Mississippi State

Renardo Sidney, the 6-foot-10 McDonald's basketball All-American from L.A. Fairfax High, has signed a letter of intent at Mississippi State, Bulldogs Coach Rick Stansbury announced Thursday. Sidney, considered the No. 2 power forward in the nation by Scout.com, averaged 24.8 points and 11.2 rebounds while helping Fairfax advance to the state tournament, where the Lions upset Santa Ana Mater Dei but were later defeated by state champion Westchester.

Play it forward Five things to watch this week in college football. 1. Louisiana State at Mississippi State is a Thursday night gem featuring two of the top teams from the best division in college football — the Southeastern Conference West. The game is almost must-win for Mississippi State after Saturday's heart-breaking loss at Auburn. 2. No. 1 Oklahoma plays at No. 5 Florida State in a game with huge national implications. Oklahoma is No. 1 in the Associated Press poll for a record 100th time while Florida State is out to avenge last year's humiliating 47-17 loss in Norman.

Mississippi State basketball coach Richard Williams, who led the Bulldogs to the school's only Final Four appearance in 1996, announced his retirement Thursday. His retirement was announced in a release from the Mississippi State athletic department. Williams just completed his 12th season, the longest tenure in the Southeastern Conference. He had a record of 191-163, including a school-record 26 victories in 1995-96, two SEC Western Division championships and three NCAA appearances.

The rain-swollen Mississippi River inundated evacuated neighborhoods in the Mississippi Delta on Wednesday and washed away precious crops, as residents farther downstream prepared for the looming floodwaters. After cresting at 47.8 feet Tuesday in Memphis, Tenn., the river's high waters moved south, reaching 58 feet and growing in Natchez, Miss., the National Weather Service said. The river is expected to crest there at 64 feet on May 21. Across Mississippi, about 1,000 structures have been hit by floodwaters, and officials expect to evacuate between 2,000 and 5,000 people in coming days.

Jackie Sherrill, who left Texas A&M two years ago with the Aggies on NCAA probation, returned to college football Sunday as coach of Mississippi State. Sherrill, who spent two years in private business after leaving Texas A&M, replaces Rockey Felker, who resigned under pressure two weeks ago after a 5-6 season, the Bulldogs' fourth consecutive losing campaign. Sherrill, 47, who had a 52-28-1 record in seven seasons at Texas A&M, previously coached at Washington State and Pittsburgh.

Sometimes Mississippi State's Wayne Madkin grows tired of the snide remarks and back-handed compliments. The 15th-ranked Bulldogs have a good offense too, and the sophomore quarterback, who directed a 17-7 victory over Clemson in the Peach Bowl on Thursday night, wants everyone to know it. "The way we play on offense may not be pretty sometimes like people like it," he said. "But we play with a lot of heart. That's why we won 10 games."

Only a week after its loss to Tennessee ruined a perfect season, No. 9-ranked Arkansas lost control of the West division race in the Southeastern Conference on Saturday. Brian Hazelwood's 27-yard field goal with seven seconds to play gave Mississippi State a 22-21 victory at Starkville, Miss., and put the Bulldogs in control in the West. "I told the guys this was our last chance . . .

Brian Hazlewood kicked a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter as Mississippi State beat No. 8 Alabama, 17-16, at Starkville, Miss., for only the second time in 39 years. The much-maligned Mississippi State defense, ranked last in the Southeastern Conference giving up 375 yards a game, held on by stopping Alabama on its last three possessions. Alabama (8-2, 5-2) drove to the Mississippi State 39 in the final minute, but Freddie Kitchens' fourth-and-four pass was incomplete.

Another week, another Southeastern Conference journey, another dollar for the Cal State Fullerton football team, which will play Mississippi State today at Starkville, Miss. Until last week, one might have figured this was merely another lucrative loss for the Titans, who will collect $150,000. But that was before Fullerton's strong second-half showing in a 38-17 loss to Auburn, a performance that has led the Titans to believe they can to take the money and win, not just run.

