CHASIN' FOUL BALLS
by Robbie Hamilton
As I sit here trying to remember whether my high school game kicks off at
7:00 or 7:30 this week, It's time to chase a few foul balls and take a look
at What's Good----not so Bad, and Ugly
Good
Congratulations to Northwest Community College Head Coach Bobby Franklin. With the
Ranger's 44 to 7 win over East Mississippi, Franklin became only the 5 th coach in NJCAA
history to win 200 games. Franklin is in his 24 th season as the Head Coach at Northwest
with an overall record of 200-54-6.
Speaking of Community College Football, it looks like the rivalry is going to heat up in the
southern part of the state. We all know what Tim Hatten has going at Pearl River, Parker
Dykes has Jones on the right path and now comes Steve Campbell at Gulf Coast .
Campbell has the Dogs 4-2 on the season and with Campbell things are looking up
on the beaches of Perkinston.
In the Houston and Southern Miss game, the Golden Eagles went from “BCS Breaker” to
HEARTBREAKER and back to “BCS Breaker” in a matter of minutes. But, a win is a win
even if it takes overtime.
With Notre Dame's 23 to 15 win over Stanford, the Irish became only the second NCAA
Division I team with 800 victories. The other---It's this week's trivia question. We'll give
you the answer next week.
You have to like the Ole Miss offensive philosophy—IF one quarterback doesn't work---
Try the two quarterback system---If the two quarterback system doesn't work, Go to the
three quarterback system. Don't complain, it worked in the upset of South Carolina .
I'm really not sure if this is good, not so bad or just ugly. Chip Carey is leaving the Cubs'
broadcast booth and joining his dad with the Atlanta Braves. The odd man out for the
Braves looks to be Don Sutton.
New England set the record for consecutive wins including the playoffs with 19 straight.
With today's NFL parody, that's better than good. As Tony the Tiger would say---
That's G-R-E-A-T!!!!!!!!!
Found this and thought it was interesting. The Texas Longhorns have scored in 281
consecutive games dating back to November, 1980. The last shutout of the Longhorns---
Oklahoma 12 to 0.
NOT SO BAD
In Mississippi State 's loss to UAB, Jerious Norwood rushed for 201 yards. Not Bad!!!!
The Mississippi Sea Wolves are busy in their training camp. I've got to admit, my friend
Mike Frazer, who works with the Wolves, has been trying for years to explain the difference
between a two line pass and the blue line. I understand just as much as when my wife tries
to explain to me how to use the vacuum cleaner.
Not so bad---Army breaks their 19 game losing streak with the Cadets 48 to 29 C-USA
win over Cincinnati.
The visiting team was 4 and 0 in this weekend's SEC schedule. Tennessee won over
Georgia, LSU bounced Florida , Alabama handles Kentucky and Ole Miss upsets South
Carolina.
If you're counting, the University of South Panola and Seminary College win again.
Their Mississippi high school winning streak is at 22.
The baseball play-offs look like a NORTH-SOUTH match-up. The American League's
North battle of Boston and New York with the National League's Southern flavor of the
Cards and the Astros.
Finally, Mount Union won their 99th consecutive regular season game with a 49 to 7
win over Wilmington . The Purple Raiders are in Division III.
UGLY
Texas Tech 70---- Nebraska 10---Nothing else needs to be said!!!!
The SWAC suspended 19 players and coaches for one game after a post game
fight at the State Fair Classic in Dallas between Grambling and Prairie View.
Grambling had 9 players and an assistant coach suspended while Prairie View
lost 8 players and an assistant coach. You don't get much uglier than that.
I tried to forget but I couldn't. For Mississippi State , it looks like a season of
Tulane and 10.
Just when I think I will get the Saints to the good section, they lose back-to-back
weeks to teams without a win in Arizona and Tampa Bay . Those plastic bags
just don't wear as good as the old paper ones.
Speaking of New Orleans , the Hornets are in full swing with their pre-season
work. Problems could be on the home front. The NBA is keeping a close eye
on the Hornets declining attendance, one of their best players, Jamal Mashburn,
is out for the year, their best player, Baron Davis, keeps making noise about
wanting to be traded and they move to the West Division this season. I hope
not, but it could get ugly.
Did you see where one week after San Jose State defeated Rice 70 to 63 in
the highest scoring NCAA game in regulation, they lost to Washington 21 to 6.
Should have saved some of those points!!!!!!!
Phil Fulmer, Tennessee 's Head Coach, appealed to the SEC his $10,000 fine
for not showing up at the SEC media days. APPEAL DENIED!!!! Send your
checks to the Phil Fulmer Fund---c/o Rocky Top, Tennessee
And finally, what about Junior Earnhardt's fine and loss of Nextel Cup points for
saying a bad word in the Winner's Circle interview on television. Hard to believe
the penalty when that word is on a big percentage of the bumper stickers on
trucks at every race. Justice is hard sometimes!!!
In closing, how many of you have seen the movie “Friday Night Lights”. Whether
you see the movie or not, make sure you read the book. I've had four or five
copies of the book from when I first read it 12 or so years ago. Every time
someone borrowed the book, I never got it back because they wanted to read
it again. It really brings big time high school football down home. We stopped
in Barnes and Nobles while seeing my daughter this week-end in Arkansas ,
and for the first time ever, there was “Friday Night Lights” in a hard back book.
It's amazing how something old can become the hottest new thing!!
See you next week---
Robbie Hamilton
rwhamilton@hotmail.com