June 25, 2025 • 32 mins
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Stepping into Sim Scott Park for the Juneteenth Festival offered a powerful glimpse into how Columbus celebrates freedom. As a first-time attendee, David discovered a vibrant community event that brought together people from across Lowndes County to honor the significance of emancipation through food, music, and conversation.
Through candid conversations with attendees ranging from County Supervisor Leroy Brooks to local vendors and Police Chief Daughtry, one message emerged consistently: Juneteenth represents freedom for everyone, not just one segment of our community.
The second half of this episode features a conversation with Commercial Dispatch sports writer Colin Damms about Mississippi State athletics. We explore the dramatic changes in the baseball program with new $3 million coach Brian O'Connor, expectations for the football team, and recent classification changes that will put Columbus, Caledonia, New Hope and West Point in the same division across all sports.
Join us for this community-focused episode that celebrates freedom, explores local perspectives, and looks ahead to exciting developments in both our community and our sports teams. Have feedback or news tips? Email us at tips@cdispatch.com or reach out on social media.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
From the opinion page of the Commercial Dispatch.
This is Between the Headlines.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
You are listening to a special edition of Between the
Headlines this week.
Yours truly makes his way outto the Juneteenth Festival, and
a good time was had by all.
Makes his way out to theJuneteenth Festival, and a good
time was had by all.
Also in the studio we havesports writer Mr Colin Dams.
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You are listening to Betweenthe Headlines.
(01:58):
I am your host today.
My name is David Chisholm.
Zach is on assignment today inIran.
He is over there seeing if CNNis right or Fox News is right,
whether or not they made a bigenough hole over there.
Jokes aside, we wish him agreat vacation.
I went to Juneteenth this weekand I will tell you I had a
great time and there were lotsof vendors, lots of great food
(02:23):
and lots of fantastic people.
Roll the tape David Chisholm onsite at the Juneteenth Festival
and the very first face that Isee here is Mr Leroy Brooks, and
he's in a golf cart.
I'm actually going to approachhim and see if I can have a word
(02:45):
with him.
Mr Leroy, you doing well.
I got the mic going.
I'm doing some podcasting outhere.
You want to talk to us, man?
It's good to see you, mr LeroyBrooks here.
Ladies and gents, so this is myfirst ever Juneteenth festival
to be at.
What can I expect today?
Well, you know, we're gettingready to kick off with the
gospel Is Saturday night, thebigger night traditionally.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, you'll get a few hundred on
Friday night, but you'll get afew thousand on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
So I'm kind of the odd man here out in one respect.
What do I do to get more folkshere to celebrate freedom?
That look like I do, because Isay that freedom's for everybody
.
What say you?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Well, you know it's going to take some marketing and
work and Nancy Carpenter andher daughter just left and of
course we'll get 40 or 50 whitesthat pass through.
But I think we've got to learnto embrace everybody's culture
and understand the importantrole it plays in American
history.
You know you can't separate itand so once we get an
(03:47):
understanding and embrace theconcept, we're going to be
better off as individuals tounderstand that all of it makes
up America.
That's right, we're the meltingpot.
We are the melting pot.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Hey, I appreciate your time.
I'm going to go around and havea good time.
Thank you, sir.
That's Mr Leroy Brooks, thehead nacho.
So now I've got Kevin Eversonhere, who is an independent film
producer, and tell me aboutwhat you're working on.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Well, we're going to film called Lounge County.
It's based on my dad and uncle.
They used to drive school buseswhen they were teenagers, um in
the 50s, during the segregationtimes.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, yeah you probably have a well-informed
opinion about juneteenth.
What does this holiday mean toyou, sir?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
oh it's, it's a holiday that should have been
over 100 something years old,because, uh, you know, the whole
deal of emancipation of humanbeings is amazing and, like what
people are saying now, it isnot illegal to be human, but
somehow or another it's beenillegal to be human.
So, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yeah, that's unfortunate.
I would certainly agree withyou that this is something that
everybody should celebrate.
Yeah totally.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
It's not just black American history, it's American
history, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
This is kind of the young crowd under here, and
y'all are smart staying in theshade.
We're under one of the gazeboshere at Skim Scott Park.
What's Juneteenth mean to you,sir?
Speaker 5 (05:16):
It's just a day of freedom, so enjoy yourself, you
know.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I heard that Now I've got Miss K-5 here.
Miss K-5, what does Juneteenthmean to you?
What?
Now I've got Miss K-5 here.
Miss K-5, what do you mean toyou?
What do what?
What does?
Speaker 6 (05:27):
Juneteenth mean to you Just a big ass celebration,
with all the real young niggasout here.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I heard that what do you think of the music here
tonight?
Speaker 6 (05:37):
It's alright, they ain't playing nothing too great.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Oh right, is it not your genre or what?
It's not, it it's just.
Alright've got jason here andjason's got his little boy.
What's your little boy's name?
Kyson?
That's a cute little boy.
Right there is he eating good,yeah, yeah, y'all staying cool
out here.
I'm gonna tell you, this is theonly booth out here that has a
(05:59):
fan, and I'm probably gonna buyfood from y'all just because of
that fan sitting over there.
Speaker 6 (06:03):
That's right.
You know what you're doing.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yes, I'm keeping it cool Absolutely.
Speaker 7 (06:09):
Tell me what Juneteenth means to you.
I mean, I think Juneteenth is aday we all come out and
celebrate the end of slavery.
You know, freedom, like yousaid, everybody, just come
together as a community.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Hey, amen to that.
I'm kind of wondering why otherpeople that look like me aren't
out here celebrating the end ofslavery, because to me that's
like an awesome good thing.
What say you?
Speaker 7 (06:32):
They normally come out.
I guess it's a little too hotright now.
It is hot.
I just seen some leave about 30, 40 minutes ago.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
I also learned that I was here notoriously early, so
the getting might be good in alittle while.
Speaker 7 (06:47):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Well, Johnny, it's nice to meet you.
Y'all have a good one Good luckto you.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
All right, y'all.
Now I'm here with Tommy, andTommy is sporting an apron that
has the Dallas Cowboys star onthere and a hat Number one star
on there and a hat number one.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
How about them boys?
Them boys is the number one.
We super bowl bound.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
All right, I'm gonna be waiting on that this year.
I'm a saints fan, so I'm a fanof dac prescott also.
There you go.
Hey, say it.
Thanks, all right, that's whatsaints ain't oh, now, all right,
let me ask you this what'sjuneteenth mean to you, sir?
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Well, it means a lot to me.
As for Juneteenth, it meansmoney and also, too, it's some
of the heritage of our fathers,forefathers, and everything
there and everything.
