Mississippi State University

The NCAA has opened its review of star basketball recruit Renardo Sidney, a Mississippi State athletic official said Thursday. Sidney, a 6-foot-10 power forward from Los Angeles Fairfax High, signed a letter of intent with Mississippi State last month after he was dropped as a recruit by UCLA and USC. Sidney had announced his plans to sign with USC. The family has said the split between player and school came by mutual decision.

About 1,000 mourners gathered at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., to pay respects to football player Rodney Stowers, who died suddenly of a rare medical problem that stemmed from a broken bone in his right shin.

Arizona did a good job of stopping Mississippi State's Lawrence Roberts on Sunday. The only problem was, the 21st-ranked Wildcats almost stopped themselves as well before holding on for a 68-64 victory over the 15th-ranked Bulldogs in the John R. Wooden Classic at the Arrowhead Pond. It was an exhibition of Arizona's considerable potential, and its confounding lapses.

Flags were lowered to half-staff Friday in memory of four Mississippi State University students who were killed in a one-car crash. The Mississippi Highway Patrol said the vehicle left the highway Thursday night and slammed into a tree and a light pole.

Mississippi State University officials said they will investigate allegations of on-campus betting and whether NCAA rules were violated, after a professor and a former student pleaded guilty to federal gambling charges. Court documents indicate three Mississippi State football players were used in the fall of 1987 to help collect gambling debts. The players were not identified.

University of Florida heptathlete Heidi Mann suffered a foot injury Thursday when she was was hit by a javelin at the Southeastern Conference track and field championships. Mann received several stitches in her right foot and ankle, Coach Lyle Knudson said, and the injury probably will keep her out of the NCAA championships May 27-June 1 at Austin, Tex. Mann was leading the event when she was injured.

For 18 years, Haley Barbour was the consummate Washington insider -- political director in the Reagan White House, two-term chairman of the Republican National Committee, head of a powerful lobbying firm. But he wants something more. That is why one recent Wednesday evening, Barbour was exchanging hugs and handclasps with guests at a fish fry in an arena that usually hosts livestock shows or motocross races.

One of the lessons of football as the great educator in our society is to take the bull by the horns, so to speak. And so Jackie Sherrill goes from campus to campus leaving behind his trail of dirty laundry and is welcomed at the next institution as a great educator. He can teach the brutality with the best of them, all bloody-handed and proud. As a visual aid to his players, he had a young bull castrated at practice before Mississippi State's game with the Texas Longhorns.

History-making is not always what you expect. It can be Rosa Parks on a bus, a march to Selma or, as it happened Saturday night, Sylvester Croom running onto a field after emerging from a giant, inflatable Mississippi State helmet. Surrounded by Bulldog players, Croom burst through a blow-up facemask at 5:01 Central Daylight Time and, a few steps later, broke down one of sport's last, and most shameful, barriers.

For 18 years, Haley Barbour was the consummate Washington insider -- political director in the Reagan White House, two-term chairman of the Republican National Committee, head of a powerful lobbying firm. But he wants something more. That is why one recent Wednesday evening, Barbour was exchanging hugs and handclasps with guests at a fish fry in an arena that usually hosts livestock shows or motocross races.

Across the country, a barely detectable Southern flavor spices local TV weather forecasts, up to a third of which are delivered by former students of Mississippi State University. Meteorologists are one part TV star and one part scientist; Mississippi State takes pride in producing forecasters who can do both parts equally well.

When the greatest run in the history of UCLA football jackknifed to an end, the Bruins knew exactly what had transpired. "Obviously," guard Andy Meyers said, "we were just holding on to something we couldn't obtain."

TENNESSEE 24, MISSISSIPPI ST. 14 * Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin's game in the Southeastern Conference championship was a little bit like his season, his first at the helm after Peyton Manning graduated. Once he got going, the Volunteers were in good shape. Through the first three quarters Saturday night he completed 11 of 25 passes for 105 yards and one interception. But in the fourth quarter he was four for eight for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

For an undefeated team, the Tennessee Volunteers sure do lose a lot. They lost running back Jamal Lewis when he tore a knee ligament in the fourth game of the season. They lost linebacker Al Wilson for two games because of a groin injury. This week, they found out they will be losing a coach; offensive coordinator David Cutliffe will leave after today's Southeastern Conference title game to replace Tommy Tuberville as head coach at Mississippi.

Tears do not come easily for Jackie Sherrill. If anything, they are a last resort, a reluctant concession, a luxury Sherrill rarely allows himself. But on Oct. 5, with about 2,000 mourners squeezed into Mississippi State University's aging Lee Hall auditorium, Sherrill's eyes betrayed him. He wept. Like a baby. Two days earlier, Sherrill had walked into his office shortly before 7 a.m.

Across the country, a barely detectable Southern flavor spices local TV weather forecasts, up to a third of which are delivered by former students of Mississippi State University. Meteorologists are one part TV star and one part scientist; Mississippi State takes pride in producing forecasters who can do both parts equally well.

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.