| Woods named Coach-of-the-Year |
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South Panola head coach Ricky Woods (c) spoke on television following the State Championship game last Friday while his wife, Susan, looked on. Woods was chosen as the Mississippi Association of Coaches’ Coach-of-the-Year this week for the second straight year.
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By Myra Bean
Sports Editor
psports@panolian.com
The Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) has made a big announcement.
South Panola head football coach Ricky Woods has been named the MAC’s Coach-of-the-Year for the second straight year.
Also, Woods has been chosen to be the head coach of the annual Mississippi/Alabama All-Star game to be played in Mobile, Ala. June 4.
This game pits the best of Alabama players against the best of Mississippi players. Alabama leads the series 12-5.
Woods has been coaching at South Panola since 2002 and has amassed a 44-1 record. He recorded his 174th win in the back-to-back state championship game over Ocean Springs last Friday night.
Woods’ career record is 174-40 and he has state championships from Ethel, Eupora, Ackerman and South Panola.
Coaching with woods in the All-Star game are Pat Byrd of Amory, Steven Jones of Ocean Springs, John McCrocy of Grenada, Mack Sampson of O’Bannon, Ted Taylor of Madison Central and Larry Weems of Pearl.
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| Coaching changes hit SEC big time |
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 By WILLIAM CORRERO
Since my deadlines to have this written are before Senatobia and South Panola play in their respective State Championship Games, I can’t congratulate them yet. But when you read this it will be a done deal. It just isn’t fair. I hope they both do well.
More changes in the SEC Head Coaches – with the total at four now. I know all of those who are moving on, as it were, and my only reason for hating it is they are all great people. Spurrier back in amongst us will make it interesting to say the least.
I was working the 2001 Florida State at Florida game when I had an interesting encounter with Coach Spurrier.
As I came out of our dressing room at The Swamp I met him face to face about to come in the door. I stood in front of the door because they are not supposed to come in our area and asked if I could help. He sort of sheepishly asked if he could see the Referee.
It was an ACC crew in this game and I honestly told him they were gone to see Coach Bowden and would be in to see him directly afterward. He then sort of looked around and said he just wanted to see if we needed anything. He knew that I knew he just wanted to get in a little extra visiting and maybe get a little bit of an edge.
After a few seconds of silence he just said, "Well, never mind. Thanks," and walked on back toward his locker rooms whistling their fight song. I did get to meet Coach Bowden before the game and he was every bit as personable as he seemed from TV interviews and commercials.
He asked, "Now where are you from?" and seemed genuinely interested to know. Probably had the same motif as Coach Spurrier if the truth was known.
With changes in one-third of them it just reminds us how tough a job it is to be a head coach in the SEC. For the most part, the Head Coach is the CEO of the corporation entity or team. He really doesn’t get to do much actual coaching.
He has to be sure his assistants carry out his wishes but his main job is to be the school’s best PR man. He has to do the "baby kissing" and speaking to clubs and alumni groups. Some coaches do a better job of kissing than others and the ones who are good at schmoozing the high-dollar alumni usually last longer.
The successful teams are ones who have great assistant coaches to "coach" while the Head Coach does the kissing.
I know the camera is always on the Head Coach during a game as he’s talking on his headset to the coordinators and assistants and directing them. I know they make a lot of money but you can believe they earn it too.
The most interesting play I’ve seen in a while happened in the Texas – Texas A&M game. The try or extra point attempt was changed in NCAA rules back in the early 90s to allow a blocked attempt to be returned by the defense for a two-point score.
The try is a separate part of the game and this made it even more so. What happened was the kicker kicked the very top of the ball and sent it into the mass of linemen and a defender picked up the ball and was trying to get up field.
It got worse for the would-be hero when he was tackled in the end zone. This constitutes a safety but the rules only allow one point for a safety during a try.
I didn’t see the game but I can imagine how much fun the referee had explaining that to the coach wondering why he only got one point instead of the usual two. To add to the fun, the ball is then kicked by the team who just scored the touchdown and not by the team who just gave up the safety as is done any other time during the game.
We have a phrase that is included in most all SEC pre-game meetings regarding enforcing penalties: "Go slow. When you think you are going slow then go slower!" You can not get in a hurry when sorting out strange or different situations like that one. If you do you’ll get it wrong. Every time.
