For Whom the Cowbell Tolls

Varnado, Bost Recognized By SEC

2010-03-10T23:43:01Z

Varnado, Bost Recognized By SEC

Varnado named to 1st team, Bost to 2nd team. Varnado also named to SEC All-Defensive team and as SEC Defensive POY.

Sporting News Defensive Player of the Year: Jarvis Varnado

2010-03-10T23:36:55Z

Sporting News Defensive Player of the Year: Jarvis Varnado

Mississippi State also brags on the fact Jarvis is the first Division I player to record 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 blocks in a career—although that would seem to go without saying since only one other player (Louisiana-Monroe's Wojciech Myrda) reached the 500-block mark.

Know this about Varnado: He has a knack for blocking shots that you can't teach. He understands how...

2010-03-01T19:59:49Z

Know this about Varnado: He has a knack for blocking shots that you can't teach. He understands how to play the angles, keep shots in play and ensure he plays the team game defensively. His nickname, "Swat," is perfect.

Weekly Watch: Week 15 - ESPN

The Block

2010-02-25T15:50:34Z

More photos » Kristen Hines Baker - AP

15 days ago: In a photo provided by Mississippi State University, Mississippi State forward Jarvis Varnado, top, blocks a shot by Alabama guard Mikhail Torrance, to break the NCAA career record for blocks, during a college basketball game in Starkville, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Mississippi State University, Kristen Hines Baker)

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Great shot of the block.

Video: Varnado Talks About Breaking The Record

2010-02-25T14:54:37Z

Jarvis Varnado Named To Naismith Finalist List

2010-02-25T04:31:50Z

More photos » Jim Lytle - AP

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Jarvis Varnado, the new NCAA all-time shot block leader, has been named as a Naismith Finalist.

The Naismith Award is given each year to the nations top collegiate basketball player. Finalists are chosen by the Atlanta Tippoff Club's board of selectors, which is comprised of basketball journalists from around the country. The award will be presented at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

"It's a great honor," Varnado said. "I'm very humbled to be mentioned with all these great players. I'm blessed. My teammates and coaches have put me into this position of being recognized. You can't be mentioned with this type of award without great teammates."

Other finalists from the SEC include Devan Downey of South Carolina and John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins of Kentucky.

State Defeats Tide; Varnado, Stewart Break Records

2010-02-25T04:17:38Z

It was a heck of a night for basketball...Mississippi State style! In addition to the Bulldogs getting a win over the Crimson Tide (who beat them in Tuscaloosa earlier in the season), Jarvis Varnado became the all-time shot block record, finishing the night with 8 blocks and 536 career blocks, and ended in double digits for points and rebounds.

In addition to Varnado's record, Barry Stewart took over the career 3-point shot list for Mississippi State. Darryl Wilson previously held the record.

The Bulldogs are playing for their post-season life now with 3 games left, including games on the road at South Carolina and Auburn and the final home game against Tennessee. If the Bulldogs can win out like they did tonight, they should be able to secure a place in NCAA tournament. A good run through the SEC tournament would certainly help their case.

Jarvis Varnado Is King Of The World!

2010-02-25T03:53:27Z

Yeah, that post I made a few minutes ago about Varnado tying the shot block record...nevermind. He just became the all-time shot blocker, swatting down a shot attempt by the Tide's Mikhail Torrence.

Varnado currently has 536 career blocks, and it will be interesting to see how many he ends up with by the end of the season.

This year, Varnado is averaging just under 5 blocks per game. Could he go to 550 before the season is over?

Congrats Swat!

NCAA Basketball

Poll

What will Varnado's record stand at when he finishes his NCAA career?

More than 550

20 votes

More than 575

3 votes

More than 600

0 votes

23 votes | Poll has closed

Jarvis Varnado Ties All-Time NCAA Block Record

2010-02-25T03:41:44Z

More photos » Jim Lytle - AP

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Jarvis Varnado has tied Wojciech Myrda's all-time blocked shot record with 535 in tonight's match-up against the Alabama Crimson Tide. The tie block was his 7th of the game and was put up against the Tide's Justin Knox as he drove to the basket.

