Hometown Rankin - August & Semptember 2017

volume 4 number 4 

august 2017 

Friday Night Lights!

2 • August 2017

Hometown Rankin • 3


PUBLISHER & EDITOR 

Tahya A. Dobbs 

CFO 

Kevin W. Dobbs 

CONSULTING EDITOR 

Mary Ann Kirby 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES 

Dacia Durr Amis 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Camille Anding 

Samuel Collum 

Alex Foust 


Susan Marquez 

Melanie McMillan 

Leah Mitchener 

Nick Wallace 

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Othel Anding 

ADMINISTRATIVE 

ASSISTANTS 

Alisha Floyd 

Brenda McCall 

LAYOUT DESIGN 

Daniel Thomas - 3dt 

ADVERTISING DESIGN 

Leah Mitchener 

• • • 

Teamwork! That will be the resounding theme on football fields over 

the coming days. The countdown is on for high school Friday nights, 

marching bands and rivalries, plus game days all across college campuses. 

This Hometown Rankin issue offers a kick-off of our own for the 

upcoming season on the gridiron. If you had been able to stand on our 

sidelines, you would have seen the incredible teamwork and dedication 

required to prepare this giant 172-page issue. Our editorial team, sales 

team, design team, and administrative support team have all stepped up 

their games to make this issue a reality. I can’t go another step without 

acknowledging them and thanking them for their commitment to the 

process. It’s a BIG WIN! 

Check out every page to see lots of fans and players you’ll recognize. 

Pay close attention to the colorful ads and to those businesses and 

supporters who help make Rankin County the winning place it is to 

live and raise a family. 

And thank you, to everyone, for your continued support of 

Hometown Rankin Magazine! We’re excited to be a part of your wins, too. 

Have a great season! 

www.facebook.com 

/hometownrankinmagazine 

For subscription information 

visit www.htmags.com 

Contact us at info@HTMags.com 

601.706.4059 

26 Eastgate Drive, Suite F 

Brandon MS 39042 

• • • 

All rights reserved. No portion of Hometown Rankin 

may be reproduced without written permission from 

the publisher. The management of Hometown Rankin 

is not responsible for opinions expressed by its 

writers or editors. Hometown Rankin maintains the 

unrestricted right to edit or refuse all submitted 

material. All advertisements are subject to approval by 

the publisher. The production of Hometown Rankin 

is funded by advertising. 

In this issue Let’s Read Rankin 10 

Young Writers’ Conference 17 

The Vision of Georgia Blue 24 

Changing Lives at Delta Streets 50 

The Falling Season 58 

Raw Talent 62 

Friday Night Lights 67 

The Fraternity That is Football 156 


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Save local. 



Let , s Read Rankin 

A Girl’s Guide to Literacy 

Leah Mitchner 

A good book enthralls you. It allows you to 

climb aboard the weathered ship of a 

swash-buckling pirate, crack the case of a 

mysterious crime spree, or meet magical 

creatures and head off for adventures in a 

distant land. More than anything else though, 

it helps you become a better person. Scientific 

studies have proven that reading increases 

intelligence, boosts brain power, relaxes you, 

helps fight off Alzheimers, and even makes you 

more empathetic toward your fellow man. 

That is what inspired Amanda Roberts to start 

her own literacy and reading initiative called 

Let’s Read Rankin! 

Having always been an avid reader, Amanda 

grew up with the mindset that she wouldn’t be 

able to pick a favorite book until she had read 

them all, just so she could be confident that she 

was making an informed decision. The joy of 

reading was always readily available to her, but 

she noticed that wasn’t the case for several of 

her classmates in Florence. While Amanda 

saved up all of her money from doing chores 

around the house to spend at Scholastic book 

fairs, she saw other kids looking on longingly 

and leaving empty-handed. That didn’t sit well 

with her, so she decided that she was going to 

start hosting her own book fairs so that every 

kid could walk away with books to enjoy. 

With the help of her mother and many 

generous donors, Amanda collected used 

books and monetary donations through the use 

of drop-off locations and a Go Fund Me 

fundraiser. 100% of the money donated to her 

fundraiser was used to purchase hundreds of 

books at her local Goodwill store and other 

booksellers. “When we’d get to the checkout 

counter the cashiers would be amazed that they 

were going to have to check out almost 300 

books.” 

After sorting all of the books by reading 

level, Amanda arranged with local schools to 

host a free book fair for kindergarten through 

second grade classes. In addition to distributing 

two books to every single child, Amanda gave 

pep talks to the young students about how 

exciting reading can be and encouraged them 

to go home and really dive into their new 

stories. “It’s really fun when the kids come up 

to me and they know exactly what they want 

and ask if I can help them find it. Each kid gets 

to write their name in their book with a marker 

so they know that it’s their book and no one 

else’s,” she said. “It makes me hopeful that they 

are going to be readers in the future. I just want 

to encourage them to love reading because it’s 

becoming less and less popular of an activity.” 

Amanda sends the kids off with their new 

books and a bookmark emblazoned with the 

motto “Learn to Read. It can open doors to the 

world, take you on amazing adventures, and 

introduce you to many new and incredible 

things. If you can read, you can achieve any 

dream.” 

To date, she has hosted three separate book 

fairs and distributed somewhere in the 

neighborhood of 2,500 books to eager little 

readers. As Amanda heads into her junior year 

of high school at Jackson Prep, she hopes to 

continue this project for as long as she can 

sustain it saying, “I’ve been thinking about 

asking some underclassmen to help me out, 

and when I graduate they can take over.” If 

there are any students as excited to read as 

Amanda always has been, there’s no doubt she 

will find some willing helpers to take the reins. 

Through the spirit of giving and the desire 

to share the goodness of literature, Amanda 

Roberts has made a difference in these kid’s 

lives. “That is the greatest thing,” Amanda said, 

“giving a gift to these children; a lot of whom 

don’t usually get to have these gifts. It is just 

amazing the way they give their appreciation to 

you. You don’t see smiles on people’s faces like 

that every day. I’ve had kids come up and hug 

me and say, ‘Thank you so much!’ and it just 

feels great. That’s what encourages me when 

I’m sitting in my house organizing books for 

hours at a time.” 

______________________________________ 

To contribute to Amanda’s Let’s Read Rankin initiative, 

please consider making a monetary donation to her 

Go Fund Me page at gofundme.com/lets-read-rankinfree-book-fairs 

or donate your gently used children’s 

books. You can also follow her on Facebook at 

LetsReadRankin. 




Call us to schedule 

your next visit. 

(601) 825-3368 

Sarah Langston, DMD 

14 Woodgate Drive 

Brandon, Mississippi 39042 




Rankin County School District 

Young Writers’ Conference 

June 19-23 

The Rankin County School District held a conference this summer for emerging writers. Upcoming eighth 

graders were nominated by their home schools to participate in the conference. Throughout the week, 

students worked on their own individual pieces of writing, received feedback from other students, and also 

heard from various publishers, and young writers. Special guests included author John Floyd, publisher Tahya 

Dobbs, author Janet Ferguson, and the "Northwestern Newspaper" staff. The students also submitted one of 

their best pieces of writing. two of which would be selected and published in the August/September issue of 

"Hometown Rankin." 

Students who participated include: Samuel Collum, Aidan Adams, Eliza Buie, Miles Warfel, Kaitlyn White, 

Megan Berry, Sydney Collum, Nicolas Parker, Reece Gibson, Madelyn Craig, Ben Burkhalter, Vaibhavi 

Mahajan, Gabby Fielding, ali Peters, Lauren Seymour, Nick Wallace, Abygail Owen, Cait Waddell, 

Zack Templeton, Ariel Hinton, Grace Carpenter and Elizabeth Jackson. 


The 

L0ve of 

a Child 

NICK WALLACE 

Anthony sat at his plain wooden desk at 4:57pm. He wasn’t even 

sure what day of the week it was. They all blended together. Two 

minutes and 35, 34, 33 seconds until he would walk out of his 

manila cubicle, down the hall, and clock out; just as he had done 

five days a week for the past two years. He would get in 

his gray Honda car. He would drive six and a half miles to his 

“luxurious” neighborhood. 

Anthony walked down the gray stone path to his front door. 

He thought about “why.” Why does he even live? His life was 

meaningless. When he opened the tall, heavy door, he was 

snapped out of his monotonous trance. The smell of 

cookies instantly filled his brain, but he forgot 

about that when he remembered the 

things he would have to do 

tomorrow in the manila 

cage where he had spent 

most of his adult life. 

He made a beeline to the 

bedroom. “Why?” he thought 

again. He looked down at his legs. 

That was the answer to his question. Latched 

around his bottom half was his reason for living. Staring 

up at him was a six-year-old boy. The piercing blue eyes, 

as deep as the ocean, showed him what his life meant. 

Anthony was everything to this little boy. This little 

boy was everything to him. 

“You want a cookie, Daddy?” the little boy asked. 

“Of course,” Anthony replied. 


Ode to Pizza 

SAMUEL COLLUM 

O, dear pizza, 

The way your crisp, golden crust matches your long, stringy white cheese, 

only to be hiding that thick, red tomato sauce. 

O, the way you stare at me with your wide, beady red eyes (pepperonis) sends me into a deep state of joy. 

O, how I enjoy your brown freckles (sausages), placed so elegantly across your magnificent face, 

Like flowers placed upon the meadow. 

O, how your heat melts not only your cheese, but also my heart. 

The way you bare such a beauty must be unimaginably strenuous. 

Why, pizza slice, must you leave me so soon? 



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Hometown Rankin 

READER 

SPOTLIGHT 

Mandi 

Arinder 

Why did you decide to make Rankin County 

your home? 

My husband and I chose to move to Rankin County 

to be near family. 

How long have you lived in Rankin County? 

I was born in Rankin County and moved back 

in 2009. 

Tell us about your family. 

I have been married to Deckie Arinder, a Scott 

County native, for almost 16 years. Our sons, Haze, 

14, and Haden, 12, always have us on the go. 

What is your favorite memory of living in 

Rankin County? 

As a little girl, I can remember my Papaw, Cecil 

Payne, carrying me to town. He would go in the 

gas station and come out with jawbreakers in the 

pocket of his shirt. From there, we always made a 

stop at Walter’s Automotive and Bryant’s 

Hardware. We would get inside and he would let 

me peek in his shirt pocket for the candy to pacify 

me while he “visited”. 

Where are your three favorite places to eat 

in Rankin County? 

There are so many wonderful places to dine here 

but a few of my favorites are Georgia Blue for a 

house salad with Jen’s Vinaigrette, Kismet’s for 

broccoli bites, and blackened redfish from Half 

Shell Oyster House. 