Once again, I hope our teams did well. Just wish I could see ahead a day or two. See you next week.
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| Order State champ t-shirts |
 South Panola is offering official state championship t-shirts on sale to the public.
An order blank follows on page B3 (click here for an online version) with the sizes and prices. Shirts will be available in short and long sleeve t- shirts and sweatshirts, and in either red or white colors.
Deadline to order is today, Dec. 10, to receive shirts before Christmas. Shirts ordered after today will not be available until school resumes after the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The shirts will say South Panola Tigers, 5A State Champions with the SP logo in the middle on the front. On the back is the logo with the words Back 2 Back.
Take the order blank and the money by the school during school hours 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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| MHSAA agrees on biannual realignment for 2005-2007 |
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The Mississippi High School Activities Association has released its bi-annual realignment for 2005-2007 academic years.
There has been shuffling through all five divisions for athletic purposes.
Coming into 5A are Provine, Jim Hill, Wingfield and George County. The MHSAA kept the number of schools in 5A to 32.
Leaving 5A and going to 4A are West Point, St. Martin, Long Beach and Picayune.
Taking West Point’s place in 1-5A is Grenada.
For football, 1-5A will be Columbus, Grenada, Horn Lake, Olive Branch, South Panola, Southaven, Starkville and Tupelo. For the complete lineup of divisions in 3A, 4A and 5A see the accompanying lists.
North Panola lost three district foes and gained three others. Cleveland and Tunica Rosa Fort move to 4A. Cleveland East Side will remain in 3A but move to another division.
North Panola will face new district foes Byhalia, Holly Springs and Water Valley.
Also moving to 4A is the fast growing Desoto Central School.
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5A FOOTBALL 2005-07
| 5A-1 DOE Class/Div |
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5A-2 DOE/Class/Div |
| 1 |
Columbus 1383 |
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8 |
Tupelo 1846 |
| 2 |
Grenada 1182 |
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9 |
Clinton 1404 |
| 3 |
Horn Lake 1498 |
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10 |
Greenville 1663 |
| 4 |
Olive Branch 1830 |
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11 |
Madison Ctrl 1768 |
| 5 |
South Panola 1231 |
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12 |
Murrah 1155 |
| 6 |
Southaven 1411 |
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13 |
NW Rankin 1247 |
| 7 |
Starkville 1148 |
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14 |
Provine* 1078 |
| 5A-3 DOE/Class/Div |
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15 |
Vicksburg 1072 |
| 17 |
Brandon 1199 |
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16 |
Warren Ctrl 1090 |
| 18 |
Forest Hill 1059 |
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5A-4 DOE/Class/Div |
| 19 |
Hattiesburg 1292 |
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25 |
Biloxi 1627 |
| 20 |
Jim Hill * 1150 |
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26 |
George Cty * 1068 |
| 21 |
Meridian 1525 |
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27 |
Gulfport 1754 |
| 22 |
Natchez 1168 |
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28 |
Hancock 1117 |
| 23 |
Oak Grove 1199 |
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29 |
Harrison Ctrl 2360 |
| 24 |
Wingfield * 1053 |
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30 |
Moss Point 1157 |
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31 |
Ocean Sprs 1737 |
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32 |
Pascagoula 1226 |
43697 5A Total 32
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| 4A FOOTBALL 2005-07 |
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3A FOOTBALL 2005-07 |
| 4A-1 DOE/Class/Div |
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3A-1 DOE/Class/Div |
| 1 |
Itawamba 605 |
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1 |
Alcorn Central 484 |
| 2 |
New Albany 539 |
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2 |
Booneville * 380 |
| 3 |
Pontotoc 609 |
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3 |
Corinth 482 |
| 4 |
Saltillo 669 |
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4 |
Kossuth 438 |
| 5 |
Shannon 623 |
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5 |
Mooreville * 387 |
| 6 |
Tishomingo Cty 604 |
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6 |
North Pontotoc 418 |
| 7 |
West Point * 965 |
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7 |
Ripley 495 |
| 4A-2 DOE/Class/Div |
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3A-2 DOE/Class/Div |
| 8 |
Clarksdale 748 |
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8 |
Aberdeen 482 |
| 9 |
Cleveland * 559 |
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9 |
Amory * 497 |
| 10 |
DeSoto Central * 968 |
