Samford Gives Back

As everyone knows, this area of the country was hit hard by the outbreak of tornadoes last week. Starting in Tuscaloosa, a tornado traveled some 200-plus miles through Alabama and into Georgia, leaving a path of destruction along the way.

I've only been able to get out to help once since it all happened. Sunday was the day. I'm still trying to wrap my head and heart around what I saw and I hope to share my experience, pictures and videos with you all on the blog here within the next week.

But for now, I wanted to share with you a story that appeared on our website today. It tells of the hearts of our amazing student-athletes, young men and women that I have the pleasure to work with every day. Students whose hearts explode for the people and communities around them in their darkest times.

The story is posted below. Please keep the disaster victims in your prayers as well as the thousands of people who are pouring out their hearts, lives and wallets to aid in relief. And pray that God continues to grow young people like the ones in this story.
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May 4, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - An estimated 100 Samford student-athletes spent most of the weekend volunteering in Pratt City, Ala., helping victims of last week's tornado outbreak.

Pratt City is one of many areas in the state of Alabama that was hit hard by the severe weather that came through the area last Wednesday. Scott Elementary School served as a base for collecting supplies people needed. Samford's student-athletes helped with delivering supplies to victims of the storms.

One of the groups of student-athletes who traveled to Pratt City to assist with the clean-up was football player Devyn Keith, along with teammates Bill Kottas, Jacobi Rodriguez and Jeremy Towns, and women's basketball player Jazmine Powers.

"Right after we saw the disaster, J.T. (Towns) and I immediately got on the phone, calling people, because we understood that those were people that we knew," Keith said. "After seeing what happened in Huntsville, I'm from Huntsville, and since I couldn't get up there, I said `let me go and see what happened to these people.' I didn't get to go down that day because I had to work, but we went down on Friday.

"We felt like it was an obligation," Keith said. "When you see that type of thing, you can't do anything but help, because here at Samford we were so blessed to not be affected that much by the tornados."

The group of athletes filled Kottas' truck with supplies and went down to Cherry Avenue, which was hit hard by the storms, checking door-to-door with people to see what supplies they needed.
One of the more touching stories that came out of this experience came from Keith. As he was working in the area, a lady pulled up in her car and Keith stopped her to see if she needed anything. She asked him if he was going to take care of her. He responded, "No, ma'am. I can't take care of you. God's going to take care of you. I'm just going to help out."

As the lady cried in her car, Keith reached in and hugged her and let her continue to cry. Keith loaded her car with sandwiches and other supplies. He then told her that he loved her and that everything was going to be alright. "We told her we loved her and we prayed for her," Keith said.

"She said she was really moved by the fact that we were out there. She said she had lost everything."

Powers said she had planned to go home that weekend, but she had a feeling she needed to help out in Pratt City.

"I was originally going to go home that Friday after class, but something just told me I needed to go and experience this," Powers said. "I was even packing up and my mind just shifted, telling me I needed to go. I got some stuff that I wasn't using in the house like soap and some other items I had and I just took it over and we went down there."

Powers said the experience of helping people who had just lost everything was something that really touched her. She said it was a tremendous experience.

"It was very emotional, but at the same time, you knew you were doing something great," Powers said. "I went to one lady's house, she was there by herself, and I brought a case of water into her kitchen. She just broke down and cried and gave me a hug. She said it was good to know that there are good people out there and that God is good and he is still looking after us.

"That was the part that was emotional for me, because they would get emotional, knowing that people were out there trying to help," Powers said. "It was a great experience and I was so glad I went over there."

Caroline Summers, Samford's senior photographer, was on hand to document the relief efforts for the university. Summers said she was touched by the efforts of the Samford students.

"I have always felt that I was blessed to work on a campus filled with such amazing people, both faculty and students," Summers said. "But, I must say, that I have never been prouder to be associated with Samford University than I was this weekend. These students don't just help out for something to do, they truly care."

Linky-Video Madness

Y'all, the bloggy neglect is out of control. You don't have to tell me. This I know.

With the athletic season cranking up, I haven't had the extra time that I usually do to spend blogging away about the nonsense around me. Plus, those episodes of Friday Night Lights and Rachael Zoe Project on my DVR aren't going to watch themselves.

