
Hes an extremely
hard worker, dedicated to
his craft as a young man
to try to play the position
the best he can, Daboll
said.
Hurts started as a
freshman last season and
won over the locker room.
He threw for 2,780 yards
interceptions). Hurts also
ran for 954 yards and 13
Hurts said Alabamas
last-second 35-31 loss to
Clemson in the national ti-
tle game stung, but he has
moved on and is focused
on this season.
Its just the mentality
we have as a team, Hurts
said. The past is in the
past and the present is now.
Now is our time to improve
and start another chapter.
Its a learning point for
sure. You watch the film,
but weve moved on.
The championship
game will be used as mo-
tivation this year. Wide
receiver Calvin Ridley has
posters of Clemson in his
room he looks at every day.
I felt like I didnt do
enough to help my team
win, to put us in that po-
sition, Ridley said. I just
want to remember that
next time I get in that po-
sition, Ill give it my all.
Defensive coordinator
Jeremy Pruitt will enter
his second season as the
defensive coordinator at Al-
abama. Saban has been im-
pressed with Pruitt, calling
his work fabulous.
I think statistically,
we were better in a lot of
categories than even the
year before, Saban said.
Granted we had a lot of Trevon Diggs, who
good players, but he got the played wide receiver last
good players to play well,
and I think thats the key.
season, has been moved
to cornerback. He was
I think that the fact that we
have all the coaches on de-
practicing with the first
team defense on Alabama
fense, the continuity on de- Fan day at the open prac-
fense, the understanding, tice. Pruitt has liked what
how we coach things, how he has seen from Diggs.
we do things, its probably Youre really just
a benefit. learning, Pruitt said. I
A result of having a lot think Trevons got a good
of good players is they skill set. The one thing
often leave for the NFL about him, hes a team
when given the right op- player since hes been
portunity. Alabamas de- here. He said, Hey, Ill
fense lost seven players play wherever yall need
to the NFL draft in the me to play, and we appre-
offseason. ciate him for that.
Pruitt isnt worried Fitzpatrick will contin-
about the turnover. ue to work at safety and
We have a lot of guys cornerback. Diggs pro-
returning at all three lev- gression could push Fitz-
els: up front, outside line- patrick to safety.
backer, inside linebacker, Alabama will open its
and secondary, Pruitt season Sept. 2 against
said. I hope we have an Florida State in Atlanta.
opportunity for these guys It will be the second-con-
to use their experience secutive season Alabama
to create leadership with will open its season with a
these younger guys. I think strong out-of-conference
we have some really good opponent.
young players that are go- It helps the offseason
ing to compete for jobs. program, it helps spring
It creates opportuni- practice, it helps summer
ties for other guys. Thats conditioning because the
why they came here, to players are really looking
have an opportunity to forward to playing in a
get on the field and com- game where they have a
pete and play. I think we tremendous amount of re-
have good competition ev- spect for their opponent,
erywhere. Saban said.

RBs
Continued from Page 9
plenty of strong options to take
handoffs.
That whole, I want the car-
ries mentality, that really doesnt
exist among us, said Harris, last
years leading rusher.
Running backs coach Burton
Burns has deftly juggled NFL-
bound tailback tandems and
even trios over his decade-long
tenure in Tuscaloosa. Its al-
ways worked out just fine in the
end with six tailbacks getting
drafted in the first three rounds
since 2011.
The big exception to the tan-
dem system came in 2015 when
Derrick Henry carried most of
the workload en route to the
Heisman Trophy.
This group could provide
quite the juggling act for Burns,
and it may be a fluid situation
depending on the hot hand or a
young backs progression.
Running back is a position
that you cant have too many
of, new offensive coordinator
Brian Daboll said. You can
find creative ways to try to use
them, and everyone will have a
role if they earn that role.
Harris, Scarbrough and
freshman Najee Harris a
Top-5 overall prospect are all
former five-star recruits. Josh
Jacobs wasnt as highly rated
out of high school but was suc-
cessful when he got chances as
a freshman.
B.J. Emmons, rated by two
recruiting services as the na-
tions top running back in 2016,
has already transferred to a ju-
nior college.
Scarbrough is a preseason
second-team All-SEC pick de-
spite starting only a pair of
games the past two seasons.
He and Damien Harris are both
preaching unselfishness.
We try to help the team any
way we can, Scarbrough said.
Help each other any way we
can, even if its giving each oth-
er water, wiping each others
sweat off. It really doesnt mat-
ter whos in the game, long as
we win the game and we did our
job personally.
Heres a snapshot look at the
Tides four top running backs,
not even counting quarterback
Jalen Hurts (954 rushing yards)
and freshman Brian Robinson:
n The 6-foot-2, 235-pound
Scarbrough finished with a
huge flourish, racking up 364
yards and six touchdowns in Al-
abamas final three games.
Scarbrough earned offensive
MVP honors with a 180-yard
performance in the semifinal
game against Washington, in-
cluding a 68-yard touchdown
in the fourth quarter. He frac-
tured a bone in his lower right
leg late in the third quarter of
the championship game
n The 5-11, 221-pound
Damien Harris gained 1,037
yards and averaged a team-
best 7.1 per carry. He only ran
for two touchdowns but he had
100-yard games against South-
ern California, Ole Miss, Ar-
kansas, and Texas A&M. The
junior had just 31 carries in
the last four games with Scar-
brough taking over.
n Jacobs, who is 5-10, 212
pounds, ran for 567 yards and
four touchdowns as a freshman.
He started against Kentucky
and produced 100 yards on 16
carries, getting more chances
early in the season than Scar-
brough.
n The 6-2, 227-pound Najee
Harris was rated the No. 3 over-
all prospect in the 247 Sports
composite rankings of the ma-
jor recruiting sites. His 7,948
career yards is fourth-most in
California prep history.
Everybodys different, ev-
erybody has their own skills
that maybe somebody else isnt
as good at, Damien Harris
said. But thats what kind of
makes us unique is when you
have so many different guys
that have different things that
they can bring to this offense.
Thats what makes it scary.

Hurts
Continued from Page 9
August. Weve watched
every piece of film hes
had, whether it was good
or bad, Daboll said.
While there are plen-
ty of distractions, Hurts
is focused on this season
and getting Alabama back
to the title game.
Everyone is entitled
to their own opinions,
Hurts said. People are
going to say what they
want, but at the end of the
day, only people in this
complex and on this team
really know whats going
on. I am fine with that.
Every day is a day to get
better, and I just want to
improve on my craft, im- Hurts spent time at the A lot of guys say he guy. that talent in and execute
prove as a leader. I want to Manning Passing Acad- cant throw, but thats very Ridley is looking for- to get Alabama back to
be the best leader I can be emy this summer, inter- untrue, Bentley said. He ward to catching passes the championship game.
and lead my team. acting with the Manning can really throw it. Maybe from Hurts. He thinks Were going to have
Daboll said Hurts is do- family and other top quar- hes done a lot in the off- Hurts has progressed talent. Thats why we
ing those things and isnt terbacks from around the season to throw it better since his freshman season. recruit, Hurts said. It
listening to what others country. or something, I didnt re- Hes more confident. doesnt matter what you
are saying about him. I learned a lot of stuff, ally watch him last year, Hes relaxed, Ridley said. do, it matters how you
You know we dont re- got to meet a lot of peo- but I know at the Manning Thats always good. play. You have to execute
ally talk too much about ple, Hurts said. Obvi- camp he was really throw- We look good. I love this what youre doing to be
that, Daboll said. I just ously the Manning family ing it well and he was very offense. I love this team. successful.
know hes a guy that loves is some great people. knowledgeable. We have a little chip on Hurts felt Alabama
the game. He loves learn- One of the players I kind of thought may- our shoulders and we are would have defeated
ing about the game, and he spent time with was be a quarterback that all hungry. Clemson if he had the
thats all you can ask of South Carolina freshman played in the national While Alabama, the ball one more time in
these young players, that quarterback Jake Bentley. championship game, he preseason No. 1 team in the championship game.
they come in, commit At SEC Media Days last wouldnt want to talk to The Associated Press However, he has put that
to working hard, do the month, Bentley was quick me or anybody else, but poll, has the talent to get behind him and is looking
things that you ask them to praise Hurts for his tal- me and him talked for a back to the national title forward for another crack
to do. ent and humbleness. long time, and hes a great game, Hurts wants to rein at a title.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 11

ITAWAMBA COMMUNITY COLLEGE INDIANS

Athletic Website: www.letsgoicc.com; Twitter: @LetsGoICC; Instagram: @LetsGoICC; Vine: @LetsGoICC; Facebook: LetsGoICC; Radio: WAFM 95.7 FM. TV: Online at www.LetsGoICC.com