The Day of Freedom, the Dayfrom all of the oppression, from
the plantations, and all all ofthese things, but which didn't
(07:46):
come up till a little time later.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
but thank god, it came yeah, I think that's
something all of us cancelebrate for sure.
Well, I hope you make a killingof money today.
What's the best thing on the?
Speaker 5 (07:55):
menu.
Well, the best thing on themenu is rib tips and hog snooks
and some also some good oldworld famous pulled pork.
You've got pig noses over there.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Oh yeah, Yo, yeah I totally want to see what it
would.
It wouldn't be a day withoutone.
All right, I'm gonna get one.
Take a picture of it, can.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
I okay.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
All right, okay, so I have been persuaded to take
part in pigs now.
This is a first for me and I'mgiving in to peer pressure here
and you say this is a delicacy,it's not a delicacy, the
delicacy of the whole nose.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Okay, it's a good eat .
Speaker 2 (08:34):
All right, I'm not going to tell Dr Turner about
this, but let's see here oh,it's crunchy, it's hard, hang on
, that is good.
It is totally not what Iexpected.
It's like I don't even knowwhat to compare that to.
Yeah, but it's like got alittle bit of chewiness to it
(08:57):
and it's also hard and crunchy.
I hope you sell a ton of themtoday.
Thank you, sir.
Speaker 5 (09:03):
Oh yeah, when they get started, when they get to
drinking, I'm the best personthey'll ever love, because I got
something to eat.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
All right.
So when they get to munchies,they coming your way.
Oh yeah, all right.
Thank you, sir, this is good.
So now I've got Carolyn hereand Carolyn is dressed in a
beautiful shirt that's got thetraditional Juneteenth colors of
red, gold and green.
Did I get it right?
Speaker 6 (09:30):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
All right.
What's today mean to you?
Speaker 6 (09:33):
Today means a lot to me.
Think about what ourforefathers went through for us
to get to this day.
So freedom is important, thehustles and the struggles that
they did for us.
I just think it's veryimportant and I think it's a day
that should be recognized atall times.
Yeah, for sure?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
So you're from Caledonia.
Let me ask you this Do youthink that Lowndes County in
general is headed toward a morepositive vibe in terms of
everything from race relationsto prosperity for everyone?
Speaker 6 (10:11):
My personal opinion on that.
I guess we'll just say it'ssomething that we have to take
day by day.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Day by day.
What can we do better?
Unity, Unity.
Well, I appreciate you talkingto us today.
Okay, now I've got ChiefDaughtry here and good to see
you.
Sir, Let me ask you thequestion I've asked everyone
else what does this holiday meanto you?
Speaker 8 (10:34):
It means a lot to me.
It means a part of our history.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
It means that we haven't forgotten our past,
because the only way we're goingto progress in the future is
you've got to remember the pastlet me ask you this um columbus,
for whatever reason, peoplepretend, based on rumors or
dispositions, that were justabsolutely crime ridden, but
when you compare the statisticsto starkville and to west point,
(11:01):
it's just not.
Where do you think thatrhetoric comes from?
Speaker 8 (11:05):
Well, to be honest with you, I think it's allowing
people to talk bad about youwhen you know for your family.
If someone says something badabout your family, you're going
to defend your family.
And the citizens of Columbusand myself, along with elected
officials, have to startspeaking up and let it be known
that the things that are goingon in this city our crime
(11:26):
reduction, violent crimes isdown, and we're proud of that.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
So what can we do better as citizens, to talk this
place up and make it the placethat it's really meant to be?
Speaker 8 (11:40):
Well, let me start with this here.
You want economic developmentin the city of Columbus.
There's two things thatbusinesses look at.
They look at crime stats andthey look at school rating.
Well, our school rating is a Bfor the first time Columbus
Municipal School District, andnow our violent crimes are low.
So we're doing our part.
Now it's time for the citizensand elected officials to do
(12:00):
their part and start invitingand attracting businesses to
make our economic developmentgrow.
I can't do it by myself.
School districts can't do it bythemselves, our elected
officials can't do it bythemselves, and the citizens.
We need their help as well.
It's going to take all of us tomake a better Columbus.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Ladies and gentlemen, chief Daughtry Appreciate you.
So there you have it.
That was a few of the scenesthat I encountered at the
festivities of Juneteenth.
It was not quite what I thoughtit would be.
I was thinking it would besimilar to Market Street, and I
mean it was similar to MarketStreet in the sense that there
(12:40):
were vendors, but these vendorswere more local vendors.
It wasn't like that typicalkitsch stuff that you would find
, you know, with the I don'tknow the bird houses, the people
that come in from Memphis withthis, that and the other.
No, most of this was localstuff.
I bought a shirt.
Actually, first vendor I saw,he had a nice green shirt.
(13:03):
It said in the bags I trust andhad some money symbols.
So I bought that.
It was such a welcomingenvironment and I walked around,
met some friends.
I, as you heard, tasted of apork snout for the first time.
Wasn't terrible, definitely notsomething that I'm going to
(13:26):
partake of on a regular basis,but I did do that.
Um, I think the biggest thingthat I would leave with you all
today is that Juneteenth is acelebration of freedom and
prosperity.
That theme came up severaltimes and I believe very
strongly and very sincerely thatfreedom is for everybody, and
(13:48):
so when I say a good time washad by all, I mean that in truth
, and I hope to get more folkslike myself out there.
In terms of how I looked at isyou know and make, as Leroy
Brooks said, make kind of amelting pot.
The Emancipation Proclamationand the 13th Amendment were some
(14:21):
of our best and brightest timesin history.
In fact, little known factabout myself one of my favorite
movies is Steven Spielberg'sLincoln.
It's one of the best movies outthere.
If you haven't watched that one, definitely check it out.
But hey, happy Juneteenth tothose who were there and to
(14:42):
those who celebrated at home,and I will certainly be there
next year.
Coming up in the studio we havesports writer Mr Colin Dams.
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In the studio today, we arepleased to have the Mississippi
(15:47):
State sports reporter for theCommercial Dispatch and host of
Bully Banter.
Is that correct?
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Yep, that's right.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Mr Colin Dams.
Thank you, sir, for being inhere Today.
I've got some questions for yourelated to sports.
As you know, this is a showthat is mostly about politics
and local news, this and that Ipersonally am not a.
When I go to the ball game, I'mthere just to have a good time
(16:16):
and I mean I watch the game andI shout and I ring my cowbell
and all that stuff, but I'm notthe guy that's sitting there
reading the roster and readingthe player numbers, and so I'm
just really amazed when I listento the radio or when I listen
to bully banter and I hearpeople like yourself get into
all these details and the statsand this and that and the other.