What are some fun things to do in Rankin 

County on the weekends? 

Rankin County has so much to offer. You can catch 

a game at Trustmark Park, enjoy a boat ride on the 

reservoir, or shop at the many wonderful retailers 

we are so fortunate to have. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your 

spare time. 

I absolutely love to cook when I have the time. 

I enjoy cooking all my boy’s favorites, including 

casseroles, appetizers, and desserts. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

1. Go to Hawaii 

2. Learn to ballroom dance 

3. Run a 5K 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

Carolyn Boteler, president of Tempstaff. From the 

moment I met her, I was inspired by her ability to 

successfully balance a career and family. Her service 

to her church, county, and so many organizations 

is absolutely amazing! If I only accomplish a small 

portion of everything she has in her career, I will 

be happy. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

I hope successfully running the Rankin Chamber 

and continuing to grow our organization. Our 

members inspire me so much, and that makes 

coming to work fun and a place you want to be! 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

As a child, every year we would go to Mamaw and 

Papaw Lee’s for Christmas Eve, as we still do to this 

day. I can always remember being so excited about 

going and anticipating when the news was going 

to track Santa on the weather report. My mama 

would tell me get ready and sit me down in front 

of the TV. I was always so afraid we weren’t going 

to make it home before he arrived at our house! 

If you could give us one encouraging quote, 

what would it be? 

“The most important things in life aren’t things.” 

What is your favorite thing about 

Hometown Magazines? 

I love that it connects so many people through 

photos from different events. Even if you haven’t 

seen someone in a long time, you are able to keep 

in touch through the Hometown publication. n 


TheVision of 

Georgia 

Blue 

Susan Marquez 


Out of the mouths 

of babes, Georgia 

Blue got its name. 

“My wife and I were in the 

car with our then-four-yearold 

daughter,” Jason Ishee 

recalled, “and we were 

knocking around names for 

the new restaurant we were 

opening. Suddenly, our 

daughter said ‘call it Georgia 

Blue!’ Georgia is her name, 

and blue is my favorite 

color,” Ishee laughed. The 

name had a ring to it, and 

Georgia Blue opened its first 

location in Madison in 2005. 


That first location has evolved and 

expanded, and then cloned, with locations in 

Flowood, Hattiesburg, Brookhaven, and now 

coming soon to downtown Brandon. Ishee, a 

bear of a man, has put his heart and soul into 

growing the GB brand, despite the fact that he 

didn’t set out to be in the restaurant business. 

Ishee grew up in Hattiesburg and played 

football at University of Southern California. 

“I had a serious injury and lost my football 

scholarship, so I started washing dishes at a 

restaurant in California.” He worked his way 

up in the restaurant world from dishwasher 

to line cook, chef, bartender to owner. “This 

business chose me, and 26 years later, my 

business partner, Drew Beatty and I live by 

the same philosophy, which is to do the small 

things better than anyone else and treat people 

like family.” 

Along the 

way, the duo of Ishee 

and Beatty have been 

attentive to opportunities and used them to 

their advantage. When a location in downtown 

Brookhaven became available, a Georgia Blue 

was opened in an area that had not seen a 

restaurant like it. “Jason has great vision,” said 

Beatty. “He can see through the dust and mud 

and create a masterpiece.” The restaurant is in a 

historic downtown building near the railroad 

tracks. Because it was the first bar in the area, it 

was important to be sensitive in the design. 


“We put the bar in the back, and have it 

petitioned off in such a way that it’s not 

in-your-face,” explained Ishee. Another 

addition to the GB brand is the bakery across 

the tracks from the Brookhaven location. 

“There is an amazing baker from Brookhaven, 

Trey Maddox, who made it his life mission to 

learn to bake the very best cheesecake. He ran 

our Hattiesburg location for five years before 

we put him in charge of the bakery,” said Ishee. 

“His cheesecakes are out of this world,” added 

Drew. “They are so light it’s like eating air with 

flavor.” And what flavor – Maddox makes 

banana pudding cheesecakes, red velvet 

cheesecakes, turtle cheesecakes and more. 

They are made and sold in the Brookhaven 

bakery, called GB Bakery, and also sent to the 

Georgia Blue restaurants around the state. 

Now the GB Bakery experience is coming 

to downtown Brandon, along with a new GB 

restaurant called Genna Benna. “We named it 

after our youngest daughter, Genna,” beamed 

Ishee. “I nicknamed her Genna Benna early on 

and it stuck. And lucky for us, the initials are 

GB, so it fits in perfectly with our brand.” The 

new restaurant will be located in the oldest 

building in Brandon, with the bakery next door. 

“The buildings once housed hardware stores,” 

said Ishee. “There were also old jail cells in 

there, and we are taking that area and creating a 

speakeasy.” The restaurant will be doing a little 

of what is done at other Georgia Blue locations, 

but the focus at Genna Benna will be on 

gourmet burgers and pizza. “Most restaurants 

don’t serve both in the same place, so we’re 

going to give that a go. We’ll also offer a daily 

lunch special.” 

The speakeasy will be so discreet it won’t 

have a name on the door. Called The Whiskey 

Barrel, cut whiskey barrels will form one wall 

with lots of copper and wood. There will also 

be a second story sky bar. 

Ishee and Beatty are hoping to open the 

new Brandon location in the first quarter of 

2018. The bakery will also serve coffee, the 

same as the Brookhaven location. “We actually 

bought our own coffee roaster, so we roast our 

own beans,” said Beatty. “Soon we’ll be coming 

out with K-cups of our coffee for sale.” 

On the heels of the Brandon opening, a new 

Madison location is set to open in summer 2018. 

A free-standing building is planned near the 

Baptist Healthplex, just behind the new Marriott 

that is being built. “It will be a two-story 

building with both a patio area and an upper 

deck outdoor area,” explained Ishee. “It will also 

have a Whiskey Barrel bar, with the backs of 

antique cars forming booths. The balcony will 

have a semi-private room, and we will also have 

a private room downstairs. The big thing is that 

we will have a banquet hall that will serve 250 

to 300 people.” 

Throughout the company’s expansion, 

Ishee and Beatty have been focused on 

maintaining their brand’s integrity. “We serve 

what people want,” said Beatty. “We feel like 

we made country cooking cool again. We are 

a made-from-scratch restaurant, and we listen 

to our customers. We know that without our 

customers, we are nothing.” 

Georgia Blue customers are very loyal, 

even helping with the décor. “We started 

using license plates in our décor in Madison,” 

explained Ishee. “It was an idea to honor my 

father, who died in a car wreck. He collected 

license plates from all over. I used them for 

table tops, with polyurethane poured on top. 

We had so many plates we decided to craft 

them into serving baskets. People started giving 

us their old plates, and they told us when the 

plates were special to them for some reason. 

We have also had people make art objects such 

as guitars covered in license plates. People love 

to look at the old plates, and now at the art. It’s 

a fun thing that has become a signature for us.” 

n 


RANKIN COUNTY’S NEWEST VENUE IS NOW OPEN! 

202 North College Street • Brandon, MS 

To schedule a tour or to make reservations, call 601.706.4059 


SERVING OUR COUNTY 

Deputy Sheila Tucker 

RANKIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT 

Why did you decide to pursue law 

enforcement? 

I never really thought about being in law enforcement 

and one day, in 1989, the police chief of 

Pelahatchie, Mississippi, came to me and asked 

me about coming to work for him as a dispatcher. 

I told him I needed to think about it because I was 

pregnant with my youngest child. I discussed it with 

my husband and I decided to give it a try. After I got 

in it I was hooked on helping people. After I had my 

child in February 1990, the chief called me and 

asked me to come in and talk with him. He wanted 

me to come back as an officer on the street instead 

of a dispatcher and that’s exactly what I did. 

How long have you been in law 

enforcement in Rankin County? 

I have been a in law enforcement in Rankin County 

for my whole career. I went through MLEOTA in 

Pearl, Mississippi, in 1993 through Pelahatchie PD, 

left and went to Pearl PD in 1994 and worked until 

November 2000 and then got out of law enforcement 

for 8 months. It was in my blood so I had to 

get back in. I came to the Rankin County Sheriff 

Department in July 2001 and been here ever since 

because this is finally home for me. 

Tell us about your family. 

I’m married to Alan Tucker. I have two daughters, 

Angie and Brittany, and three grand-daughters, 

16, 15, and 7. 

What is the toughest thing you have 

experienced in your job? 

Seeing the children being the victims of sexual and 

child abuse. It’s a tough job working these cases but 

I work them because I care about our kids and want 

to see them get justice. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your 

spare time. 

Spending time with my family, sitting on the back 

porch looking out at my pond, and traveling and 

reading. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

Travel to Las Vegas, Nevada. Travel to Hawaii, and 

fly for the first time. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

I actually have two people. Jerry Jones for believing 

in me and telling me I could do this. And Sheriff 

Bryan Bailey for also believing in me and giving 

me the opportunity to advance in my career now 

working with children, and for always having my back. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

Retired and enjoying life. 

If you could give one piece of advice 

to a young person, what would it be? 

Be the best that you can be and always feel like you 

have someone on your side to keep you safe. 

What is a favorite childhood memory? 

Going to the Smoky Mountains on a family vacation 

and dancing with the Cherokee Indians. 

What is the biggest mistake you think 

young people make today? 

They give in to peer pressure and feel like they 

have to join in to belong. 

What is your favorite thing about 

Rankin County? 

Rankin County is my home and I love that I can feel 

safe because of the awesome Sheriff Bryan Bailey 

and the sheriff department that we have protecting 

Rankin County. 


Letting Go As They Grow 



It’s all happening so fast. Life, that is. 

They say, “Don’t blink. Your kids 

will be gone before you know it.” 

And they’re right. But it didn’t happen 

gradually. It just happened one day. 

Like, on a Tuesday. And all of a sudden, 

everything was just different. 

Last year around Thanksgiving, I was 

trying to gear myself up for decorating 

for the holidays. Christmas was 

approaching and everything had been 

down from the attic since Halloween, 

but I couldn’t muster the spirit to put it 

out. Maybe it’s because it was 80-degrees 

outside. Maybe, because it was our first 

Christmas after tragedy had struck our 

extended family back in the summer. 

But down deep inside, I knew the real 

reason. It’s because my son, my only 

child, was getting older. And as ridiculous 

as it sounds, I struggle with that. 

We pull the same boxes out of the attic 

every year. The ones marked “fragile,” 

“living room,” “dining room,” and “mantel.” 