ICC HOPES TO MAKE NOISE IN NORTH DIVISION

BY SCOT T WALTERS
swalters@cdispatch.com

Over the last several

seasons, the balance of
COACHING STAFF power in the Mississippi
Head Coach Association of Commu-
Sean Cannon nity and Junior Colleges
n Tyrone Fox Defensive (MACJC) has resided in
Backs the South Division.
n Ray Williams This season, the mo-
Defensive Line
n Marcus Windham
mentum has shifted.
Wide Receivers
Four North Division
teams are ranked in the
top 11 of the preseason Na-
tional Junior College Ath-
letic Association (NJCAA)
national rankings.
Itawamba Community
College will try to beat out
2017 Schedule those squads for a playoff
Aug. 31 At Gulf Coast CC berth and a possible state
Sept. 7 HINDS CC title. Sean Cannon begins
Sept. 14 NW MISS CC his fourth season as ICC
Sept. 21 At EMCC
coach Aug. 31 with a game
Sept. 28 PEARL RIVER CC
at Mississippi Gulf Coast
Oct. 5 NE MISS CC
Oct. 12 At Coahoma CC
C.C.
Oct. 28 HOLMES CC Its a talented class of
HOME GAMES IN CAPS freshman, Cannon said. Lee Adams, Itawamba Community College Athletic Media Relations
Our job has been to ac- Itawamba Community College quarterback Dan Ellington (13) scrambles during a win last season at Pearl River C.C.
climate them with class- Ellington threw for 765 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016.
es, practices, dorm life,
and all of that. Its been a
challenge, but the group is
progressing each day. We
2016 Results are a little thinner in soph-
Sept. 1 W, 23-12 omore leadership than we
MISS GULF have been here recently.
COAST CC ICC will look to a tal-
Sept. 8 W, 45-20 ented trio at quarterback.
At Hinds CC Olive Branchs Dan Elling-
Sept. 15 L, 27-13 ton and Starkvilles Mon-
At NW Miss CC terio Montgomery return,
Sept. 22 L, 44-42
while Caledonias Spencer
EMCC
Unruh is a freshman.
Sept. 29 W, 51-34
At Pearl River CC
Ellington threw for 765
Oct. 6 L, 30-12 yards and eight touch-
At NE Miss CC downs in a relief role last
Oct. 13 W, 41-20 season.
COAHOMA CC The Indians return four
Oct. 22 W, 49-7 starters on the offensive
MISS DELTA CC line.
Oct. 29 L, 63-49 In the backfield, West
At Holmes CC Point sophomore Kadari-
HOME GAMES IN CAPS us Forside returns after a
knee injury ended his sea-
2016 STATISTICS son in the third game last
ICC Overall Conference year.
Scoring 325 206
Points per game 36.1 34.3 From a local stand-
Total offense 5069 3358
Yards per game 563.2 559.7 point, Zion Ford, a fresh-
Passing yards
Comp-Att-Int
3545 2449
271-413-5 189-295-4 man from Caledonia, also
Passing yards per game
Passing yards per attempt
393.9
8.6
408.2
8.3
will look to get some car- Lee Adams, Itawamba Community College Athletic Media Relations
Passing yards per completion 13.1
Passing touchdowns 29
13.0
22
ries. Itawamba Community College running back Kadarius Forside, of West Point, runs in a victory against Hinds C.C. last
Rushing yards 1524 909 The experience on season. Forside returns after a knee injury ended his season in the third game.
Rushing attempts 285 161
Rushing yards per game 169.3 151.5 the offensive line is huge,
Yards per rush 5.3 5.6
Rushing touchdowns 16 7 Cannon said. We have face an opposite situation. time after a strong start to season after East Missis- 2), Northwest Mississippi
1st downs
Rushing 1st downs
75
21
44
10 some talented players up Seven starters return, in- camp at linebacker. sippi C.C.s postseason C.C. (No. 6), Northeast
Passing 1st downs
Penalty 1st downs
49
5
30
4
front who can pave the cluding veteran lineback- On defense, we need ban opened up a spot. Mississippi C.C. (No. 9),
1st downs per game 8.3 7.3 way for our running game. ers and cornerbacks, but to get some experience ICC swept the South and Holmes C.C. (No. 11)
3rd-down conversions 18-49 10-33
3rd down % 37% 30% We have some good speed there is limited experi- along the line, and thats Division a year ago, by are in the top 11.
4th-down conversions 6-11 2-6
4th down % 55% 33% in the backfield. ence on the defensive line. a concern, Cannon said. beating Mississippi Gulf It is what you come
Kick returns (No.-Yards)
Kick return average
41-792
19.3
33-661
20.0 Terry Williams, of Aberdeens Justin Last season, we played Coast C.C., Pearl Riv- to expect in this league,
Punt returns (No.-Yards)
Punt return average
11-45
4.1
7-26
3.7
Southaven, a 2016 NJCAA Drake is one of two re- well in the secondary er C.C., and Hinds C.C. Cannon said. Each team
Field goals
Field goal %
5-12
41.7%
2-7
28.6%
All-American, leads the turning linemen. and we have a lot of those It also nearly recorded has players who can play.
PATs 40-43 26-27 wide receiving corps. Wil- The defensive backs guys back. its first victory against The balance first through
PAT % 93.0% 96.3%
Punts (No.-Yards) 40-1436 30-1025 liams had 66 receptions return depth and experi- Caledonia freshman EMCC since 2012 before
last has been much better
Average per punt 35.9 34.2
for 910 yards and four ence. That group includes Caleb Comer will han- falling 44-42 in Fulton.
Red zone scores 2-4 2-4
in the last couple of sea-
Red zone % 50% 50% touchdowns a season ago. Hamilton natives Keshon dle place-kicking duties, Midseason injuries
Red zone touchdowns
Red zone touchdown %
2-4
50%
2-4
50% Experience across the and Quinshay Heard. The while freshman Hayden to the offense hurt dear- sons. Freshman players
Fumbles-lost
Fumbles recovered
10-7 9-6
13 8 receivers and tight ends linebackers include Amo- Franklin will handle punt- ly and cost the squad in have to grow up quickly.
Defensive INTs 6
Interception returns (No.-Yds) 6-66 4-66
4
will prove huge because rys Drake Wallace, Aber- ing duties. division losses to North- We like this team, but
Interception return average 11.0
Defensive TDs 0
16.5
0 the Indians returning less deens Tay Carothers, and ICC finished 5-4 last east Mississippi C.C. and they will have to grow up
Tackles
Sacks
618 432
34 20 than 200 yards of their Grenadas Que Lott. season (2-4 in the MACJC Holmes C.C. fast.
Penalties 30 18 ground game from a year Noxubee County fresh- North Division). Cannons This season, the chal- Follow Dispatch sports
Penalty yards 257 170
Time of possession per game 9:49 9:26 ago. man Kalmorris Robinson 2015 squad finished 6-4 lenge could be greater as writer Scott Walters on
Home Attendance 17239 12420
Home Attendance average 4310 4140 On defense, ICC will also is pushing for playing and advanced to the post- division foes EMCC (No. Twitter @dispatchscott

Southeastern Conference / Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Schedules

Southeastern Conference WEEK THREE WEEK EIGHT Friday, Nov. 24 WEEK FIVE
(Times followed by television in parentheses) Saturday, Sept. 16 Saturday, Oct. 21 Missouri at Arkansas, 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28
WEEK ONE UL Lafayette at Texas A&M, 11 a.m. Tennessee at Alabama Saturday, Nov. 25 NORTH Northwest at Holmes, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 31 (SEC Network) Auburn at Arkansas Alabama at Auburn NORTH EMCC at Mississippi Delta, 7 p.m.
Florida A&M at Arkansas (Little Rock), 7 p.m. Tennessee at Florida, 2:30 p.m. (WCBI) LSU at Ole Miss Florida State at Florida NORTH Northeast at Coahoma, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2 Mercer at Auburn, 3 p.m. (SEC Network) Kentucky at Mississippi State Georgia at Georgia Tech SOUTH Copiah-Lincoln at East Central,
Missouri State at Missouri, 11 a.m. (SEC Network) Purdue at Missouri, 3 p.m. (SEC Network) Idaho at Missouri Louisville at Kentucky 6:30 p.m.
North Carolina State vs. South Carolina Colorado State at Alabama, 6 p.m. WEEK NINE Texas A&M at LSU SOUTH Gulf Coast at Hinds, 6:30 p.m.
(At Charlotte), 2 p.m. (ESPN) LSU at Mississippi State, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 Clemson at South Carolina SOUTH Jones at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Michigan vs. Florida (At Arlington), 2:30 p.m. Samford at Georgia, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network) Tennessee at Kentucky Vanderbilt at Tennessee Pearl River at Itawamba, 7 p.m.
(WKDH-WTVA) Kentucky at South Carolina, 6:30 p.m. Arkansas at Ole Miss WEEK SIX
Charleston Southern at Mississippi State, 3 p.m. (SEC Network) Missouri at Connecticut Mississippi Association of Thursday, Oct. 5
Kansas State at Vanderbilt, 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) Vanderbilt at South Carolina NORTH Coahoma at Northwest, 6:30 p.m.
(SEC Network)
Ole Miss at California, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) Community and Junior Colleges NORTH Holmes at EMCC, 7 p.m.
Kentucky at Southern Mississippi, 3 p.m. Mississippi State at Texas A&M WEEK ONE
(CBS Sports Network) WEEK FOUR Georgia vs. Florida (At Jacksonville), 2:30 p.m. NORTH Northeast at Itawamba, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 23 Thursday, Aug. 31 SOUTH East Central at Jones, 7 p.m.
Appalachian State at Georgia, 5:15 p.m. (ESPN) WEEK 10 Northeast at Pearl River, 6 p.m.
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (At Arlington) Saturday, Nov. 4 SOUTH Hinds at Copiah-Lincoln, 7 p.m.
Georgia Southern at Auburn, 6:30 p.m. East Central at Holmes, 6:30 p.m.
Mississippi State at Georgia LSU at Alabama Mississippi Delta at Gulf Coast, 7 p.m.
(SEC Network) Hinds at Northwest, 6:30 p.m.
Florida at Kentucky Coastal Carolina at Arkansas Saturday, Oct. 7
South Alabama at Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) Coahoma at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Syracuse at LSU South Carolina at Georgia SOUTH Pearl River at Southwest, 5 p.m.
Florida State at Alabama (At Atlanta), 7 p.m. Copiah-Lincoln at Mississippi Delta, 7 p.m.
Auburn at Missouri Ole Miss at Kentucky WEEK SEVEN
(WKDH-WTVA) Itawamba at Gulf Coast, 7 p.m.
Louisiana Tech at South Carolina Massachusetts at Mississippi State Thursday, Oct. 12
Vanderbilt at Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m. Jones at EMCC, 7 p.m.
Massachusetts at Tennessee NORTH EMCC at Northwest, 6:30 p.m.
(CBS Sports Network) Florida at Missouri WEEK TWO
Alabama at Vanderbilt NORTH Itawamba at Coahoma, 7 p.m.
BYU at LSU (At Houston), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Southern Mississippi at Tennessee Thursday, Sept. 7
WEEK FIVE NORTH Mississippi Delta at Northeast, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 3 Auburn at Texas A&M Northwest at Pearl River, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 30 SOUTH East Central at Hinds, 7 p.m.
Texas A&M at UCLA, 6:30 p.m. (WLOV) Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt East Central at Northeast, 6:30 p.m.
Ole Miss at Alabama SOUTH Southwest at Gulf Coast, 7 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 4 WEEK 11 Copiah-Lincoln at Coahoma, 7 p.m.
New Mexico State at Arkansas Holmes at Copiah-Lincoln, 7 p.m.
Tennessee at Georgia Tech (At Atlanta), 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 Gulf Coast at EMCC, 7 p.m.
Mississippi State at Auburn Saturday, Oct. 14
(ESPN) Vanderbilt at Florida Georgia at Auburn Hinds at Itawamba, 7 p.m. SOUTH Jones at Pearl River, 1 p.m.
WEEK TWO Eastern Michigan at Kentucky Arkansas at LSU Holmes at Southwest, 7 p.m. WEEK EIGHT
Saturday, Sept. 9 Troy at LSU UL Lafayette at Ole Miss Mississippi Delta at Jones, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19
Eastern Kentucky at Kentucky, 11 a.m. Georgia at Tennessee Alabama at Mississippi State WEEK THREE SOUTH Copiah-Lincoln at Southwest, 7 p.m.
(SEC Network) South Carolina at Texas A&M Tennessee at Missouri Thursday, Sept. 14 Northwest at East Central, 6:30 p.m.
Tennessee-Martin at Ole Miss, 11 a.m. WEEK SIX Florida at South Carolina NORTH EMCC at Northeast, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21
(SEC Network) Saturday, Oct. 7 New Mexico at Texas A&M NORTH Holmes at Mississippi Delta, 7 p.m. NORTH Coahoma at EMCC, 2 p.m.
Fresno State at Alabama, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Ole Miss at Auburn Kentucky at Vanderbilt NORTH Northwest at Itawamba, 7 p.m. NORTH Itawamba at Mississippi Delta,
Texas Christian at Arkansas, 2:30 p.m. (WCBI) Missouri at Kentucky WEEK 12 SOUTH Pearl River at East Central, 6:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m.
Alabama A&M at Vanderbilt, 3 p.m. LSU at Florida Saturday, Nov. 18 SOUTH Southwest at Hinds, 6:30 p.m. NORTH Northeast at Holmes, 3 p.m.
(SEC Network) Arkansas at South Carolina Mercer at Alabama SOUTH Gulf Coast at Copiah-Lincoln, 7 p.m. SOUTH Gulf Coast at Pearl River, 2 p.m.
Indiana State at Tennessee, 3 p.m. Alabama at Texas A&M Mississippi State at Arkansas Jones at Coahoma, 7 p.m. SOUTH Hinds at Jones, 2 p.m.
(SEC Network) Georgia at Vanderbilt UL Monroe at Auburn WEEK FOUR WEEK NINE
Auburn at Clemson, 6 p.m. (ESPN) WEEK SEVEN UAB at Florida Thursday, Sept. 21 Thursday, Oct. 26
South Carolina at Missouri, 6 p.m. (ESPN2) Saturday, Oct. 14 Kentucky at Georgia NORTH Coahoma at Holmes, 6:30 p.m. NORTH Northwest at Northeast, 6:30 p.m.
Nicholls State at Texas A&M, 6 p.m. (ESPNU) Arkansas at Alabama Texas A&M at Ole Miss NORTH Mississippi Delta at Northwest, SOUTH Southwest at East Central, 6:30 p.m.
Georgia at Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m. (WTVA) Texas A&M at Florida Wofford at South Carolina 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28
Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech, 6:30 p.m. Missouri at Georgia LSU at Tennessee NORTH Itawamba at EMCC, 7 p.m. NORTH Mississippi Delta at Coahoma, 2:30 p.m.
(CBS Sports Network) Auburn at LSU Missouri at Vanderbilt SOUTH Hinds at Pearl River, 6 p.m. NORTH Holmes at Itawamba, 3:30 p.m.
Chattanooga at LSU, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network) Vanderbilt at Ole Miss WEEK 13 SOUTH Copiah-Lincoln at Jones, 7 p.m. SOUTH Pearl River at Copiah-Lincoln, 3 p.m.
Northern Colorado at Florida, 6:30 p.m. BYU at Mississippi State Thursday, Nov. 23 SOUTH East Central at Gulf Coast, 7 p.m. SOUTH Jones at Gulf Coast, 3:30 p.m.
(SEC Network) South Carolina at Tennessee Ole Miss at Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m. Southwest at Northeast, 6:30 p.m. EMCC at Hinds, 2 p.m.
12 SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIONS

Athletic Website: www.emccathletics.com; Radio: WFCA-FM 107.9; Twitter: @emccathletics; Instagram: @EMCCAthletics; You Tube: www.youtube.com/EMCCAthletics

COACHING STAFF
Head Coach
Buddy Stephens
n David Boykin
Assistant Football Coach
n Cliff Collins
Assistant Football Coach
n Davern Williams
Assistant Football Coach
n Justin Sanders
Assistant Football Coach
n Bo Wallace
Assistant Football Coach
n Courtland Hays
Assistant Football Coach

2016 STATISTICS 2017 Schedule

EMCC Overall Conference Aug. 31 JONES CO. JC
Scoring 531 327
Points per game 44.3 54.5 Sept. 7 MISS GULF
Total offense
Yards per game
5996
499.7
3433
572.2
COAST CC
Passing yards 3245 1871 Sept. 14 At NE Miss CC
Comp-Att-Int 259-424-7 141-222-4
Passing yards per game 270.4 311.8 Sept. 21 ITAWAMBA CC
Passing yards per attempt 7.7 8.4
Passing yards per completion 12.5 13.3 Sept. 28 At Miss Delta CC
Passing touchdowns
Rushing yards
32
2751
17
1562
Oct. 5 HOLMES CC
Rushing attempts 474 245 Oct. 12 At NW Miss CC
Rushing yards per game 229.3 260.3
Yards per rush 5.8 6.4 Oct. 21 COAHOMA CC
Rushing touchdowns 36 25 Oct. 28 At Hinds CC
1st downs 286 162
Rushing 1st downs 143 86 HOME GAMES IN CAPS
Passing 1st downs 132 74
Penalty 1st downs 11 2
1st downs per game 23.8 27.0
3rd-down conversions 84-173 44-80
3rd down % 49% 55%
4th-down conversions 18-26 11-14
4th down % 69% 79%
Kick returns (No.-Yards) 34-807 21-557
Kick return average 23.7 26.5
Punt returns (No.-Yards) 14-141 9-117
Punt return average 10.1 13.0 Dispatch File Photo
Field goals
Field goal %
9-12
75.0%
3-5
60.0%
The East Mississippi Community College football team celebrates a 27-17 victory against Kilgore College in the
PATs 64-69 42-44 Mississippi Bowl on Dec. 4, 2016, at Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. in Perkinston.
PAT % 92.8% 95.5%
2016 Results
CONNER HOPES TO LEAD RETURN TO NO. 1
Punts (No.-Yards) 46-1724 16-605
Average per punt 37.5 37.8 Sept. 1 L, 27-25
Red zone scores 16-21 10-13
Red zone % 76% 77% At Jones Co. JC
Red zone touchdowns 14-21 9-13
Red zone touchdown % 67% 69% Sept. 8 W, 45-7
Fumbles-lost 12-11 6-5
Fumbles recovered 14 6 At Miss Gulf
Defensive INTs 12 2 BY SCOT T WALTERS sion to Lou- 4A State believes that. Everybody Coast CC
Interception returns (No.-Yds) 12-290 2-24
Interception return average 24.2 12.0 swalters@cdispatch.com isville. Con- champi- is pushing in the right di- Sept. 15 W, 54-10
Defensive TDs 3 2
Tackles 994 511 ner threw onships in rection. It has been a long NE MISS CC
Sacks 47 24 SCOOBA East four inter- 2014 and couple of years around Sept. 22 W, 44-42
Penalties 31 23
Penalty yards 268 188 Mississippi Community ceptions in 2015. here. Now we can reach At Itawamba CC
Time of possession per game 8:33 9:12
Home Attendance 12903 7494 College the loss. Now, he our full potential and Sept. 29 W, 73-7
Home Attendance average 2151 2498
sophomore He told is trying to the sky is the limit. We MISS DELTA CC
quarter- are ready to get back to Oct. 6 W, 63-49
me I was Conner lead sec-
We have a back Timor- going to be
Scott Jr.
ond-ranked the business of winning
At Holmes CC
Oct. 15 W, 51-32
rius Conner championships.
legitimate remembers
specia l,
Conner said. He told me
East Mis-
sissippi Community Col- Conner or LSU trans-
NW MISS CC
Oct. 20 W, 42-0
chance to win a pep talk
with his
to keep working hard and
to believe in myself. When
lege to a National Junior
College Athletic Associ-
fer Lindsey Scott Jr. are
expected to be at quarter-
At Coahoma CC
Oct. 27 W, 42-0
Stephens
the national f o r m e r
high school
you have a bad game and ation (NJCAA) national back when EMCC starts
See EMCC, 15
HINDS CC
you are down like that, championship. Nov. 5 W, 27-24
championship coach, Noxubee Countys you really need someone EMCC will opens the MISS. GULF
Tyrone Shorter. to believe in you and to lift season Aug. 31 against COAST CC
this year. Conner was learning your spirits. Jones County Junior Col-
INSIDE Nov. 12 W, 38-30
how to be a starter during n EMCC DEFENSE: Former Vs. NW Miss CC
Conner took that ad- lege in Scooba.
East Mississippi Starkville High School Dec. 4 W, 27-17
his sophomore season vice and led Noxubee We have a legitimate teammates Maleke Bell and
Community College Vs. Kilgore
with the Tigers. A team County to the Mississippi chance to win the national Lorenzo Dantzler will be
sophomore quarterback College
young in most spots had High School Activities As- championship this year, reunited in Scooba. HOME GAMES IN CAPS
Timorrius Conner just dropped a 28-6 deci- sociation (MHSAA) Class Conner said. Everybody Page 15
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 13

The Associated Press Top 25

The weekly poll, with first-place votes in parentheses,
final records, total points based on 25 points for a
first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote,
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
Athletic Website: www.secdigitalnetwork.com; Twitter: @SEC; Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheSECDN; Instagram: @secsports
and previous ranking:
Rec. Pts Pv
1. Alabama (52) 14-1 1513 2
2. Ohio State (3) 11-2 1414 6
3. Florida State (4) 10-3 1396 8
4. Southern Cal (2) 10-3 1325 3
5. Clemson 14-1 1201 1
6. Penn State 11-3 1196 7
7. Oklahoma 11-2 1170 5
8. Washington 12-2 1150 4
9. Wisconsin 11-3 926 9
10. Oklahoma State 10-3 889 11
11. Michigan 10-3 881 10
12. Auburn 8-5 880 24
13. LSU 8-4 784 13
14. Stanford 10-3 695 12
15. Georgia 8-5 690 NR
16. Louisville 9-4 629 21
17. Florida 9-4 624 14
18. Miami 9-4 492 20
19. South Florida 11-2 327 19
20. Kansas State 9-4 317 NR
21. Virginia Tech 10-4 240 16
22. West Virginia 10-3 207 18
23. Texas 5-7 173 NR
24. Washington State 8-5 133 NR
25. Tennessee 9-4 114 22
Also Receiving Votes: TCU 98, Utah 85, Notre
Dame 65, Boise State 37, North Carolina State 26,
Northwestern 25, Pittsburgh 23, Oregon 21, Houston
19, Colorado 18, UCLA 9, San Diego State 9, BYU 5,
Appalachian State 4, Nebraska 4, Tulsa 4, Kentucky 3,
Texas A&M 3, Michigan State 1.
The AP Top 25 Football Poll
Board
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman; John Adams,
Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel; Parrish Alford,
Tupelo (Miss.) Daily Journal; Bob Asmussen,
Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette; Brent Axe, Syracuse
(N.Y.) Media Group; Matt Baker, Tampa (Fla.) Bay Times;
Sammy Batten, The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer; Steve
Batterson, Quad City (Iowa) Times;
Andy Bitter, The Roanoke (Va.) Times; Bret
Bloomquist, El Paso (Texas) Times; Kirk Bohls, Austin
(Texas) American-Statesman; David Briggs, Toledo
(Ohio) Blade; Matt Brown, Sports on Earth; Lauren
Brownlow, WRAL.com, Raleigh, N.C.; Jason Butt,
Macon (Ga.) Telegraph; Pat Caputo, The Oakland
(Mich.) Press;
Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News; Robert
Cessna, Bryan-College Station (Texas) Eagle;
Matt Charboneau, The Detroit News; John Clay,
Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader; Ed Daigneault,
Republican-American, Waterbury, Conn.; Rece
Davis, ESPN; Safid Deen, Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel;
Ross Dellenger, The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.;
Jerry DiPaola, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review; Pat Dooley,
Gainesville (Fla.) Sun; Dave Foster, Fox 17 WZTV,
Nashville, Tenn.; Robert Gagliardi, Wyoming Tribune
Eagle, Cheyenne; Jason Galloway, Wisconsin State
Journal, Madison; Garland Gillen, WVUE-TV FOX 8, Alabama Athletic Media Relations
New Orleans; Andy Greder, St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer
Press; Scott Hamilton, WCOG-AM, Greensboro, N.C.; Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide enter the 2017 season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Preseason Top 25.

ALABAMA, SEC TRYING TO RECLAIM TOP SPOT

Eric Hansen, The South Bend (Ind.) Tribune;; Gary
Horowitz, Statesman Journal, Salem, Ore.; Brian
Howell, Buffzone.com; Terry Hutchens, The Anderson
(Ind.) Herald Tribune; Adam Jude, The Seattle Times;
Bill Landis, cleveland.com; Michael Lev, Arizona
Daily Star, Tucson; Rob Long, WJZ FM 105.7 The Fan,
Baltimore;
Matt McCoy, 610 WTVN Radio, Columbus, Ohio;; Sam
McKewon, Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald; Jeff Miller,
Orange County Register, Santa Ana, Calif.; Jonny BY JOHN ZENOR
Miller, WBZ NewsRadio 1030, Boston; Tom Murphy, The Associated Press
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock; Chris
Murray, Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal; Tony Parks,
1280 AM/97.5 FM KZNS, Salt Lake City; Soren Petro,
810 WHB, Kansas City; Alabama and the South-
Grace Raynor, The Post and Courier, Charleston,
S.C.; Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Advertiser; Kellis eastern Conference are trying
Robinett, Wichita (Kan.) Eagle; Keith Sargeant,
NJ.com/Star-Ledger; Lauren Shute, SEC Country; to climb back atop the college
Dave Southorn, The Idaho Statesman, Boise; Aaron
Suttles, The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News; Mitch Vingle,
football mountain.
The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette-Mail;
Marc Weiszer, Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald; Jon
The SEC was toppled at
Wilner, San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News; Scott Wolf, least temporarily from that
Los Angeles Daily News; Rick Wright, Albuquerque
(N.M.) Journal; Adam Zucker, CBS Sports Network summit by the Atlantic Coast
Amway Coaches Conference last season. A pow-
Top 25 Preseason Poll erhouse Crimson Tide team
The preseason poll, with first-place votes in
parentheses, final 2016 records, total points based on has a much shorter climb back
25 points for first place through one point for 25th, and
last seasons final ranking: after a down-to-the-last-breath

