Kicker Smith could have solidified spot as top Dog
By Todd Kelly
tkelly@clarionledger.com
STARKVILLE ? Junior kickers John Michael Marlin and Brent Smith were engaged in a tight preseason competition for the top job at Mississippi State.
After splitting duties in the season opener at Oregon two weeks ago, Smith may have taken hold of the job Saturday night.
After Marlin was wide right on MSU's first extra point, Smith ? who was slated for kickoffs and long field goals ? booted the rest of the PATs.
Two of those extra points were 15 yards longer than normal due to unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Smith, who walked on last spring after transferring from Northwest Mississippi CC, added a 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Lineup changes
MSU's lineup included a half-dozen changes from the opener.
Making their first start of the season on offense were tailback Dontae Walker, tight end Donald Lee and left guard Chris McNeil. Walker and Lee didn't start against the Ducks because the Dogs began the game with four wide receivers. McNeil took over for Michael Allen.
Defensive changes included Kahlil Nash at right defensive tackle, Robert Spivey at right defensive end and Pee Wee Griffith at left cornerback.
Griffith started for Demetric Wright, who didn't suit up Saturday and may redshirt for injury reasons. Nash started for Tommy Kelly, while Spivey replaced Kamau Jackson. Kelly didn't play until the second half.
Gholar makes mark
MSU's game captains were Michael Gholar, Terrell Grindle, Justin Griffith and Josh Morgan ? making Gholar possibly the only Bulldog to carry the distinction in his first game at Scott Field. Gholar played four seasons of basketball at State before joining the football team last spring.
Gholar, who blocked a field goal against Oregon, corralled an onside kick in the second quarter against Jacksonville State. The recovery was negated, however, when officials ruled Gholar touched the ball before the kick traveled 10 yards.
Injuries
Sophomore DOG safety Rico Bennett suffered a foot injury in the first quarter and didn't return. Bennett was replaced by junior Milas Randle.
Walker bruised a knee on a third-quarter run but returned in the same series to score on a 1-yard run. Walker carried 17 times for 62 yards against JSU.
Miscellaneous
The Bulldogs improved to 78-22-2 in home openers, including 10-2 under Jackie Sherrill. . . . MSU assistant head coach Jim Tompkins was Jacksonville State's defensive coordinator in 1983.
Fant tells what happened
? Tire purchase became 'big deal'
By Todd Kelly
tkelly@clarionledger.com
STARKVILLE ? Mississippi State's football game against Jacksonville State this weekend won't attract much in the way of national recognition.
But four days before kickoff, MSU quarterback Kevin Fant fielded more questions than the MVP of a New Year's Day bowl.
Fant spoke publicly for the first time since his one-game suspension Aug. 29 for improper contact with an MSU booster. The NCAA violation, which was self-reported by Mississippi State's athletic department, kept the Moss Point junior from playing in the Aug. 31 season opener against Oregon. The Bulldogs lost to the 15th-ranked Ducks 36-13.
Polite and self-effacing as usual, Fant was quizzed for some 15 minutes by about two dozen reporters.
"I'm just trying to answer these questions and get on with football," Fant said. "I just love to play football. To have to wait two weeks to play is a long time."
According to documents obtained by The Clarion-Ledger, Fant's suspension came after he used a credit card number belonging to a booster to facilitate the replacement of four tires for his pickup at Perkins Tire and Polaris in Pascagoula on April 19.
Fant's mother, Nona, stopped by the tire dealership the same day to pay for the tires, according to the documents. Fant, who declined to name the booster, said he was in a hurry to make the 4-hour drive back to Starkville.
"If I knew all of this would have happened, I just would have stayed at home," Fant said. "I called a friend, who was a good friend of mine, and just basically used his card to hold the tires until my mom showed up 30 minutes or an hour later."
Fant ? who said he met the booster as a freshman in 1999 during an MSU "Fan Day" event ? reported the situation to coach Jackie Sherrill, one day after the quarterback attended a mandatory NCAA compliance meeting for MSU athletes.
"At that time (of the meeting), I still didn't think I had violated any rules," Fant said. "I told Coach. At the time, he didn't think it was a really big deal. I was surprised (by the suspension). I'm still surprised, but I can't get that game back so I might as well look forward. It's over with now."
