The Easter Holiday's

An Easter to remember:

A good church service, visiting with family, a home-cooked meal and going on the much remembered Easter egg hunts as a child from yesteryear. You can add one more to this year’s rendition of the spring holiday. Basketball. Really good basketball. As we all removed our coats and ties before the Easter egg hunts, many substituted their Sunday best by donning their favorite Mississippi State cap or jersey. This Easter, not only was a time for the rekindling memories, it was a time for, as public address announcer Hank Flick puts is so eloquently, “an afternoon of basketball, Mississippi State style.” Memphis and Mississippi State, please step forward.

The game we wanted to see indeed came true. For 40-minutes both teams played with desire and heart. It was a game of survival. Literally. Ask Memphis head coach, John Calipari. He knew the Tigers would prevail. In fact, he never though they would struggle. Just ask him. Hold it one second. Jarvis Varnado, who is now the all-time leading shot blocker in the SEC with 157, had a different plan. So did the Jamont Gordon and head coach Rick Stansbury. The Dogs fought hard and lost 77-74. I’m reminded of the post-game interview with assistant coach Robert Kirby of MSU. When asked how he felt following the loss, he simply responded, “If it is possible to be disappointed and so unbelievably happy than I am both.” Well said coach.

This past Saturday morning, I walked into Vaught Hemingway Stadium for the first day of full contact drills this spring. I was thinking why everyone was so excited, as many Rebel fans were in attendance. I narrowed it down to two scenarios. One, former head coach Ed Ogreron was not on the sideline. In fact, he is far, far away from Oxford. It was indeed a happy moment for the Rebs in attendance to see head coach Houston Nutt across the way. Two, football season is only a few months away. Larry Fedora is now at the helm of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and hit the jackpot this recruiting season, while generating quite the buzz in the Hub City. MSU is coming off its most successful season since the victory over Texas A&M in the 2001 Independence Bowl. Ole Miss would like success in any form. Many believe the red carpet rolled out for Nutt was warranted, as he was named head coach this year.

Ole Miss will advance in the NIT to face Virginia Tech tonight, as they defeated Nebraska this past Monday. Coach Nutt was in his customary seat behind the East goal. As he looked on, you have to wonder what he was thinking after he congratulated head basketball coach Andy Kennedy following the win. As he and assistant football coach Tracy Rocker walked out of Tad Smith Coliseum, one team is on their minds; the University of Memphis. Ironically, the same university that dashed the hopes of Mississippi State in the NCAA Tournament.

You can reach Brad Logan at: blogan80@yahoo.com