1. Alabama (49)
Rec. Pts Pvs
14-1 1603 2
loss to the ACCs Clemson in
2. Ohio State (5)
3. Florida State (4)
11-2 1512
10-3 1434
6
8
the national championship
4. Southern Cal 10-3 1415 5 game.
5. Clemson (7) 14-1 1367 1
6. Penn State 11-3 1257 7 Alabama has won 17 consec-
7. Washington 12-2 1245 4
8. Oklahoma 11-2 1237 3 utive SEC games by an average
9. Michigan
10. Wisconsin
10-3 959
11-3 936
10
9 of 21 points but coach Nick Sa-
11. Oklahoma State
12. LSU
10-3 912
8-4 834
11
14
ban insists theres a lot of pari-
13. Auburn
14. Stanford
8-5 819
10-3 732
22
12
ty in our league.
15. Georgia 8-5 701 NR Despite Sabans perspective,
16. Florida 9-4 681 13
17. Louisville 9-4 676 20 theres no debating that the
18. Miami 9-4 472 23
19. Kansas State 9-4 339 NR battle for No. 2 has been more
20. West Virginia
21. South Florida
10-3 319
11-2 247
17
19 heated than the competition for
22. Virginia Tech
23. Texas
10-4 235
5-7 193 NR
16 the top spot the past few sea- Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch
24. Tennessee
25. Utah
9-4
9-4
155
109
24
21
sons. Exhibit A: Alabamas 54- Dan Mullen and the Mississippi State Bulldogs are coming off a 6-7 season and a 17-16 victory
Also Receiving Votes: Washington State 99, 16 win over Florida in the last against Miami University in the St. Petersburg Bowl in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Colorado 72, TCU 58, Boise State 49, Notre Dame 49,
Texas A&M 46, Pittsburgh 45, North Carolina State 39, SEC championship game.
Oregon 37, Northwestern 25, Nebraska 23, Memphis
22, Arkansas 22, Mississippi State 19, San Diego Alabama remains the deci- PRESEASON POLL back Duke Dawson said. spring practice for unspecified
State 18, Appalachian State 11, BYU 10, Georgia Tech
sive favorite to win a fourth con- THE FAVORITES personal reasons.
10, Tulsa 10, Wyoming 9, Western Michigan 8, Temple WESTERN DIVISION
8, North Carolina 8, Houston 7, Troy 6, Minnesota 6,
Iowa 5, Louisiana Tech 4, Syracuse 3, Arizona 2, Army
secutive SEC title despite los- n Alabama East: Georgia. Kirby n Christian Kirk, WR/RS,
1, Colorado State 1, Michigan State 1, Maryland 1,
Toledo 1, UCLA 1.
ing four first-round NFL draft n Auburn Smarts second team has a Texas A&M. Led the nation
The AP Preseason picks. No team has won the n LSU strong backfield with Nick with three punt returns for
No 1-National Champions league four times in a row or n Arkansas Chubb and Sony Michel, and touchdowns. His 83 catches
National champions that started the season as the No. three for that matter before the n Texas A&M Eason has a year of seasoning. topped the SEC, producing 928
1 team in the preseason poll:
2004Southern California-x Tides run since Steve Spur- n Mississippi State LB Roquan Smith is among 10 yards and nine touchdowns.
1999Florida State-x
1993Florida State rier and Florida dominated n Ole Miss returning defensive starters. n Frank Ragnow, C, Arkan-
1985Oklahoma
1978Alabama from 1993-96. EASTERN DIVISION West: Alabama. Like Eason, sas. Hasnt allowed a sack the
1975Oklahoma The first test might just be n Georgia Hurts has bigtime backs past two seasons and has start-
1974Oklahoma
1956Oklahoma Alabamas biggest of the reg- n Florida plus star receiver Ridley to ed 26 straight games.
1952Michigan State
1951Tennessee ular season. The Tide opens n Tennessee target. The defense has seven NEW FACES
x-No. 1 entire season n South Carolina
with another ACC power, Flor- NFL draft picks to replace but Ex-Ole Miss coach Ed Org-
The AP Preseason No 1 Teams n Kentucky
2017Alabama ida State, in Atlantas new Mer- n Vanderbilt also returning standouts like eron is back in the SEC West
2016Alabama
2015Ohio State cedes-Benz Stadium. n Missouri defensive backs Minkah Fitz- at LSU. His former program is
2014Florida State
2013Alabama
All the guys that did play in patrick and Ronnie Harrison trying to regroup from the July
2012Southern California that (Clemson) game are really and tackle DaRon Payne. 20 resignation of Hugh Freeze
2011Oklahoma
2010Alabama hungry to get back out there Malik Zaire at Florida . TOP PLAYERS while in the final stretch of an
2009Florida
2008Georgia and play and show the world In the SEC West, teams like n Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, NCAA investigation. Interim
2007Southern California
2006Ohio State that we are one of the top teams LSU, Texas A&M, and Auburn Alabama. Versatile defender coach and co-offensive coor-
2005Southern California
2004Southern California-x
in the nation, Alabama receiv- are trying to play catch up to could play either safety or cor- dinator Matt Luke is leading
2003Oklahoma
2002Miami
er Calvin Ridley said. Alabama. Georgia, Florida, and nerback. the Rebels. Alabama offensive
2001Florida Quarterback Jalen Hurts, Tennessee are among the East n Derrius Guice, RB, LSU. coordinator Brian Daboll has
2000Nebraska
1999Florida State-x the SEC offensive player of the Division teams hoping to close Leonard Fournettes backfield been a much talked-about hire.
1998Ohio State
1997Penn State year, gives Saban a returning the gap with their West counter- mate has center stage to him- ON THE HOT SEAT
1996Nebraska
1995Florida State starter at quarterback for the parts, who have held an eight- self. Texas A&Ms Kevin Sum-
1994Florida
1993Florida State-x
first time since 2013. He heads year monopoly on SEC titles. n Hurts. The Tide is expect- lin is trying to avoid another
1992Miami
1991Florida State
a group of promising young The Gators have won the ing him to be a better passer November slump after three
1990Miami passers including Georgias Ja- East crown in each of coach Jim after an impressive freshman straight 8-5 seasons. Auburns
1989Michigan
1988Florida State cob Eason, Mississippis Shea McElwains first two seasons season somewhat marred by Gus Malzahn hasnt beaten top
1987Oklahoma
1986Oklahoma Patterson and South Carolinas but are aiming higher. late-season struggles, especial- rivals Georgia and Alabama in
1985Oklahoma-x
1984Auburn Jake Bentley. Getting that taste of nine ly in the playoffs. three seasons. Getting warm-
1983Nebraska
1982Pittsburgh
Not to mention transfers wins, we now want to get more n Arden Key, LB, LSU. Had ish: Arkansas Bret Bielema
1981Michigan
1980Ohio State
Jarrett Stidham at Auburn and than that, Florida defensive 12 sacks last season. Missed and Tennessees Butch Jones.
1979Southern California

This Weeks Schedule

1978Alabama-x
1977Oklahoma
1976Nebraska
1975Oklahoma-x
1974Oklahoma-x Thursday, Aug. 31 Saturday, Sept. 2 Hampton at Ohio, 6 p.m.
1973Southern Cal The AP Top 25 Schedule EAST EAST South Dakota at Drake, 6 p.m.
1972Nebraska Saturdays Games Akron at Penn State, 11 a.m. SE Missouri at Kansas, 6 p.m.
x-won national championship St. Anselm at Wagner, 5 p.m.
(See Daily Sports Section for Score) Dayton at Robert Morris, 11 a.m. Cent. Arkansas at Kansas State, 6 p.m.
No. 14 Stanford vs. Rice at Sydney, Australia, late Delaware State at Delaware, 6 p.m.
The AP National Football No. 19 South Florida at San Jose State Maine at New Hampshire, 6 p.m. Lock Haven at St. Francis (Pa.), 11 a.m.
Villanova at Lehigh, 11:30 a.m.
Louisville vs. Purdue at Indianapolis, 6:30 p.m.
Butler at Illinois State, 6:30 p.m.
Holy Cross at Connecticut, 6:30 p.m.
Champions Thursday, Aug. 31
No. 2 Ohio State at Indiana, 7 p.m. SOUTH Youngstown State at Pittsburgh, Noon
Merrimack at Bryant, 2 p.m.
Arkansas State at Nebraska, 7 p.m.
Northern Iowa at Iowa State, 7 p.m.
2016 Clemson No. 10 Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa, 6:30 p.m. FIU at UCF, 6 p.m.
2015 Alabama Lafayette at Monmouth (NJ), 2 p.m. SOUTHWEST
Friday, Sept. 1 Kentucky Christian at Morehead State, 5 p.m.
2014 Ohio State Marist at Bucknell, 5 p.m. Maryland at Texas, 11 a.m.
No. 8 Washingtion at Rutgers, 7 p.m. Presbyterian at Wake Forest, 5:30 p.m. Stetson at Sacred Heart, 5 p.m. UTEP at Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m.
2013 Florida State No. 9 Wisconsin Vs. Utah State, 8 p.m. Clarion at Tennessee-Martin, 6 p.m.
2012 Alabama Miami (Ohio) at Marshall, 5:30 p.m. Michigan vs. Florida at Arlington, Texas, 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2 Jacksonville at Mercer, 6 p.m. SOUTH Eastern Washington at Texas Tech, 3 p.m.
2011 Alabama
2010 Auburn No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida State at Atlanta, 7 p.m. Kennesaw State at Samford, 6 p.m. Kent State at Clemson, 11 a.m. Houston at UTSA, 6 p.m.
2009 Alabama No. 4 Southern Cal vs. Western Michigan, 4:15 p.m. Kentucky Wesleyan at Murray State, 6 p.m. California at North Carolina, 11:20 a.m. Stephen F. Austin at SMU, 6 p.m.
2008 Florida No. 5 Clemson vs. Kent State, 11 a.m. Methodist at Campbell, 6 p.m. Bethune-Cookman at Miami, 11:30 a.m. Houston Baptist at Texas State, 6 p.m.
2007 LSU No. 6 Penn State vs. Akron, 11 a.m. Tennessee State at Georgia State, 6 p.m. NC State vs. South Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina, 2 p.m. Lamar at North Texas, 6 p.m.
2006 Florida No. 7 Oklahoma vs. UTEP, 2:30 p.m. Western Illinois at Tennessee Tech, 6 p.m. William & Mary at Virginia, 2:30 p.m. Morehouse at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 6 p.m.
2005 Texas No. 11 Michigan vs. No. 17 Florida at Arlington, Texas, 2:30 p.m. McNeese State at Nicholls, 7 p.m. Alabama A&M at Alabama-Birmingham,, 2:30 p.m. Liberty at Baylor, 6 p.m.
2004 Southern California No. 12 Auburn vs. Georgia Southern, 6:30 p.m. Louisiana-Monroe at Memphis, 8 p.m. Stony Brook at South Florida, 3 p.m. Jackson State at TCU, 7 p.m.
2003 Southern California No. 13 LSU vs. BYU at Houston, 8:30 p.m. MIDWEST Charleston Southern at Mississippi State, 3 p.m. Prairie View at Texas Southern, 8 p.m.
2002 Ohio State No. 15 Georgia vs. Appalachian State, 5:15 p.m. Austin Peay at Cincinnati, 6 p.m. Kentucky at Southern Mississippi, 3 p.m.
No. 16 Louisville vs. Purdue at Indianapolis, 6:30 p.m. BYU vs. LSU at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
2001 Miami Buffalo at Minnesota, 6 p.m. Morgan State at Towson, 5 p.m. FAR WEST
2000 Oklahoma No. 18 Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman, 11:30 a.m. Newberry at Citadel, 5 p.m.
No. 19 South Florida vs. Stony Brook, 3 p.m. Eastern Illinois at Indiana State, 6 p.m. VMI at Air Force, 11 a.m.
1999 Florida State Elon at Toledo, 6 p.m. James Madison at East Carolina, 5 p.m. Portland State at Oregon State, 1 p.m.
1998 Tennessee No. 20 Kansas State vs. Central Arkansas, 6:10 p.m. Virginia State at Norfolk State, 5 p.m.
No. 23 Texas vs. Maryland, 11 a.m. Rhode Island at Central Michigan, 6 p.m. Valparaiso at Montana, 2 p.m.
1997 Michigan Albany (NY) at Old Dominion, 5 p.m. Troy at Boise State, 2:45 p.m.
No. 24 Washington State vs. Montana State, 9:30 p.m. Duquesne at South Dakota St., 7 p.m. North Carolina Central at Duke, 5 p.m.
1996 Florida Ohio State at Indiana, 7 p.m. West New Mexico at San Diego, 4 p.m.
1995 Nebraska Sunday, Sept. 3 Furman at Wofford, 5 p.m.
No. 21 Virginia Tech vs. No. 22 West Virginia at Landover, SOUTHWEST Western Michigan at Southern California, 4:15 p.m.
1994 Nebraska North Carolina A&T at Gardner-Webb, 5 p.m. Cal Poly at San Jose State, 6:30 p.m.
1993 Florida State Maryland, 6:30 p.m. Tulsa at Oklahoma State, 6:30 p.m. Appalachian State at Georgia,, 5:15 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 4 Florida A&M vs. Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas, 7 p.m. Massachusetts at Coastal Carolina, 6 p.m. Abilene Christian at New Mexico, 7 p.m.
1992 Alabama Montana-Western at Weber State, 7 p.m.
1991 Miami No. 25 Tennessee at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m. FAR WEST Grambling State at Tulane, 6 p.m.
North Dakota at Utah, 6:30 p.m. Northwestern State at Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m. Southern Utah at Oregon, 7:15 p.m.
1990 Colorado
1989 Miami Week 1 Western Oregon at Idaho State, 7:30 p.m. SE Louisiana at Louisiana-Lafayette, 6 p.m. UC Davis at San Diego State, 7:30 p.m.
Howard at UNLV, 8 p.m.
1988 Notre Dame Saturdays Games Sacramento State at Idaho, 8 p.m. Brevard at Davidson, 6 p.m.
1987 Miami (See Daily Sports Section for Scores) Limestone at ETSU, 6 p.m. Incarnate Word at Fresno State, 9 p.m.
New Mexico State at Arizona State, 9:30 p.m.
1986 Penn State EAST Miles at Alcorn State, 6 p.m. Montana State at Washington State, 9:30 p.m.
1985 Oklahoma Hawaii at UMass, late Eastern Kentucky at Western Kentucky, 6 p.m. Northern Arizona at Arizona, 10 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 1 Western Carolina at Hawaii, 11 p.m.
1984 BYU SOUTH EAST Georgia Southern at Auburn, 6:30 p.m.
1983 Miami Texas Southern at Florida A&M Fordham at Army, 5 p.m. South Alabama at Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m.
1982 Penn State Chattanooga vs. Jacksonville State Vanderbilt at Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3
CCSU at Syracuse, 6 p.m. EAST
1981 Clemson FAR WEST Tuskegee at Alabama State, 7 p.m.
Oregon St. at Colorado State Washington at Rutgers, 7 p.m. Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia at Landover, Maryland, 6:30 p.m.
1980 Georgia Florida State vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
1979 Alabama Portland State at BYU SOUTH MIDWEST SOUTH
1978 Alabama Colgate at Cal Poly Navy at FAU, 7 p.m. Ball State at Illinois, 11 a.m. South Carolina State at Southern U., 1:30 p.m.
1977 Notre Dame South Floria at San Jose State MIDWEST Bowling Green at Michigan State, 11 a.m. FAR WEST
1976 Pittsburgh Stanford vs. Rice at Sydney, Australia Charlotte at Eastern Michigan, 5:30 p.m. Missouri State at Missouri, 11 a.m. Texas A&M at UCLA, 7:30 p.m.
1975 Oklahoma Utah State at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. Wyoming at Iowa, 11 a.m.
1974 Oklahoma Todays Game Boston College at Northern Illinois, 8:30 p.m. Temple at Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4
1973 Notre Dame SOUTHWEST FAR WEST Nevada at Northwestern, 2:30 p.m. SOUTH
1972 Southern California Richmond at Sam Houston State, 6 p.m. Colorado vs. Colorado State at Denver, 7 p.m. MVSU at North Dakota State, 2:30 p.m. Tennessee at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m.
14 SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