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10 |
Caledonia 473 |
| 11 |
Hernando 1032 |
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11 |
Houston * 497 |
| 12 |
Lafayette 577 |
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12 |
Nettleton 361 |
| 13 |
Oxford 828 |
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13 |
South Pontotoc 437 |
| 14 |
Rosa Fort * 556 |
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3A-3 DOE/Class/Div |
| 4A-3 DOE/Class/Div |
|
14 |
Byhalia 521 |
| 15 |
Callaway 917 |
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15 |
Holly Springs 497 |
| 16 |
Canton 843 |
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16 |
Independence 450 |
| 17 |
Gentry 902 |
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17 |
M. S. Palmer 386 |
| 18 |
Greenwood 720 |
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18 |
North Panola 465 |
| 19 |
Lanier 898 |
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19 |
Senatobia 522 |
| 20 |
Pearl 968 |
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20 |
Water Valley * 352 |
| 21 |
Ridgeland 845 |
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3A-4 DOE/Class/Div |
| 22 |
Yazoo City 583 |
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21 |
Amanda Elzy 479 |
| 4A-4 DOE/Class/Div |
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22 |
Charleston 435 |
| 23 |
Kosciusko 609 |
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23 |
East Side 493 |
| 24 |
Louisville 564 |
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24 |
Humphreys 478 |
| 25 |
NE. Lauderdale 674 |
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25 |
McClain 437 |
| 26 |
Neshoba Central 756 |
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26 |
South Delta 357 |
| 27 |
New Hope 859 |
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27 |
Winona 399 |
| 28 |
Noxubee County 648 |
|
3A-5 DOE/Class/Div |
| 29 |
West Lauderdale* 552 |
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28 |
Carthage 405 |
| 4A-5 DOE/Class/Div |
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29 |
Choctaw Central 488 |
| 30 |
Laurel 694 |
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30 |
Forest 391 |
| 31 |
Northeast Jones 641 |
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31 |
Morton 417 |
| 32 |
Petal 1032 |
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32 |
Newton County 425 |
| 33 |
Quitman 620 |
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33 |
SE Lauderdale 399 |
| 34 |
South Jones 664 |
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34 |
Velma Jackson 362 |
| 35 |
Wayne County 1041 |
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3A-6 DOE/Class/Div |
| 36 |
West Jones 918 |
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35 |
Bailey * 526 |
| 4A-6 DOE/Class/Div |
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36 |
Crystal Springs 455 |
| 37 |
Brookhaven 733 |
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37 |
Hazlehurst 486 |
| 38 |
Florence 622 |
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38 |
Jefferson County 426 |
| 39 |
Lawrence 653 |
|
39 |
Raymond 479 |
| 40 |
McComb 752 |
|
40 |
Richland 414 |
| 41 |
Mendenhall 658 |
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41 |
Yazoo County * 519 |
| 42 |
Port Gibson * 562 |
|
3A-7 DOE/Class/Div |
| 43 |
Terry 959 |
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42 |
Columbia 503 |
| 4A-7 DOE/Class/Div |
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43 |
Franklin Co 448 |
| 44 |
Diberville 974 |
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44 |
North Pike 461 |
| 45 |
East Central 767 |
|
45 |
South Pike * 511 |
| 46 |
Forrest Cty AHS 576 |
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46 |
Tylertown 479 |
| 47 |
Gautier 832 |
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47 |
West Marion 354 |
| 48 |
St. Martin * 1016 |
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48 |
Wilkinson County 399 |
| 49 |
Stone 682 |
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3A-8 DOE/Class/Div |
| 50 |
Vancleave 680 |
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49 |
Collins 512 |
| 4A-8 DOE/Class/Div |
|
50 |
Greene County 536 |
| 51 |
Bay 691 |
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51 |
Magee 493 |
| 52 |
Long Beach * 1043 |
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52 |
Prentiss 356 |
| 53 |
Pass Christian 593 |
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53 |
Purvis 468 |
| 54 |
Pearl River Ctrl 785 |
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54 |
Raleigh 404 |
| 55 |
Picayune * 1024 |
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55 |
Sumrall 371 |
| 56 |
Poplarville * 538 |
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3A-X DOE/Class/Div |
| 57 |
St. Stanislaus 624 |
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56 |
MS Math & Science* 482 |
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57 |
Our Lady Academy 380 |
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42594 4A Total 57 |
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25451 3A Total 55 |
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