(16:39):
So today, for our listeners, Iguess what we'll do is kind of
boil down the sports networktalk into something that us
nerds or whatever you want tocall us, Us normal folk.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Yeah, normal.
Yeah, yeah, I think in thissituation I might be the one
who's the nerd, you know, goinginto the analytics of 0-4 back
in 23.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
They had a perfect season, but like the other way
around.
Yeah, but then head coach AlanGlenn comes in and just totally
(17:28):
turns this thing around, which Ithought was really unusual,
because the first year of a headcoach almost always sucks for
the team.
So how did he do it?
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Well, if you ask him, I think the first people he's
going to credit is his players,and you know they had a really
talented senior class as well.
One of the things he talked tome about throughout the season
was you know those were guys whoreally took it hard that they
went 0-12,.
You know 0-10, whatever it wasthe season before, anytime a
(18:00):
group goes without a win, that'ssomething that they have to
wear going into the next year ofturn things around, go worst to
first, and they almost did it.
I mean their regular seasondistrict crown came down to
(18:21):
their final regular season gameagainst West Point, who went on
to win the 5A state title.
So you know it was a battleagainst West Point.
They came up just short.
I think they only lost by onescore.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Yeah, and that was surprising there.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Yeah they played a really good game and you know,
talking to West Point head coachBrett Morgan afterwards he
wasn't surprised at all.
You know he saw the talent thatthey had all year.
He saw what they were able todo in district and, yeah, I
think Allen Glenn's got a reallygood program going forward.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
For sure.
Do you think when you look atNew Hope and you look at
Caledonia and Columbus High OK,these are in different divisions
, they're in different brackets.
Ok, how many A's do we havebeside our local schools?
Just so our listeners know.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Well, it's funny you ask that because this year there
is a really, really bigstatewide level restructuring of
classification.
So Columbus, caledonia, newHope and West Point are all now
in the same division.
Uh, and that's across sports.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
So uh, that means they could potentially see each
other in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yep, they're all going to have to play each other
once a year, which mostlyschools were doing that anyway
already.
Uh, now it's just going to meana little bit more and uh, yeah,
come play, come playoff time.
I think we saw that happen acouple of times.
Columbus and West Point were inthe same division at one point.
Caledonia, New Hope, you knowthose guys have played each
other forever.
I think in the past they hadbeen in the same division, but I
(19:48):
think New Hope was put aclassification higher for the
last few years.
But yeah, now they're all onthe same playing field.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
High school sports has not gotten smaller over the
years, that's for sure.
It's a big deal to everybody.
I think it builds character,and where it's really at for me
is on the college level, and Ithink the college is just the
grand finale of everything formost of the sports watchers
(20:15):
around here.
It's like I'll just speak formyself.
I love high school sports, butright now I don't have a son on
the team yet, so it's just I'mjust kind of a spectator.
To me, high school is prep forcollege, and then NFL is a
reason to go to college, so it'sall about college for me.
You're a hometown guy.
(20:35):
Yeah yeah, I grew up in.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Starkville, I was born guy.
Yeah, yeah, I grew up inStarkville.
I was born in Columbus, ohio,but I grew up in Starkville.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Oh, man.
And so you've been at thedispatch quite a while and you
have morphed from like a fan anda resident of Starkville into
the guy who actually lives hereand gets to sit right in the
middle of the stadium in thebest seats in the house and
write about it.
How's that been for you?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Yeah, you know, I think football is going to be a
new experience.
That's one I haven't coveredyet but you know, in the past
couple of years I've helped fillin in other areas and you know,
sitting in the press box atDuty Noble was a little bit of a
surreal experience as somebodywho grew up going to some of
those games, same with HumphreyColiseum, and you know, as you
know, soccer is my sport.
(21:21):
So the opportunity to coverthem last season as they went on
an SEC championship run, thatwas special as well.
But yeah, I think you know, thereason that I care about sports
and I'm as interested in sportsas I am is because I grew up,
you know, going to those gameswith my dad and I think you know
that's the case for a lot ofpeople.
Those are some really corememories and that's you know,
(21:43):
man, that's where it's at.
Yeah, you know it's, um, youknow it's.
It's a great thing to share andit led me on a path that is
going to put me in the press boxat Davis Wade Stadium.
So, yeah, it's a great feeling.
I'm really happy to be heredoing it and I really appreciate
the opportunities that thedispatch has given me over the
(22:03):
last couple of years that haveled to this.
But, yeah, it was a little bitsurreal the first time, but I've
gotten more used to it and I'mlooking forward to keep on going
.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
I actually learned through listening to your
podcast that Mississippi Statehas a very recent natty yeah,
but it's not one of the bigsports Track and field.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
That's right.
Yeah, Peyton Bear won thenational championship in the
heptathlon as well as thedecathlon, so he's a twotime
All-American in one seasonbecause those are classified as
indoor and outdoor sports.
But yeah, recently EugeneOregon, he went out there and
won his second nationalchampionship of the year.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
That's pretty crazy.
Most of us don't go to thosetype events.
I mean you have to pick andchoose.
You can't go to everything, youjust have to pick one thing.
But I do recall walking acrosscampus at Mississippi State
about three years ago and I sawthis projectile object floating
through the sky and it was ajavelin.
I was like holy smokes and Iasked somebody about it and
(23:08):
they're like, yeah, that guy hasa gold medal or a world record
or something.
So there's a lot of stuff thathappens out there that a lot of
us don't know about.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Just in terms of those more traditional, like
Olympic style athletics.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Yeah, yeah, and you know they've got nice facilities
here and part of that is, youknow the athletic department has
done well with, you know, beinga member of the SEC, you know
the money comes in, it'strickled down through football
and things like that, and you dohave the opportunity to support
these other sports and I thinkyou know the athletic director,
(23:42):
currently Zach Selman.
That's something he's reallyfocused on is how he can
continue to support these otherteams and facilities.
They've done a lot of work onHumphrey Coliseum recently.
I know both men's and women'sbasketball over the last 15
years has become, you know, areal focal point for fans as
well.
Well, you know men's basketballwell.
Before that, they made thefinal four in the nineties.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I do remember that.
Yeah, I actually have some ofthe physical newspapers glued to
the inside of the closet backwhen that 1996 it was.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
Yeah, I don't want to make you feel old.
I was only one year old at thetime.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Okay, let me ask you about head coach Lamonas going
out the door and now we have MrBrian O'Connor.