CONFERENCE USA
Athletic Website: http://www.conferenceusa.com; Twitter: @ConferenceUSA; Facebook: www.facebook.com/ConferenceUSA; Instagram: @conferenceusa

LEAGUE EVEN AGAIN WHILE ADDING HIGH-PROFILE COACHES

BY STEPHEN HAWKINS
The Associated Press
IRVING, Texas Butch Davis is
back on the sideline, and Lane Kiffin is
again leading his own program.
While those high-profile coaches get
ready for their Conference USA debuts
Davis at FIU and Kiffin at Florida At-
lantic coach Bill Clark stayed in place
for Alabama-Birminghams football re-
vival.
With the return of the Blazers, C-USA
again has 14 teams split into seven-team
divisions. Clark had just finished his
first year at UAB, going 6-6 in 2014 for
the schools first non-losing record in 10
seasons, when the program was briefly
shut down for financial reasons.
Skip Holtz has won nine games three
straight years at Louisiana Tech, the
defending West Division champion and
one of seven C-USA teams that went to
bowl games last season. Those bowl
teams included UTSA and North Texas,
both with first-year head coaches who
left prominent roles on staffs at Power
Five schools.
A friend of mine uses the analogy
that Conference USA is like NASCAR.
Holtz said. Everybody has the same
size engine. Its just who does the best
job of driving it that week, and I think
thats where we are right now. I think its
an incredibly competitive league.
After winning back-to-back C-USA
titles, Western Kentucky has first-time
THE FAVORITES ern Miss. He is the leagues top return-
PRESEASON POLL East Division: While WKU has a
(First-place votes in parentheses) ing rusher after averaging 112 yards per
EASTERN DIVISION new coach and has to replace seven of- game as a junior.
fensive starters, the Hilltoppers return
n 1. Western Kentucky (20) n The Blue Raiders quarter-
senior quarterback Mike White, the
n 2. Middle Tennessee (4) back-wide receiver duo. Stockstill, now
n 3. Old Dominion (3) C-USA preseason offensive player of the
a third-year starter as a junior, threw for
n 4. Marshall (1) year, after scoring at least 44 points in 3,233 yards and 31 touchdowns last sea-
n 5. Florida Atlantic each of their last 10 games. Middle Ten- son. James caught 105 passes for 1,625
n 6. FIU nessee has the impressive QB-WR com- yards and 12 touchdowns.
n 7. Charlotte
bo of Brent Stockstill and Richie James. NEW FACES
WESTERN DIVISION
The division title could be determined n The 65-year-old Davis is back in
n 1. Louisiana Tech (20)
Nov. 17 when the Blue Raiders travel to coaching six years after being fired
n 2. UTSA (7)
n 3. Southern Mississippi (1) Bowling Green to play the Hilltoppers. from North Carolina as part of the fall-
n 4. North Texas West Division: For the third straight out of an NCAA investigation in which
n 5. Rice season, Louisiana Tech will have a new he was never implicated. And he is again
n 6. UTEP starting quarterback. The Bulldogs also
n 7. Alabama-Birmingham in Florida, where he coached the Miami
lost two receivers who combined for
Hurricanes from 1995-2000.
218 catches, 3,338 yards and 31 touch-
n Kiffin, previously a head coach at
head coach Mike Sanford Jr., who was downs. But they return 1,000-yard rush-
Tennessee and USC, spent the last three
Notre Dames offensive coordinator. er Jarred Craft, three starters on the
seasons as Nick Sabans offensive co-
Old Dominion takes a six-game winning offensive line, and DE Jaylon Ferguson,
the leagues top sacker among many top ordinator at Alabama the same span
streak into this season after winning 10 during which FAU had three consecu-
games in only the Monarchs fourth year players on defense.
TOP PLAYERS tive 3-9 seasons. The Owls last bowl was
in Division I, and eighth year since re-
n White, the Western Kentucky se- in 2008.
starting the program.
nior quarterback who had eight 300- n Sanford, the 35-year-old former No-
I look at some of the quality coach-
yard passing games last season. He was tre Dame offensive coordinator, became
es that this league has attracted, Holtz
said. Mike Sanford leaving Notre fifth in FBS with his 4,383 yards, while WKUs head coach after Jeff Brohm left
Dame to go to Western Kentucky, I look throwing for 37 touchdowns with only for Purdue.
at Frank (Wilson) leaving LSU to take seven interceptions. ON THE HOT SEAT
UTSA, I look at Seth Littrell leaving n Rice linebacker Emmanuel Eller- Sean Kugler took alma mater UTEP
(North Carolina) to go to North Texas. bee led the league and ranked sixth na- to a bowl in 2014, the former NFL offen-
... Now this year with Butch Davis and tionally with 10.7 tackles per game last sive line coachs second season as head
Lane Kiffin both coming in with head year. coach. The Miners are only 9-15 in the
coaching experience, I think speaks vol- n Ito Smith has rushed for more than two seasons since, and lost five straight
umes for this league. 100 yards in 16 games already at South- games last season.

Southern Mississippi will try to maintain momentum with new QB

BY DAVID BRANDT petition between Howard
The Associated Press and Griggs to last all the way
through training camp and pos-
The Southern Mississippi sibly into the regular season.
football team rebounded from
Howard was Mullens backup
one of the most dismal periods
last season, completing 22 of
in program history with back-
50 passes (44 percent) for one
to-back winning seasons in
touchdown and four intercep-
2015 and 16.
tions. Griggs is a junior college
Now second-year coach Jay
transfer who redshirted last
Hopson is out to prove the Gold-
en Eagles will continue their season.
winning ways. Theyve been back and
Southern Miss will have to forth thats the reality of it,
Hopson said.
maintain its momentum with
Hopson hopes that whoever
a new quarterback. Four-year
wins the job will be helped by
starter Nick Mullens is now
gone and theres a preseason several veterans around him. Ito
battle under center between Smith led the Golden Eagles with
sophomore Keon Howard and 1,459 yards rushing last season
junior Kwadra Griggs. and 17 touchdowns. Six of the
Hopson expects the com- teams top seven receivers return,
including Allenzae Staggers, who
caught 63 passes for 1,165 yards
and seven touchdowns.
Southern Miss will be much
less experienced on defense.
The Golden Eagles will be re-
placing four of the teams top
six tacklers from last season.
They do have some experience
in the secondary Picasso
Nelson, Cornell Armstrong and
Curtis Mikell are all seniors.
We need to stay healthy
at some spots, but thats just
the reality of football, Hopson
said. You cut us open and were
bigger and faster, but were also
younger.
n KEY GAMES: Sept. 2 vs.
Kentucky; Oct. 21 at Louisiana
Tech; Nov. 4 at Tennessee
n WHAT
TURNAROUND: Southern
Miss was one of the nations
worst programs just a few years.
The Golden Eagles went 0-12 in
12, 1-11 in 13 and 3-9 in 14 before
former coach Todd Monken led
Southern Miss to a 9-5 season in
15. Monken left to become the
offensive coordinator with the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Hop-
son took over, taking the Golden
Eagles to another bowl game in
his first season.
n POCKET ROCKET:
Southern Miss RB Ito Smith
isnt a big guy at 5-foot-9 and 193
pounds, but hes had a hugely
productive career for the Gold-
en Eagles, rushing for more
A than 3,000 yards over his first
three seasons. Hes got a shot to
become one of the schools all-
time leading rushers, though
its unlikely hell catch Damion
Fletcher who ran for 5,302
yards from 2006 to 09 at the
No. 1 spot.
n SEASON OPENER:
Southern Miss will play host
to a Southeastern Conference
opponent in the season opener
when Kentucky comes to town
Sept. 2. Its fairly rare for the
Golden Eagles to play host to a
SEC opponent, though Missis-
sippi State came to M.M. Rob-
erts Stadium in 2015. Southern
Miss beat Kentucky 44-35 last
season in Lexington, Kentucky.

SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Athletic Website: http://www.swac.org; Twitter: @theswac; Facebook: www.facebook.com/theswac; Instagram: @theswac

GRAMBLING , ALCORN STATE FACE HIGHEST EXPECTATIONS

BY DAVID BRANDT
PRESEASON POLL
The Associated Press
(Ranking followed by points)
EASTERN DIVISION
Grambling State opens
n 1. Alcorn State ................80
the season as one of
n 2. Alabama State .............66
the favorites to win the n 3. Jackson State .............59
Southwestern Athletic n 4. Alabama A&M ..............45
Conference and the pro- n 5. Mississippi Valley State 20
grams players are all over WESTERN DIVISION
the leagues preseason n 1. Grambling State ...........85
All-Conference lists. n 2. Southern ......................68
Grambling coach n 3. Prairie View A&M ..........59
Broderick Fobbs didnt n 4. Texas Southern ............37
seem to mind the presea- n 5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff ......21
son love his program is
receiving. He also wasnt players on the preseason
particularly excited by it. All-Conference teams,
I dont really think it including quarterback
matters, Fobbs said at Devante Kincade, who
SWAC Media Day in July. returns after throwing
We start at the starting for 3,022 yards, 31 touch-
line at the same place. Just downs and just four in-
because you finished first terceptions. Running
last year or you have all back Martez Carter also
these kids on the All-Con- returns after running for
ference team, that means 891 yards, 10 touchdowns
absolutely nothing. and averaging 7.7 yards
They dont give you a per carry.
10-yard head start. Grambling lost its sea-
Grambling had 14 son opener against Pac-12
foe Arizona in a surpris-
ingly tight 31-21 game.
It then won 11-straight
games, beating Alcorn
State 27-20 in the SWAC
Championship and North
Carolina Central 10-9 in
the Celebration Bowl.
Some things to look for
this season in the SWAC:
THE FAVORITES
Grambling: Fobbs,
who is entering his fourth
season with the Tigers,
has built a powerhouse.
Grambling has a 28-9 re-
cord over three seasons,
including a 25-2 record in
the SWAC. With the re-
turn of Kincade and Car-
ter and a stellar defense,
the Tigers have a good
chance to win the West-
ern Division again.
Alcorn State: The
Braves won the SWAC
championship in 2014
and 15 and nearly pulled
off the three-peat last
season before falling to
Grambling in the SWAC
title game. It figures to be
a wide open Eastern Di-
vision Alabama State
and Jackson State are
also in the hunt but the
Braves have won the divi-
sion three straight years
and are the champs until
proven otherwise.
TOP PLAYERS
n Kincade, Gram-
bling: The senior was
a good prospect at Ole
Miss before getting stuck
on the depth chart be-
hind starter Chad Kelly.
Kincade transferred to
Grambling and found im-
mediate success, throw-
ing the ball with accuracy
and also running for four
touchdowns.
n Keontre Anderson,
Jackson State: Jackson
was constantly in oppo-
nents backfields last year,
finishing the season with
25 tackles for a loss, in-
cluding nine sacks. The
6-foot-4, 230-pound defen-
sive end was named the
SWACs preseason defen-
sive player of the year.
n Austin Howard,
Southern: The best quar-
terback in the SWAC not
named Devante Kincade
in 2016, Howard com-
pleted 58.2 percent of his
passes while throwing for
2,655 yards and 29 touch-
downs.
n Danny Johnson,
Southern: Johnson re-
turns after leading the
league with seven in-
terceptions last season,
including one that he re-
turned for a touchdown.
SWAN SONG FOR
SWAC TITLE GAME
The winners of the
SWACs Western and
Eastern Divisions will
meet in Houston for a
league title game in De-
cember. Thats the last
time in the foreseeable
future that will happen.
The SWAC announced
earlier this year that its
ending the SWAC title
game in an effort to put
more emphasis on the
Celebration Bowl, which
pits the SWAC champi-
on against the winner of
the Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference.
EAST STILL LEAST?
The SWACs Western
Division was far superior
to the East in 2016. Gram-
bling won the division
with a 9-0 mark in con-
ference while Southern
was 8-1 and Prairie View
A&M was 7-2. The best
team in the East was Al-
corn State, which finished
with a 5-4 league record.
The leagues best
teams still figure to come
from the West this fall,
but improvement for pro-
grams like Alabama State
and Jackson State in the
East might make things a
little more even.

PRESEASON POLLS UNDER THE RADAR HEISMAN CONTENDERS

American Athletic
Conference
(First-place votes in parentheses,
followed by points)
EASTERN DIVISION
n 1. South Florida (30) ................ 180
n 2. Central Florida ...................... 126
n 3. Temple ................................. 119
n 4. Cincinnati ............................. 100
n 5. East Carolina ..........................63
n 6. Connecticut .............................42
WESTERN DIVISION
n 1. Memphis (22) ...................... 169
n 2. Houston (6) .......................... 137
n 3. Navy (1) ............................... 128
n 4. Tulsa (1) .............................. 102
n 5. SMU .......................................64
n 6. Tulane .....................................30
Mid-American Conference
(First-place votes in parentheses,
followed by points)
EASTERN DIVISION
n 1. Ohio (11) ............................. 131
n 2. Miami (12) ........................... 129
n 3. Bowling Green (1) ....................88
n 4. Akron ......................................79
n 5. Buffalo ....................................41
n 6. Kent State ..............................36
WESTERN DIVISION
n 1. Toledo (22) ........................... 142
n 2. Western Michigan (1) ........... 107
n 3. Northern Illinois (1) .................89
n 4. Eastern Michigan ....................74
n 5. Central Michigan .....................62
n 6. Ball State ................................30
Mountain West Conference
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
(First-place votes in parentheses,
followed by points)
n 1. Boise State (21) ................... 161
n 2. Colorado State (6) ................ 135
n 3. Wyoming (1) ......................... 114
n 4. Air Force .................................82
n 5. New Mexico ............................68
n 6. Utah State ..............................28
WEST DIVISION
n 1. San Diego State (28) ............ 168
n 2. Hawaii ................................ 135
n 3. UNLV ................................... 105
n 4. Nevada ...................................79
n 5. San Jos State ........................54
n 6. Fresno State ...........................47
Sun Belt Conference
(First-place votes in parentheses,
followed by points)
n 1. Appalachian State (7) ........... 136
n 2. Troy (2) ................................ 127
n 3. Arkansas State (1) ............... 122
n 4. South Alabama ......................98
n 5. Louisiana (1) ...........................95
n 6. Idaho .....................................84
n 7. Georgia Southern ...................82
n 8. Georgia State .........................48
n 9. ULM ........................................46
n 10. New Mexico State (1) ............41
n 11. Texas State ..........................31
n 12. Coastal Carolina ...................26
INSIDE
n MORE PREVIEWS: A look at how
the Power 5 conferences shape
up, including the preseason polls.
Page 16
DERRIUS GUICE, RB, LSU
With Leonard Fournette in the NFL,
Guice has the backfield to himself. The
5-foot-11, 218-pound junior still ended
up leading the SEC in rushing yards
(1,387) and touchdowns (15) despite
splitting time with Fournette.
DERWIN JAMES, S, FLORIDA STATE
James missed most of last season
due to a knee injury but has been
touted as the best defensive player in
college football. James (6-3, 211) will
draw comparisons to former Michigan
standout Jabrill Peppers, who was a
Heisman finalist last year. James has
been used as a rush end, linebacker
and safety on defense, punt return
and will see action on offense at wide
receiver.
RONALD JONES II, RB, USC
There is already plenty of Heisman
buzz around the Trojans due to quar-
terback Sam Darnold, but Jones does
have a chance to possibly generate
some headlines of his own and possibly
upstage Darnold. The 6-0, 200 pound
junior running back averaged 6.0 yards
per carry and had three touchdown
runs of 60 yards or more last year.
TRACE McSORLEY, QB, PENN STATE
This is like USC in reverse since the
running back (Saquon Barkley) is re-
ceiving more attention. McSorley, a 6-0,
202-pound junior, could be the best
quarterback in the Big Ten Conference.
Last season, he threw 25 touchdowns
and only five interceptions.
MASON RUDOLPH, QB,
OKLAHOMA STATE
The senior is not receiving as
much attention as Oklahomas Baker
Mayfield, but Rudolph (6-5, 230) is one
of only two Power Five quarterbacks
coming back after passing for 4,000
yards. He has one of the more talented
receiving duos in the Jalen McCleskey
and James Washington.
JARRETT STIDHAM, QB, AUBURN
The sophomore was one of the top
dual-threat quarterbacks when he was
recruited by Baylor in 2015 and had
immediate success with 1,165 yards
passing and 12 touchdowns. Stidham
(6-3, 214) transferred to junior college
last year after coach Art Briles was fired
and could be Auburns fourth Heisman
finalist in the past eight years.
By The Associated Press
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 15

EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIONS

Athletic Website: www.emccathletics.com; Radio: WFCA-FM 107.9; Twitter: @emccathletics; Instagram: @EMCCAthletics; You Tube: www.youtube.com/EMCCAthletics

Dispatch File Photo

The East Mississippi Community College football team has grown accustomed to winning championships. Last season, EMCC beat Northwest Mississippi C.C. 38-30 to
win the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) State title. The Lions won their last 11 games to finish 11-1 and ranked No. 2 in the nation.

BELL, DANTZLER BACK TOGETHER TO FUEL LIONS DEFENSE

BY SCOT T WALTERS
swalters@cdispatch.com
SCOOBA When Loren-
zo Dantzler began searching
for a new place to play college
football, he enlisted the help of
former high school teammate
Maleke Bell.
It turns out Bell had the per-
fect way to get the
former Starkville
High School de-
fensive line duo
back together for
one more season.
Its like a
brother coming
Bell
back home, Bell
said. We have
made so many
memories togeth-
er playing foot-
ball, and I look
forward to more
of the same this
season.
Dantzler Dantzler and
Bell will help an-
chor the defensive line this sea-
son for No. 2 East Mississippi
Community College.
The era of new defensive co-
ordinator Cliff Collins will be-
gin Aug. 31 against Jones Coun-
ty Junior College in Scooba.
Feel really blessed to be in
this position, Dantzler said.
This is the states elite junior
college program. We are all about
winning championships. We plan
to do that this season. It just feels
like home here, and I am excited
about getting started.
As seniors, the duo teamed
up to help lead Starkville High
to the Mississippi High School
Activities Association (MH-
SAA) Class 6A State champi-
onship in 2015. The final two
seasons with the Yellow Jackets
featured 27 victories and two
defeats.
You want winners in the
your locker room, EMCC
The East Mississippi Community College football team has grown accustomed to winning championships.
Last season, EMCC beat Northwest Mississippi C.C. 38-30 to win the Mississippi Association of
Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) State title. The Lions won their last 11 games to finish 11-1 and
ranked No. 2 in the nation.
coach Buddy Stephens said.
You want players who have
played in the big games. You
want that championship-type
experience. When you sign
players from Starkville, you
know you are getting that pedi-
gree. They have a history of pro-
ducing great linemen. These
two are just recent examples of
the types of players produced.
They are great fits for what we
are trying to do.
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Bell
might have been the biggest in-
state catch of last seasons sign-
ing class. After making strides
through preseason camp, Bell
became a starter for the second
half of the season. He finished
with 19 tackles, including five
for loss, and two sacks.
EMCC finished 11-1 and won
the schools fifth Mississippi
Association of Community and
Junior Colleges (MACJC) State
championship. It also won the
Mississippi Bowl and finished
second in the nation.
Maleke has a great passion
for the game, Collins said.
He has an imposing will and a
dominating presence. He is not
real vocal, but that doesnt take
away from the tenacity. He has
a determination and the type of
passion you can build a defen-
sive line around. You have to
have a high level of passion to
play this game and play it well.
He has that motor that is always
going.
After completing his high
school career, the 6-foot-2,
240-pound Dantzler signed a
national letter of intent with
Dispatch File Photo
Southern Mississippi. After
redshirting last season, Dan-
tzler transferred to EMCC in
January.
He already has announced a
commitment to Texas-San An-
tonio and will be able to enroll
there in December.
The UTSA coaches have
been great to me, Dantzler
said. Its another exciting op-
portunity in my career. Football
has been good to me. I want to
continue to give this game my
all. Its exciting to be part of this
program because they always
have players become great.
Collins knows Dantzlers
ability to make an instant im-
pact.
He was a force in high
school, Collins said. Now af-
ter being in a Division I weight
and conditioning program for a
season, he is more developed.
He will come in and make an im-
mediate impact. You are talking
a player with a lot of accolades
and awards. As a defensive unit,
our job is to attack the others
team quarterback and to help
take him out of his comfort lev-
el. Maleke and Lorenzo will be
able do to that.
Collins is charged with
bringing the luster back to the
EMCC defense. He coached de-
fensive backs for eight seasons
before leaving for Jackson State
for the 2016 season.
The 2014 National Junior
College Athletic Association
(NJCAA) national champion-
ship team allowed 7.6 points
per game with five-straight
shutouts. Last season, EMCC
allowed 20.4 ppg.
We have to get back to be-
ing that physical, hard-nosed
defensive unit, Collins said.
The biggest thing is speed.
You need even your linemen to
have speed. That way you can
get in the backfield and disrupt
what the other team is trying to
do.
Three linemen from the 2014
EMCC squad are on NFL ros-
ters.
This program is all about
having that kind of success,
Bell said. When you become
a sophomore, you think more
about what is next. There is a
lot to play for.
Dantzler and Bell will play
for it together. They even wear
corresponding uniform num-
bers. For Dantzler, it is 90. Bell
wears 91.
Its good to be back with
Maleke, Dantzler said. We
have a special bond. He will
make this year even more fun.
Follow Dispatch sports
writer Scott Walters on Twitter
@dispatchscott

