By By Austin Bishop / EMG regional sports director
Aug. 25, 2003
A pair of televised games highlights opening Saturday for Mississippi's nine football-playing colleges and universities.
The Ole Miss Rebels, coming of a 7-6 season that included a 27-23 Independence Bowl win over Nebraska, kick off the season at 11:30 a.m. at Vanderbilt in a game that will be televised by the Jefferson-Pilot Network. WMDN 24 is scheduled to carry the game locally.
The other televised game has Mississippi State playing host to Oregon on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. The Bulldogs are seeking revenge for the 36-13 loss they suffered to the Ducks in Oregon last season.
Three of the six schools playing on this opening Saturday (Millsaps, Mississippi College and Belhaven don't get started until next week) are faced with near 'must win' situations. Ole Miss' game with Vanderbilt is an SEC contest, while Mississippi Valley State and Alcorn State also open up with league competition.
Valley is the official host team for a 7 p.m. SWAC contest against Southern U. in Jackson's Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, while Alcorn State travels to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6:30 p.m.
Jackson State hits the road to face a Top 25 NCAA Division 1-AA foe in Northwestern (La.) State, while USM may have the most intriguing game of the day.
The Golden Eagles head West way, way, way, far, far, far West to take on the University of California. What makes this game interesting, is that Cal has already played a game.
The Bears dropped a 42-28 nationally televised game with Kansas State last week, but proved to once again have a very explosive offensive attack.
Mississippi College and Millsaps square off at Mississippi Veteran's Memorial Stadium on Sept. 4 for a 7 p.m. contest, while Belhaven opens its season on Sept. 6 when Louisiana College pays a visit.