There’s one marked “Parker” that I 

haven’t brought down for eight or nine 

years. Long ago, he had his own little tree 

in his room but we eventually stopped 

using it. He had simply outgrown the 

whole notion of it. I just boxed it up with 

everything else; the train sets, the picture 

books and all the other collectibles that 

I can’t bring myself to part with—and 

stored it in the attic. 

So Thanksgiving night, decorating 

night, I simply didn’t have the juice. 

As crazy as it sounds, for a brief moment, 

I even considered skipping the tree 

altogether—but that would have been 

wrong—so I decided to put the easy 

stuff out first. I put the garland on the 

mantel. Put it out, plug it in. Can’t get 

any easier than that. 

As I stood there in my mood, I stared 

at that lifeless pre-lit garland draped 

around the fireplace feeling downright 

sorry for myself. My baby isn’t a baby 

anymore and I’m not ready for what’s 

next. It’s gone too fast, I’ve made too 

many mistakes, and I needed to re-capture 

moments to which I didn’t pay close 

enough attention. I wanted to stop the 

clock – if only for a moment – just to get 

my bearings. But no one can hold time in 

their hands that way. (Cue the superdramatic 

theme music and hand me a 

box of tissue, stat!) 

Then it hit me. Why not put all of 

my son’s former “little-tree” ornaments 

in the garland? All of his little snowman 

ornaments and Santa ornaments and 

gumdrops and trains. So I sent my 

husband up into the attic to retrieve a 

thickly dust-covered box that was about 

to find new life. Little did I know it 

would give me new life, too. 

I felt reinvigorated as I started 

hanging and tucking those long-hidden 

treasures into the greenery. It brought 

me joy and helped me re-connect with 

memories I realized I wasn’t ready to 

permanently relegate to the attic. It 

helped me appreciate that everything 

would be ok. Seasons change—both 

literally and figuratively. 

❀ ❀ ❀ 

As it turns out, parents aren’t the 

only ones that struggle with letting go. 

Kids have to process it, too. There have 

been times when my son has tried to 

resist it and has struggled with the 

changing dynamic. 

At ten-years old he was getting a 

bedroom makeover. He was excited with 

the idea of a bigger bed, some cool 

artwork, and a desk. His “little-boy” 

room would soon be a thing of the past. 

All was well with the universe until we 

started removing things—things he’d 

never remembered not having. Light 

sabers and action figures and various 

stuffed animals and matchbox cars were 

now boxed up in containers labeled, 

“Donate.” He looked at me at one point 

and cried out, “But these are my 

memories! It’s a timeline of my whole 

life!” He was near tears. 

God bless him. I love that kid so 

much. He has no idea what I would give 

to stop time. I wish we could keep it all 

and never let it go. It took all I had 

within me not to fall down in a heaping 

mess and flail about in a show of 

solidarity—but God knew I needed to 

be strong in that moment and, by His 

grace, I was. Of course the payoff of the 

new room was quick to come and my 

son was able to recover and move on 

pretty swiftly. I guess that’s a guy-thing. 

But I’ve never forgotten it. Letting go is 

for the birds. 

❀ ❀ ❀ 


LONG LIVE WONDER 

So this summer, the boy is fourteen. To say it’s 

been different is an understatement. When only a year 

or so ago he’d never dream of spending the night away 

from home, this year he tromped off to baseball camp 

for an entire week! The only thing he wanted to do 

when I picked him up was eat. We hit a local buffet 

and he had fried chicken, steak fries, pizza, and a 

pancake. It was at that time that he told me about his 

time away from home. It very much felt like a forecast 

of things to come. 

He now stays gone nearly every waking moment— 

and I miss him. No one ever said this would be easy. 

While I’m looking for ways to connect, he’s trying to 

disconnect—and that’s ok, too. He’s right on pace. 

It’s just all a part of it, right? But it literally happened 

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And I’ve had to learn to evolve. What made sense 

when he was four obviously doesn’t work when he’s 

fourteen. What worked an hour ago might not work 

an hour from now. This is a fast-moving train. 

I’m also trying to listen better—because when kids 

feel like they can talk to their parents, they feel safe 

and supported. Sounds reasonable. Lord help me. 

Please pass the parenting handbook . . . and the wine. 

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kids will become who you are. So be who you want 

them to be. After all, it takes a lot of courage to grow up. 

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Jerious Norwood 

A Hometown Star 

Jerious Norwood, a pro football 

running back, started his game 

days in Brandon, Mississippi, 

as a young boy. After 8,000 

all-purpose yards, 92 high school 

career touchdowns, and being 

named the Mississippi Gatorade 

Player of the Year in 2001, he 

was signed by Mississippi State 

as a Four Star running back 

recruit right out of 

Brandon High School. 

During his senior year in 

2005, he was awarded 

the Conerly Award, which 

is given to the top college 

football player in Mississippi 

by the Mississippi Sports Hall 

of Fame. He was later drafted 

in 2006 by the Atlanta Falcons 

as the 79th overall pick, and 

played in the pro leagues for 

seven years, including seasons 

with the St. Louis Rams and the 

Toronto Argonauts. In addition 

to his successful football 

career, people know him best 

for being a polite guy with an 

endlessly infectious smile. 


Jerious norwood 

What was the biggest adjustment 

you had to make from college football 

to the pros? 

The speed and demands of the best 

level of football were staring me in the 

eyes and I had to overcome both tests 

by believing in all of my abilities and 

training to overcome the doubt 

to be effective. 

What’s one of your fondest memories 

of living in Rankin County? 

Rankin County gave me access to play 

on a team—and that ultimately started 

my dreams of being an athlete, which 

has allowed me to travel the world. 

So big shout out to Rankin County! 

As a pro football athlete, what do you 

enjoy doing in your free time? 

Hunting and fishing has always been a 

passion of mine, so the outdoors is my 

comfort zone. I’d rather be relaxing on 

a pond bank or in a deer stand. 

What or who was your greatest 

motivation to become a pro? 

My grandmother motivated and 

inspired me to be the best at whatever 

I did in life—and to love—to treat others 

as you would like to be treated. 

What’s your favorite food? 

Chocolate cake is my favorite. 

Aunt JoeAnn makes the best cakes. 

What are some negatives about being 

a professional athlete? 

Everyone looks for the bad; everyone 

wants money; and we never know 

who’s around for the wrong reasons. 

Who are some coaches who had a 

positive impact in your life in high 

school? 

Dan Davis, Sammy Dantone, David 

Lara, Steve McCane, Keith Cox, John 

McCinnis, Randy West, West Shivers, 

Coach Tullos. 

What one football play stands out in 

your mind from high school? 

Toss left or right was my favorite play 

because it gave me the opportunity to 

use my speed and get to the edge for 

a big play. 

What are three things on your bucket 

list? 

Swim in a cage while watching a great 

white circle me, skydive, and go to 

Jerusalem. 

What are you plans after football? 

I travel the world to encourage and 

motivate others to dream big and to 

realize that there is nothing that can’t 

be accomplished with the belief in 

yourself. So dream big and smile. 



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Surely, two of the most satisfying experiences in life must 

be those of being a grandchild or being a grandparent. 

What’s your favorite thing 

about your grandparents? 

Ben Boyd 

They give me money 

and treat me like a king 

when I come home. 

Natalie Lindsley 

They always answer my 

phone calls and are really 

excited to talk to me. 

Curt Jordan 

They make me feel 

like I’m always welcome 

in their home. 

Braden Rodriguez 

They’re hilarious! 

No matter what, they always 

put a smile on my face. 

Aiden Flowers 

My grandparents are 

very generous. They give 

the best gifts! 

Emily Allen 

The older I get, the more I can 

relate to my grandmother. She’s 

so goofy and fun to be around.

What’s your favorite thing 

about being a grandparent? 

David Prevost 

Knowing and experiencing the 

love and grace of God every time 

I am with them! It just goes on 

and on and on! Truly amazing! 

Gene Newman 

It’s so much fun watching them 

grow up. And they go home! 

Phyllis Spann 

Being a grandparent helps you see 

the world from a different point 

of view. I enjoy that pure joy 

feeling when I spend time with 

my granddaughter and am able to 

create lasting memories with her. 

I aspire to being my granddaughter’s 

role model, as she will be my role 

model as she grows older. Having 

a granddaughter keeps me in the 

moment and gives me the 

opportunity to transmit the 

values I hold dear to my heart. 

Naomi Pack 

Wow! Everything! Buying them 

something they want, doing things 

with them, cooking something they 

like and sharing my love. Receiving 

those hugs and kisses afterwards. 

Becky Wallace 

Being a grandmother to three 

beautiful grand girls, Ivy, ZZ, and 

Emerson, has opened my heart in 

more ways than I could ever count. 

These things make my heart sing: 

kisses, cuddles, giggles, hugs, prayers, 

songs, smiles, winks, innocence, 

unconditional trust, and of course 

the, “I LOVE YOU, GRANDMA,” 

get me every time. I am blessed. 

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Grandparents 

Day is Sunday, 

September 10 


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TMac Howard 


“A Micah 6:8 man – that’s how I see myself,” TMac Howard said in trying to describe himself. 

That verse summarizes three things that the Lord requires of us; 

“To do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God.” 

Those three elements weren’t TMac’s foremost 

goals when he graduated from Northwest 

Rankin High School and entered Mississippi 

State. But he had always had a love for the poor 

and a sensitivity toward the “loners.” During 

TMac’s sophomore year at State, he spent a 

summer working at Desire Street Ministries 

in New Orleans where he saw individuals, 

like himself, dedicate their lives to love their 

neighbor by revitalizing neighborhoods through 

spiritual and community development. His path 

was becoming clearer. 

By the time TMac graduated from State in 

2007, he knew he had a heart for teaching, but 

his goals had changed. “My first plans were to 

move back to the Reservoir and do what every 

other twenty-three year-old does,” he said, sitting 

athletically erect in his Delta Streets Academy 

shirt and jeans. TMac knew that the delta was 

calling his heart and life to make an impact in the 

lives of young men with little hope. 

God opened that door to that call when 

Greenwood High School offered him a job as 

head baseball coach, assistant football coach 

and Algebra teacher for six classes in 2008. 

When his first semester at Greenwood turned 

into disappointment in the control he had over 

his students, he initiated an after-school program 

in the summer. Here he could lead daily Bible 

studies and share the Gospel. 

TMac is a disciplinarian at heart and understands 

the value of discipline in lives. Latecomers 

to his summer activities learned immediately that 

to be late meant being locked out of the day’s 

activities. Instead of turning young men away, 

their innate desire for discipline drew them to 

TMac’s rules and standards. 