EMCC
Continued from Page 12
the season. Conner was
on EMCCs roster last
season, while Scott was
redshirting at LSU.
Earlier in fall camp,
EMCC coach Buddy Ste-
phens called Conner the
starter for now. However,
the Lions signed Scott lat-
er that night.
Typically, EMCC has
used two quarterbacks
under Stephens. One
typically gets most of
the reps and the other is
used in short-yardage sit-
uations. More of the same
is probable this season.
Pearl River Central High
Schools Wyatt Davis and
Daquirs Griffin, of Hou-
ma, Louisiana, round out
the quarterbacks on the
roster.
Timorrius is a leader,
Stephens said. He comes
from a championship-cal-
iber program. Noxubee
County players will run
through a brick wall for
something they believe
in. He had a lot of success
in high school, and you
can see the leadership
Agricultural High stand-
out Vijay Miller, who was
mainly used in short-yard-
age situations. He signed
a professional baseball
contract with the San Di-
ego Padres this summer.
Being able to play with direction. I feel fortunate
DeAndre was an amazing
experience, Conner said.
He was the leader on the
team from day one. Ev-
eryone knew that and un-
derstood that. He just had
that presence that made
you believe in him. When
Dispatch File Photo you play quarterback,
Timorrius Conner, left, celebrates with the Mississippi your teammates have to
High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A
believe in you. They have
State championship after helping to lead the Noxubee to know you have their
County High School football team past St. Aloysius in the back. Together, a team
2015 State title game.
can accomplish anything.
and why other players County High. At EMCC, That is what makes play-
gravitated to him. You he had the good fortune ing here so special. Ev-
have to be vocal, but you of learning from DeAn- erybody is here to win a ceivers in the state.
also have to lead by ex- dre Johnson last season. championship, and every-
ample. Quarterback play In his second year in the body is here to play on the
is critical to our success. program, the Florida next level. Those are the
We have to play well at State transfer threw for driving forces.
that spot. We have to 2,646 yards with 26 touch- The EMCC offense
score points. downs. Johnson is now at also will have a new
Conner threw for 6,904 Florida Atlantic. play-caller this season.
yards and 64 touchdowns The other quarterback David Boykin replaces
in three years at Noxubee was former Itawamba Marcus Wood, who was
the offensive coordinator
in Stephens first nine
seasons.
There wont be any
changes, Boykin said.
The main thing is to keep
things going in the right
to have this opportunity.
(Stephens) has one of the
best offensive minds in
the business. My job is
to help coach the players
and help put them in posi-
tions to be successful.
While the top three
rushers from a year ago
(Johnson, Isaiah Wright,
and Jacquez Horsley) are
gone, the fourth-through-
seventh return. Calvin
Keys and Daniel Crowell
help anchor what Conner
calls the best group of re-
game winning streak into
There is no secret
what we like to do, Con-
ner said. Its going to be
more of the same. When
the ball is snapped, we
have like five options, and
the job is to make the play
happen as quickly as pos-
sible. When we score less
than 40 points, its a disap-
pointment.
Disappointments have
been few in Scooba. Last
seasons national cham-
pionship hopes were de-
railed in the season open-
er. EMCC could dress
only 32 players due to
suspension in a 27-25 loss
to JCJC.
The winning ways
followed. A 38-30 victo-
ry against Northwest
Mississippi C.C. earned
EMCC the Mississippi
Association of Commu-
nity and Junior Colleges
(MACJC) State title. A 27-
17 victory against Kilgore
College secured a Missis-
sippi Bowl championship.
EMCC will carry an 11-
the season.
Its a new beginning
for the program, Con-
ner said. There is no ad-
versity to overcome, just
games to win.
Follow Dispatch sports
writer Scott Walters on
Twitter @dispatchscott
16 SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 The Dispatch www.cdispatch.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

CLEMSONS LOSSES COULD OPEN DOOR FOR FSU, LOUISVILLE

BY A ARON BEARD
The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. Clemson football
coach Dabo Swinney understands why
preseason questions about the Tigers fo-
cus more on whos gone from last years
team instead of who is filling those roles.
The reigning national champions
have big holes the kind that could
clear a path for Florida State or Louis-
ville to climb atop the Atlantic Coast
Conferences heavyweight division and
win the league title in 2017.
Guys, theres change every year,
Swinney said during last months ACC
media days. Its a new team.
The Tigers thrilling 35-31 comeback
win against Alabama did more than
give Clemson its second national title.
It capped a four-year run that has the
ACC a league best known for basket-
ball on level footing these days with
the football-power Southeastern Con-
ference. The ACC has won two national
championships and has two Heisman
Trophy winners in that span, including
reigning trophy winner Lamar Jackson
of Louisville.
Now its up to the ACC to maintain its
ACC PRESEASON POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses,
followed by points)
ATLANTIC DIVISION
n 1. Florida State (121) ........................ 1,108
n 2. Clemson (37) ................................ 1,007
n 3. Louisville (9) .................................... 843
n 4. North Carolina State ......................... 658
n 5. Wake Forest ..................................... 415
n 6. Syracuse ......................................... 362
n 7. Boston College ................................. 283
COASTAL DIVISION
n 1. Miami (103) .................................. 1,065
n 2. Virginia Tech (40) ............................. 932
n 3. Georgia Tech (9) ............................... 708
n 4. Pittsburgh (7) ................................... 673
n 5. North Carolina (4) ............................ 606
n 6. Duke (4) .......................................... 473
n 7. Virginia ............................................ 219
newly claimed stature.
The Tigers (14-1) have played in two
straight national title games but must
replace star players such as quarterback
Deshaun Watson and linebacker Ben
Boulware. Theyve ceded the league-fa-
vorite status to the Seminoles (10-3),
who return 18 starters on offense and
defense. And the Cardinals (9-4) lurk
right behind with Jacksons return with
the chance to join Ohio States Archie
Griffin as the only two-time Heisman
winners.
And thats all in the Atlantic Division,
part of an imbalanced alignment that
has made the leagues Coastal Division
a perennial undercard.
Clemson extended a six-year run by
the Atlantic champion as winner of the
league title game, with FSU and Clem-
son each have won three. The Coastal,
meanwhile, has had a revolving door of
division champions that included Virgin-
ia Tech last year, North Carolina in 2015,
Georgia Tech in 2014 and Duke in 2013
ond-year coach Mark Richt.
and looks just as likely to have more
uncertainty this fall.
play running back, receiver or tight end. And he has 29 rushing
The marquee game should be FSUs
visit to Clemson on Nov. 11, with the
winner of that game winning the past six
league crowns.
That game has turned into one heck
of a game every year, said FSU coach
Jimbo Fisher, who led the Seminoles to
the 2013 national title. Whoever wins it
has a chance to win it all, not only win the
ACC, but win a national championship.
THE FAVORITES
n Atlantic: Florida State. The Seminoles lost league-lead-
ing rusher Dalvin Cook, but sophomore quarterback Deondre
Francois is back while the defense returns 11 starters. That list
includes safety Derwin James, who was regarded as one of the
nations defensive backs before missing all but two games last
year with a knee injury .
Coastal: Miami. The Hurricanes return running back Mark
Walton and eight defensive starters, though they need to find a
new quarterback after losing Brad Kaaya if they want to reach
the ACC championship game for the first time. Virginia Tech is
picked second and also has to find a new starting quarterback
as the Hokies try to become the divisions first repeat winner
since 2011.
TOP PLAYERS
n Jackson, Louisville. The junior can beat defenses
through the air (3,543 yards passing and 30 touchdowns) or on
the ground (1,571 yards with 21 scores).
n Walton, Miami. Walton ran for 1,117 yards and 14 touch-
downs as a sophomore in 2016. Hell have to lead the offense
as the Hurricanes next QB settles into the role under sec-
n Jaylen Samuels, North Carolina State. The senior can
or receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons for an expe-
rienced team that could be a dark horse in the Atlantic.
n Dexter Lawrence, Clemson. The 6-foot-5, 340 pound
sophomore tackle mentioned as a possible No. 1 overall NFL
draft pick in 2019 joins linemate Christian Wilkins to give the
Tigers a formidable front.
n Micah Kiser, Virginia. The senior linebacker has led the
ACC in tackles for the past two seasons with a combined 251
stops.
(NO) NEW FACES
The ACC doesnt have a new coach for the first time since
2006.
ON THE HOT SEAT?
Boston Colleges Steve Addazio guided the Eagles to a
bowl win, but theyre a combined 2-14 in the ACC the past two
seasons.

LEAGUE CHAMP PENN STATE OVERSHADOWED BY OHIO STATE

BY ERIC OLSON
The Associated Press
Reigning Big Ten Confer-
ence champion Penn State re-
turns a Heisman Trophy can-
didate at running back and a
record-setting quarterback,
and the Nittany Lions general-
ly are regarded as one of the 10
best teams in the country.
Theyre not even picked to
win their division this season.
The Big Ten East favorite,
as usual, is Ohio State, which
is loaded with as much talent as
ever and motivated to atone for
an embarrassing finish to 2016.
So as great an accomplish-
ment as it was for Penn State to
go from being picked fourth in
the division to winning its first
league title since 2008, another
grind is about to start. Coach
James Franklin wants his play-
ers to put last season out of
their minds.
Weve talked about it
enough. The fans have talk-
BIG TEN
PRESEASON POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses,
followed by points)
EASTERN DIVISION
n 1. Ohio State (34) ....... 260 points
n 2. Penn State (7) ................ 231.5
n 3. Michigan (1) ...................... 192
n 4. Michigan State .................. 128
n 5. Indiana ............................. 114
n 6. Maryland ....................... 100.5
n 7. Rutgers .............................. 38
WESTERN DIVISION
n 1. Wisconsin (31) ........ 259 points
n 2. Northwestern (5) ............... 219
n 3. Nebraska (2) .................. 176.5
n 4. Iowa .............................. 164.5
n 5. Minnesota ........................ 131
n 6. Purdue ............................... 57
n 6. Illinois ................................ 57
ed about it. The medias talk-
ed about it, Franklin said.
Theyve been given rings.
So thats behind us. We have
moved on.
Saquon Barkley thrust him-
self into 2017 Heisman consid-
eration after a dominant perfor-
mance in the last-second Rose
Bowl loss to Southern Califor-
nia. Trace McSorley led the Big
Ten in passer rating and threw
for four touchdowns in both the
Big Ten championship game
against Wisconsin and the
bowl. The question is whether
a defense that allowed 34 points
a game against ranked oppo-
nents can hold up its end.
A three-week stretch span-
ning October and November
Michigan at home and road
games at Ohio State and Mich-
igan State likely will be the
key to the Lions season.
THE FAVORITES
East Division: Ohio State has 15 starters
back after having seven players drafted, including
six of the top 70 picks. You can be sure Urban
Meyer will have the Buckeyes on a redemption
tour after they lost 31-0 to Clemson in the College
Football Playoff semifinals.
Penn State also feels it has something to
prove. The Nittany Lions beat Ohio State and won
the conference and were left out of the playoff
because of losses to Pittsburgh and Michigan.
Michigan, with losses in three of its last four
games, is still waiting for the big payoff from its
splash hire of Jim Harbaugh. Hes finished third
in the East each of his first two years and still is
looking for his first win over Ohio State.
West Division: Wisconsin brings back an ex-
perienced QB in Alex Hornibrook and a seasoned
defense from its 11-win team. The Badgers dont
play Ohio State, and their toughest road game is
at Nebraska.
Northwestern has a three-year starting QB
in Clayton Thorson and a workhorse in RB Justin
Jackson . Back-to-back games against Wisconsin
(away) and Penn State (home) come early.
Iowa will rely heavily on 1,000-yard rusher
Akrum Wadley and a veteran offensive line as it
breaks in a new QB. Penn State visits in Septem-
ber, but the hardest part of the schedule comes
in November.
TOP PLAYERS
n Penn States Barkley is going for a third
straight 1,000-yard season. Ohio State QB J.T.
Barrett should flourish under new offensive coor-
dinator Kevin Wilson. Northwesterns Jackson will
finish his career as the FBS No. 7 rusher if he
matches last seasons 1,524 yards.
n Ohio State DL Tyquan Lewis was Big Ten
defensive lineman of the year in 2016. Indiana LB
Tegray Scales led the nation with 23.5 tackles for
loss and a Big Ten-leading 126 stops. Iowa LB
Josey Jewell has started 30 straight games and
made 124 tackles last season.
NEW FACES
P.J. Fleck takes his Row the Boat mantra
from Western Michigan to Minnesota. The Go-
phers won nine games under Tracy Claeys in
2016, but things got ugly at the end with a threat-
ened player bowl boycott and sexual assault in-
vestigation.
Indianas Tom Allen was promoted from de-
fensive coordinator to head coach after the firing
of Kevin Wilson. Allen oversaw remarkable im-
provement of one of the FBS worst defenses, and
with QB Richard Lagow returning, the Hoosiers
should make a run at a third straight bowl if they
can survive a tough first half of the season.
Jeff Brohm won back-to-back Conference
USA titles at Western Kentucky before moving to
Purdue. He takes over a program that hasnt won
more than three games since 2012.
ON THE HOT SEAT
Michigan States Mark Dantonio built up con-
siderable capital by winning the Big Ten in 2015.
Serious off-field problems and a 3-9 campaign in
2016 make this an important year for the 11th-year
coach.
Rutgers Chris Ash and Illinois Lovie Smith
are going into their second seasons and have big
buy-outs, but the clock is starting on both. Rutgers
beat only one FBS opponent in 2016 and Illinois
won three games, two fewer than in 2015.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Florida vs. Michigan, Sept. 2 in Arlington,
Texas; Pittsburgh at Penn State, Nebraska at Or-
egon, Oklahoma at Ohio State, Sept. 9; Wiscon-
sin at BYU, Sept. 16; Northwestern at Wisconsin,
Sept. 30; Wisconsin at Nebraska, Oct. 7; Michi-
gan at Penn State, Oct. 21; Penn State at Ohio
State, Oct. 28; Michigan at Wisconsin, Nov. 18;
Iowa at Nebraska, Nov. 24; Ohio State at Michi-
gan, Nov. 25.