Anyway, to break the silence on the blog today, I thought I'd share some webby nuggets I've either found or been introduced to this week. So here goes...

1. This video by our Director of Multimedia Services here at Samford Athletics makes me proud to work with such talented people. And it gets me excited for next Thursday night.

2. Another incredible post by Don Miller. I love how he focuses in on character on everything he does. Becauser really, that's what we are. And the post is so fitting for me right now as I try to figure out what the next step is for me in life. It's so true that knowing where you are going keeps you out of trouble.

3. Also another fantastic post by Mr. Acuff. So good and again, so fitting for me right now. Sometimes I think what I want to do is impossible. Or even living life the way God wants me to is impossible. And I wonder why God makes it so hard. But His Word says that when we are at our weakest point, that is when God loves to show off. Read it. You won't be sorry.

4. Allow me to introduce you to Catalog Living, if you don't already know what it is. Brilliant.

5. And last but most certainly not least, I hope everyone is as pumped for tonight's MSU vs. Auburn game as I am. I'll be watching with a few State fans and a few Auburn fans and well, y'all pray that I'll display a Christian attitude toward the opposition.

Thoughts On Some Things

I'm completely defeated right now. I don't understand why I bust my butt to do my best at something and get it done on time when the people I have to depend on to get the project to its finality completely disregard what I say. Hello. You are an editor. Do some edits. When I ask for something to be changed. Change it. It's frustrating that I get blamed for something not being done on time when I have to depend on other people to help me get it done and they aren't doing their job.

I don't want to talk about the Mississippi State-Kentucky debacle that went on last night in Starkville, but I'm going to. Why? Because some things just can't go unsaid. First things first. From two weeks ago until yesterday, the behavior of the Mississippi State fans, in respect to calling Kentucky forward Demarcus Cousins, was uncalled for. Now, I think it's kind of a fun idea to get a player's number and call and say, "Hey, you're going down on Tuesday," or "Ready to get beat," or whatever. However, calling the kid and making racial and homosexual slurs or talking about the kid's family is really uncalled for and it makes the rest of the nation continue to believe the stereotype of Mississippi people that we have so long tried to move past.

Secondly, the officiating what atrocious (someone give me a benjamin because that's about how much that word cost me to type). From the time that State was up 67-60, the referees called 10 fouls on Mississippi State. TEN FOULS. How many on Kentucky? Zero. ZERO. There is no way that a team that ranks number one in least fouls made per game (13.6) can come out one night against the No. 2 team in the nation and get called for 28 personal fouls. NO WAY.

And while we are on the subject, I know how officiating can set fans off. I know. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Literally. And I have to say, that given the height of emotions and the atmosphere that was present last night, it's commendable to both teams that nothing got out of hand on the court. No punches were thrown, and not a lot of jawing. But the fans need to remember that line that can be crossed and do what the can, no matter what the circumstances or the outcome, not to cross it.

There is a statement made by my conference, the Southern Conference, that I think applies to all conferences and institutions. It says:

"The scoreboard will reflect the quality of the teams in competitions while the kind of support given by the spectators will reveal the character of the fans."

I think that speaks volumes about the kind of character that our fans allowed themselves to show last night. It was embarassing. When the officiating and behavior of fans overshadows the undeniable fight that your team showed, there is major problem that should be dealt with.

I'm even embarassed to say that I am a graduate of Mississippi State right now because that spectacle will be what people remember for a long while. When Mississippi State fans are grouped in the same category as Alabama fans (the nastiest of them all) and Ole Miss fans, when it comes to fans in the SEC, THAT is embarassing.

I just hope that people realize that when you are fan, whether its little league or professional sports, you are not only cheering on your team but you are representing them well. If you wouldn't want bottles and coins thrown at you, take a minute, sober up, think about how you would feel, and then don't do it. Not all emotions are meant to be acted upon, and anger and frustration is one of those. Believe me, I've learned that lesson well in my short 26 years of living. Acting on anger and frustration gets you nowhere...unless you need to bust down a door in an emergency. Then you're like Superman.