In the second year of the summer program, 

he and volunteers were discipling forty middleschoolers 

in Bible study. “They were also improving 

their reading skills, working Algebra problems 

– doing everything we were asking,” TMac 

said about their progress with the young men. 

Yet when they returned to school, their grades 

dropped again, and they fell back into their old 

patterns. “We needed those guys for a full day,” 

TMac decided. 

Delta Streets Academy was officially opened 

in 2012 for any young man, grade 7 to 12, on 

the third floor of the First Baptist Church of 

Greenwood. Tuition is $75 a month. TMac 

CAMILLE ANDING 



elieves personal investment by the student 

promotes accountability. 

The school is an oasis in a state’s public school 

system that is routinely ranked among the lowest 

in the nation. Public schools in Greenwood 

operate with “D” and “F” designations by the 

state’s grading. Poverty and collapse of the 

family continue to perpetuate a cycle of hopelessness 

in the town that TMac and his family 

now call home. 

Drugs are a constant threat and a way of life 

for a large portion of the populace in the area. 

“We accept students knowing they do drugs, 

but we tell them that Delta Streets has zero 

tolerance for drugs. We tell them to share that 

rule with their peers to help lessen the pressure 

to take drugs. We actually become a safety net 

for our students,” TMac said. 

Delta Streets Academy enrolled sixty-nine in 

this year’s classes and finished with fifty-eight. 

Their first class of five students graduated in May, 

and all five plan to attend college or junior college 

in the fall. These young men leave the academy 

with a notable education, ingrained discipline, and a 

mind filled with Biblical principles that will be key 

to their future – a future now bright with hope. 

The growth of the Delta Streets Academy 

and how God has provided is a faith-builder for 

all who have observed. Their home, the third floor 

of the historic First Baptist Church, is offered rentfree 

along with use of their kitchen for noon meal 

preparations. 

Their first year’s faculty consisted of two 

pastors and TMac, all qualified in their particular 

fields of education and with hearts for the 

hopeless. That staff has expanded with more 

talented teachers and all with the same goal for 

the school. 

However, the challenges are increasing. 

This year’s budget of $615 thousand dollars will 

depend solely on its contributors – churches, 

organizations and a list of individuals. It’s a perceivable 

concern for TMac that his teachers earn 

a decent salary, although he knows that good 

teachers are always underpaid. 

“In a school this small, we all have to make 

sacrifices,” he said. He speaks from experience 

as a three-sport coach, bus driver, office manager, 

secretary, payroll officer, and fund raiser. TMac 

quickly commends his wife Meagan (Reans) for 

her sacrificial role in their lifestyle of raising 

their four-year-old son, Henry, and two-year-old 

twin boys, Mac and Witt. 

Wilson Whitten, a former resident of Brandon 

and presently a church planter in California, taught 

English and track and put on the school’s first 

student play during his tenure. 

Nate Carroll was at Christ Covenant School 

teaching Bible but felt led to become a part of 

Delta Streets. Last year he drove from his home 

in Madison to Greenwood three times a week. 

This year he was hired as history and Bible 

teacher and makes the drive to Greenwood five 

days a week. 

Josh Reagan, a close friend of TMac’s and 

another former resident of Brandon is another 

teacher who has caught the Delta Streets vision 

and is a teacher, coach and mentor in the school 

for the second year. 

Like the sacrificial spirits of the staff at this 

model school, some of the readers of this article 

will want to be a part of this life-changing system. 

You can go to their website for information on 

how to give, and you can plan to be a part of the 

upcoming Open Date Classic, September 21-22. 

There will be a clay shooting event at Turcotte 

Shooting Range that Thursday at 8:30 a.m. 

followed in the evening with a drawdown and 

silent auction. The chance of winning a $5000 

purse for the $100 price of admission for two 

should certainly whet your appetite! 

On Friday, Castlewoods Country Club will 

host a golf scramble beginning at 8:30 a.m. All 

proceeds will be Rankin County’s way of endorsing 

the Delta Streets Academy. 

Sit across from TMac Howard and you’ll be 

“infected” with his passion for lifting the hopeless 

out of their cycle of despair and failure. “Right now 

we’re just a good school,” he says confidently, 

“but I have a vision for the future that someday 

an orthopedic surgeon in Greenwood will want 

his son enrolled in Delta Streets Academy.” 

Have you ever been a part of a vision to free 

lives from inherited and eternal bondage? Here’s 

your chance! n 


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Rankin 

County 

Dove 

Shoot 

The Falling 

Season 

Alex Foust 


As Mississippians, it is no secret that 

each season of the year brings its own 

gifts, some more pleasurable than others. 

Whether it’s the humid heat of the 

summer or the inconsistency of the winter 

months, each season in Mississippi speaks 

about some aspect of our culture here. 

Arguably, one of the most soughtafter 

seasons of the year for us, is the fall. 

What’s not to love about the fall? Cooler 

weather arrives in such fashion that the 

trees begin to blush, revealing beauty 

you only get to see this time of year. 

The rushing anticipation of our beloved 

football season comes to a satisfying 

close as teams begin strapping up for 

competition. Last but certainly not least, 

hunting season begins in Mississippi. 

Just as we begin watching our favorite 

football match-ups, here in Rankin 

County something else is falling just 

before the leaves. Dove season is making 

its debut throughout numerous places 

in the county within miles of each other. 

Rankin County native Josh Thrash 

describes the dove shoots of opening 

weekend as the “gateway to the hunting 

season and the welcome of the fall.” 

Each year as dove shoots open up 

around the county, people get together at 

some of their favorite spots with friends 

and family for a good hunt. Considered 

more than just a hunt, the dove shoots of 

opening weekend are treated more like a 

social gathering that brings people in the 

community together. After having 

months of not being able to hunt, it is a 

good, fun way to kick the season off right. 

Josh explained it as “the first opportunity 

for you to get out and hunt before you 

start preparing for more serious hunting.” 

One thing that makes dove hunting 

so easy, fun, and social, is how relaxed it is 

compared to other hunting in Mississippi. 

Oftentimes, hunters in close proximity 

to each other will hang out and visit 

while waiting on birds, which isn’t quite 

the same for many of the other types of 

bird hunting you might do here. Dove 

hunting is also a great way for kids to 

start planting their roots and getting a 

taste of what it’s like to hunt. “It’s a more 

laid-back type of hunting. You don’t have 

to be real still or quiet and typically you 

don’t even have to dress in full camouflage. 

If the birds are flying, it doesn’t matter.” 

Josh says that growing up, it was the 

first type of hunting he was able to do, 

and he even remembers the first field he 

went to and the gun he used. “I actually 

hunted that same field last year.” Thrash 

continues this tradition of letting his 

own children tag along with him when 

he goes to hunt. 

In the past, hunters were only 

allowed to start shoots in the afternoons, 

but now the regulations have allotted for 

shoots to begin in the morning. Rather 

than just being an afternoon event, shoots 

can now serve as all-day gatherings. 

Usually before daylight, hunters will get 

all their hunting necessities, breakfast, 

and a good spot in their field and wait as 

the sun rises and the birds start flying. 

Here in Rankin County, dove shoots 

truly are a staple to the life of those who 

hunt and something that is looked 

forward to each year. This year, dove 

shoots throughout the county will begin 

on opening weekend of dove season, 

which falls on Labor Day weekend. 

There are plenty of ways to kick off 

Mississippi’s favorite time of year, 

embracing God’s creation, watching your 

favorite ball team score, or even scoring 

a few birds yourself with friends and 

family. After all, it is the falling season. 


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Raw 

Talent 

Making 

the Most 

of the 

Game 

Melanie McMillan 

Few people can say that 

they began their careers 

at the tender age of four, 

but in a sense, Rankin 

County native and 

professional golfer 

Jonathan Randolph 

did just that. 


As golfing buddies from an early age, Jonathan and his dad, 

Dr. Richard “Rick” Randolph, spent countless hours on the course. 

“I would drop the ball and hit it over and over until he made me 

pick it up and go back to the cart,” Jonathan says. He finished 

his first nine-hole round at age six, began lessons at ten, and by 

the age of twelve Jonathan had given up other sports to focus 

solely on golf. 

Although he showed talent at an early age, he was not 

necessarily a golf prodigy. “What was extraordinary was that 

he saw himself as a golfer through and through,” his parents say. 

“You could say he loved the sport, but it was more than that 

– it was a part of who he was. He believed very strongly that 

this was God’s path for him.” Jonathan’s two sisters, Megan 

Cook and Miriam Shufelt, were not bitten by the golf bug, 

but had their own interests. Dr. Randolph and his wife Rae 

Anne admit that there was “quite a bit of ‘give’” on the part 

of their daughters when it came to Jonathan’s golf schedule, 

but they were very accepting of the inconveniences. 

Megan and Miriam still live close by and are two of 

Jonathan’s biggest fans. 

After attending University Christian and First Presbyterian 

Day School in his elementary years, Jonathan began seventh 

grade at Jackson Prep, where he played golf for six years. Nell 

Bradford, Prep’s golf coach for the last 24 years, was instrumental 

in developing Jonathan as a player. “It was fun being around 

her,” Jonathan says, “She saw me play well and she saw me 

play badly. She would take the cover off my club, rub it and 

say, ‘Now, you’re good to go.’” Coach Bradford notes that 

Jonathan was “never anything but a pleasure to be around. 

He fit in and started playing on the varsity team as an 8th grader, 

which is very unusual because a young guy doesn’t usually 

have the length to complete against high school students. We 

won a state championship that year and Jonathan medaled, 

so he lettered on the varsity team for 5 years.” 

When asked what she remembers most about Jonathan, 

Coach Bradford says that “he always gave it is all.” She shares 

the story of a particular state tournament: “Jonathan was the 

best individual but he was one down going into 18, so I went 

up to him and told him he needed a birdie, which as a coach 

you aren’t supposed to do as it puts pressure on the player. 



He got the birdie and won in a playoff.” Watching 

Jonathan over those six years, his coach definitely saw 

his potential. “I thought he had a good chance to be a 

pro. Some players just have it—the ability to will it into 

the hole. That is something that can’t be taught but you 

have to have that to be successful.” 

Following his graduation from Jackson Prep, Jonathan 

headed to Oxford to play golf at Ole Miss. His coaches 

there, Ernest Ross, Jonathan Dismuke, and Jack O’Keefe, 

helped him grow as a player, and by his junior year, 

Jonathan was ranked the #4 amateur player in the world. 

He is proud of the success the Ole Miss golf program has 

seen in recent years and says, “I hope I helped in some 

way lay the groundwork so that people see that if you 

play here, you can grow and become a better player.” 

