The tournament consisted of three flights – Championship, First and Second Flights. Winners were:

First Place Championship Flight:
(two-way tie)
Collins Bailey, J.D. Bailey, Eric Snellgrove, Al Snellgrove, Parnell Stubblefield and Baker Patton;
Jay Amis, Paul Savage, Ray Archer, Chris Sheely, John Champion and Phil Everitt.

First Place First Flight:
Boyce Crowell, Dennis Hopper, Jimmy Wilson, Doyle Pearson, Scotty McCain and Harold Donahue.

Tony Turner of Batesville has taken on the task of organizing a Pee Wee football league for children 7-12 years of age.

"I have been driving my son to Senatobia to play football, and I decided it was time to see if there was enough support for it here in Panola County," he said. "There are kids that want to play football, and they should be able to play in their hometown."

A meeting was held Monday, July 14 and a follow-up meeting will be held July 28 at the Lions Club building in Batesville beginning at 6 p.m.

"These meetings are important to the success of getting this league off the ground," he said. "We need to know if there are kids and potential coaches in the area interested in participating."

Coaches will be one of the biggest needs for the new league.

"I have had a couple of parents approach me and say they would be willing to help out with coaching, but more will be needed," he said.

Turner said if the league is unable to secure fields to use for the games, teams will travel to Senatobia, Hernando or Tunica.

"Traveling for the games won’t be so bad if we have to do it," he said. "The teams will want to play others from outside of the area."

Turner said he is trying to find out just how much it will cost for kids to play and should know by the first meeting.

Teams will be broken down into 2 year age brackets and there will be weigh classes for who can carry the football.

"You don’t want some 200 pound 12 year-old running the ball," he said. "That just isn’t fair."

American history has marched through our campus on several occasions, leaving among its marks our Confederate monument, historic Lyceum, and cemetery. This year, we will add a civil rights monument to memorialize the role Ole Miss played in making higher education in Mississippi accessible to all.

To allay the fears of those who believe we are abandoning our history and heritage, please know that (1) we are the Ole Miss Rebels and will continue to present ourselves to the world under that name; (2) the song "Dixie" remains in our repertoire of school spirit songs and will continue to be played at sporting events; (3) Colonel Rebel is an official trademark of the University and will continue to be included among our registered names, appear on merchandise and in public presentations.

Our athletics history began in 1876 when we fielded an intercollegiate baseball team called "The Red and Blue." We selected as school colors the crimson of Harvard and the Navy blue of Yale. There was no mascot.

In 1896 students published the first yearbook and called it "Ole Miss." Since then the institution has been known affectionately as Ole Miss, one of the most recognizable university names in America.

In 1929 we became the "Mississippi Flood" and continued using the colors red and blue. 1936 brought a name change from "Flood" to "Rebels," but there is no evidence of an on-field mascot for the Flood or the Rebels.

An official mascot did not appear until 1979 when the Department of Athletics introduced the figure of an "old man in baggy pants" as part of a national trend toward Disney-like cartoon characters. The original Colonel Rebel continued with a separate identity from the on-field mascot, appearing on printed materials, statues, yard signs, and t-shirts. We fully expect our fans to continue to display Colonel Rebel, but the on-field mascot will be replaced with a more energetic, vibrant figure.

We are gratified that Ole Miss students and fans are emotionally invested in how the University is presented to the public. We are deeply disappointed that some would inject race into the discussion. Athletics Director Pete Boone is responsible for every aspect of game management, including on-field activities. I endorse his administrative leadership and totally support and applaud Mr. Boone’s recommendation.

The decision to update the mascot was based on the belief that a Disney-like elderly plantation person is not representative of a modern athletics program. Our mascot should reflect the youthful energy, vitality and enthusiasm of our students.

The Department of Athletics soon will announce a contest soliciting ideas for a new mascot and a process that will include input from students, active alumni, donors and season ticket holders. The final selection will be made by the Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics based upon preferences expressed by those who participate in the process – particularly our students.

In the meantime, we hope the people of Mississippi and Ole Miss students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends will focus their energy on issues such as the economy, health care, high quality education, literacy, and a better life for Mississippians.