News item: Arkansas defensive co-captain Jermaine Brooks was kicked off the team Wednesday after he was charged with felonies alleging drug possession, drug distribution and simultaneous possession of several rifles and handguns. Officers found $16,841 in Brooks' apartment six blocks northeast of Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. Brooks is the third Arkansas starter to be arrested this year. Defensive back Ken Hamlin served nine days in jail for a second offense driving while intoxicated charge. Running back Cedric Cobbs was sentenced to 20 hours of community service, six months of probation and fined $700 for marijuana possession, driving while intoxicated and speeding. Both remained on the team.
Reaction: Dr. S always thought Fayetteville was in the Ozarks, not the Smokies. ... Razorback Stadium is sometimes called the Hog Pen. Sounds like they need to call it the Smoke House. ... Who does Brooks think he is, Nate Newton? ... This year's Arkansas team photo came with front and side views.
News item: Mississippi State freshman running back Nick Turner is facing a state charge of possessing counterfeit money. Police say Turner passed phony $100 bills at a Starkville nightclub last week. Turner, 18, was arrested Monday and released on $5,000 bond. State coach Jackie Sherrill suspended Turner indefinitely on Monday.
Reaction: Dr. S hopes they didn't let Turner pay his bail in cash.
And now, Dr. S will pick and grin:
Mississippi State and Southern Miss are off this Saturday, giving them time to prepare for their next losses. Meanwhile, Ole Miss travels to the Mile High City, Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Arkansas Doobies at 1 p.m. Last year these teams played an NCAA-record seven overtimes before the Smoked Hams escaped from Oxford with a 58-56 victory. Arkansas comes into the game with a great running game (best in the SEC) and an OK defense. The Rebels still have Eli, of course, but they have one of the worst running games in the nation (because they can't block anybody) and their defense didn't stop the run or the pass last week. Sounds like the Elis are going up in smoke ... Ozark Outlaws 31, Rebels Fell 27
Jackson State is facing a must-win situation when it plays at Grambling State at 1:30 p.m. The Tigers, the preseason SWAC East favorite, need a win against the G-Men, the two-time defending SWAC champs, to keep alive their hopes of a trip to the SWAC title game. The Tigers have the best quarterback in JSU history, Robert Kent, and they keep calling plays like the coaches are trying to get him killed. JSU has two good running backs, but they keep running pass plays out of an empty backfield, which means little or no protection for Kent. And he keeps getting hit. One of these times he's going to say, "I've fallen and I can't get up." And don't even talk about the coaching, because Grambling has a coach (Doug Williams) and JSU has a jumped-up equipment manager (Robert Hughes). It could get ugly ... G-Men 27, J-Men 21
Speaking of ugly, Hinds (4-3, 2-3 South Division) is a mess this season. People say, "Dr. S, give the one-mighty Eagles a break. They're a young team this year. They have like, three sophomores, and the rest are freshmen." Sorry, but Dr. S is in the results business, not the excuses business. And Hinds won't like this result ... Jones 24, Hinds 20
Alcorn State is taking the week off, but Mississippi Valley is going to lose again at Texas Southern at 4 p.m. In the Downtown area, two-time defending NAIA national champion plays Belhaven at Newell Field at 1:30 p.m. and DePauw calls on Millsaps at 2 p.m. Out in Clinton, the Austin College Kangaroos hop into town to play Mississippi College at 6 p.m. Up in Cleveland, Henderson State visits Delta State at 3 p.m.
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