It was while he was a student at Ole Miss that 

Jonathan met his future wife, Lacy. Originally from Noble, 

Oklahoma, Lacy played soccer at Ole Miss. Jonathan 

and Lacy just celebrated their third wedding anniversary, 

not surprisingly on the road to the next tournament. 

“Being on the road for thirty weeks a year can get very 

old, but having my wife with me is a real blessing,” 

Jonathan says. “We get to see so many different places 

and have experiences that most couples in their 

twenties don’t.” 

Following an impressive career at Ole Miss, Jonathan 

began playing golf professionally in the fall of 2011. He 

was named the NGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year in 2012, 

and by 2014 had earned a spot on the PGA Tour. 

Despite being a rising star in the golf world, Jonathan 

keeps everything in stride, focusing on improving his 

game and developing positive 

relationships with his competitors. 

“He enjoys spending time with 

fellow touring golfers in practice or 

over a meal,” Jonathan’s dad says. 

“He will genuinely cheer for and congratulate a competitor.” 

This was certainly evident during the recent U.S. 

Open when Justin Thomas, with whom Jonathan was 

paired, set a new major PGA tournament record by 

finishing with a score of 63, 9 under par. Jonathan was 

happy for his fellow golfer saying, “It was really cool to 

watch someone play that well and be a part of history.” 

Jonathan would be the first to say that he did not get 

to this stage of the game by himself. He has a wonderful 

partner in his caddy, Dave, and the two of them make 

a great team. In addition to the coaches that he had in 

high school and college, Jonathan has had the opportunity 

to work with some of the best golf coaches around; 

Jay Jordan at the Refuge, Chris Rutherford at Patrick 

Farms, and V.J. Trolio and Tim Yelverton, both at Old 

Waverly in West Point. V.J., considered one of the best 

golf instructors in the country, is a Rankin County native 

and former golfer for the University of Southern Mississippi. 

He has coached Jonathan, or “J.R.” as he affectionately 

calls him, for thirteen years. “I’m really proud of J.R. for 

what he has done for Mississippi and for the kids who are 

watching him,” V.J. says. “It’s great for kids to be able to 

watch someone playing in major PGA tournaments who 

grew up right here in Rankin County. He’s not only 

changing his life, but he has the opportunity to change 

the lives of players who will come along after him.” 

It’s often said that it takes a village to raise a child, 

and it certainly doesn’t hurt to have a “strong village” 

to help raise a champion. A supportive family and 

dedicated coaches play a big part in taking intrinsic 

talent and turning it into a career. And as Dr. Randolph 

acknowledges, “Ultimately, Jonathan 

knows this all begins and ends with 

God, who daily directs his steps.” n 



The smell of fall will soon be in the air. The drumlines 

can be heard for miles when the clouds are just right. 

Players have been sweating it out in two-a-days for 

weeks. Their hearts are bigger, their bonds are 

stronger, their hits are harder, and the value of their 

traditions cannot be put into words. It’s high school 

football in the south–and for most of us, it can’t begin 

soon enough. There are championships to be won... 

and memories to be made. Two teams–one goal. 

Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate, for the battle has just begun! 

Intimidate and dominate, for our team is number one! 


68 • August 2017 

What are you 

looking forward to 

the most about 

Brandon High 

Football?

Jordan Broome 

Friday night football is very thrilling! 

I’m looking forward to the amazing 

crowd, the atmosphere, and watching 

the Brandon Bulldogs kick butt! 

Lilly Klahn 

I look forward to continuing 

the old student traditions in the 

brand new stadium. 

Proud Sponsor of the Brandon High Fan Page 

Johnny Beck 

The sense of pride one feels when 

approaching the stadium, hearing the bands 

and music, seeing the fans and players of 

Bulldog Nation preparing to represent our 

town. It truly is a scene to look around our 

impressive new stadium and see generations 

of all ages come together to support our 

beloved Bulldogs! 



Brandon High Bulldogs 

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT 

August 11 TBA Home Brookhaven (Jamboree) 

August 18 7:00 pm Away Madison Central (Classic) 

August 25 7:00 pm Home South Panola 

September 1 7:00 pm Away Clinton 

September 8 7:00 pm Home Tupelo 

September 15 7:00 pm Away Northwest Rankin 

September 22 7:00 pm Away Terry* 

September 29 7:00 pm Home George County (Homecoming)* 

October 6 7:00 pm Away Petal* 

October 13 7:00 pm Home Meridian* 

October 20 7:00 pm Home Oak Grove* 

October 27 7:00 pm Away Jim Hill* 

November 3 7:00 pm Home Pearl* 

*Denotes Region 3-6A Game. 



We proudly 

support 

Brandon 

High School.

Go 

Dawgs! 



What are you 



East Rankin 

Football?

Reeve Watson 

Since it’s my senior year and last 

football season, I am looking forward to just 

having a good time playing the sport I love. 

I’m also praying for a safe and healthy 

season for my whole team. 

Jamie Perry 

Cooler nights and bright lights 

of Friday night football. 

Proud Sponsor of the East Rankin Fan Page 

Neely Brunt 

One of big things I’m looking forward to 

is gettting to sit and enjoy the game 

with people that love it, too. 



East Rankin Patriots 


August 18 7:00 pm Away Jackson Prep 

August 25 7:00 pm Away RiverOaks, LA 

September 1 7:00 pm Home Washington School 

September 8 7:00 pm Away Leake Academy 

September 15 7:00 pm Home Winston Academy 

September 22 7:00 pm Away Simpson Academy 

September 29 7:00 pm Away Lamar School 

October 6 7:00 pm Home Copiah Academy 

October 13 7:00 pm Home Hartfield Academy 

October 20 7:00 pm Away P.C.S. 

October 27 7:00 pm Home Pillow Academy (Homecoming) 



We proudly 

support 

East Rankin 

Academy.

Go 

Patriots! 



What are you 



Hartfield Football?

Nick Stinson 

Playing my last year with such a close group 

of guys. I’m also looking forward to the 

excitement and support we receive each 

week from the Hartfield family. 

Laird Johnson 

Getting to play with my friends 

and throwing the football! 

Proud Sponsor of the 

Hartfield Academy Fan Page 

Leigh James 

Friday Night Lights is more than a stadium 

filled with cheering fans. It’s community and 

family gathering to fellowship, play, and 

encourage our children, all while supporting 

our school and its mission. 



Hartfield Hawks 


August 18 7:00 pm Away Pisgah 

August 25 7:00 pm Home Pelahatchie 

September 1 7:00 pm Home Leake Acaemy 

September 8 7:00 pm Away Madison Ridgeland 

September 15 7:00 pm Away Jackson Academy 

September 22 7:00 pm Away St. Andrews 

September 29 7:00 pm Home Copiah Academy (Homecoming) 

October 6 7:00 pm Home Simpson Academy 

October 13 7:00 pm Away East Rankin Academy 

October 20 7:00 pm Home Tri-County Academy 

October 27 7:00 pm Away Lamar 



We proudly 

support 

Hartfield 

Academy.

Go 

Hawks! 



What are you 



Jackson Prep 

Football?

Sarah Tillery 

The Pacer’s dance team performing 

at half time. 

Zach Hilt 

Hanging out with my close friends. 

Proud Sponsor of the Jackson Prep Fan Page 

Lynn Lovertich 

Friday night lights–how can you not be 

excited? I’m most excited about tailgating 

with friends and watching Chance and his 

teammates in their senior season! 



Jackson Prep Patriots 


August 18 7:00 pm Home East Rankin Academy 

August 25 7:00 pm Away Washington School 

September 1 7:00 pm Away Forest High 

September 8 7:00 pm Home Pillow Academy (Homecoming) 

September 15 7:00 pm Home St. Joseph 

September 22 7:00 pm Away Presbyterian Christian 

September 29 7:00 pm Away Jackson Academy 

October 6 7:00 pm Away Oak Forest Academy 

October 13 7:00 pm Home Madison-Ridgeland Academy 

October 20 7:00 pm Away New Hope 

October 27 7:00 pm Home Parklane Academy 


We proudly 

support 

Jackson 

Prep. 


Go 

Patriots! 


What are you 



Northwest Rankin 

Football? 


Derrel Palmer 

The energy and excitement from the fans! 

The NWR student section, a.k.a., 12th Man, 

is absolutely incredible! They not only 

influence the game, but can affect a 

broadcaster as well! I’m ready for some 

football! Go Cougars!! 

Kristin Daniels 

The sights, sounds, and smells in the air: 

the lights, the cheering, the band, the smell 

of popcorn—and the excitement of a win! 

Proud Sponsor of the NWR Fan Page 

Mylissa Hodges 

Watching all the cougar fans in the 

community and the awesome student section 

come together to cheer on the Cougars! 

It’s so much fun being part of all the 

excitement while enjoying our new updates 

to the field and stands! I’m looking forward to 

another great year of NWRHS football! 



Northwest Rankin Cougars 


August 11 7:00 pm Away Petal 

August 18 7:00 pm Home Germantown 

August 25 7:00 pm Away Ridgeland 

September 1 7:00 pm Away Pearl 

September 15 7:00 pm Home Brandon 

September 22 7:00 pm Home Warren Central 

September 29 7:00 pm Away Starkville 

October 6 7:00 pm Home Provine 

October 13 7:00 pm Home Clinton 

October 20 7:00 pm Away Greenville 

October 27 7:00 pm Home Madison Central 

November 3 7:00 pm Away Murrah 



We proudly 

support 

Northwest 

Rankin High.

Go 

Cougars! 


What are you 



Pearl Pirates 

Football? 


Heather Sullivan 

Cheering on our team along with 

all of the other Pirate fans in the stands 

and watching our guys to see their 

improvement throughout the season. 

Tylan Knight 

Playing my senior year of football 

with my brothers, pursuing Pearl’s 

first state championship. 

Proud Sponsor of the Pearl High Fan Page 

Noel & Houston Griggs 

We love Friday Night Lights and our Pirates! 

The atmosphere is awesome on Pirate Cove. 

A tradition that now continues with my son. 

Noel Pace Griggs, Class of 1997; 

Houston Griggs, Class of 2024. 



Pearl High Pirates 


August 11 7:00 pm Home Pearl Jamboree 

August 18 7:00 pm Away Brookhaven 

August 25 7:00 pm Home Warren Central 

September 1 7:00 pm Home Northwest Rankin 

September 8 7:00 pm Shreveport Parkway, LA 

September 15 7:00 pm Away Madison Central 

September 22 7:00 pm Away Petal 

September 29 7:00 pm Home Meridian 

October 6 7:00 pm Away Terry 

October 13 7:00 pm Away George County 

October 20 7:00 pm Home Jim Hill 

October 27 7:00 pm Home Oak Grove 

November 3 7:00 pm Away Brandon 



We proudly 

support 

Pearl High.