Brian, $3 million O'Connor yeah, that's quite a big deal for
the state of Mississippi.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Yeah, he is the second highest paid head coach
in college baseball now behind,I believe, tennessee's head
coach, tony Vitelli.
And you know this was a sportthat Zach Selman you know.
I think the reason he made thatdecision midseason to get rid
of Chris Lamonis is herecognized how valuable baseball
is to Mississippi State fans.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
You know, Doody.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Noblefield owns something like eight out of the
ten attendance records in NCAAhistory and you know, if you can
get 10,000 people out each weekto come watch baseball games in
college, that's a huge deal.
So he wanted to make astatement higher.
He went out and you know, andgot probably the best available
guy.
Certainly in terms of resume, Ithink Brian O'Connor might be
the most impressive outside hirethat Mississippi State has made
(25:23):
since Ron Polk came back in wasit 2002, 2003, something like
that?
So, yeah, it's a really bigdeal.
They had several thousandpeople at Duty Noble to welcome
him.
He came in and he did his firstpress conference with us, uh,
that day as well, and there's areal intensity about him, um,
(25:43):
and it's it's not a scaryintensity, it's just, uh, I
would say, a devoted intensity,like you could really tell that
this guy knows what he's aboutand I I think he came here
because he realized there's agreat opportunity to win, and
win big in the SEC.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Two questions.
Okay, let me just ask you thisDo you think that we're going to
stink in season one simplybecause of a new coach?
Speaker 1 (26:06):
uh, I would say the expectation right now is that
they will not stink.
Um, they have done pretty wellin the transfer portal so far.
Um, they've got a few guysfollowing uh o'connor from
virginia, which is a programthat is recruited really well.
They've.
They made the college worldseries in 2023 and 2022 I
believe so or no 2023 and 2024.
(26:28):
So you know those are highlytouted players coming in.
They've got uh another playercoming in from illinois who was
one of the leaders in the big 10at the plate.
Um, and they've, I think, mostimportantly uh, you know, to the
fans especially, you knowthey've retained players from
this year and this mississippistate roster that did really
well.
Ace reese, an all-SEC player.
(26:50):
He was a finalist for theFerris Trophy for the best
player in Mississippi.
Noah Sullivan it seems like hemight come back if he doesn't
get drafted, but there's achance that he does get drafted
and I think that's anotheraspect of this for some of the
other players.
But definitely we're seeing aninvestment in this team.
Crystal Monas he used thetransfer portal but it was sort
(27:13):
of hit or miss on some of theplayers that came in.
They did find success but theyweren't able to rediscover the
form that you know took them toOmaha in his first few years.
So, yeah, that definitely doesnot seem like they're going to
suck next year.
I think there is a lot ofexcitement around the program.
Not seem like they're going tosuck next year.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
I think there is a lot of excitement around the
program.
You know, I think I agree withyou.
I think they'll do well thefirst season, simply because you
know with baseball thateverybody has the same playbook
for the most part.
It's not like in football oreven basketball, where you
concoct your own personal scheme.
I mean, maybe there's some ofthat to baseball, but when I
(27:52):
played in high school it just,you know, when the ball goes to
right field there's somethingthat everybody does and it's
pretty much the same for everyteam.
Am I wrong about that?
Speaker 1 (28:03):
Yeah, you know, I'm probably not the person to ask
Baseball isn't my first sportbut yeah, you know it's kind of
like they say in the movieMoneyball.
You know it's, it's.
Um, it's kind of like they sayin the movie money ball.
You know it's, it's.
It's a sport that's been aroundfor so long, it's.
It's not like anybody has thenext secret to figure it out.
You know it's, it's.
It's just a sport that's goingto keep on going.
You have to keep trying to findthe guys who have all the right
tools to to fill the holes thatyou need.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Last question Do you think that Mississippi State is
going to morph into a baseballschool and do you think it's
going to hurt my fall experience?
I mean, that's a horriblequestion because I want the
baseball team to do good.
You know bringing that, but Ialso want the football team to
do well, as I want them to dowell also.
What say you?
(28:46):
I want them to do well also.
What say you?
Speaker 1 (28:49):
I think a lot of fans would argue that Mississippi
State already is a baseballschool, just in terms of what
fans are really interested in.
But also Starkville is a townof what?
20,000 or so?
The student population canmaybe double that, and even that
doesn't meet the number that isrequired to fill Davis-Wade
Stadium and yet they still getthe numbers to do it every year.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
So football fancy lights coming this year yeah
that's right they do.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
And you know football is king down here.
So there there's stilldefinitely going to be
investment in the football team.
Part of the problem is, youknow you're in the Southeastern
conference and it may not bewhat it was, you know, five, 10
years ago, with Alabama winningevery other year and Georgia
winning every other year, butthese are still really powerful
programs and you've got to playall of them every week.
(29:36):
You've got to play eight ofthem every week in a given
season.
So it's always a tough job.
Jeff Lebby's coming after a,you know, a two win season.
And you know you, you mentionedthe crew mirrors we had.
We had a few of those down herein the crew mirrors.
(29:56):
Uh, I remember, cause I was,you know, watching from the
stands in Davis Wade stadium.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Well, it can't be that bad this season.
I mean there's just no way.
Yeah, there's, there'sdefinitely a demand for
improvement.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
And, uh, you know they.
There's definitely a demand forimprovement.
They've got talented players,They've got the means to do it.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
I've heard some sources say that Mississippi
State football has the bestrecruiting class like ever, and
then others like, yeah, not somuch.
And then other people aresaying, well, they committed but
they didn't stay and then theymoved out.
I can't keep up with all that.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Where are we In recruiting?
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
So right now, two four seven has the current, the
class of 2026 ranked as 28th inthe country.
Uh, but there's another sitethat has them ranked like 37th.
Um, and that's you know.
That's another thing.
With the popularity of collegefootball, recruitment has become
its own sort of media.
Um, no-transcript year.
(31:18):
The biggest problems weretackling winning at the line of
scrimmage and these last tworecruiting classes have
reflected going after some ofthe good linebackers that are in
the state, other guys coming infrom out of state, finding guys
who can fill holes on the goodlinebackers that are in the
state, other guys coming in fromout of state, finding guys who
can fill holes on the defensiveline and then finding the big
guys up front, guys that cantackle, so that that guy that
was sitting behind me won't bequite so angry.
(31:39):
this coming season.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
We thank you for being in the studio today.
Ladies and gentlemen, sportswriter for the Dispatch, mr
Colin Dams.
We are thankful for him beingin the studio today.
Also want to be thankful to ourlisteners and to our sponsors.
Be sure to subscribe, rate andshare and send us your feedback,
as always.
