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MPSA celebrates football title week
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| By: TOM GOETZ, DAILY LEADER Sports Editor |
November 29, 2005 |
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JACKSON -- It reminded me of a combination Christmas party and family reunion at the Mississippi Sports Museum and Hall of Fame on Lakeland Drive. Monday's Mississippi Private School Association Football Championship Media Conference, featured proud coaches, players and administrators from the state playoff finalists, plus lots of TV cameras, radio talk show commentators and print media reporters.
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Everyone wore a bright smile, with the exception of a few media folks. They were working on Monday morning instead of staying in bed after a long weekend of sports activity. Coaches from each school exchanged compliments with their upcoming opponents, introduced their players, coaches and administrators, and smiled with pride.
Certainly, it has been a long season. One coach said he had been through 19 weeks of football. Thanks to Hurricane Katrina, many schools had to adjust their schedules after that fateful Monday, Aug. 29, which changed thousands of lives forever.
The eight teams represented at the media blitz were the survivors of delayed seasons and the playoff grind. This weekend's MPSA action starts Thursday afternoon at Mississippi College in Clinton, at renovated Hale-Robinson Stadium. Most of the players have never set foot on MC's new artificial surface, known as Sprint Turf.
"There will be no more mud bowls," proclaimed MPSA Director of Activities Les Triplett. "You are in for a pleasant surprise at MC."
Triplett pointed out that the field is secure, meaning sideline security would be enforced. Only players, coaches, cheerleaders statistics keepers, cameramen and media would be allowed.
Visitors must enter on the visiting side of the field and the home team's fans must enter on the home side. Foot traffic across MC's new all-weather track is prohibited. Chewers of gum, tobacco and sunflower seeds are frowned upon in the playing field area. Swallow it. Don't throw it on the ground.
Copiah Academy coach Mitch Mitchell introduced his players and coaches. His Colonels are in the Class AA state championship game for the first time in 24 years.
Copiah's Thursday night opponent, the football factory from Simpson County Academy, is seeking a 3-peat. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Mitchell inherited a 2-10 team when he took the helm two years ago. The Colonels have accomplished much to reach the state title game.
Carol Rigby, CA's headmaster, smiled with pride and her blue eyes sparkled with excitement when she talked about the Colonels. "We have really great kids in our senior class. Our coaches have done a good job getting them in tip-top shape."
Copiah's return to gridiron glory has captured the community's interest in Gallman and the Copiah County area. Attendance was well over 1,000 for the Colonels' South state finals victory over Oak Forest.
"I saw people there (at game) who I had not seen in 10 years," said Rigby. "I'm not sure the visiting stands at MC will hold all of us."
Triplett said the MPSA was considering a move to section off a portion of the home side stands to accommodate more visiting team fans. Surprisingly, there will be no advance ticket sales for this weekend's games.
Mitchell is well known for his coaching success in basketball, winning a state championship with the Lady Colonels. The Topeka-Tilton graduate has a football background and played tight end at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He was an assistant coach at Simpson for eight years before moving to Copiah.
Mitchell and Simpson head coach Billy Hankins are old friends. They have spent many hours watching game films together. Obviously, they know how to coach football.
A familiar face was present yesterday. Herbert Davis, Jr., a 1985 Brookhaven Academy graduate, has his Columbus Heritage Patriots in the AAA Division II championship game, facing Starkville Academy Friday at 1:30 p.m. Jackson Prep and Jackson Academy clash for the Division I title that night.
For Davis, 38, a graduate of Co-Lin and Mississippi College, this is his fourth state championship game. In 1993, Davis coached the BA Cougars to a AA state championship. He also coached Winston and Greenwood Pillow to state title games in 1991 and '97 respectively.
Another familiar face was Jackson Academy athletic director Bobby West. The Brookhaven High School graduate oversees one of the largest and most successful MPSA athletic programs. West was a big success at BHS in the mid 1970s, coaching the Panthers to several winning basketball seasons. West later won a couple of Overall titles at Jackson Prep before going to JA.
Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O. BOX 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mail sports@dailyleader.com
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©The Daily Leader 2009
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