Go 

Pirates! 


What are you looking 

forward to the most 

about Pelahatchie 

High Football? 


Gabbie Walters 

Getting into game mode, watching each play 

up close and in detail, feeling an adrenaline 

rush when it’s 4th and goal on the 1-yard line. 

Then at the end of the game, win or lose, we 

huddle around the coach and say the Lord’s 

Prayer. There’s nothing like it. 

Wesley Anderson 

I am looking forward to hearing the crowd roar 

when the Chiefs cross the end zone and put 

scores on the board. Go Chiefs!! 

Proud Sponsor of the Pelahatchie High Fan Page 

Kessie Key 

Friday Night Lights is all about that 

hometown feeling of family, friends, and fans 

all focused on their passion of football. The 

excitement of watching our students shine as 

athletes beneath the lights (football players 

and cheerleaders) is a true passion. I love our 

Chiefs! #wearepelahatchie #getinvolved 



Pelahatchie High Chiefs 


August 18 7:00 pm Home Lake 

August 25 7:00 pm Away Hartfield Academy 

September 1 7:00 pm Home Richland 

September 8 7:00 pm Away West Lincoln 

September 15 7:00 pm Away Mount Olive 

September 22 7:00 pm Away Morton 

September 29 7:00 pm Home St. Joe 

October 6 7:00 pm Away Puckett 

October 13 7:00 pm Home Pisgah 

October 20 7:00 pm Home Scott Central 

October 27 7:00 pm Away Mize 



We proudly 

support 

Pelahatchie 

High.

Go 

Chiefs! 



What are you 



Pisgah High 

Football?

Bryce Lofton 

Playing with my teammates 

on the field. 

Millie McDonald 

Watching Don Ragsdale score 

a bunch of touchdowns. 

Proud Sponsor of the Pisgah High Fan Page 

Hadley Patterson 

I look forward to the pep rally 

before the game and cheering on 

the Dragons during the game. 



Pisgah High Dragons 


August 11 7:00 pm Home Florence (Jamboree) 

August 18 7:00 pm Home Hartfield 

August 25 7:00 pm Away Richland 

September 1 7:00 pm Home St. Andrews 

September 8 7:00 pm Away Lake 

September 15 7:00 pm Home West Lincoln 

September 22 7:00 pm Away Loyd Star 

September 29 7:00 pm Home Puckett* 

October 6 7:00 pm Away Bogue Chitto 

October 13 7:00 pm Away Pelahatchie* 

October 20 7:00 pm Home Mize* 

October 27 7:00 pm Away St. Joe* 

* District Games 



We proudly 

support 

Pisgah High.

Go 

Dragons! 

NCI 

Independently Owned and Operated Construction Co. 

Specializing in Concrete and Dirt Excavation 

Noel Breedlove, Owner 

(601)260-2188 


What are you 



Puckett High 

Football? 


Toni Odom 

Being surrounded by the most loyal fans 

and friends that have been there for 

generations and seeing the love and sacrifice 

that everyone has put forth to make 

Friday Night Lights the best at the 

Puckett Wolves Stadium. 

Guy Warren 

Puckett has always had a great fan base. 

I love seeing old friends and teammates and 

listening to stories about the good old days! 

Proud Sponsor of the Puckett High Fan Page 

Ali Hammock 

There’s nothing like the feeling of “300 

friendly folks and the few sore heads” 

becoming one as the crowd roars when the 

Wolves walk through the gate. From hearing 

the music blaring to the cheerleader’s chants 

to the excitement of the student section – it’s 

the feeling of being a part of the Wolfpack. 



Puckett High Wolves 


August 18 7:00 pm Home Richland 

August 25 7:00 pm Away Enterprise Lincoln 

September 1 7:00 pm Home West Lincoln 

September 8 7:00 pm Home Salem 

September 15 7:00 pm Home Clarkdale 

September 22 7:00 pm Away McLaurin 

September 29 7:00 pm Away Pisgah* 

October 6 7:00 pm Home Pelahatchie* 

October 13 7:00 pm Away Mize* 

October 20 7:00 pm Home St. Joe* 




We proudly 

support 

Puckett 

High.

Go 

Wolves! 


What are you 



Richland High 

Football? 


Abby Burtnett 

What I look forward to the most is the 

atmosphere. The roaring of the fans, the 

feeling when you’re team scores, and the way 

your heart beats when you and the student 

section cheer your team on to victory. 

Jonathan Osborne 

I’m looking forward to the support of the Richland 

community! It’s great when everyone comes out 

to cheer me and my brothers on! 

Proud Sponsor of the Richland High Fan Page 

August Corso 

Nothing is more fun and exciting during 

football season than Friday night high school 

football. My wife and I have been the public 

address announcers for the last 15 years for 

the Richland Ranger football home games 

and we look forward to another season 

as the voice of the Rangers. 



Richland High Rangers 


August 11 5:00 pm Home Fall Jamboree 

August 18 7:00 pm Away Puckett 

August 25 7:00 pm Home Pisgah 

September 1 7:00 pm Away Pelahatchie 

September 8 7:00 pm Home McLaurin 

September 15 7:00 pm Home Wesson 

September 22 7:00 pm Home Lake (Homecoming) 

September 29 7:00 pm Away Florence 

October 6 7:00 pm Home South Pike (Pink Out) 

October 13 7:00 pm Away Raymond 

October 20 7:00 pm Home Lanier (Senior Night) 

October 27 7:00 pm Away McComb 

November 3 Playoffs Begin 



We proudly 

support 

Richland 

High.

Hometown Magazine 2017.pdf 1 7/25/2017 3:42:58 PM 

Go 

C 

M 

Y 

FORKLIFTS 

Rangers! 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

101 Sanders Cove 

Richland, MS 39218 

601.932.0135 

LillyForklifts.com 



What are you 



Florence High 

Football?

Ashleigh Tucker 

Watching all the people of our small town 

come together at the stadium and cheer on 

the Eagles. Win or lose, we have the best fans 

that stand behind this team and help push for 

success in this football program. 

Cole Buskirk 

I am looking forward to hearing 

the crowd cheer us on and wear their 

‘We Believe’ shirts on Friday nights! 

Proud Sponsor of the Florence High Fan Page 

Courtney Williams 

Friday Night Lights generates unparalleled 

excitement for the entire Florence community. 

As a coach’s wife, I enjoy showing Eagle 

Spirit, seeing friends and sharing perspectives 

on how the team has grown, developed, and 

perfected their skills and strategies. 



Florence High Eagles 


August 11 7:00 pm Away Pisgah 

August 18 7:00 pm Home Mendenhall 

August 25 7:00 pm Away Crystal Springs 

September 1 7:00 pm Away Terry 

September 8 7:00 pm Homecoming Scott Central 

September 15 7:00 pm Home Forest 

September 22 7:00 pm Away Kosciusko 

September 29 7:00 pm Home Richland* 

October 6 7:00 pm Away Raymond* 

October 13 7:00 pm Home McComb* 

October 20 7:00 pm Home South Pike* 

October 27 7:00 pm Away Lanier* 




We proudly 

support 

Florence 

High.

Go 

Eagles! 



What are you 



McLaurin High 

Football?

Raja McLin 

Being with people that are all there for one 

reason: a great game! I love the cheers and 

the fellowship and the atmosphere—which 

makes it almost impossible not to have a 

good time. It’s an awesome way to get away 

from everything and just have fun! 

Katherine Walker 

Watching my old band excel to their highest 

potential as the new drum major fills the shoes 

I left behind, and being with family and friends. 

Proud Sponsor of the McLaurin High Fan Page 

Anna Bowlin 

To me, Friday Night Lights means pep rallies, 

football games, and hanging out with friends 

and family on and off the field. It is the one 

night on which the community comes 

together for one thing: Tiger Pride, 

all the way! 

www.eheartwood.com 

Relax in one of our 

Adirondack chairs or 

Adirondack rockers. 

Enjoy our swings, 

gliders & benches in 

cypress, walnut 

or mahogany. 

sales@eheartwood.com 601.845.8600 



McLaurin High Tigers 


August 18 7:00 pm Away Bogue Chitto 

August 25 7:00 pm Home Loyd Star 

September 1 7:00 pm Away Sebastopol 

September 8 7:00 pm Away Richland 

September 15 7:00 pm Home Enterprise (Homecoming) 

September 22 7:00 pm Home Puckett 

September 29 7:00 pm Away St. Andrews 

October 6 7:00 pm Home Crystal Springs 

October 13 7:00 pm Home Raleigh 

October 20 7:00 pm Away Velma Jackson 

October 27 7:00 pm Away Magee 



We proudly 

support 

McLaurin 

High.

Go 

Tigers! 


What are you 



Park Place 

Football? 


Aliya Koehne 

Coming together as one big Crusader 

family and cheering for the boys through the 

good times and the bad and eating 

Ray Bailey’s famous hamburger. 

Katie Jeffries 

I am looking forward to cheering on 

the guys with family and friends. 

Proud Sponsor of the Park Place Fan Page 

Yvette Cole 

Seeing the moms arrive early to get a good 

view for video and pictures. Watching as fans 

arrive sporting their unique school spirit attire. 

Cheering as I watch the players give their all 

on the field after all of their hard work and 

practice. But the most beautiful of all is when 

I see the players and the coaches huddle 

together to pray before and after the game. 



Park Place Crusaders 


August 18 7:00 pm Away Bowling Green 

August 25 7:00 pm Away Delta Streets 

September 1 7:00 pm Home Union Christian Academy 

September 8 7:00 pm Home Clinton Christian Academy 

September 15 7:00 pm Away Winona Christian School 

September 22 7:00 pm Away St. Aloysius 

September 29 7:00 pm Home Riverfield Academy 

October 6 7:00 pm Home Hillcrest (Homecoming) 

October 13 7:00 pm Home Central Hinds 

October 20 7:00 pm Away Porter’s Chapel 


We proudly 

support 

Park Place 

Academy. 


Go 

Crusaders! 