Lastly, and to completely switch gears, if you are a Christian (and even if you're not), I encourage you to find a chronological bible reading plan and go through it. I've only read through Genesis, Job and Exodus and am utterly dumbfounded at the truths that are being revealed infront of my eyes and in my heart.

The reason I said "if you are a Christian (and even if you're not)" is because I know that believers and nonbelievers read the Bible through two completely different scopes. There's a whole long explanation that I could go into but maybe I'll save it for another blog post. Let's just say it has to do with when the Holy Spirit indwells us and what he chooses to reveal to us.

Anyway, I encourage you to read through it this way because you are able to see the amazing story of redemption that is threaded throughout the Bible. And if I've already been able to see it through three books, I guess I should brace myself for the other 63 books.

I'm pretty sure my life, my heart and my entire way of thinking is about to be turn upside down.

A Letter To Ole Miss

Dear Ole Miss,

Thanks, again, for letting the world see what "Mississippi's finest" is all about.

The lengths you go to to show the nation that Mississippi is indeed one of the least racist states in the country continue to amaze me. (end sarcasm)

To those who continue to live in an era before the 1950s, just a few opinions:

1. The South will never "rise again" because the north and the south are one nation now. Red and yellow, black and white. We are all one nation, under God. If you don't like it, move to Russia.

2. The Ku Klux Klan should be disbanned for life. The values that they stand on go against any and all that the "Bible Belt" should be proud to uphold. If you want to continue to gather, may I again say, move to Russia. I don't care what the First Amendment says. To me, you are no better than the terrorists who claim to do things in the name of Allah.

3. To the students of the University of Mississippi...as children of the 20th century and Generation X, Y, Z or whatever generation it is -- one of the most tolerant generations ever -- you should be ashamed that you are affiliated with a university that would allow the Ku Klux Klan to march on its campus in support of a stupid song. For the love of all that is right with college football, IT. IS. A. SONG. I'm sure it they took "Who Let The Dogs Out" or "Bad To The Bone" away from Mississippi State, the students wouldn't stage a protest, sitting in blazers and ties behind the goal posts. They would find a new song to create a new tradition. One that doesn't offend an entire people group. And I know what you are thinking: No, my cowbell doesn't offend cows.

Get over yourselves and become human beings.

Kids Are Great...Especially When You Can Send Them Home With Someone Else

Last night, my roommate and I carried on our tradition of offering free babysitting to our neighbors and friends. We've done this for the past two years and although our schedules were jammed packed these past two weeks, we were able to find a night to offer our services.

We roped in some guys and girls from our Thursday night small group and ended up having seven people altogether who were willing to help, considering that we thought we would have quite a large showing of kids. Last year, we had about 10 kids with only about five people helping.

This year's turn out was quite smaller, only four kids were able to come. But one of those kids, equalled about four kids himself, energy-wise, so things worked out.

Out of the seven people that volunteered to work, only four of them showed up and one was an hour and a half late. It was no big deal. It was fun anyway.

(Melissa, sweet Denver (2), handful T.J. (almost 2), Kelly, Sam (7) and Amelia Grace (4)...everyone is intently watching Cinderella III, except for T.J. I think this was the most still he was all night. Notice no other guys in the picture. Dan showed up late. It was his idea, and he forgot.)

Speaking of Cinderella III, we watched it twice. I'm guessing this is the alternate ending of the original Cinderella movie. It picks up right after the Prince's ball and somehow the step-sisters get a hold of the fairy godmother's magic and Anastasia was able to make the glass slipper fit her. I'm not really sure how it ends, other than the fact that Cinderella and Prince Charming live happily ever after of course.

We watched Cars too. Well, half of it. Denver decided halfway through it that he would rather watch All About John Deere. This, from the looks of the box, is a sort of "Baby Einstein" take on John Deere tractors. Boy, was I mistaken. Some catchy tunes but this is in no way Baby Einstein-ish. The 10-year old boy that was narrating was throwing out some technical terms that I've never heard off and I'm almost positive he would have a hard time spelling. However, two-year old Denver seemed to know what was going on.

On a completely different note, Birmingham is hosting one of the first rounds of the Davis Cup. Yeah, the tennis championship between the U.S. and Great Britain. How does this happen?!?! First we bid for the Olympics. Then we get the Davis Cup. Read more here. I really wish I could go but I'm pretty sure I'll be in the Hub City (Hattiesburg, Miss.) March 6-8 for a softball tournament. Sadness.

