Insight and analysis on Ole Miss and MSU sports from Daily Journal beat reporters

New episodes released on Thursday afternoons

Double Coverage

Double Coverage

#126: Rebels still hunting DC; bowl experiences ranked – 12/06/18

by Leave a Comment

Ole Miss continues its search for a defensive coordinator, and Parrish has an update on this week’s episode.

Former Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre is expected to interview this week for the position (1:50). Ole Miss turned its eyes to him after Alabama assistant Pete Golding declined an offer.

MSU is headed to the Outback Bowl, and so Parrish and Logan decided to rank their experiences in covering various bowl games over the years (10:14). Logan especially enjoyed the Belk Bowl, and Parrish puts the Cotton Bowl at the top of his list.

In hoops, the MSU men are coming off a win over McNeese State in which Lamar Peters had a career-high 27 points (30:13). And the women are still undefeated after a top-10 win over Texas.

The Ole Miss men have been off all week but return to the court Saturday at Illinois State (31:22). Freshman Blake Hinson has picked up his scoring pace, an encouraging sign for the Rebels. The women continue to struggle, having lost five in a row.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

#125: Leaders seek civility in Egg Bowl rivalry – 11/29/18

by Leave a Comment

Mississippi State beat Ole Miss 35-3 on Thanksgiving Day in the annual Egg Bowl game. But most of the talk afterward centered around the fight that broke out on the field late in the third quarter.

On this week’s episode, Parrish and Logan discuss the pugilistic turn the game took and the attention it’s drawn from the SEC (1:31). Commissioner Greg Sankey has set a meeting with each school’s athletics director in an effort to bring some civility to the rivalry. Parrish says that at the end of the day, the onus for that happening falls on the head coaches.

In other Egg Bowl fallout, Ole Miss fired defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff on Friday (10:04). Several names are floating around as possible replacements, including former Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre, who is a former Ole Miss assistant. Offensive coordinator Phil Longo is still around after being bypassed for the head post at Texas State (13:22), and if he remains on staff, he’s got some red zone issues to untangle.

While the Rebels’ season is over, MSU is looking forward to a bowl game. Logan said there are several possibilities (17:08), and Texas A&M’s win over LSU has clouded the picture.

On the basketball court, MSU’s men dropped 10 spots in the rankings after a loss to Arizona State (21:37), and up next is a tough road trip to Dayton. The Ole Miss men are coming off a win against San Diego (23:55), which was a nice bounce-back game for Terence Davis after he was held scoreless by Cincinnati.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

#124: Bulldogs, Rebels ready for Egg Bowl – 11/21/18

by Leave a Comment

All you need to know is that it’s Egg Bowl Week.

So Parrish and Logan spend most of this week’s episode breaking down the annual matchup, which is being played in Oxford this year. The Rebels can finish 6-6 with a win, and it would help them forget what has so far been a tough November (1:57). Parrish said that due to its struggles in the red zone, Ole Miss will need to hit some big plays.

Logan certainly expects the Rebs to be aggressive (12:29). He also expects MSU to put a big emphasis on running the ball – and protecting it. The Bulldogs turned it over five times in last year’s Egg Bowl.

The guys also discuss the rivalry’s toxicity level (yes, Logan, it’s a real word), which should be lower given the respective personalities of the two head coaches (16:07).

There is some basketball to discuss as well. The Ole Miss men played very well defensively in a win over Nicholls State earlier this week (19:44), a game that came on the heels of a solid showing in a loss at Butler. The women will spend Thanksgiving taking on UConn (22:49).

For MSU, the men suffered their first loss of the season, to Arizona State (23:38). And the women just keep rolling along (25:29).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Bulldogs, Rebels look to bounce back from losses – 11/16/18

by Leave a Comment

Mississippi State and Ole Miss both took tough losses last weekend.

On this episode, Logan looks back at MSU’s loss to No. 1 Alabama (6:14). Some calls did not go the Bulldogs’ way, and the SEC reviewed some of them. As for Ole Miss, it lost to Texas A&M, but Parrish says the Rebels are still playing hard for coach Matt Luke (10:17).

Up next for MSU is Arkansas, which is winless in SEC play but has played folks tough (17:44). Ole Miss visits Vanderbilt (21:13), a team that is vulnerable against the run.

The guys also look at bowl projections for MSU (1:44) – the Outback Bowl, perhaps? – and they do a quick hit on basketball (24:40).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

#123: Basketball season arrives; football teams hit road – 11/08/18

by Leave a Comment

Basketball is here!

The Ole Miss and MSU teams hit the court this week. On this episode, Logan previews the MSU men’s Friday opener against Austin Peay (2:17). Good news for the Bulldogs: Quinndary Weatherspoon will be back from injury.

As for the women, they won their opener against Southeast Missouri State thanks to a huge game by Teaira McCowan (4:59). Up next is Virginia, and good news for the Bulldogs: UConn transfer Andra Espinoza-Hunter has been cleared by the NCAA to play and will be available for this game.