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Quarterly Luncheon 

May 23 • Table 100 



Passionate 

about Hinds Community College 

Jerry Agent 

A.A. Alexander 

Lola Allen 

Bobbie Anderson 

Lou Anne Askew 

Billie Banes 

Sharp Banks 

George Barnes 

Anna Cowden Bee 

Emma and T.T. Beemon 

Charles Bell 

Walter Bivins 

Peggy Brent 

Sue and Fred Brooks 

Gov. Phillip Bryant 

Bill Buckner 

Tom Burnham 

Robert Cannada 

Emma Grace and 

W.H. Cochran 

Bobby Cooper 

Rosia and Johnny Crisler 

Lamar Currie 

H.H. “Shine” Davis 

Katherine and A.L. Denton 

Bob Dunaway 

David Durham 

Beverly and Ben Fatherree 

Pat Flaherty 

Jane Flowers 

D.G. “Sonny” Fountain 

Howell Gage 

Walter Gibbes 

Albert Gore 

Durwood Graham 

Jackie Mangum Granberry 

F.M. Greaves 

Anne Hardy 

Jim El and Jobie Harris 

Colleen Hartfield 

Mike Hataway 

Linden Haynes 

Troy Henderson 

Mildred Herrin 

Dan Hogan 

Warren Hood 

Adam Jenkins 

Roger Jones 

Ted Kendall, III 

Dean Kirby 

Ann and Bob Laster 

Earl Leggett 

Dean Liles 

Bell Lindsey 

Joe Loviza 

Con Maloney 

Ray Marshall 

Lee Mayo 

W.M. McKenzie 

Cleon McKnight 

Joe Moss 

Bob Mullins 

Vashti Muse 

Mary Etta Naftel 

Clifford Nelson 

Carla Nicks 

Bill Oakes 

Donald Oakes 

J.B. Patrick 

Nell Ann Pickett 

Polly and Mike Rabalais 

Geneva and Leslie Reeves 

Joe Renfroe 

Irl Dean Rhodes 

Troy Ricks 

Virginia and Marvin Riggs 

Henry Riser 

Grady Sheffield 

Tom Shepherd 

O.H. Simmons 

Jim Smith 

Jimmy C. Smith 

Mary Ann Sones 

Lurline Stewart 

Wayne Stonecypher 

Dale Sullivan 

Larry Swales 

E.E. “Tad” Thrash 

Jack Treloar 

Michael Vinson 

Alice and Charles Walker 

Gary Walker 

René T. Warren 

Walter Washington 

Lynn Weathersby 

Tom Weathersby 

Gov. John Bell Williams 

Liles Williams 

R.E. “Ed” Woolley 

George Wynne 

David Yewell 

There is no doubt that there are hundreds of others who could have been on this list. With Hinds’ rich and distinguished history 

over the last 100 years, we realize that there are many more — much more than 100 — who have a passion for Hinds. 

We believe the story of 

Hinds Community College 

is best told through the lives of 

individuals who were passionate 

about serving the college and its 

students. These individuals were 

deeply committed to the mission 

of the college, and their influence 

lingers throughout 100 years of 

Hinds history. 

Please join us for a reception 

honoring these people 

Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 

6:30 p.m. 

Hogg Auditorium | Cain-Cochran Hall 

Raymond, MS 



ankin 

RECIPES 

BBQ Ranch 

Pasta Salad 

• 1 pound pasta, cooked al dente 

• 1 cup Hidden Valley® Honey BBQ Dressing 

• 1/3 cup sour cream 

• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 

• 1 cup canned corn, drained 

• ½ red bell pepper, diced 

• ½ small red onion, finely diced 

• 1 ½ cups diced cooked chicken 

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 

• 1 cup corn chips 

Place cooked pasta in a large bowl. 

Stir together Hidden Valley® Honey BBQ 

Dressing and sour cream and pour over pasta. 

Toss to mix. 

Add all remaining ingredients, except corn chips, 

and stir to combine. 

Refrigerate until ready to serve and sprinkle corn 

chips on top just before serving. 

Baked Ham 

& Cheese Roll Ups 

• 1 tube crescent dough sheet 

• ¾ lb. Boar’s Head SmokeMaster 

Black Forest Ham, thinly sliced 

• 12 slices Swiss cheese, thinly sliced 

• ½ cup butter, melted {I use salted} 

• 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds 

• 1 ½ Tbsp. yellow mustard 

• 1 Tbsp. dried minced onion 

• ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce 

Preheat oven to 350º and grease a 9x13 inch 

baking dish with cooking spray. 

Roll out your crescent dough and press into an 

approximately 13x18 inch rectangle. Top with ham 

and cheese. 

Starting on the long side, roll the dough up 

tightly. Pinch the ends together and place with the 

seam facing down. Cut into 12 pieces. 

Place your rollups in your baking dish, 

evenly spaced. 

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the butter, 

poppy seeds, mustard, onion, and Worcestershire 

sauce. Pour the sauce evenly over the rollups. 

Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes until lightly 

browned. 

Baked Pimento 

Cheese Dip 

• 8-10 slices bacon 

• 1 pound cheddar cheese (medium or sharp) 

• 1 4-ounce jar pimentos, drained well 

• 1 cup mayonnaise 

• 1/2 teaspoon salt 

• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 

• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic 

• 1 bunch green onions, diced 

• 1 cup crushed crackers 

(such as Ritz or Tollhouse) 

Cut bacon into 1/2 inch pieces then cook until 

crispy. Drain bacon on paper towels. Set aside. 

Shred cheese then add to a medium-sized 

mixing bowl. Add cooked bacon, pimentos, 

mayonnaise, salt, cayenne pepper and garlic then 

mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly 

incorporated. Fold in green onions. 

Spread cheese mixture evenly into a mediumsized 

shallow baking dish (I usually use an 8x10 

oval dish). Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. 

Remove dish from oven. If necessary, blot any 

excess oil from top using several paper towels. 

Sprinkle crushed crackers evenly on top of 

cheese and return dish to oven. Bake for an 

additional 20 minutes or until crackers are golden 

brown and cheese is bubbly. 

Serve with crackers and/or celery sticks. 


ankin 

RECIPES 

White Chicken 

Chili 

• 4 cups chicken broth 

• 4 15.5 oz. cans Great Northern Beans 

drained and rinsed 

• 2 cups shredded chicken 

• 1 small can diced green chilies 

• 1 tsp. cumin 

• ½ tsp. garlic powder 

• ½ tsp. oregano 

• dash of pepper 

• 1 cup sour cream 

• 2 cups shredded cheese Monterrey Jack 

or Mexican Blend 

In a large pot, add broth, beans, chicken, green 

chilies, cumin, garlic powder, oregano and pepper. 

Simmer on low-medium heat for 20-30 minutes, 

or until it is heated through. 

Right before serving, stir in sour cream and 

cheese until it is all blended and melted. 

Million Dollar Dip 

• 5 green onions, chopped 

• 8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded 

• 1½ cups mayonnaise 

• ½ cup real bacon bits 

• ½ cup slivered almonds 

Combine green onions, cheddar cheese, 

mayonnaise, bacon bits, and slivered almonds in 

a small bowl. Mix until combined and chill for at 

least 2 hours. Serve with your favorite crackers. 

Peanut Butter 

Chocolate Bars 

• 1 (18.25) package plain yellow cake mix 

• ½ cup butter, melted 

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter 

• 2 eggs 

• 1 (12 oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips 

• 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 

• 2 Tablespoons butter 

• 2 teaspoons vanilla 

• 1 cup coconut (optional) 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 

Combine cake mix, melted butter, peanut butter, 

and eggs in a large bowl using a mixer or spoon. 

Press the cake mixture into a 9x13 pan reserving 

1 ½ cup of the mixture to crumble on top. 

In a small pot, melt chocolate chips, sweetened 

condensed milk, and butter. Remove from heat 

and stir in the vanilla and coconut. 

Spread chocolate mixture over the mixture 

pressed in the pan and then crumble the 1 ½ cups 

of reserved cake mixture on top evenly. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely before 

cutting into bars. 

Cheez-It Mix Up 

• 1 7-oz. box white cheddar Cheez-Its 

• 6 Tbsp. butter, melted 

• 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 

• 1 1/2 tsp. onion powder 

• 2 Tbsp. chopped dill 

• 2 Tbsp. chopped parsley 

Combine all ingredients in a large microwave-safe 

bowl, tossing until evenly coated. 

Microwave on high 5 to 6 minutes, stirring every 

1 ½ to 2 minutes, until the butter mixture is 

absorbed by the crackers. 

Spread crackers onto paper towels to drain. 

Let cool completely. 

Glazed Bacon 

Crackers 

• 1 pound bacon 

• 1 box Townhouse crackers 

• ½ cup brown sugar 

• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 

Cut each bacon slice into quarters 

Place a rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet 

Place crackers on rack and place one bacon quarter 

on each cracker. 

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and 

cayenne. Sprinkle a small amount of the brown 

sugar mixture on top of the bacon. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until 

bacon is crisp. 



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Football Saturdays in the South is a 

phenomenon inexplicable to the rest of 

the world. The game itself has become 

a symbolic event that binds together 

students, alumni, fans, and players, both 

past and present. Rankin County has 

its fair share of former college players. 

They are part of a brotherhood that only 

those having played the game can share. 

We caught up with several of them and 

asked them to recall some of their best 

memories from the gridiron. 


Breck Tyler 

Mississippi State University 

University of Mississippi 

What was the foremost 

highlight of your football 

career? 

Signing a football scholarship to 

play for my father who was the 

head coach at Mississippi State. 

What was the most 

difficult part of being 

a college athlete? 

Focusing on effective time 

management in order to excel 

in athletics and academics in 

addition to participating in my 

faith-based and social 

organizations. 

Describe the favorite 

character trait you saw in 

your head coach. 

My head coach and father at 

MSU possessed numerous 

positive traits that I admired. 

My favorite trait would be his 

sincere love and personal 

concern for his players. 

Name some ways football 

influenced your life after 

football. 

Primary influences would include 

teamwork, hard work, loyalty and 

the focus of always trying to find 

a way to win. 

Who was the player you 

most admired on your 

team and why? 

Ole Miss wide receiver, Ken Tolar. 

Ken was extremely competitive, 

professional, and respectful of 

others. 

Share one of the ways your 

coach or coaches tried to 

motivate you for a “big” 

game. 

My coaches de-emphasized the 

importance and the emotion of 

the “big game” and emphasized 

our focus on the specifics of the 

game plan and the fundamentals 

of executing one play at a time. 

Eric Redd 

University of Southern Mississippi 



career? 

Meeting players from all walks 

of life and uniting to become a 

team with everything else aside. 




Separating academics and 

athletics–having to make time 

for studying after a hard day of 

practice. 


character trait you saw 

in your head coach. 

He said what he was thinking, 

and he meant what he said. 



football. 