Oh, and have you heard about Ole Miss head basketball coach Andy Kennedy being arrested for assault in Cincinnati. Read more about that here. I know Mississippi State hasn't had much to brag about with basketball coaches, especially after Richard Williams (except for the fact that we went to the Final Four under him, but doesn'ts sway my feeling of him either), BUT I still have to chuckle a little bit. Golden boy no more.

I'm pretty sure today may be a day full of blog posts. I've pretty much finished up the work that I need to do before the holidays and I'm not really motivated to start a new project. So look for more.

Bummer

Not much to say today. My girls got beat in the semifinals of the conference tournament and that's a tough pill to swallow after the stellar year they have had. Plus, the team we lost to was never considered a team we could lose to in the tournament. And there's a lot of history between our team and their team too, so it was tough to lose to them.

It was a five-game thriller/heartbreaker. I felt like I was watching the final. One thing I know though is that not one of those girls can say that they didn't give it all they had. I know they had to be exhausted after that battle and it's tough to go out with a loss, but they cannot say that they didn't leave it all out on the floor. We just got outplayed. For everything we did, they had an answer and there is nothing you can do about that.

We should be on our way home right now but Dex decided to let the girls stay for the night and be able to visit with family rather than jumping on the bus and riding for eight hours. We will be leaving tomorrow morning and should get back by 3 p.m., hopefully.

I'm glad that both my Bulldog football teams pulled out wins today though. Go State! And Go Samford! The Samford Bulldogs have a winning season for the first time in about five years and well the MSU Bulldogs...we'll just chalk it up to another "rebuilding year". Whatev. I'm just proud that Anthony Dixon got 170 yards in his final home game. Way to go out, A.D.!

Did anyone hear about Tony Romo taking a homeless guy to the movies? Yeah. The guy was supposedly begging for money outside of the theater and Romo just told him to come on inside. What a guy! Good to know we still have some gems/gents out there.

I'm completely wiped out now. It's only 8:50 p.m. here in Greensboro and I feel like it should be midnight! I just can't wait for my three day vacay in Jackson which is coming soon.. I'm so excited to see my family it's not even funny.

I hope everyone had a great day. Ole Miss still sucks and Go Red Raiders!

Only In Mississippi...

No offense to you EMCC or camo fans out there. This was just too good not to share. My volleyball team came up with the "great" idea of black/glow-in-the-dark football a couple of weekends ago. They thought that it would be cool to watch, until I told them that it was just an injury and a lawsuit waiting to happen. Now this -- camo football. Nice. Only in Mississippi.

EMCC Football Coach Buddy Stephens To Appear On Local TV Shows In Advance Of Lions' West Point Game

SCOOBA, Miss. – East Mississippi head football coach Buddy Stephens and EMCC vice president for athletics Mickey Stokes are scheduled to appear on two upcoming local television shows to promote the 16th-ranked Lions’ Saturday afternoon football game against Itawamba to be played at West Point High School.

The East Mississippi tandem will first be featured on the West Point of View program scheduled to air Sunday night at 10 p.m. on WLOV-TV/FOX 27 out of West Point/Columbus/Tupelo. The 30-minute show, hosted by Terry Smith, will be devoted entirely to Saturday’s EMCC-ICC football game in West Point. The following morning, Stephens and Stokes are slated to be interviewed live early Monday morning on WCBI-TV’s Sunrise program out of Columbus. Scheduled to take place around 6:40 a.m., Monday morning’s WCBI-TV Sunrise segment is scheduled to last around three minutes with Jackie Finch handling the interview duties.

In addition to East Mississippi scheduled to don Mossy Oak camouflage jerseys for Saturday’s contest against Itawamba, pre-game activities slated for the West Point game will include a swearing in of 30-35 Air Force recruits plus a planned flyover of T-38 Talon jets courtesy of Columbus Air Force Base and the United States Air Force. A United States Army ROTC cannon will also be on hand to sound off following all EMCC scores during the game. An EMCC recruiting station, hospitality tent and tailgating opportunities will also be available during Saturday afternoon’s EMCC-ICC game at West Point High School. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Written by my favorite sports information director, the great David Rosinski

You say who is on what?!?!?