Tips at cdispatchcom.
(32:03):
Again, that is, tips atcdispatchcom.
Or reach out to me on Facebookor X at the Chisholm 00.
Signing out from Catfish AlleyStudios in historic downtown
Columbus.
My name is David Chisholm andit has been a pleasure to be
your host today.
Until next time, y'all keep itreal and we'll keep it friendly.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
Opinions expressed on this show are those of the
speakers and not necessarilythose of the commercial dispatch
.
From the opinion page of the Commercial Dispatch.
This is Between the Headlines.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
You are listening to a special edition of Between the
Headlines this week.
Yours truly makes his way outto the Juneteenth Festival, and
a good time was had by all.
Makes his way out to theJuneteenth Festival, and a good
time was had by all.
Also in the studio we havesports writer Mr Colin Dams.
But first, retirement looksdifferent for everyone, so your
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You are listening to Betweenthe Headlines.
(01:58):
I am your host today.
My name is David Chisholm.
Zach is on assignment today inIran.
He is over there seeing if CNNis right or Fox News is right,
whether or not they made a bigenough hole over there.
Jokes aside, we wish him agreat vacation.
I went to Juneteenth this weekand I will tell you I had a
great time and there were lotsof vendors, lots of great food
(02:23):
and lots of fantastic people.
Roll the tape David Chisholm onsite at the Juneteenth Festival
and the very first face that Isee here is Mr Leroy Brooks, and
he's in a golf cart.
I'm actually going to approachhim and see if I can have a word
(02:45):
with him.
Mr Leroy, you doing well.
I got the mic going.
I'm doing some podcasting outhere.
You want to talk to us, man?
It's good to see you, mr LeroyBrooks here.
Ladies and gents, so this is myfirst ever Juneteenth festival
to be at.
What can I expect today?
Well, you know, we're gettingready to kick off with the
gospel Is Saturday night, thebigger night traditionally.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, you'll get a few hundred on
Friday night, but you'll get afew thousand on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
So I'm kind of the odd man here out in one respect.
What do I do to get more folkshere to celebrate freedom?
That look like I do, because Isay that freedom's for everybody
.
What say you?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Well, you know it's going to take some marketing and
work and Nancy Carpenter andher daughter just left and of
course we'll get 40 or 50 whitesthat pass through.
But I think we've got to learnto embrace everybody's culture
and understand the importantrole it plays in American
history.
You know you can't separate itand so once we get an
(03:47):
understanding and embrace theconcept, we're going to be
better off as individuals tounderstand that all of it makes
up America.
That's right, we're the meltingpot.
We are the melting pot.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Hey, I appreciate your time.
I'm going to go around and havea good time.
Thank you, sir.
That's Mr Leroy Brooks, thehead nacho.
So now I've got Kevin Eversonhere, who is an independent film
producer, and tell me aboutwhat you're working on.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Well, we're going to film called Lounge County.
It's based on my dad and uncle.
They used to drive school buseswhen they were teenagers, um in
the 50s, during the segregationtimes.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, yeah you probably have a well-informed
opinion about juneteenth.
What does this holiday mean toyou, sir?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
oh it's, it's a holiday that should have been
over 100 something years old,because, uh, you know, the whole
deal of emancipation of humanbeings is amazing and, like what
people are saying now, it isnot illegal to be human, but
somehow or another it's beenillegal to be human.
So, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yeah, that's unfortunate.
I would certainly agree withyou that this is something that
everybody should celebrate.
Yeah totally.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
It's not just black American history, it's American
history, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
This is kind of the young crowd under here, and
y'all are smart staying in theshade.
We're under one of the gazeboshere at Skim Scott Park.
What's Juneteenth mean to you,sir?
Speaker 5 (05:16):
It's just a day of freedom, so enjoy yourself, you
know.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I heard that Now I've got Miss K-5 here.
Miss K-5, what does Juneteenthmean to you?
What?
Now I've got Miss K-5 here.
Miss K-5, what do you mean toyou?
What do what?
What does?
Speaker 6 (05:27):
Juneteenth mean to you Just a big ass celebration,
with all the real young niggasout here.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I heard that what do you think of the music here
tonight?
Speaker 6 (05:37):
It's alright, they ain't playing nothing too great.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Oh right, is it not your genre or what?
It's not, it it's just.
Alright've got jason here andjason's got his little boy.
What's your little boy's name?
Kyson?
That's a cute little boy.
Right there is he eating good,yeah, yeah, y'all staying cool
out here.
I'm gonna tell you, this is theonly booth out here that has a
(05:59):
fan, and I'm probably gonna buyfood from y'all just because of
that fan sitting over there.
Speaker 6 (06:03):
That's right.
You know what you're doing.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yes, I'm keeping it cool Absolutely.
Speaker 7 (06:09):
Tell me what Juneteenth means to you.
I mean, I think Juneteenth is aday we all come out and
celebrate the end of slavery.
You know, freedom, like yousaid, everybody, just come
together as a community.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Hey, amen to that.
I'm kind of wondering why otherpeople that look like me aren't
out here celebrating the end ofslavery, because to me that's
like an awesome good thing.
What say you?
Speaker 7 (06:32):
They normally come out.
I guess it's a little too hotright now.
It is hot.
I just seen some leave about 30, 40 minutes ago.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
I also learned that I was here notoriously early, so
the getting might be good in alittle while.
Speaker 7 (06:47):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Well, Johnny, it's nice to meet you.
Y'all have a good one Good luckto you.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
All right, y'all.
Now I'm here with Tommy, andTommy is sporting an apron that
has the Dallas Cowboys star onthere and a hat Number one star
on there and a hat number one.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
How about them boys?
Them boys is the number one.
We super bowl bound.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
All right, I'm gonna be waiting on that this year.
I'm a saints fan, so I'm a fanof dac prescott also.
There you go.
Hey, say it.
Thanks, all right, that's whatsaints ain't oh, now, all right,
let me ask you this what'sjuneteenth mean to you, sir?
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Well, it means a lot to me.
As for Juneteenth, it meansmoney and also, too, it's some
of the heritage of our fathers,forefathers, and everything
there and everything.
The Day of Freedom, the Dayfrom all of the oppression, from
the plantations, and all all ofthese things, but which didn't
(07:46):
come up till a little time later.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
but thank god, it came yeah, I think that's
something all of us cancelebrate for sure.
Well, I hope you make a killingof money today.
What's the best thing on the?
Speaker 5 (07:55):
menu.
Well, the best thing on themenu is rib tips and hog snooks
and some also some good oldworld famous pulled pork.
