Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
11:49 pm Wednesday, September 1, 2004

Tight games the norm for state schools

By By Austin Bishop / EMG sports director
Sept. 1, 2004
Writing words of wisdom on a Wednesday while wondering whatever happened to U.L. Washington …
Attempting to pick winners of college football games is always a challenge, but sometimes it's just plain-out fun.
Probably the most enjoyment I ever got out of picking games was a couple of years ago when some of my radio buddies Al Brown, Art Matthews and Lindsey Hall invited me to join them at noon on Fridays and share some wisdom.
Now there is no doubt in my mind that I looked like easy pickings to them.
However, week after week I just seemed to get the edge. Art, as he always does about just about everything, took it in stride and got a chuckle or two out of it.
As far as Lindsey goes, I don't think he really even noticed. Lindsey is pretty easy going and what happened yesterday is over. It's always about looking ahead to next week for him.
But I have to admit I really enjoyed being a burr in Al's saddle. I'm sure that Al felt like he knew more about college football that I did and in fact, he probably does.
I'm convinced he felt, and still feels, he was better at picking college games than me and, most assuredly, he is.
But it just seems like I almost couldn't miss. It probably wouldn't have been near as much fun if it didn't seem like it was so frustrating to Al.
Well, while I don't have that motivation to keep me focused on picking college football games this season, I'm still going to give it a try.
There are a couple of big in-state games in week one and they both are going to be interesting to pick.
Tulane at
Mississippi State
Wonder what the topic of all of the sports news stations is going to be regarding this game?
Did anybody notice that MSU now has a black head football coach?
Well, maybe after a couple of weeks the talking heads can get focused more on football and less on the color of the coach's skin.
The more I read and hear about Sylvester Croom the more convinced I am that MSU wound up with a steal when they hired him. I love the way he has stepped and taken control of the program.
He is setting high standards and the players who aren't interested in trying to meet them are allowed to feel free to go and goof off elsewhere.
You've got to love that, no matter which college team you pull for.
I believe Croom will build a winner at MSU, but I also can see it taking a little time.
Before the season started I had this game marked down as a loss for State. I figured the Bulldogs could beat Maine and maybe one other team this season.
But I like the things I'm hearing out of Starkville. If the Bulldogs can keep from hurting themselves on offense and the defense can play tough, Croom's debut in Starkville could lead to a lot of cheers.
This one should be tight. But I give MSU the edge.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025