He mentioned it on his Sunday night television highlights show and again at his Monday press luncheon.

University of Memphis football coach Tommy West liked what he saw from the play of his cornerbacks Saturday.

If he could have — that is, if Tommy West Show host Greg Gaston and crew would have allowed it — West would have replayed cornerback Alton Starr’s second-quarter hit of Ole Miss’s Michael Wallace several times. Expect to see the play from several angles on the season highlight video in December.

On the play, Starr separated Wallace from the football with a jarring hit on third-and-3 from the Rebel 48 late in the first quarter. In the second quarter, LaKeitharun Ford dropped Marshay Green for a 1-yard loss with another physical play from the DBs West covets.

West’s response: “We had two corner plays that we haven’t had in five years . . . or maybe longer.”

Starr was beaten earlier in the game on a fade route to Greg Hardy, but West defended his defender by saying Hardy is a difficult matchup.

The folks in Oxford should accept the gift, be happy and keep your mouths shut. I know that sounds like sour grapes but it is what it is. The Tigers won most statistical categories both good and bad which normally wins games. But the bad ones bit the Tigers.

I said to my friends before that 24 points wins the game. I need to move to Vegas if I keep this up. But the fact remains that this Tigers defense will not give up more than 24 points at any point this season. They held om to exactly 2 drives over 25 yards after the 1st quarter. They’ll get even better as the season wears on.
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An unnamed e-mailer pointed out to me Monday that he/she was sending a “letter to the editor” in regard to my using the term “Blackhaven Classic” in Saturday morning’s story about the Whitehaven-Fairley game at J.P. Freeman.

I want to point out that I put serious consideration into whether I should use the term at all in the story, and actually hadn’t used it in a preview story about the game that ran in Friday’s paper.

However, once I got out to Freeman that night, I saw people, white and black, wearing “Blackhaven Classic” T-Shirts they’d bought before and during the game. The actual trophy that Tiger running back Marcus Hightower hoisted above his head following Whitehaven’s 35-6 win also had the term “Blackhaven Classic” imprinted on its base. To not have used the term at all in the story, would have been to ignore a large detail that’s become part of a neighborhood rivalry that goes back more than two decades.

The e-mailer told me he/she thought it was an insult to the Whitehaven community, me using the term “Blackhaven Classic.” However, I beg to differ. The term “Blackhaven” is obviously one associated with a sense of pride in the Whitehaven community, or else it wouldn’t have been printed on t-shirts or trophies. Go into Whitehaven and ask whether most folks are offended by the term, and I’d venture to say you’d find very few that view it as an insult.

Anyway. I’m still looking forward to reading the e-mailer’s letter to the editor.

Until next time…

SOUTHERN MISS: The Eagles’ revamped offensive line drew mixed reviews in the season-opening victory over Tennessee-Martin. The team gained more than 300 yards rushing, but had trouble protecting the quarterback.

SMU: Some preseason prognosticators predicted big things for the Mustangs. But, as Dallas Morning News columnist Kevin Sherrington notes, those big things didn’t translate to a big crowd in the stands against Texas Tech, or a good result on the field.

RICE: Even though his receivers dropped several passes, Owls quarterback Chase Clement says the only person responsible in Rice’s 16-14 loss to Nicholls State is … himself.

UAB: A bright spot in the Blazers’ 55-18 loss to Michigan State on Saturday was the play of linebacker Mike Tashman, who had seven tackles, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
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THE BIG STORY

LSU will honor Virginia Tech before Saturday’s game in Tiger Stadium. It is the Hokies’ first road game since the April 16 campus shooting that claimed the lives of 33 students and faculty members, the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history.

LSU senior associate athletic director Herb Vincent said after the teams leave the field following pregame warmups three skydivers will land in the stadium. One will carry a Virginia Tech flag, one will carry an LSU flag while the third will carry an American flag.

After the LSU band plays its pregame fanfare, Vincent said there will be a moment of silence for the victims. The LSU band will then perform Virginia Tech’s alma mater, LSU’s alma mater, then the national anthem.

Before the game, the Louisiana secretary of state’s office will present a quilt to the Virginia Tech alumni association during its pregame rally at LSU’s Carl Maddox Field House. Vincent said the quilt is comprised of squares made by people from the secretary of state’s office, LSU students and three Tigers offensive linemen: Herman Johnson, Ciron Black and Carnell Stewart.

A look at the league: Read the rest of this entry »