You've got pig noses over there.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Oh yeah, Yo, yeah I totally want to see what it
would.
It wouldn't be a day withoutone.
All right, I'm gonna get one.
Take a picture of it, can.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
I okay.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
All right, okay, so I have been persuaded to take
part in pigs now.
This is a first for me and I'mgiving in to peer pressure here
and you say this is a delicacy,it's not a delicacy, the
delicacy of the whole nose.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Okay, it's a good eat .
Speaker 2 (08:34):
All right, I'm not going to tell Dr Turner about
this, but let's see here oh,it's crunchy, it's hard, hang on
, that is good.
It is totally not what Iexpected.
It's like I don't even knowwhat to compare that to.
Yeah, but it's like got alittle bit of chewiness to it
(08:57):
and it's also hard and crunchy.
I hope you sell a ton of themtoday.
Thank you, sir.
Speaker 5 (09:03):
Oh yeah, when they get started, when they get to
drinking, I'm the best personthey'll ever love, because I got
something to eat.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
All right.
So when they get to munchies,they coming your way.
Oh yeah, all right.
Thank you, sir, this is good.
So now I've got Carolyn hereand Carolyn is dressed in a
beautiful shirt that's got thetraditional Juneteenth colors of
red, gold and green.
Did I get it right?
Speaker 6 (09:30):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
All right.
What's today mean to you?
Speaker 6 (09:33):
Today means a lot to me.
Think about what ourforefathers went through for us
to get to this day.
So freedom is important, thehustles and the struggles that
they did for us.
I just think it's veryimportant and I think it's a day
that should be recognized atall times.
Yeah, for sure?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
So you're from Caledonia.
Let me ask you this Do youthink that Lowndes County in
general is headed toward a morepositive vibe in terms of
everything from race relationsto prosperity for everyone?
Speaker 6 (10:11):
My personal opinion on that.
I guess we'll just say it'ssomething that we have to take
day by day.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Day by day.
What can we do better?
Unity, Unity.
Well, I appreciate you talkingto us today.
Okay, now I've got ChiefDaughtry here and good to see
you.
Sir, Let me ask you thequestion I've asked everyone
else what does this holiday meanto you?
Speaker 8 (10:34):
It means a lot to me.
It means a part of our history.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
It means that we haven't forgotten our past,
because the only way we're goingto progress in the future is
you've got to remember the pastlet me ask you this um columbus,
for whatever reason, peoplepretend, based on rumors or
dispositions, that were justabsolutely crime ridden, but
when you compare the statisticsto starkville and to west point,
(11:01):
it's just not.
Where do you think thatrhetoric comes from?
Speaker 8 (11:05):
Well, to be honest with you, I think it's allowing
people to talk bad about youwhen you know for your family.
If someone says something badabout your family, you're going
to defend your family.
And the citizens of Columbusand myself, along with elected
officials, have to startspeaking up and let it be known
that the things that are goingon in this city our crime
(11:26):
reduction, violent crimes isdown, and we're proud of that.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
So what can we do better as citizens, to talk this
place up and make it the placethat it's really meant to be?
Speaker 8 (11:40):
Well, let me start with this here.
You want economic developmentin the city of Columbus.
There's two things thatbusinesses look at.
They look at crime stats andthey look at school rating.
Well, our school rating is a Bfor the first time Columbus
Municipal School District, andnow our violent crimes are low.
So we're doing our part.
Now it's time for the citizensand elected officials to do
(12:00):
their part and start invitingand attracting businesses to
make our economic developmentgrow.
I can't do it by myself.
School districts can't do it bythemselves, our elected
officials can't do it bythemselves, and the citizens.
We need their help as well.
It's going to take all of us tomake a better Columbus.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Ladies and gentlemen, chief Daughtry Appreciate you.
So there you have it.
That was a few of the scenesthat I encountered at the
festivities of Juneteenth.
It was not quite what I thoughtit would be.
I was thinking it would besimilar to Market Street, and I
mean it was similar to MarketStreet in the sense that there
(12:40):
were vendors, but these vendorswere more local vendors.
It wasn't like that typicalkitsch stuff that you would find
, you know, with the I don'tknow the bird houses, the people
that come in from Memphis withthis, that and the other.
No, most of this was localstuff.
I bought a shirt.
Actually, first vendor I saw,he had a nice green shirt.
(13:03):
It said in the bags I trust andhad some money symbols.
So I bought that.
It was such a welcomingenvironment and I walked around,
met some friends.
I, as you heard, tasted of apork snout for the first time.
Wasn't terrible, definitely notsomething that I'm going to
(13:26):
partake of on a regular basis,but I did do that.
Um, I think the biggest thingthat I would leave with you all
today is that Juneteenth is acelebration of freedom and
prosperity.
That theme came up severaltimes and I believe very
strongly and very sincerely thatfreedom is for everybody, and
(13:48):
so when I say a good time washad by all, I mean that in truth
, and I hope to get more folkslike myself out there.
In terms of how I looked at isyou know and make, as Leroy
Brooks said, make kind of amelting pot.
The Emancipation Proclamationand the 13th Amendment were some
(14:21):
of our best and brightest timesin history.
In fact, little known factabout myself one of my favorite
movies is Steven Spielberg'sLincoln.
It's one of the best movies outthere.
If you haven't watched that one, definitely check it out.
But hey, happy Juneteenth tothose who were there and to
(14:42):
those who celebrated at home,and I will certainly be there
next year.
Coming up in the studio we havesports writer Mr Colin Dams.
But first, do you have kneepain, muscle weakness, swelling
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In the studio today, we arepleased to have the Mississippi
(15:47):
State sports reporter for theCommercial Dispatch and host of
Bully Banter.
Is that correct?
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Yep, that's right.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Mr Colin Dams.
Thank you, sir, for being inhere Today.
I've got some questions for yourelated to sports.
As you know, this is a showthat is mostly about politics
and local news, this and that Ipersonally am not a.
When I go to the ball game, I'mthere just to have a good time
(16:16):
and I mean I watch the game andI shout and I ring my cowbell
and all that stuff, but I'm notthe guy that's sitting there
reading the roster and readingthe player numbers, and so I'm
just really amazed when I listento the radio or when I listen
to bully banter and I hearpeople like yourself get into
all these details and the statsand this and that and the other.
(16:39):
So today, for our listeners, Iguess what we'll do is kind of
boil down the sports networktalk into something that us
nerds or whatever you want tocall us, Us normal folk.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Yeah, normal.
Yeah, yeah, I think in thissituation I might be the one
who's the nerd, you know, goinginto the analytics of 0-4 back
in 23.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
They had a perfect season, but like the other way
around.
Yeah, but then head coach AlanGlenn comes in and just totally
(17:28):
turns this thing around, which Ithought was really unusual,
because the first year of a headcoach almost always sucks for
the team.
So how did he do it?
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Well, if you ask him, I think the first people he's
going to credit is his players,and you know they had a really
talented senior class as well.
One of the things he talked tome about throughout the season
was you know those were guys whoreally took it hard that they
went 0-12,.
You know 0-10, whatever it wasthe season before, anytime a
(18:00):
group goes without a win, that'ssomething that they have to
wear going into the next year ofturn things around, go worst to
first, and they almost did it.
I mean their regular seasondistrict crown came down to
(18:21):
their final regular season gameagainst West Point, who went on
to win the 5A state title.
So you know it was a battleagainst West Point.
They came up just short.
I think they only lost by onescore.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Yeah, and that was surprising there.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Yeah they played a really good game and you know,
talking to West Point head coachBrett Morgan afterwards he
wasn't surprised at all.
You know he saw the talent thatthey had all year.
He saw what they were able todo in district and, yeah, I
think Allen Glenn's got a reallygood program going forward.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
For sure.
Do you think when you look atNew Hope and you look at
Caledonia and Columbus High OK,these are in different divisions
, they're in different brackets.
Ok, how many A's do we havebeside our local schools?
Just so our listeners know.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Well, it's funny you ask that because this year there
is a really, really bigstatewide level restructuring of
classification.
So Columbus, caledonia, newHope and West Point are all now
in the same division.
Uh, and that's across sports.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
So uh, that means they could potentially see each
other in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yep, they're all going to have to play each other
once a year, which mostlyschools were doing that anyway
already.
Uh, now it's just going to meana little bit more and uh, yeah,
come play, come playoff time.
I think we saw that happen acouple of times.
Columbus and West Point were inthe same division at one point.
Caledonia, New Hope, you knowthose guys have played each
other forever.
I think in the past they hadbeen in the same division, but I
(19:48):
think New Hope was put aclassification higher for the
last few years.
But yeah, now they're all onthe same playing field.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
High school sports has not gotten smaller over the
years, that's for sure.
It's a big deal to everybody.
I think it builds character,and where it's really at for me
is on the college level, and Ithink the college is just the
grand finale of everything formost of the sports watchers
(20:15):
around here.
It's like I'll just speak formyself.
I love high school sports, butright now I don't have a son on
the team yet, so it's just I'mjust kind of a spectator.
To me, high school is prep forcollege, and then NFL is a
reason to go to college, so it'sall about college for me.
You're a hometown guy.
(20:35):
Yeah yeah, I grew up in.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Starkville, I was born guy.
Yeah, yeah, I grew up inStarkville.
I was born in Columbus, ohio,but I grew up in Starkville.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Oh, man.
And so you've been at thedispatch quite a while and you
have morphed from like a fan anda resident of Starkville into
the guy who actually lives hereand gets to sit right in the
middle of the stadium in thebest seats in the house and
write about it.
How's that been for you?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Yeah, you know, I think football is going to be a
new experience.
That's one I haven't coveredyet but you know, in the past
couple of years I've helped fillin in other areas and you know,
sitting in the press box atDuty Noble was a little bit of a
surreal experience as somebodywho grew up going to some of
those games, same with HumphreyColiseum, and you know, as you
know, soccer is my sport.
(21:21):
So the opportunity to coverthem last season as they went on
an SEC championship run, thatwas special as well.
But yeah, I think you know, thereason that I care about sports
and I'm as interested in sportsas I am is because I grew up,
you know, going to those gameswith my dad and I think you know
that's the case for a lot ofpeople.
Those are some really corememories and that's you know,
(21:43):
man, that's where it's at.
Yeah, you know it's, um, youknow it's.
It's a great thing to share andit led me on a path that is
going to put me in the press boxat Davis Wade Stadium.
So, yeah, it's a great feeling.
I'm really happy to be heredoing it and I really appreciate
the opportunities that thedispatch has given me over the
(22:03):
last couple of years that haveled to this.
But, yeah, it was a little bitsurreal the first time, but I've
gotten more used to it and I'mlooking forward to keep on going
.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
I actually learned through listening to your
podcast that Mississippi Statehas a very recent natty yeah,
but it's not one of the bigsports Track and field.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
That's right.
Yeah, Peyton Bear won thenational championship in the
heptathlon as well as thedecathlon, so he's a twotime
All-American in one seasonbecause those are classified as
indoor and outdoor sports.
But yeah, recently EugeneOregon, he went out there and
won his second nationalchampionship of the year.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
That's pretty crazy.
Most of us don't go to thosetype events.
I mean you have to pick andchoose.
You can't go to everything, youjust have to pick one thing.
But I do recall walking acrosscampus at Mississippi State
about three years ago and I sawthis projectile object floating
through the sky and it was ajavelin.
I was like holy smokes and Iasked somebody about it and
(23:08):
they're like, yeah, that guy hasa gold medal or a world record
or something.
So there's a lot of stuff thathappens out there that a lot of
us don't know about.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Just in terms of those more traditional, like
Olympic style athletics.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Yeah, yeah, and you know they've got nice facilities
here and part of that is, youknow the athletic department has
done well with, you know, beinga member of the SEC, you know
the money comes in, it'strickled down through football
and things like that, and you dohave the opportunity to support
these other sports and I thinkyou know the athletic director,
(23:42):
currently Zach Selman.
That's something he's reallyfocused on is how he can
continue to support these otherteams and facilities.
They've done a lot of work onHumphrey Coliseum recently.
I know both men's and women'sbasketball over the last 15
years has become, you know, areal focal point for fans as
well.
Well, you know men's basketballwell.
Before that, they made thefinal four in the nineties.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I do remember that.
Yeah, I actually have some ofthe physical newspapers glued to
the inside of the closet backwhen that 1996 it was.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
Yeah, I don't want to make you feel old.
I was only one year old at thetime.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Okay, let me ask you about head coach Lamonas going
out the door and now we have MrBrian O'Connor.
Brian, $3 million O'Connor yeah, that's quite a big deal for
the state of Mississippi.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Yeah, he is the second highest paid head coach
in college baseball now behind,I believe, tennessee's head
coach, tony Vitelli.
And you know this was a sportthat Zach Selman you know.
I think the reason he made thatdecision midseason to get rid
of Chris Lamonis is herecognized how valuable baseball
is to Mississippi State fans.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
You know, Doody.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Noblefield owns something like eight out of the
ten attendance records in NCAAhistory and you know, if you can
get 10,000 people out each weekto come watch baseball games in
college, that's a huge deal.