That was Sherrill's theme during his weekly press conference Tuesday.
"It's not any different than going down the highway and driving over the speed limit," Sherrill said. "You pay your ticket and go on. That's what he's done. He's not crying about it. The thing about Kevin is he won't say it's somebody else's fault. Most people want to blame somebody else."
If Fant's sharp performance during Tuesday afternoon's practice was any indication, the Bulldogs shouldn't experience any post-suspension syndrome Saturday against Jacksonville State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
"It means a lot to have him back," Bulldogs fullback Justin Griffith said.
"Just to have him back at practice and see him happy again, ready to play ball, motivates the whole team," Griffith said. "He knows he's the leader. He plays like it and practices like it."
Fant is ready to resume a career that took off in MSU's last two games on 2001, when he passed for 609 yards and four touchdowns. That fast finish perhaps made the one-game suspension even tougher to take.
Fant said he was told by Sherrill two days before the opener and one hour before MSU's flight left for Oregon that he wouldn't be boarding the plane. He spent the day before the game in Starkville, worrying and wondering, hopeful that he'd be re-instated. After a 90-minute teleconference between MSU and NCAA officials, the suspension was upheld.
"You work hard all summer with your teammates to build that bond," Fant said. "Then all of a sudden, right before the game, it all ends and you're not making the trip. It was a stunner for me and my teammates as well."
Fant watched the game on TV with his older brother, Robby.
"It was hard knowing you should be out there playing, knowing you wanted to do this and wanted to do that," Fant said. "I can't say anything about it. Kyle (York) played great (at quarterback). I just think Oregon pretty much beat us."
Despite his disappointment, Fant has kept his sense of humor.
"I've heard a lot of jokes. ... (people calling me) The Michelin Man," Fant said with a laugh. "I'm a laid-back guy, so it doesn't really bother me.
"I hate I let the team down. I apologize to Mississippi State and the NCAA. I'm deeply sorry for what I've done. There are so many rules and little small things that I've just now realized you've got to watch yourself. Basically from now on, I'm going to be asking questions."
By Todd Kelly
tkelly@clarionledger.com
STARKVILLE ? Junior kickers John Michael Marlin and Brent Smith were engaged in a tight preseason competition for the top job at Mississippi State.
After splitting duties in the season opener at Oregon two weeks ago, Smith may have taken hold of the job Saturday night.
After Marlin was wide right on MSU's first extra point, Smith ? who was slated for kickoffs and long field goals ? booted the rest of the PATs.
Two of those extra points were 15 yards longer than normal due to unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Smith, who walked on last spring after transferring from Northwest Mississippi CC, added a 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Lineup changes
MSU's lineup included a half-dozen changes from the opener.
Making their first start of the season on offense were tailback Dontae Walker, tight end Donald Lee and left guard Chris McNeil. Walker and Lee didn't start against the Ducks because the Dogs began the game with four wide receivers. McNeil took over for Michael Allen.
Defensive changes included Kahlil Nash at right defensive tackle, Robert Spivey at right defensive end and Pee Wee Griffith at left cornerback.
Griffith started for Demetric Wright, who didn't suit up Saturday and may redshirt for injury reasons. Nash started for Tommy Kelly, while Spivey replaced Kamau Jackson. Kelly didn't play until the second half.
Gholar makes mark
MSU's game captains were Michael Gholar, Terrell Grindle, Justin Griffith and Josh Morgan ? making Gholar possibly the only Bulldog to carry the distinction in his first game at Scott Field. Gholar played four seasons of basketball at State before joining the football team last spring.
Gholar, who blocked a field goal against Oregon, corralled an onside kick in the second quarter against Jacksonville State. The recovery was negated, however, when officials ruled Gholar touched the ball before the kick traveled 10 yards.
Injuries
Sophomore DOG safety Rico Bennett suffered a foot injury in the first quarter and didn't return. Bennett was replaced by junior Milas Randle.
Walker bruised a knee on a third-quarter run but returned in the same series to score on a 1-yard run. Walker carried 17 times for 62 yards against JSU.