Stay tuned as Varnado only needs 1 more block to take sole posession of the record and there is still plenty of time left in this game (6:50 as of this post).

Go Dawgs!

Manny Diaz Talks Defense

2010-02-18T17:54:05Z

Bully Barkline has a solid interview online with Manny Diaz. Skip to about the 5:00 mark to jump past the commercials.

Some highlights:

Diaz breaks down his impressions of the State D from the prior 2 years, especially comparing the 08 and 09 versions
Discusses the originations of his aggressive style of defense
Judging from the audio, Diaz as a similar personality to Mullen - very fast talking and direct
Also gives props to Chris Wilson and how easy it has been to work with him

All in all, I like what I hear from Diaz and I think he is a great hire. It is obvious why he seemed to be the #1 choice among fans to replace Torbush.

Diamond Dogs Picked Last In SEC

2010-02-18T14:39:22Z

As basketball is still in full swing, the college baseball season is just around the corner. The SEC today released the 2010 Coaches Poll this past week. LSU is picked to repeat as the SEC champs again while our own Diamond Dawgs are picked for the bottom of the pile.

Its really no surprise considering how we played last year (I was there to see 2 outfielders come in to pitch against Kentucky during Super Bulldog).

Coach John Cohen will be starting his 2nd year at the helm of one of the most storied baseball programs in college with what seems like an entirely new team. He was one of the first to criticize the team's lack of depth and talent on the mound last year and put his money where his mouth is by signing a recruiting class loaded with pitchers - a recruiting class that ranked #9 in the country by Baseball America and was the highest ranked class for MSU since 2002.

Check out some of the coverage of the new team around the web:

Kyle Veazey says the Dogs look much better on the mound with this incoming class of freshmen. The Clarion Ledger also breaks down the 2010 team by position.

Jim Mashek suggests that Cohen is counting on all those incoming freshmen pitchers this year.

While the team still has a ways to go, it really looks like Cohen has them back on the right track. Only time will tell. The Bulldogs kickoff the 2010 season with a 13-game homestand, starting with a 3-game series against Rhode Island Februray 19-21.

Season ticket sales are also reported to be strong and are just over 170 shy of the all-time record set in 2002.

National Signing Day List

2010-02-03T14:39:54Z

Check back here throughout the day as we will update the signee list as news comes out. Once the list is compiled, we will take a closer look at the 2010 Recruiting Class.

Ferlando Bohanna, LB, 6-0, 230, Memphis, TN (Whitehaven HS)
Michael Carr, ATH, 6-1, 195, West Point, MS (West Point HS)
Dillon Day, OL, 6-4, 260, West Monroe, LA (West Monroe HS)
Kaleb Eulls, DL, 6-4, 255, Yazoo City, MS (Yazoo County HS)
Dylan Favre, QB, 5-11, 190, Bay St. Louis, MS (St. Stanislaus HS)
Nick Griffin, RB, 5-11, 195, New Augusta, MS (Perry Central HS)
Corvell Harrison-Gay, LB/DE ,6-3 ,220, Laurel, MS (Northeast Jones HS)
Christian Holmes, DB, 6-2 ,235, Puckett, MS (Puckett HS)
Jeffrey Howie, OL/DL, 6-4, 330, Fulton, MS (Itawamba CC)
Jay Hughes, ATH 5-11, 175, Hattiesburg, MS (Oak Grove HS)
Malcolm Johnson, WR, 6-2, 205, Tuscaloosa, AL (Northridge HS)
Robert Johnson, WR, 6-0, 195, Hattiesburg, MS (Oak Grove HS)
Eric Lawson, OL, 6-6, 320, Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch HS)
Archie Muniz, OL, 6-5, 255, Houston, TX (Cypress Creek HS)
Curtis Virges, DL, 6-3, 290, West Point, MS (West Point HS)
Matthew Wells, ATH, 6-0, 190, Monticello, MS (Lawrence County HS)

Other sites offering signing day coverage:

MSU Official Signing Day Central
Bulldog Junction Signee List
Coach Mullen is tweeting as signee forms come in on the fax

Jamar Chaney: Senior Bowl MVP

2010-01-31T04:01:22Z

Jamar Chaney, a last minute invite to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, came away from today's game as the defensive MVP of the game after a week of impressing NFL scouts at practice. Chaney had 8 total tackles, splitting solo and assists evenly. He also recovered a fumble, but turned around and fumbled the recovery.

Anthony Dixon, the only other MIssissippi State player on the South team roster, was playing the full back position (for some reason) and only touched the ball once for 3 yards.

Varnado is Player of the Week, Bulldogs in AP Top 25

2010-01-18T19:20:17Z

More photos » Jim Lytle - AP

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Jarvis Varnado has been selected as the SEC Player of the Week for his efforts in the MSU victories over Arkansas and Georgia.

Varnado averaged 15.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 8.0 blocks per game in wins over Arkansas and Georgia. He recorded his second-career triple-double and just the school’s fourth with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks against Arkansas. He answered that performance with his 10th double-double of the year with 14 points and 14 rebounds against Georgia, while all six of his blocked shots came in the final 10 minutes of the game as the Bulldogs overcame a 13-point deficit with under five minutes to play.

So far this season, Varnado is averaging 14.4 ppg and will more than likely break the NCAA career blocks record.

Mississippi State also re-entered the top 25 this week, coming in at number 23 on the AP poll. In the USA Today poll, the Bulldogs are just outside at 27.

The team travel to Alabama next Saturday for an 11am tip-off, which will be televised on CBS.

Chris Wilson Accepts Defensive Co-Coordinator Position

2010-01-16T04:22:38Z

Chris Wilson, the defensive ends coach at Oklahoma, has accepted an offer to become a defensive co-coordinator at Mississippi State, as well as coaching the defensive line. He will work along side Manny Diaz, who will also coach the linebackers.

Wilson was a four-year letterman at Oklahoma between 1988-1991, he recorded 311 tackles, 18th-best all-time and 11th-best for an OU linebacker. He was on the 1991 Butkus Award watch list and a third team All-America selection as a junior by The Football News. His three fumble recoveries as a senior ties for the OU single-season record by a linebacker and his 12 career pass deflections ranks seventh all-time by a linebacker at OU.

After being drafted by the Bears in the 1992 NFL draft, he started his coaching career as a GA with Indiana State in 1993. He has coached at Oklahoma since 2005 after stops at Colorado and Army among other schools.

Manny Diaz Accepts Defensive Coordinator Position

2010-01-15T16:59:55Z

Over a month after former defensive coordinator Carl Torbush left Mississippi State to join Turner Gill at Kansas, Mississippi State has announced that Manny Diaz is the new defensive coordinator. Manny Diaz has recently served 4 years at DC at Middle Tennessee State University, where his defense finished the 2009 season ranked 2nd in the nation in tackles for loss and 6th in sacks.

Diaz started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Florida State under Mickey Andrews. From there, he went on to N.C. State, first as GA working with linebackers and then safeties and special teams. He joined the MTSU staff in 2006 as defensive coordinator, also working with the safeties and linebackers.

Anthony Dixon Invited To NFL Combine

2010-01-13T04:41:59Z

Mississippi State RB Anthony Dixon was on the list of players from the SEC invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. The combine will be held from February 24 - March 2. As of now, Dixon is the only Mississippi State player invited. Some underclassmen may be invited once the deadline passed for early entry into the draft.

Dixon racked up lots of school records during his senior campaign at State and was awarded the Conerly trophy as the best collegiate football player in Mississippi.

Defensive Coaching Vacancies

2010-01-13T04:23:23Z

It has been more than a month since we learned that DC Carl Torbush was leaving MSU to join Turner Gill's staff at Kansas. In that time, the only 2 names that have really surfaced as possible replacements are Willie Martinez and Manny Diaz. A third was added today when Tom Dienhart tweeted that Rick Minter would be interviewing for the job. Here is a run-down of the names out there so far and their resumes.

Willie Martinez was recently let go from Mark Richt's staff at Georgia. He had been on the Bulldog staff since 2001, first as secondary coach, then moving up to DC in 2005. Here are some highlights from his bio on the Georgia athletics website:

During his seven years at UGA, he has been part of a staff that has led Georgia to 72 victories, two championships, three SEC Eastern Division titles, five bowl victories, and five top ten finishes in the final national polls including No. 2 in 2007.
Martinez' 2006 Georgia defense ranked 8th nationally in total defense, 5th in pass defense and 1st in the SEC in third down efficiency.
His 2005 defense finished 8th in the country in scoring defense (16.4 ppg).
In 2000, Central Michigan led the nation in pass defense (149.7 yds/g) and senior safety Brian Leigeb led the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in tackles and was 3rd nationally with 13.36 per game.
Martinez was a defensive back on Miami's 1983 national championship team and played in the 1985 Fiesta Bowl and the 1984 Orange Bowl. He also was a graduate assistant at Miami from 1985-86, coaching in the Sugar and Fiesta bowls.

Manny Diaz is finishing his 4th year as DC at Middle Tennessee.

Diaz started his career at Florida State, working as an assistant to Mickey Andrews during the 1998 and 1999 seasons
He spent 5 years on staff at NC State working with linebackers, then safeties and specialteams.
In his first year at MTSU, his defense broke the school record for sacks (36) and tackles for loss (96)
Also led the Sun Belt Conference in rushing defense and sacks.
His dad is the Mayor of Miami Florida

Rick Minter is the newest name on the list. He is currently the interim head coach at Marshall where he has also served as DC for the past 2 years. He is definitely the more experienced of the 3 candidates. He started his coaching career in 1977 and has worked at Notre Dame, South Carolina, and Cincinatti. He was the Bearcats head coach for 10 seasons with a record of 53-63-1.

News also broke today that defensive line coach David Turner has left Mullen's staff to join Joker Phillips staff at Kentucky.

Slight Change In 2010 Football Schedule...

2010-01-08T00:53:21Z

According to Mississippi State's official website, there has been a slight change to the 2010 football schedule. The Auburn game has been moved from Saturday, September 11th, to Thursday, September 9th. The night game will be televised on ESPN and will put State in the national spotlight for their SEC opener.

Most of the games during the 2009 season filled the stadium and 2010 promises much of the same. The atmosphere for the Thursday night game should be electric since it will be the only college game televised that evening.

The last time Auburn visited Starkville, the result was a painful 3-2 victory for the Tigers.

Bulldog Faithful Should Not Be Dismayed Over Cam Newton...

2010-01-02T03:00:36Z

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that it was extremely hard to swallow when I heard that Auburn had snagged Cam Newton. Actually, I was downright mad about it. After all, just a short time ago the guy was in the Mississippi State locker room ringing a cowbell.

Having said that, give Auburn their due credit. Obviously they did a masterful job of wooing Cam on his visit there in December. There are a lot of rumors swirling around regarding exactly what it was that swayed Cam to pick the Tigers. There are some that believe it was as simple as geography. Auburn is much closer to Newton's Atlanta home. There are others that say Mullen made it clear to Newton that he would have to compete for a starting job against Tyler Russell and Chris Relf.

As I said before, these are just rumors. However, if that was indeed the case and Cam Newton was told he would have to compete for the starting job, then I applaud Coach Mullen for that. Newton is a five star recruit. If he is as good as we are led to believe then he should have no problem beating out Russell and Relf.

Of course this is all just theory, but Newton could have recognized Tyler Russell as a legitimate threat to beat him out of the starting job. If that is true, then it is clearly something for State fans to get excited about.

Cameron Newton is a bruising runner, but he has a lot to prove as a passer in the SEC. The hype generated right before the Bulldogs landed Russell was high, but the internet buzz created during the agonizing wait on Cam Newton's decision dwarfed it in comparison. Tyler Russell has a lot to prove in the SEC too, but there is considerably less pressure on him than there is on Newton.

Bulldog fans, do not get discouraged by Newton's decision on New Year's Eve. It is quite possible that Cam Newton will turn out to be a bitter disappointment for Auburn fans. When Newton returns to Starkville on September 11, 2010, the Bulldogs will no doubt do their part to make that a reality. Bring your cowbell.

Poll

Which quarterback will be more successful in 2010?

Cameron Newton

48 votes

Tyler Russell

40 votes

Chris Relf

10 votes

98 votes | Poll has closed