So he wanted to make astatement higher.
He went out and you know, andgot probably the best available
guy.
Certainly in terms of resume, Ithink Brian O'Connor might be
the most impressive outside hirethat Mississippi State has made
(25:23):
since Ron Polk came back in wasit 2002, 2003, something like
that?
So, yeah, it's a really bigdeal.
They had several thousandpeople at Duty Noble to welcome
him.
He came in and he did his firstpress conference with us, uh,
that day as well, and there's areal intensity about him, um,
(25:43):
and it's it's not a scaryintensity, it's just, uh, I
would say, a devoted intensity,like you could really tell that
this guy knows what he's aboutand I I think he came here
because he realized there's agreat opportunity to win, and
win big in the SEC.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Two questions.
Okay, let me just ask you thisDo you think that we're going to
stink in season one simplybecause of a new coach?
Speaker 1 (26:06):
uh, I would say the expectation right now is that
they will not stink.
Um, they have done pretty wellin the transfer portal so far.
Um, they've got a few guysfollowing uh o'connor from
virginia, which is a programthat is recruited really well.
They've.
They made the college worldseries in 2023 and 2022 I
believe so or no 2023 and 2024.
(26:28):
So you know those are highlytouted players coming in.
They've got uh another playercoming in from illinois who was
one of the leaders in the big 10at the plate.
Um, and they've, I think, mostimportantly uh, you know, to the
fans especially, you knowthey've retained players from
this year and this mississippistate roster that did really
well.
Ace reese, an all-SEC player.
(26:50):
He was a finalist for theFerris Trophy for the best
player in Mississippi.
Noah Sullivan it seems like hemight come back if he doesn't
get drafted, but there's achance that he does get drafted
and I think that's anotheraspect of this for some of the
other players.
But definitely we're seeing aninvestment in this team.
Crystal Monas he used thetransfer portal but it was sort
(27:13):
of hit or miss on some of theplayers that came in.
They did find success but theyweren't able to rediscover the
form that you know took them toOmaha in his first few years.
So, yeah, that definitely doesnot seem like they're going to
suck next year.
I think there is a lot ofexcitement around the program.
Not seem like they're going tosuck next year.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
I think there is a lot of excitement around the
program.
You know, I think I agree withyou.
I think they'll do well thefirst season, simply because you
know with baseball thateverybody has the same playbook
for the most part.
It's not like in football oreven basketball, where you
concoct your own personal scheme.
I mean, maybe there's some ofthat to baseball, but when I
(27:52):
played in high school it just,you know, when the ball goes to
right field there's somethingthat everybody does and it's
pretty much the same for everyteam.
Am I wrong about that?
Speaker 1 (28:03):
Yeah, you know, I'm probably not the person to ask
Baseball isn't my first sportbut yeah, you know it's kind of
like they say in the movieMoneyball.
You know it's, it's.
Um, it's kind of like they sayin the movie money ball.
You know it's, it's.
It's a sport that's been aroundfor so long, it's.
It's not like anybody has thenext secret to figure it out.
You know it's, it's.
It's just a sport that's goingto keep on going.
You have to keep trying to findthe guys who have all the right
tools to to fill the holes thatyou need.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Last question Do you think that Mississippi State is
going to morph into a baseballschool and do you think it's
going to hurt my fall experience?
I mean, that's a horriblequestion because I want the
baseball team to do good.
You know bringing that, but Ialso want the football team to
do well, as I want them to dowell also.
What say you?
(28:46):
I want them to do well also.
What say you?
Speaker 1 (28:49):
I think a lot of fans would argue that Mississippi
State already is a baseballschool, just in terms of what
fans are really interested in.
But also Starkville is a townof what?
20,000 or so?
The student population canmaybe double that, and even that
doesn't meet the number that isrequired to fill Davis-Wade
Stadium and yet they still getthe numbers to do it every year.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
So football fancy lights coming this year yeah
that's right they do.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
And you know football is king down here.
So there there's stilldefinitely going to be
investment in the football team.
Part of the problem is, youknow you're in the Southeastern
conference and it may not bewhat it was, you know, five, 10
years ago, with Alabama winningevery other year and Georgia
winning every other year, butthese are still really powerful
programs and you've got to playall of them every week.
(29:36):
You've got to play eight ofthem every week in a given
season.
So it's always a tough job.
Jeff Lebby's coming after a,you know, a two win season.
And you know you, you mentionedthe crew mirrors we had.
We had a few of those down herein the crew mirrors.
(29:56):
Uh, I remember, cause I was,you know, watching from the
stands in Davis Wade stadium.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Well, it can't be that bad this season.
I mean there's just no way.
Yeah, there's, there'sdefinitely a demand for
improvement.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
And, uh, you know they.
There's definitely a demand forimprovement.
They've got talented players,They've got the means to do it.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
I've heard some sources say that Mississippi
State football has the bestrecruiting class like ever, and
then others like, yeah, not somuch.
And then other people aresaying, well, they committed but
they didn't stay and then theymoved out.
I can't keep up with all that.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Where are we In recruiting?
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
So right now, two four seven has the current, the
class of 2026 ranked as 28th inthe country.
Uh, but there's another sitethat has them ranked like 37th.
Um, and that's you know.
That's another thing.
With the popularity of collegefootball, recruitment has become
its own sort of media.
Um, no-transcript year.
(31:18):
The biggest problems weretackling winning at the line of
scrimmage and these last tworecruiting classes have
reflected going after some ofthe good linebackers that are in
the state, other guys coming infrom out of state, finding guys
who can fill holes on the goodlinebackers that are in the
state, other guys coming in fromout of state, finding guys who
can fill holes on the defensiveline and then finding the big
guys up front, guys that cantackle, so that that guy that
was sitting behind me won't bequite so angry.
(31:39):
this coming season.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
We thank you for being in the studio today.
Ladies and gentlemen, sportswriter for the Dispatch, mr
Colin Dams.
We are thankful for him beingin the studio today.
Also want to be thankful to ourlisteners and to our sponsors.
Be sure to subscribe, rate andshare and send us your feedback,
as always.
Tips at cdispatchcom.
(32:03):
Again, that is, tips atcdispatchcom.
Or reach out to me on Facebookor X at the Chisholm 00.
Signing out from Catfish AlleyStudios in historic downtown
Columbus.
My name is David Chisholm andit has been a pleasure to be
your host today.
Until next time, y'all keep itreal and we'll keep it friendly.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
Opinions expressed on this show are those of the
speakers and not necessarilythose of the commercial dispatch
.
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