The Kermit Davis era begins at Ole Miss on Saturday (9:02), when the Rebels host Western Michigan. The women got going earlier this week, beating Norfolk State to tip off the Yolett McPhee-McCuin era (7:00).

On the football field, State makes the trek to Tuscaloosa to take on No. 1 Alabama (12:02). Pulling off the upset is a long shot, but the Bulldogs’ defense could keep them in the game a while to at least make it seem possible.

Ole Miss is also on the road, taking on Texas A&M (18:19). The Rebels are trying to shake off last week’s loss to South Carolina, when they blew a fourth-quarter lead at home.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

#122: MSU hoopsters ranked; Rebels back on football field – 11/01/18

by Leave a Comment

Basketball season is drawing near, and so Parrish and Logan take a look at the Mississippi State and Ole Miss teams on this episode.

The MSU men enter this season ranked No. 18 in the country (1:50), and for good reason. All five starters return, including Quinndary Weatherspoon. The women will start the season at No. 6 (5:38), although it has four starters to replace from last year’s national finalist squad.

As for Ole Miss, there are a lot of fresh faces. The women have a new coach and several new players (7:12), and the men also have a new coach in Kermit Davis (10:46). The former Middle Tennessee State coach has a bit of a rebuilding job on his hands, although he has three strong guards around which to build.

On the football field, Nick Fitzgerald and the Bulldogs rolled over Texas A&M last week (16:31) as the offense shook itself out of a slump. Up next is a home game against Louisiana Tech, a tough non-SEC opponent.

After a week off, Ole Miss is back in action when it hosts South Carolina (20:19). The Rebels will need a big day from the offense and need to be better in the red zone.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

#121: Building momentum after last week’s wins – 10/10/18

by Leave a Comment

Tom Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette joined Parrish and Logan this week to discuss the Rebels’ trip to Little Rock. 

The Hogs have dropped five straight, but Murphy said they’re looking better and hope they can pick up wins in the second half of the schedule. Of course this has been a weird series that has Arkansas on a four-game win streak (5:04), and Murphy talked about how Arkansas’ defense is preparing for Jordan Ta’amu and the Ole Miss passing game.

The Rebels are 8-6-1 all-time against Arkansas in games played in Little Rock. Parrish asks how Arkansas fans liked the “home” games played in the state capital of Arkansas (8:40), and Murphy talked about how the new athletic administration in Fayetteville is embracing that part of the schedule and accommodating fans in that part of the state.

Logan recapped State’s big win over Auburn (17:00), where the Bulldogs had more designed runs and totaled 349 yards on the ground, including Nick Fitzgerald’s 195 yards that gave him the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in the SEC.

Logan also gives an update on the health of State’s players (20:30) as they’re in the middle of a bye week before beginning preparations for LSU on Oct. 20.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

#120: Who would win if the Egg Bowl were played today? – 10/04/18

by Leave a Comment

David Brandt of the Associated Press join Parrish and Logan this week to discuss where Ole Miss and Mississippi State are at after the first month of the season.

Logan and David talk about the atmosphere in Starkville for Dan Mullen’s return, and David gives his prediction, if the Egg Bowl were played today (12:32).

Parrish and Logan also look at the running game for both the Rebels and Bulldogs and how State could move to calling more designed runs (19:26).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

#119: Mullen returns to Starkville – 09/27/18

by Leave a Comment

It’s Dan Mullen week in Starkville.

The former Mississippi State head coach returns this Saturday when his Florida Gators visit Davis Wade Stadium. On this episode, Logan talks with Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel about the homecoming and what it’s like to cover Mullen (1:37). Thompson also examines whether Mullen, an established quarterback guru, can help Felipe Franks become a bigger force for the Gators.

Logan also looks back at the Bulldogs’ loss to Kentucky last week, examining just what went wrong (22:57). Plus he has a quick preview of the Florida game.

Ole Miss is also facing a former head coach. The Rebels take on Ed Orgeron’s LSU team this weekend (14:37), and the Tigers’ defense should provide a good test for an Ole Miss offense that’s been very productive. The Rebs are coming off a win over Kent State, where defensive issues persisted.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

#118: A visit with Gregg Ellis; Bulldogs romp, Rebels rolled – 09/20/18

by Leave a Comment

A friend of the program joins Parrish and Logan on this week’s episode.

Gregg Ellis stops in to talk about his recent departure from the college sports business (:55). Gregg is a former Daily Journal sports writer, and he recently left his job as basketball media relations director at Mississippi State. Gregg, who is now working for the Tupelo Public School District, contrasts his roles as media member and media relations director.

On the football field, MSU has looked good on both sides of the ball during a 3-0 start (9:52). Last week’s win against Louisiana-Lafayette was a dominant all-around performance, and the Bulldogs look to keep the momentum going for their SEC opener at Kentucky this weekend.

Ole Miss, coming off a blowout loss to No. 1 Alabama, has a lot of issues with its defense (14:52). And the offense needs to regain some confidence this week against Kent State.

The guys also have injury updates. MSU cornerback Jamal Peters is out this week with a leg injury (21:52), while Ole Miss has lost two defensive backs for the season to ACL injuries (23:21).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS