It’s hard to believe this is my 57th year covering Mississippi sports. Fifty seven years! Think about it. I covered sports integration in Mississippi. I’ve covered the game-changing effects of Title IX on women’s sports. I’ve watched college baseball go from spring game to a huge business, something Mississippi teams are extremely adept at. Two years, two national championships. I can’t wait for next spring.
I covered 13 head football coaches at Ole Miss, nine at Mississippi State — including the legendary Mike Leach, 13 at Southern Miss and 10 at Jackson State. That 13th coach at Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin, and the 10th at Jackson State, Deion Sanders, have kept me really busy here the last few weeks.
And I know what you’re thinking: where is this going? Bear with me, I’m getting there…
People ask me all the time: Do you ever get tired of writing about games or the people who play them? I don’t. Every game is a game of its own passion. Every athlete has his own story. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s not about the games, it’s about the people who play them. The fact is, sports are a huge part of Mississippi’s social fabric.
I love what I do. I love my job. Really, I love the job I have now more than any other I’ve ever had. For the past six years, I have written my own columns for Mississippi Today, joining the nonprofit shortly after its launch.
I believe in the mission of Mississippi today. I believe we have filled the void created by the drastic reduction in the number of newspapers and, even worse, by closing them across the country. In a democracy like ours, newspapers have been the traditional guardian of government at all levels. In Mississippi, we came dangerously close to losing it, especially at the state level. Mississippi Today filled the void.
As our newsroom grew, so did our influence. One of the biggest news stories in Mississippi this year is the reverse Robin Hood rob-from-the-poor, give-to-the-rich scandal that has rocked the state. Today’s Anna Wolfe of Mississippi first discovered and then owns that story.
What’s more, Mississippi Today is currently reporting on the state’s health care crisis like no other news organization. Hospitals are closing, and many are still on the brink. Health services are being cut. Hundreds of thousands of Mississippians cannot afford the care they need. Too many people die far sooner than they should. The government mostly turned a blind eye to the disaster. Mississippi Today is not. And they won’t.
By now, you probably already know that Mississippi Today is a nonprofit newsroom. Our digital, public journalism is free. We mainly work on gifts from foundations and donations from readers like you. Please consider helping us continue to cover Mississippi and its people the way it needs to be covered.
I work here, but I also give. Please join me.
First of all, keep reading. You keep reading and we’ll keep telling your stories.
From now until December 31st, the Maddox Foundation, the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Education Program, and additional supporters will match your new regular donation dollar for dollar, together up to $54,000. That means your $25 turns into $100 to keep telling your stories.
The Maddox Foundation was founded by Dan Maddox in 1968. He and his wife, Margaret Maddox, had a commitment to young people, a love of nature and a vision to make their corner of the world a better place. Maddox Foundation President Robin Hurdle continued their legacy, which lives on through the foundation’s work to date.
The Maddox Foundation, located in Hernando, has made many significant investment grants in youth development. These investments include the renovation and support of the Margaret Maddox Family YMCA; placing an Internet-connected computer in every public classroom in Mississippi; creating innovative places for children to learn and play; establishment of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi; and funding for the position of MTV Education and Exhibition Director at the Grammy Museum Mississippi.
The Jonathan Logan Family Foundation (JLFF), based in Berkeley, California, supports organizations that advance social justice by promoting world-changing work in investigative journalism, the arts, documentary film, and democracy. As a small foundation, JLFF’s investment in NewsMatch enables the Foundation to make a difference in the entire field of local investigative journalism.
The Hewlett Foundation Education Program supports media that strengthen the information ecosystem around our nation’s K-12 education systems. They believe that local communities are a key part of improving teaching and learning opportunities for every student.
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Is Ole Miss a party college?
The University of Mississippi, known as Ole Miss, ranks highly as a party school, with its prominent Greek life and competitive athletic scene. Students will find house parties, college bars and other opportunities to socialize every night of the week.
What is the #1 entertainment school in the US? See the article : US sports betting: Here’s where the 50 states stand on legalizing sports betting, the latest mobile bets.
Is Ole Miss a fun school?
Ole Miss was also #17 in Newsweek’s Top 25 Party Schools in America 2021. See the article : Food IT leaders plan to form a food alliance. As of this writing, Niche ranks the University of Mississippi #1 in Mississippi’s Top Party Schools and #17 in America’s Top Party Schools.
What is Ole Miss ranked in party schools?
Ole Miss ranked 7th for “Schools for Fun” and 13th for “Lots of Beer.” The University of Oxford was ranked seventh for “Students Learn Least” college, eighth for âCity-Home Relations,â 11th for âLots of Greek Lifeâ and 19th for âMost Beautiful Campus.â
Is Ole Miss a good party school?
Ole Miss is currently ranked as the #3 party school in the country, largely due to our very popular and prominent Greek life (in which we also rank highly). Because of this stereotype, many students who do not have fun or are not interested in Greek do not want to come to Ole Miss.
What is the number 1 college in Mississippi?
University of Mississippi #1 Best Colleges in Mississippi.
What is the best college in Mississippi? Here are the best colleges in Mississippi
- University of Mississippi.
- Mississippi State University.
- Mississippi College.
- William Carey University.
- Millsaps College.
- Tougaloo College.
- Blue Mountain College.
- Mississippi University for Women.
What is the #1 university in the US?
Harvard University This Ivy League school is the oldest higher education institution in the country and has the largest endowment of any school in the world. Harvard University is a private institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, not far from Boston.
What major is Ole Miss known for?
Ole Miss is an excellent school for the liberal arts, sciences, pharmacy, law and engineering disciplines.
What is Ole Miss University famous for? The University of Mississippi, affectionately known as Ole Miss, is the state’s flagship university. Included in the elite group R1: Doctoral Universities – The highest research activity according to the Carnegie classification, it has a long history of creating leaders in public service, academic and business circles.
What majors is University of Mississippi known for?
The most popular majors at the University of Mississippi include: Digital Communications and Media/Multimedia; Accounting; finance, general; General Studies; Curriculum and instructions; psychology, general; Marketing/Marketing management, general; Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration; and biology/biological …
Is Ole Miss a top tier university?
The University of Mississippi continues to be one of the nation’s top public universities, according to US News & World Report. Ole Miss announced that the university was ranked No. 72 among public universities in the 2022-23 USA News ‘Best Colleges’ report, which was released Monday of this week.
