ARNETT THE BULLDOG
Mississippi State football players believe they have a real Bulldog as a head coach.
After the first week of spring football practice, there was no question who was in charge.
“He brings some toughness over there,” MSU running back Woody Marks said about Arnett as a head coach. “We've got to get everybody tough on the offensive side.”
Arnett was promoted from defensive coordinator to the overall leader of the Bulldogs after the tragic and untimely death of Mike Leach last December.
For defensive players like Nathaniel Watson, there has been no need for a major adjustment to Arnett as head coach.
“Me and him have been together for a long time,” Watson said of his relationship with Arnett. “With him taking another position and being over the offense and defense, it's just an opportunity for everybody to bond more with him.”
That doesn't mean that everything is going to be roses for the players when it comes to how Arnett runs the program. He has already made it quite clear that hard work is going to be expected at MSU from everyone.
When it came time to list the newcomers on the Bulldog roster, numbers were yet to be assigned.
“Everything is earned,”arnett said.“nothing is given. It would seem to me that should apply to the number policy too then.”
Arnett was interim head coach of MSU during the Reliaquest Bowl victory over Illinois and Matt Brock called the defensive plays.
Watson said Arnett and Brock have a special connection, which made it a comfortable situation for everyone on defense but especially the linebackers.
“It's like normal for the linebackers,” Watson said. “He's usually telling us the plays here on the sideline. Coach Arnett was calling them, but now (Brock is) calling them, but it's the same.”
Watson could have left the Bulldogs to start a professional career early.
With Arnett now as head coach, Watson wanted to have one more year to learn under his instruction.
“It was like a last minute decision when it came down to it,” Watson said about returning to Starkville. “I could have came out (to the NFL Draft), but I decided to come back because I have so much stuff to work on.”
Watson also looks forward to helping the newcomers get used to the MSU environment.
After spring break, the Bulldogs get back on the practice field next week and are less than a month now from the Maroon-white Spring Game as part of Super Bulldog Weekend on April 15.
g g care at the right time,” is warnk the COVIDK19 federal emergency ing expectant mothers to make declaration is in effect. If state legk arrangements to reach another islators fail to make the extension hospital once they start having permanent, coverage will roll back contractions. Meanwhile, pregk to two months when the emerk nant women who arrive in a crisis gency order is lifted. will be stabilized in the emergency Advocates for lowkincome room, and then transferred to ank women say extending that coverage other facility that provides materk could reduce maternal mortality. nity care, hospital spokeswoman But Republican lawmakers Christine Hemphill said. killed a bill in this year’s legislak
Greenwood Leflore now tive session that would have let directs expectant mothers to a mothers keep Medicaid coverage hospital about 33 miles (53.1 kilok for a year after giving birth. Asked meters) away in Grenada. Brenda whether it could save lives, House Palmertree had two children there Speaker Phillip Gunn said “that before moving closer to Greenk has not been a part of the discusk wood, and finds it difficult to sions that I’ve heard.” imagine driving that far while on Reeves’ office did not respond the verge of giving birth. “If you to an Associated Press request for
g g g the entire hospital w
A nurse at Gr flore Hospital wh her name not be use wasn’t authorized to her employer won clinic will be able to out a nearby delivery
“It’s bad. We’re their decision. Wha it make for them to and then you have t miles away?” the nur
Two obstetrician decided to leave the ing to the Greenwo wealth. At least one tance between the closest delivery unit much to bear.