Ole Miss is on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Yes, folks. The same Sports Illustrated that flaunted the large piece of man-ness know as Michael Phelps just a month ago. The same Sports Illustrated that had Paps and his crazyness on the front last year. (Sidenote: This crazy man named Craig who is reporting for the ALDS sure does not know how to pick a sports coat. It's orange. Or maybe that's just my TV.) Yes, even the same Sports Illustrated that had Lawrence Roberts wrapped in Chirstmas lights sitting on Santa's lap just five years ago (Ok, that was SI On Campus, but it's still the same company).

And for the record, I won't post a picture of the cover because I refuse to litter my blog with such rubbish. Google it if you choose. Anyway, why are they on the cover, you ask? Who freakin' knows. The tag line says: Rebels rise. Upsets change everything. Ole Miss 31, Florida 30. Alabama 41, Georgia 30. Oregon State 27, USC 21.

You may ask, "Why Katie. What is your problem?" I'll tell ya. Let's look at the rankings. Florida was number four. Ole Miss, unranked. Georgia was three. Alabama, eight. USC was number one. Oregon State, unranked.

Let's just forget the lovefest that Sports Illustrated has with Houston Nutt and Nick Saben for a second.

Although USC was a very overrated number one, I think Oregon State deserves their props.

Let's look at the facts:
- It's been 41 years since Oregon State has beaten a No. 1-ranked team.
- The Beavers had a 21 point lead at halftime.
- Although SC pulled the ever-famous come-from-behind that they always do, they couldn't get the job done because of a guy named Greg Layburn who intercepted a pass with less than three minutes to go and ran it back to the SC 2-yard line.
- Freshman at quarterback for OSU.

Ole Miss has upset people before. Florida has been upset before. My mind goes back to a little game last year against a team called Auburn, who had just lost to a team called Mississippi State (19-14) two weeks earlier. The score: 20-17. Auburn. Just about the same calibur of team that Ole Miss is this year. Only Ole Miss has a better quarterback this year. Yes, I said it. Gotta give credit where credit is due.

So with that said, give Oregon State some love. They probably weren't even receiving votes in the polls. I'm thinking Ole Miss might have been. I know the SEC is the best conference in the nation, with the Big 12 coming in at a close second. But the PAC-10 is bad. USC is miles above it's competition there. They go to Corvallis and just get embarassed for the first three quarters of football. That's an upset, no matter how you look at it. Home field advantage or not.

So, Beavers. I salute you. Way to play the underdog card. Well done. SC fell to nine. Florida, to 13. Ole Miss, still unranked.

Now I must go cheer on the BoSox. They are playing some wicked bad ball right now.

Weekend Recap and VMA Review

Ok...I think I'm going to have to do my review of the MTV VMAs first because it's the most annoying to me and I need to get it out of my head. I wasn't planning on watching the VMAs this year because really, MTV award shows...well MTV period...is just getting a little ridiculous. I think the only show I really watch on MTV now is "The Hills" and that is even laughable at times. But I was working on a golf story and turned my TV on and the VMAs just happened to be starting. Let's just start from the beginning.

1. Britney Spears - Poor Britney Spears. I really felt sorry for her. I was embarassed for her. It was just sad. First of all, she wasn't singing, but really, who does anymore? Aside from her tan, that seemed to be applied the day before to hide the flab, she looked horrible. Ok, Brit, you've popped out two kids in the past three years. Granted you do look like you have tried to work off some of the baby fat but seriously, you're a mom. You are someone's mother. There is no reason you should be on stage in a bra and panties. What a role model! You're definitely teaching your sons what they should look for in a girl. Class. Yeah.

Moving onto the performance, it was just sad. She looked like she had choreographed the routine 2 hours before, which it wouldn't surprise me if she did. She staggered around on the stage, looking very confused. And the song...it just doesn't make sense. I'm saddened by the road Brit Brit has taken and I really hope she finds her way back home.

