By By Austin Bishop / EMG Regional Sports Director
Sept. 14, 2002
Skipping around the sports scene on a Saturday while wondering whatever happened to Vernon Studdard …
Congratulations to the Clarkdale High School Bulldogs and second-year head coach Bubba Hathorn.
Those who haven't followed Clarkdale High School football over the past couple of decades probably can't appreciate what's going on in that part of the county this fall.
Sure, some may realize that the Bulldogs have gotten off to a 3-0 start, but they may not understand the significance of that achievement.
Not since 1977 has Clarkdale gotten off to such a great start. That year the Bulldogs went 4-0 before ending the year at 7-4.
Last year, Bubba Hathorn's first at Clarkdale, the Bulldogs went 3-7. That means that CHS has won six of its last 13 games.
Not such a big deal you say? Well, let's put this accomplishment in perspective.
From the beginning of the 1993 season through the end of the 2000 schedule the Bulldogs won just six times, while losing 76 and tying one.
So, yes, it is a big deal that the Bulldogs are 6-7 under Hathorn's leadership.
How many games will Clarkdale win this season? It's hard to tell. But I feel sure they are not through putting up some W's. In fact, The Bulldogs have a shot at their first winning season since the George Belvin-coached 1982 squad went 6-5. The 1983 team was 5-5.
The Bulldog also have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs for the first time in school history.
Overall, things are improved and I look for them to continue to get better. Tradition is an interesting thing.
Just take a look at the Clarkdale girls softball teams. They take the field feeling like they can, and will win. Do they win them all? Nope. They don't. But they win a heck of a lot more than they lose and nobody is itching to take on the Lady Bulldogs in a game that counts.
When you win your share of games, things like that happen.
But just like winning can become a tradition, losing becomes a habit as well.
So, that's what Clarkdale is trying to eradicate. They are working hard to turn a losing tradition into a winning one.
And, 13 games into his regime, it looks like Hathorn has his Bulldogs headed in the right direction.
Taking a look
at Saturday's games
Just for fun, let's run through the list of college football games being played by Mississippi football teams today.
One will be televised. ABC will be showing the matchup between Ole Miss and Texas Tech.
I must admit I've wavered back and forth on this game since the beginning of the season.
I first leaned toward Ole Miss, then went to the Texas Tech Camp. But, now I have to say the Rebels will win.
Ole Miss will have to play well to win the game, but Tech has been a little point of a disappointment this season.
The pick: Ole Miss 28, Texas Tech 17.
USM and Memphis meet up in an important game in Hattiesburg at 6 today in the Conference USA opener for both teams.
Memphis took a 22-17 win over Southern Miss last year and sent the Golden Eagles on the way to a disappointing season.
USM is currently 2-0, including a win over defending Big Ten champion Illinois last week. The game will be a physical one, but the Golden Eagles just have too much for Memphis
The pick: USM 35, Memphis 10
The Bulldogs of Mississippi State have been licking their chops for two weeks, looking for a chance to get in the win column after losing their season-opener at Oregon on Oct. 14.
Jacksonville State should be easy pickings for the Bulldogs. Yes, MSU did get beat by Troy State last year, but Jacksonville State is no Troy State.
The pick: State 52, Jacksonville St. 10
In other games look for Delta State to beat Mississippi Valley 28-12 and Tennessee State to knock off Jackson State 20-14.