Natchez at Picayune Sept. 24th
Barry Harper
Well, I hope everyone made it okay through the storm. I also pray that it will be the last one we
have in 2004. We were fortunately spared the wrath of Hurricane Ivan here in our area of Mississippi,
however, our neighbors in Alabama and Florida were not so lucky. I hate to admit it, but sometimes
it takes something like a hurricane to put everything in proper perspective. I love football and
especially high school football and I really hated to miss our game with Biloxi in their new stadium,
but a football game under those conditions was not the right thing to do.
The injury bug has not only taken a bite out of the Maroon Tide, it has taken a large chunk. Kids will
have to step up and play new positions for the Tide the rest of the season. Injuries are just a part of
this game.
Natchez once again does not seem to be much of a threat, but we cannot afford to take them lightly.
The following week we will start a tough part of our schedule beginning with Hattiesburg . Four
out of five of our last opponents will be ranked. Three of those could be in the Top Ten. Nobody
will play a tougher schedule in this great state of ours. It could be quite interesting and not to
mention some great high school football. However I don't see a problem this weekend.
The way I see it-- Picayune-48 Natchez-6
Carey Meitzler
Old Business: In week 2 (vs Harrison Central), I made a comment about a couple of Delta State
Alumnus (Barry Harper & Rob Sigler) and poked fun at the Math curriculum at the Home of the
Fightin' Okra. I thought it was over. Well, out of left field, fresh from his Chasin' Foul Balls
weekly radio talk show (by the way, a great show if you haven't heard it on Tuesday nights),
comes the Voice of the McComb Tigers, the Voice of the Southwest Mississippi Community
College Bears, none other than Robbie Hamilton with this response to yours truly:
Mr. Meitzler---- I hope you have learned your lesson. Your season is going strong, but no,
you have to disrespect the hallowed grounds of Delta State University .
Then what----poof---a loss. I think the only thing that will reverse the curse may be an apology
to those high standard graduates from the Fighting Okra. The ball is in your court----
THE STATESMEN ARE WAITING----YOUR TIDE SEASON COULD STAND IN THE BALANCE!
Signed--- An Investor in Delta State
PS---Since you HAVE NOT reversed the curse---Now it's a loss and a game cancelled. I hope
you will soon see the error of your ways and do what is needed to get the Tide back on a roll.
My thought was has Robbie gone mad? Well, I know him too well to think such a thought. Then it
hit me. Robbie has a daughter attending Delta State and another one is an alumnus, so I guess he
once again felt like he had to jump in and help Barry. Remember last year, when he came to the
rescue of Barry on the history of the second greatest song in high school football, The Horse?
--links to last year's Horse fiasco....
http://www.maroontide.com/commentaries_10_28_2003.htm
http://www.maroontide.com/commentaries_11_04_03.htm
By the way, the Tide fight song (Across The Field) is my favorite. I like the Roll Tide Rolls and
the Whew at the end.
Anyway, I figure that since the Delta State gang appears to be a very close-knit, stand by your
alumni buddy outfit , I will never hear the end of it until I addressed the situation. So, in an
effort to “reverse the curse”, I want to say how sorry I am for upsetting these Okra.
One more thing on this: Barry accused me of once telling him that William Carey College was
named after me. I never said that. I told Mr. Prediction , after he was making fun of the Crusaders
years ago for not having a football team, that at least the Crusaders named their school after
someone famous (William Carey). Barry interpreted that to mean I was famous. See what
happens when you say something without giving great detail (and a history lesson) to those
Okra. I learned as a youngster, anytime you pick okra, wear long sleeves or a sock, or be
ready to get scratched. Picking at okra appears to be no different. Case closed. No more on
Okra remarks. Curse reversed, Mr. Horse Hamilton ? I sure hope so.
The Tide lost the services of Corderis Brown in their last game (two weeks ago vs Gulfport).
Cody Bales is poised to continue his efforts for the Tide (28 rushes for 141 yards vs Gulfport).
Lester Robinson (he reminds me of Herschel Walker, even wears number 34) will get a chance
to run the ball as well. Tim Gaff was injured last week in practice and will miss at least one week.
Gaff does a lot for this team: fullback, linebacker, punter, senior leadership. Hopefully, we can get
him back real soon as H'burg and Meridian loom in the coming weeks. Look for Tyler “Tiger” Lee
to continue his solid play at fullback with some help from Brent Acker and Dale Meitzler if needed.
On another note, Kevin Parker, who tore ligaments during the spring game, is back and should be
ready to play next week and hopefully will be tuned up in time to help out in the coming weeks.
Kevin has worked his tail off since the injury and looks ready to go. I hope the best for this young
man. I must say that every time I've ever been around him, he has always been upbeat, respectful,
and sports a friendly smile. On the field, he'll take your head off.
My good friend Bill Hillery has been having “Maroon Tide football withdrawals”. You see, Bill,
like many others, likes nothing better than a Tide sporting event, particularly football. After waiting
last week only to see the Tide vs Biloxi game cancelled, Bill couldn't wait for Monday to see the
JV game vs Poplarville. On Monday afternoon, when I found out the JV game was cancelled, I called
to give him the bad news. Bill was very dejected, downright upset. He commented, “I just wanted
to see someone wearing Maroon hit somebody.” I sure hope nothing keeps us from playing this
Friday because I am not sure how much more his lovely wife Belinda can put up with him without
Tide football.
After a week of no football, the Tide will open Division 3-5A play hosting the Natchez Bulldogs.
Natchez has struggled on defense, but has played some really good teams (Warren Central,
Vicksburg , and South Pike). They opened the season with a win over Port Gibson. New Head
Coach Lance Reed will have to exhibit a lot of patience in turning around this program. Reed,
a Natchez graduate, has great credentials, but inherits a program that has a limited number of talented
football players. Natchez has to compete for talent with a host of private schools (Academy football)
and it will take a lot of changes to right the ship. On the other hand, anything can happen on any given
night in high school football, but I feel that the Tide should be raring to go against Natchez . I expect
a spirited crowd, a fired up bunch of players, and a Tide victory. And most of all, I hope we can
avoid more injuries. Picayune 49 Natchez 7