Cal State Fullerton, attempting to rebound from its worst football season, plays Mississippi State today at 4 p.m., PDT, at Starkville, Miss. The Titans are coming off a 1-11 season and a turbulent off-season, in which the school nearly dropped the sport. Their 11-game losing streak is the longest current losing streak in Division I-A football.

The Bowls It's the game that has every football fan asking the dramatic, age-old question: What happens when you match a five-time loser from the Big Ten against a four-time loser from the Southeastern Conference? Well, you get the toothless Gator Bowl, pitting Michigan vs. Mississippi State. And that's not even the most unappetizing postseason game on the holiday menu. No, the dishonor for the worst offering goes to the New Mexico Bowl, which settled for Brigham Young versus the University of Texas at El Wobbly Paso, teams with no fewer than 12 defeats between them.

The Auburn Tigers found themselves defending quarterback Cam Newton for the second time in five days, this time sticking up for the Heisman hopeful against allegations of academic cheating when he was at Florida. In addition, ESPN reported on its website that Newton and his father each had a phone conversation with a Mississippi State recruiter that acknowledged a pay-for-play arrangement for the prized recruit. One of the recruiters said Cecil Newton told him before Newton committed to Auburn that it would take "more than a scholarship" for his son to attend Mississippi State.

Auburn has had "no contact whatsoever" with a man who allegedly tried to secure payment from Mississippi State during the recruitment of Tigers quarterback and Heisman Trophy hopeful Cam Newton , according to a person familiar with the situation. Newton also said Friday he has done nothing wrong. The NCAA is reviewing the recruitment of Newton, but Auburn has not received a letter of inquiry, the person told the Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to comment publicly.

Cameron Newton threw two touchdown passes and accounted for 206 total yards to help No. 21 Auburn defeat Mississippi State, 17-14, on Thursday night in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams at Starkville, Miss. Mississippi State's last drive ended at the Auburn 40 when Chris Relf's fourth-down pass fell incomplete with 22 seconds remaining. Newton, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound junior, outgained Mississippi State 146-125 all by himself in the first half. After leading 17-7 at halftime, the Tigers managed to hold off the Bulldogs for the win. Auburn (2-0)

Maya Moore scored 19 points and No. 1 Connecticut outscored Temple by 43 points in a near-perfect first half Tuesday night and the Huskies beat the Owls, 90-36, in the second round of the NCAA women's tournament at Norfolk, Va. The victory was the 74th in a row for the Huskies (35-0), the longest streak in NCAA Division I women's history, and probably one of the least enjoyable for Coach Geno Auriemma since it came against a team coached by Tonya Cardoza, one of his assistants for 14 years.

The NCAA on Friday strongly penalized Renardo Sidney, saying the former Fairfax High basketball star accepted improper benefits and lied to the organization during its investigation. The Mississippi State freshman, who has not played while waiting for the NCAA to rule, was declared ineligible for the rest of this season and 30% of next season and fined $11,800 for "benefits received from preferential treatment." Mississippi State announced Friday it would appeal the decision.

Records through Monday; (ranking last week) 1. Texas 15-0 (2): The Longhorns earn their first No. 1 ranking in the AP poll. 2. Kentucky 16-0 (3): Florida will try to serve up Kentucky's first loss on Tuesday. 3. Kansas 14-1 (1): Uncharacteristically, the Jayhawks shot 37% to drop their first game. 4. Villanova 15-1 (6): In week span, defeated Marquette by total of four points in two games. 5. Syracuse 15-1 (7): The Orange has won six of its last seven Big East games.

When the UCLA players gather at Pauley Pavilion today, they can expect a different sort of film session. Instead of simply reviewing their most recent game, or analyzing an upcoming opponent, they will watch Bruins teams from past seasons. Teams that parlayed tough defense and a patient offense into winning records. Teams that marched deep into the NCAA tournament. "Our younger kids, in particular, need to see it," Coach Ben Howland said. "So they see how it's supposed to be done."