But to defend Brit a little bit, I did read somewhere that the reason she looked so confused and uninterested was because during rehearsal she heard Sarah Silverman's monologue and how she called her children "adorable mistakes". I think that I would be a little thrown off by that comment as well but I think it would have fueled the fire even more to show everyone that I mean business. But oh well.

P.S. Did you see the looks on everyone's faces during the performance. It's got to take a lot to put a look of shock and awe on 50 Cent's face.

2. While we're on the subject, Sarah Silverman should fall off the face of the earth. Ok, maybe that was a little harsh, but she really annoys me. Her bit at the VMAs was not funny at all and all she really did was just trash talk. I don't get it. Can someone please get on stage and do a comedy bit that is funny without taking cheap shots at people. It really shows how classy you are when you have to stoop to such a level to get some laughs.

3. Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys and Chris Brown killed it. Those were some of the best performances I've ever seen. I randomly watched the JT Madison Square Garden concert on HBO last Thursday and I have to say, he's truly an incredible talent. Aside from being a great singer, he really knows how to put a show together and perform. Not to mention, that he played the piano and/or guitar on at least half the songs. Plus, he can dance. Really. (I wish I could find some good pictures of these guys but I've searched for 15 minutes and no luck. I quit.)

Now onto the next subject, my weekend. I had a pretty good weekend. I had to go to Atlanta Saturday for the Samford/GA Tech game. The department rented me a car so I wouldn't have to drive my own and I ended up with a yellow Exterra. It was one of the newer ones and they really drive great.

Anyway, to make a long story short. We lost. We lost bad. 69-14. And the third string was in for most of the game. They score four touchdowns in the first quarter. The FIRST QUARTER. It was worse that the MSU-LSU game last year. Oh, it was bad. However, there were a few positives we were able to take away but I won't go into that right now. Instead, I'll comment on how incredible the atmosphere at GA Tech is. They have a great game day atmosphere that made me want to go back to college and become an engineer. As most know, the mascot of GA Tech is a Yellowjacket. However, they are more commonly knows as the Wramblin' Wreck. So they have this car, the Wramblin' Wreck, that they drive across the field in every pregame. It made me miss the Mississippi State Bone Car but I digress. Here's a pic:

Anyway, their fight song is also a lot of fun. It's not very classy but it's really fun to sing. Here's the story about it from the program along with the lyrics:

It is doubtful that anything has ever meant as much to an

American college as has this Georgia Tech fight song, a curious mixture

of words and music that grew out of an old

folk ballad, "The Sons of the Gamboliers." Since the early 1900's,

it has been one of the most important vehicles in making

Georgia Tech's name known around the world and in the development

of the school as one of the most cosmopolitan institutions

of higher learning in America...In 1910, Michael A. Greenblatt,

Tech's first bandmaster, discovered the band playing "Ramblin' Wreck"

to the tune of "Sons of the Gamboliers," and made his first arrangement

of the song in the form of a handwritten manuscript.

When Frank Roman succeeded Greenblatt as bandmaster in 1911,

he wrote a new adaptation of "Ramblin' Wreck," accompanied by many

trumpet flourishes, that was played by every name band in the country

and became nationally known on radio.

His is the version that continues to be popular today.

I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer,

A helluva, helluva, helluva, helluva, hell of an engineer,

Like all the jolly good fellows, I drink my whiskey clear,

I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer.

Oh, if I had a daughter, sir, I'd dress her in White and Gold,

And put her on the campus, to cheer the brave and bold.

But if I had a son, sir, I'll tell you what he'd do.

He would yell, "To Hell with Georgia," like his daddy used to do.

Oh, I wish I had a barrel of rum and sugar three thousand pounds,

A college bell to put it in and a clapper to stir it around.

I'd drink to all good fellows who come from far and near.

I'm a ramblin', gamblin', hell of an engineer.

So that's that. I heard it so much that I found myself singing it when I woke up the next moring. It's kind of like "Rocky Top". It gets stuck in your head and it's hard to get out. However, it's a little less annoying than RT.

That's about it for my share time. We got home just in time for me to catch the second half of the MSU-Tulane game. I was glad to see that we were able to pull out a win, but we should have beat them my much more than that. But you know what they say, "A win is a win however you can get it." I don't know who says it but I've heard it many times before. Anyway, GO BULLDOGS!