Miscellaneous
The Bulldogs improved to 78-22-2 in home openers, including 10-2 under Jackie Sherrill. . . . MSU assistant head coach Jim Tompkins was Jacksonville State's defensive coordinator in 1983.
Fant tells what happened
? Tire purchase became 'big deal'
By Todd Kelly
tkelly@clarionledger.com
STARKVILLE ? Mississippi State's football game against Jacksonville State this weekend won't attract much in the way of national recognition.
But four days before kickoff, MSU quarterback Kevin Fant fielded more questions than the MVP of a New Year's Day bowl.
Fant spoke publicly for the first time since his one-game suspension Aug. 29 for improper contact with an MSU booster. The NCAA violation, which was self-reported by Mississippi State's athletic department, kept the Moss Point junior from playing in the Aug. 31 season opener against Oregon. The Bulldogs lost to the 15th-ranked Ducks 36-13.
Polite and self-effacing as usual, Fant was quizzed for some 15 minutes by about two dozen reporters.
"I'm just trying to answer these questions and get on with football," Fant said. "I just love to play football. To have to wait two weeks to play is a long time."
According to documents obtained by The Clarion-Ledger, Fant's suspension came after he used a credit card number belonging to a booster to facilitate the replacement of four tires for his pickup at Perkins Tire and Polaris in Pascagoula on April 19.
Fant's mother, Nona, stopped by the tire dealership the same day to pay for the tires, according to the documents. Fant, who declined to name the booster, said he was in a hurry to make the 4-hour drive back to Starkville.
"If I knew all of this would have happened, I just would have stayed at home," Fant said. "I called a friend, who was a good friend of mine, and just basically used his card to hold the tires until my mom showed up 30 minutes or an hour later."
Fant ? who said he met the booster as a freshman in 1999 during an MSU "Fan Day" event ? reported the situation to coach Jackie Sherrill, one day after the quarterback attended a mandatory NCAA compliance meeting for MSU athletes.
"At that time (of the meeting), I still didn't think I had violated any rules," Fant said. "I told Coach. At the time, he didn't think it was a really big deal. I was surprised (by the suspension). I'm still surprised, but I can't get that game back so I might as well look forward. It's over with now."
That was Sherrill's theme during his weekly press conference Tuesday.
"It's not any different than going down the highway and driving over the speed limit," Sherrill said. "You pay your ticket and go on. That's what he's done. He's not crying about it. The thing about Kevin is he won't say it's somebody else's fault. Most people want to blame somebody else."
If Fant's sharp performance during Tuesday afternoon's practice was any indication, the Bulldogs shouldn't experience any post-suspension syndrome Saturday against Jacksonville State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
"It means a lot to have him back," Bulldogs fullback Justin Griffith said.
"Just to have him back at practice and see him happy again, ready to play ball, motivates the whole team," Griffith said. "He knows he's the leader. He plays like it and practices like it."
Fant is ready to resume a career that took off in MSU's last two games on 2001, when he passed for 609 yards and four touchdowns. That fast finish perhaps made the one-game suspension even tougher to take.
Fant said he was told by Sherrill two days before the opener and one hour before MSU's flight left for Oregon that he wouldn't be boarding the plane. He spent the day before the game in Starkville, worrying and wondering, hopeful that he'd be re-instated. After a 90-minute teleconference between MSU and NCAA officials, the suspension was upheld.
"You work hard all summer with your teammates to build that bond," Fant said. "Then all of a sudden, right before the game, it all ends and you're not making the trip. It was a stunner for me and my teammates as well."
Fant watched the game on TV with his older brother, Robby.
"It was hard knowing you should be out there playing, knowing you wanted to do this and wanted to do that," Fant said. "I can't say anything about it. Kyle (York) played great (at quarterback). I just think Oregon pretty much beat us."
Despite his disappointment, Fant has kept his sense of humor.
"I've heard a lot of jokes. ... (people calling me) The Michelin Man," Fant said with a laugh. "I'm a laid-back guy, so it doesn't really bother me.
"I hate I let the team down. I apologize to Mississippi State and the NCAA. I'm deeply sorry for what I've done. There are so many rules and little small things that I've just now realized you've got to watch yourself. Basically from now on, I'm going to be asking questions."
