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News Nuggets, 10.12.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Coaches in post-game confrontation after Memphis-MSU game

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill and Memphis coach Tommy West appeared to exchange some angry words after the Bulldogs beat the Tigers 35-27 on Saturday.

As Sherrill and West converged near midfield for a customary postgame handshake, West appeared to become upset with Sherrill. The two were nose-to-nose for several seconds before parting ways.

West intimated that Sherrill wanted West to send Memphis defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn a message.

Dunn, who was fired last season by Sherrill after seven seasons at Mississippi State, was critical of Sherrill and the way he was dismissed during the week leading up to the game.

"Well, I'm not his messenger boy, OK?" West said when asked about the exchange. "If [Sherrill] needs to send a message to somebody, he can get it himself."

Dunn and Sherrill did not cross paths after the game and Dunn did not speak to reporters.

When Sherrill was asked about his meeting with West he said, "You'll have to ask Joe Lee all those questions."

Dunn said this week he was never told why he was fired by Sherrill, he was simply given a form letter during a meeting last December.

Dunn said he helped save Sherrill's job when he left Arkansas to take over the defense at Mississippi State in 1996.

"Then seven years later, he threw me out in the street," Dunn said.

Dunn also took a shot at Sherrill's coaching ability, saying the worst thing about last season's 3-9 Mississippi State team was the punt team, which Sherrill coaches.

After the game, numerous Mississippi State players shook hands and spoke with Dunn.

"I think he's a great coach," said Mississippi State quarterback Kevin Fant, who greeted Dunn after the game. "I always liked Coach Dunn."

The Bulldogs gained 340 yards and scored three offensive touchdowns in the first half against Dunn's defense, but managed only 41 and one TD in the second half.

The lone second-half score came when Nick Turner barely stretched into the end zone on a fourth-and-inches late in the third quarter.

That TD was set up by a special teams' miscue that gave Mississippi State the ball at the Tigers 4.

Colonel Rebel bites dust, leaves no heirs

OXFORD — University of Mississippi officials ended their search for a new mascot Thursday, citing lack of interest in the two proposed replacements for the ousted Colonel Rebel. Ole Miss will have no mascot at sporting events, but will continue to license merchandise with Colonel Rebel, a white-haired old man who carries a cane and resembles a plantation owner, said Barbara Lago, a school spokeswoman.

In a vote to gauge interest in the proposed replacements, the university received just over 2,400 votes from the 40,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, season ticket holders and athletic boosters who were eligible to vote, school officials said.

``It is clear from the responses received and from general public discussion that there is no community support for either of the proposed mascots,'' Chancellor Robert Khayat said. ``Therefore, the matter is closed.''

The vote was supposed to run through the weekend, but athletic director Pete Boone said the school decided to stop the polling early because of the lack of participation. `More important to the teams than any mascot is the support of our Ole Miss family,'' Boone said. ``I regret that this has become such a divisive issue. It is now time to move forward.''

Lago said there were no plans to start the search for a new mascot next year. ``Rebel Bruiser,'' a younger, pumped-up version of the current colonel, was leading in the election, with 2,080 votes. ``Rowdy Rebel,'' who resembles a musclebound version of the bald advertising icon Mr. Clean, had 344 votes. Mississippi officials said a new mascot was needed because Colonel Rebel didn't look athletic or intimidating enough.

The removal of Colonel Rebel has been met with disapproval by many supporters, who say the school is trying to abandon its Southern traditions. The university has stopped fans from waving Confederate battle flags at football games in recent years.

Houston QB highlights Saturday C-USA action

True freshman quarterback Kevin Kolb threw three touchdown passes, giving him 12 on the season, to lead Houston (5-1) to a 45-42 win at Tulane.

The Cougars' boss, Art Briles, isn't the only first-year coach that is off to a great start. Louisville's Bobby Petrino has the Cardinals at 5-1 also following their 34-10 win over Army. Stefan LeFors threw for a career-high 406 yards on just 19 completions.

Roddy White caught four passes for 173 yards — the highest yardage total in Conference USA this season — and two touchdowns as UAB won its second straight league game, 31-14 over Cincinnati.

In other league games, Southern Miss lost at Alabama, 17-3; Memphis was outgunned by Mississippi State, 35-27; and winless East Carolina succumbed to previously winless instate rival North Carolina, 28-17, in the Tar Heels' first-ever visit to the Pirates' Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2003 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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