Long-time Columbus coach and educator Jim “Tuffy” Bourland, the MVP of the first Mississippi High School football all-star game, died at the age of 81 last August. In the accompanying photograph, you see Bourland’s son, Jackson radio executive John Bourland, with his dad’s souvenir sweater jacket from that first all-star game played back in 1950. […]
As I sit down to type on this national holiday, my thoughts are with the family of George Robert Hall, spending their first Memorial Day without the man we in Hattiesburg knew simply as Colonel. Hall, who died this past February at the age of 83, was an authentic American hero who never sought — […]
Services have been set for Hall of Famer Bill Buckner. Visitation will be at Wright Ferguson Highland Colony from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday. Another visitation will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Jackson, followed by the funeral service at noon. ••• Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer Bill Buckner, who touched […]
We had a Q. and A. with the legendary Boo Ferriss Monday at the C Spire Ferriss Trophy awards luncheon. It was my idea, which proves only this: Every human being has one good one at some point in life. With apologies to the finalists and winner Austin Bousfield, the Ferriss Q. and A. was […]
Mike Bianco called Auston Bousfield the “total package,” and I’d say that’s about right. Bousfield hit for average, he hit in the No. 2 hole because he handles the bat so well, he hit with pop, he led the best college league in America in hits, he fielded his position without an error for over […]
Several folks have asked this week for a complete rundown of C Spire Ferriss Trophy winners and finalists over the years. So, here goes… Note, that we moved to five finalists from three in 2013.. The winner is in bold. 2013 Hunter Renfroe (MSU), Josh Branstetter (DSU), Andrew Pierce (USM), Stuart Turner (Ole Miss), Bobby […]
Greatest single athletic feat in Mississippi history? In 1960, Laurel’s Ralph Boston broke Jesse Owens’ last world record with a long jump of 26 feet, 11 and ¼ inches. Furthermore, Boston broke his own record five times over the next five years. That’s definitely on the list. On July 3, 1983, Bolton’s Calvin Smith covered […]
Opinions are like noses. Everybody has one — or several — where the NFL Draft is concerned. My random thoughts on the NFL Draft’s first round: • Best first round: Easily the Cleveland Browns who got a shutdown corner with the eighth pick and then watched Johnny Manziel fall all the way to their […]