Nothing comes easy and without 

preparation it’s almost impossible 

to be successful. 


most admired on your team 

and why? 

We had a very unique team and 

were all very close. It’s for that 

reason that there wasn’t a single 

particular person I admired. 

Share one of the ways 

your coach or coaches 

tried to motivate you for 

a “big” game. 

We had a coach that would grab 

players with their helmet on and 

he would head butt the player 

until his head started bleeding– 

the coach’s head, that is. 


Dan Boyce,Jr. 


Cliff Thomas 

University of Alabama 



career? 

The wonderful friendships made 

during my time at Ole Miss are 

definitely the most enriching 

blessings. 




Coach Brewer was very much a 

player’s coach and let us enjoy 

the game and camaraderie. 



football. 

I think football helps me to 

meet challenges head-on and 

always strive to be a good team 

member. 



team and why? 

Jamie Holder because of 

his leadership skills and 

commitment to being his best. 



career? 

Starting my first game against 

Tennessee as a sophomore in 

front of over 100,000 fans. 




The hours spent 5 days a week 

during the season. Our days 

would start at 6:30am and after 

all our classes, training room, 

meetings, football practice, 

weight lifting, homework, and 

film work, the day may end at 

10pm or later. 



football. 

All the hard work we were put 

through. I broke my leg my 

freshman year and had major 

knee surgery my junior year. Both 

caused me to do a ton of rehab. 

When I’d get back to where I 

could play, there was always 

somebody ahead of me that 

stayed healthy and I had to practice 

that much harder to try and 

beat them out. Everybody was 

good—so you had to battle that 

and I feel it made me a stronger 

person going through it. 



team and why? 

There were a couple and they 

were walk-on players. One 

played the same position I did 

and he could have played for a 

lot of SEC teams, but he loved 

Alabama. He worked hard and 

I always thought there’s no way 

I would walk-on and go through 

all he did and maybe never get 

to play. He got to dress out a 

couple of games our senior year 

and despite getting in trouble for 

doing it, I came out a play and 

went to him and told him to go 

in. He went through four years 

of all those hard workouts and 

practices to play one snap. That 

took a lot heart to do that. 




a "big" game. 

At Alabama it was business. 

The coaches didn’t have to 

motivate you to play. After all the 

hard work the week before the 

game and hours of practicing 

and studying film you were 

excited to get out and play in 

front of all your fans and family. 


John Emfinger 

Mississippi College 

Samford University 



career? 

Playing a game in Mexico City. 




Amount of time required 

year-round and injuries. 




He would not ask you to do 

anything he would not do 

ten times himself. 



football. 

Keep going when times get 

rough. 



team and why? 

Larry Evans. He came back from 

a knee injury to play for years in 

the NFL. 




a "big" game. 

Different ways he would show 

his energy and excitement. And 

you’d better get out of his way 

once he got started. 

Randolph Brown 




career? 

It was the game against 

Mississippi State in 1985 at the 

Memorial Stadium. We got the 

ball on the two-yard line and 

drove ninety-eight yards for the 

winning touchdown. 




Taking on the responsibility of 

being a student-athlete and the 

time that was demanded of you 

on and off the field. 




Coach Jim Carmody. I would 

have to say toughness. He 

thought you should be carried off 

the field if you were really injured. 



football. 

Teamwork, compromises, 

leadership, and humbleness. 



team and why? 

I would say Sam Dejarnette. 

Not a man of many words but a 

dynamic player on the field. 




a "big" game. 

By letting us know that we can 

play with anybody, anywhere, 

and anytime. 


Flint Minshew 

Millsaps College 

Steve Joyner 




career? 

Not what you’d think. The family 

of Millsaps’ Coach Tommy 

Ranager asked me to be one of 

the pallbearers for his funeral. 

Out of the hundreds of players 

he coached, for them to consider 

me was a great honor and truly 

humbling. 




Time management. You have 

all the obligations of a normal 

student plus practice, weights, 

meetings, etc. Unlike other students 

who have a lot of free time, 

you have to make sure you’re 

covering all your academic and 

athletic responsibilities. 




All of my coaches (Barham in 

junior high and high school, and 

Coaches Ranager and Davis) 

were very tough on me. But they 

balanced that with caring for us 

and picking me up at the right 

times. All of them demanded a 

high work ethic and preparation. 

We beat teams more talented 

than us because we were in 

better shape and just mentally 

tougher. Our practices and 

conditioning were so hard that 

games were a break! 



football. 

My work ethic and the ability to 

deal with adversity. Sacrificing to 

reach goals. Picking myself and 

others up when things don’t go 

right, and to keep working. Some 

of my best friends to this day are 

those guys that went through 

that with me at Millsaps. 



team and why? 

Two guys: Brad Dew and Shane 

Reed. Both guys played above 

their talent level and I could 

always count on them—on and 

off the field. 




a “big” game. 

Fortunately I didn’t play for big 

“Rah-Rah” coaches because that 

certainly wasn’t my personality. 

They were just about always 

working and being prepared, 

regardless of who we played. 



career? 

Catching the game-winning 

touchdown against LSU in 

Jackson in 1983 as a true 

freshman. 




Finding enough time to study. 




Determination. 



football. 

Football taught me that you 

have to get up and go to work 

everyday if you’re going to have 

a chance in life. 



team and why? 

The entire senior class during the 

1983 season. They never had a 

winning season and refused to 

quit until we made it to a bowl 

game. The 1983 Independence 

Bowl was the first bowl game in 

12 years. 


Neill Bartling 

Delta State University 

Sammy Dantone 

Mississippi State University 



career? 

I was just a kicker, so getting a 

“big hit” on a kick-off against 

top 5 ranked West Georgia 

sticks out. 




I would say time management. 

I played football and baseball 

at DSU. In the fall we had 6-8 

weeks of fall baseball, so I had 

to balance football, baseball and 

academics. 




His positive attitude. We had 

some really good times along 

with some tough stretches. He 

always had a positive attitude 

through both. 



football. 

I’m going to have to use baseball 

on this one. Life has a way of 

throwing you curve balls sometimes, 

so the ability to adjust is 

pretty important if you want to be 

successful in life. 



and why? 

My first year playing football we 

had a freshman running back 

named Tregnel Thomas. He 

may have been 5’6” 150 lbs. 

Every time he touched the ball 

in practice, he was full speed 20 

yards down field when he didn’t 

have to. He ended up winning 

the Conerly Trophy that year as 

the Best College Football Player 

in Mississippi. 



tried to motivate you 

for a “big” game. 

Being that I was a kicker, motivation 

wasn’t quite as big a factor 

as it was for the offense and 

defense players. 



career? 

Kicking three field goals in one 

game–a record at that time. 




Mixing classes with football. 




Communication. 



football. 

Coaching sports. 



and why? 

Buck Randall – tough as nails. 





Leaving a little note in my locker. 


Steve Warner 




career? 

Playing on a top 20 team. 




Time invested in playing on the 

college level. 




Leadership. 



football. 

Made me more of a team player. 



and why? 

Reggie Collier – most talented 

football player that I know. 

Welton Beverly 


Jackson State University 



career? 

Making three crushing blocks 

on a Southern Miss. linebacker. 




Having to study and practice with 

limited amounts of sleep. 




Ole Miss Coach Billy Brewer 

and Jackson State, Coach W.C. 

Gordon. Both men had a real 

passion for their players and 

their teams 



football. 

I have a greater understanding 

of what my coaches were trying 

to instill in us. It built self-esteem, 

growth within myself, and trust in 

myself and others. I understand 

why coaches were always on us 

about being on time for practices, 

meetings, classes and curfews. 

The rules that were taught to me 

in football are the same rules that 

I have to follow at my job as a 

Flowood police officer. 



and why? 

At Ole Miss, the player I admired 

was Jeff Herrod. I liked the way 

he carried himself on and off the 

football field. He always complimented 

me after a good block 

on him. At JSU, running back NFL 

player Lewis Tillman. I like how 

hard this guy worked while he 

was on the field. Not only did he 

work hard on the field, he did it 

in the classroom as well. 





I will never forget when JSU 

Coach W.C. Gordon and James 

“Big Daddy” Carson, gave us 

a motivational speech about 

Southern Miss. not wanting 

to come play us at Memorial 

Stadium in Jackson. Our stadium 

held more fans than the stadium 

in Hattiesburg. The staff only 

provided us a certain amount of 

tickets for the game. By the time 

they finished their speech, there 

wasn’t a dry eye in the locker 

room. The speech had everyone 

fired up. 


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Camille Anding 

The Time Coin 

Last times can be monumental times, 

and November 29, 1997 was a 

monumental last time for the 

Anding family. Our son, Eli, a senior 

football player at Ole Miss, would play his 

final college game – the infamous rival 

game between Ole Miss and State. 

It was a day of reflecting for me as 

I retraced the five years he had given to the game of football. God’s 

faithfulness had been evident in answer to so many prayers – in 

fulfilling so many desires, and in comforting a lot of disappointments. 

When Coach Billy Brewer offered Eli a Rebel scholarship, Eli said 

yes to a life-long dream of playing SEC football. That was one of those 

“jubilation” times, but there would be hard times ahead. 

We could only wait and watch when we saw Eli’s freshman dreams 

of quarterbacking vanish with the turnover in head coaches. His team 

would see three different head coaches over the next four years. 

The challenges were enormous, but hard times are proven teachers, 

and Eli learned much about perseverance, resilience, patience and 

determination. Some sympathetic fans told us that Eli’s versatility 

and athleticism in the sport would be his greatest disadvantage. 

By his junior year and his third position change, I began to understand. 

I continued to thank God that with each new 

coach and position, Eli only grew more 

determined. The injuries, time-consuming 

rehabs, grueling two-a-days, and adjustments 

to new coaches, never stifled his drive to be a 

team player and an ardent Rebel on and off 

the field. 

As a mother of a football player, I learned 

to watch the August weather patterns and to pray for cloudy, breezy 

breaks over the practice fields. I grieved when I saw him side-lined with 

spring practice injuries but rejoiced to find them all reparable. I 

thanked God for the enduring teammate friendships he made and the 

motivators among his gallery of coaches. 

On that last ballgame – the last college rival game with State, 

I entered the stadium with a grateful heart for everything that football 

had taught us and for surviving all the hard days. Would this be the last 

hard day or possibly a day of jubilation? I reminded the Lord what a 

win would mean for Eli – the nostalgia of it being his “last” game – 

as I prayed for all the teams’ safety. 

The final score that night: Ole Miss 15 – State 14. It was for Eli. n 


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Hometown Rankin - August & Semptember 2017

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