OKLAHOMA WOULD HAVE TO FACE REMATCH FOR ANOTHER TITLE

BY STEPHEN HAWKINS
The Associated Press
Oklahoma or Texas has won the last
seven Big 12 championship games.
When the conference title game re-
sumes this season after a six-year hia-
tus, the Red River rivals could be facing
each other for the second time that sea-
son. Or maybe it will be a rematch be-
tween the Sooners and Oklahoma State,
though they wouldnt play consecutive
weeks since the regular Bedlam game
is now set for the first Saturday of No-
vember and not at the end of the regular
season.
The championship game is back in
the Big 12, which was left out of the Col-
lege Football Playoff in two of the first
three years.
Weve been responsive to what we
heard from the CFP, Big 12 Commis-
sioner Bob Bowlsby said, referring to
that 13th data point the title game cre-
ates for the league.
But the league didnt return to divi-
sions, which it had through 2010 when
there were 12 teams. So the top two
teams in the Big 12 standings will play
BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses,
followed by points)
n 1. Oklahoma (19) ................................. 303
n 2. Oklahoma State (12) ........................ 294
n 3. Kansas State (1) .............................. 231
n 4. Texas .............................................. 213
n 5. TCU ................................................. 202
n 6. West Virginia .................................... 183
n 7. Baylor .............................................. 129
n 8. Texas Tech ......................................... 85
n 9. Iowa State ......................................... 83
n 10. Kansas ............................................ 37
again in the title game a guaranteed
rematch in the only Power Five league
with a round-robin schedule. That could
mean the first-ever December game be-
tween Oklahoma and Texas, both with
new coaches and teams that havent
faced each other twice in the same sea-
son since 1903.
Oklahoma, with Heisman Trophy fi-
nalist quarterback Baker Mayfield back
for his senior season, will be going for
its third consecutive Big 12 title and
11th overall.
Ive always envisioned it being more
like this. Of course, you get the pressure
with it, said 33-year-old Lincoln Riley, a
first-time head coach after Bob Stoops
surprising retirement in June. If you
dont enjoy that sense of pressure and
those expectations, then its probably
not the place for you.
New Longhorns coach Tom Herman,
a graduate assistant at Texas for Mack
Brown in 1999 and 2000, was 22-4 the
last two years as Houstons coach after
being offensive coordinator for Ohio
States national championship team
three seasons ago.
Herman takes over a Texas team
coming off three consecutive losing sea-
sons for the first time since the 1930s.
Whats the past is in the past, Her-
man said. Our job is to make sure that
whatever happened doesnt happen
again.
THE FAVORITES
Oklahoma is a heavy favorite in the Big 12 as usual, even
with the unexpected coaching change, the loss of another
Heisman finalist (big-play receiver Dede Westbrook) and the
early departures of two running backs (Samaje Perine and Joe
Mixon) to the NFL. Mayfield is among nine returning offensive
starters, and six of the top eight tacklers are back. The Sooners
go into the season with a 10-game winning streak, the longest
among FBS teams.
Oklahoma State has never played in the Big 12 champion-
ship game, and won its only title in the league in 2011, the first
year that championship game wasnt played. The Cowboys go
into coach Mike Gundys 13th season with quarterback Mason
Rudolph (4,091 yards passing, 28 touchdowns, four intercep-
tions), receiver James Washington (71 catches, 1,380 yards,
10 touchdowns) and running back Justice Hill (1,142 yards
rushing).
TOP PLAYERS
n Mayfield. The former walk-on freshman starter at Texas
Tech has passed for 7,665 yards and 76 touchdowns while lead-
ing the Sooners to the last two Big 12 titles.
n Oklahoma States offensive trio of Rudolph, Washington
and Hill.
n Dorance Armstrong Jr., a 6-foot-4, 246-pound defensive
end at Kansas who had 10 sacks and led the Big 12 with 20
tackles for loss last year.
n Travin Howard and Ty Summers, two linebackers at
TCU. Howard had a Big 12-high 130 tackles last season and
Summers was second with 121.
n Allen Lazard, Iowa States big-play receiver. His 1,018
yards receiving included school-record six 100-yard games.
NEW FACES
Baylor coach Matt Rhule. After consecutive 10-win sea-
sons at Temple, Rhule has likely the biggest challenge of the
leagues three new coaches, taking over in the aftermath of
Baylors sexual assault scandal. Rhule said his focus is on
building a program, not a team, and building a culture, not an
attitude.
Will Grier, West Virginias quarterback. Redshirted last
season after transferring from Florida, where he threw for 1,204
yards in six games as a freshman in 2015.
ON THE HOT SEAT
Texas Tech scores plenty under fifth-year coach Kliff
Kingsbury, averaging 38.8 points and 540 total yards a game.
But the Red Raiders have allowed 39.6 points per game and
gone 24-26 under their former quarterback. While going 5-7 last
year, they scored 524 points and gave up 522.

WASHINGTON, USC APPEAR PRIMED FOR ANOTHER YEAR AT TOP

BY GREG BEACHAM
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES The
Pacific-12 Conference
divisional races will be short on
drama if preseason projections
translate into regular-season
results on the West Coast.
Washington and Southern
California are major favorites to
earn a showdown in the confer-
ence title game in Santa Clara in
December, and both are consid-
ered national title contenders.
In a conference crowded
with untested young teams
and perennial powers in search
of bounce-back seasons, the
Huskies and Trojans are built
around talented starting quar-
terbacks who have already
shown the mettle to win big
games. Defending Pac-12 win-
ner Washington made the Col-
lege Football Playoff while USC
won the Rose Bowl last season,
and large portions of those
championship teams are back
in uniform this fall.
PAC-12 PRESEASON POLL complish that. Thats always dont get much national attention, but the speedy
our goal and always our expec- tailback is primed for a breakout year.
(First-place votes in parentheses, followed by points) n Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA. The touted pass-
NORTH DIVISION SOUTH DIVISION tation. er missed half of his sophomore season with inju-
n 1. Washington (49) 309 n 1. USC (49) 309 The rest of the league is ries. With Jedd Fisch becoming his third offensive
n 2. Stanford (1) 247 n 2. Utah (1) 220 fighting to catch up to the pre- coordinator in three years, he could swiftly return
n 3. Washington State (1) 206 n 3. UCLA (1) 209 season favorites. his NFL draft stock to its former heights.
n 4. Oregon (1) 163 n 4. Colorado (1) 182 The Colorado Buffaloes are n Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah. Star Lotuleleis
n 5. Oregon State 101 n 5. Arizona State 109 out to prove their rapid ascent 320-pound little brother is the heir to the Utes tra-
n 6. California 64 n 6. Arizona 61 dition of vaunted defensive line play.
wasnt a fluke. Stanford and Or- n Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon. The star re-
egon are eager to chase Wash- turned for another season, and the Ducks are a
Washington is coming off its Darnold, who led the Trojans ington for the top spot they prime candidate for a quick rebound.
best season in a quarter-centu- to nine consecutive victories shared for years, while Wash- n Iman Marshall, CB, USC. The junior better
ry. Quarterback Jake Brown- to end the season. USC returns ington State and UCLA could known as Biggie is the latest in the Trojans lin-
ing led the Huskies to an 8-1 with its usual array of NFL- prove to be threats with their eage of big-hitting defensive backs.
record in Pac-12 play last year, bound playmakers, but coach NEW FACES
own standout quarterbacks. Willie Taggart moves back to the West Coast
but coach Chris Petersen isnt Clay Helton isnt taking any- THE FAVORITES to take on the third rebuilding project of his head
assuming his Huskies are guar- thing for granted, either. North: Washington. Nobody is betting coaching career at Oregon, where Mark Helfrich
anteed a spot atop the North. Helton said he opened his against Petersens machine yet, but the Cardinal
was fired two years after reaching the national title
and Ducks have the rosters to make it interesting
I dont think you reload, training camp with a brief rem- if the Huskies have the injury problems they avoid-
game. He pulled Jim Leavitt away from Colora-
Petersen said. Thats not our iniscence about the epic Rose ed last season.
do as defensive coordinator. Justin Wilcox got a
mentality at all. At all. We re- Bowl triumph over Penn State. South: USC. The Trojans usual stratospher- slightly late start to his first head coaching job at
California, which has one winning season since
build. Thats just the mindset. But then I asked the next ic expectations aside, theyre the only program in
2011. Wilcox hired former Eastern Washington
Were not even kind of the same question: Are you satisfied? the division without serious rebuilding questions.
Utah is perennially solid, while Colorado has am- coach Beau Baldwin as his offensive coordinator.
team we were last year. So Helton said. And to a man, not ple motivation. ON THE HOT SEAT
thats always our process. We one hand rose. Because we un- TOP PLAYERS Both schools in the Grand Canyon State are
start from ground zero. We take derstand what USC is about. n Luke Falk, QB, Washington State. The at crossroads. Arizonas Rich Rodriguez finished
Cougars big-armed passer needs 27 touchdown last in the South with his first losing record after
nothing for granted. Its about winning Pac-12 titles,
passes to match the conference record set in 2012 five years in charge, while Arizona States Todd
The Huskies only regu- and its about winning national by USCs Matt Barkley. Theres little doubt hell get Graham is coming off two straight losing seasons.
lar-season loss came at home championships. And the fact them in Mike Leachs high-octane offense. Jim Moras seat has no real heat at UCLA, but the
to USC and quarterback Sam of the matter is we did not ac- n Ryan Nall, RB Oregon State. The Beavers Bruins want a bounce-back year as well.