Oxford December 18, 2016

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Sunday EDITION

Volume 3 | Issue 70

oxfordcitizen.com

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Inside 3 News

Oxford welcomes members of the Lakota Nation

4 News

CHANING GREEN

Square Books Jr. held their annual Grinch-mas reading of the Dr. Seuss’ classic children’s book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The Grinch himself attended the event, which was coordinated to benefit Toys For Tots.

Grinch-mas Giving Square Books Jr. holds annual Grinch-mas to benefit Toys For Tots

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

The Grinch, who lives just north of Whoville, made a special trip down to Oxford to visit Square Books Jr. last weekend for a special reading of Dr. Seuss’ Christmas classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Around 50 kids and parents of all ages gathered in the play area of the children’s

bookstore on the Square to hear Jill Bennett Moore read the children’s literary classic. Bennett Moore is known around town for her weekly storybook reading session at the bookstore where she also plays guitar and sings. Grinch-mas functioned much the same way, except the Grinch was there in person and was available for pictures with the kids.

Grinch-mas is an event started by publisher Random House in 2013 as a way to

OHS students take scientific tour of Woodlawn-Davis

10 Sports

get more children familiar with the already hugely popular storybook. The event is characterized at most participating bookstores by a 25 days of giving component. Usually, bookstores coordinate and partner with local nonprofits for Grinch-mas, but this year Random House officially partnered with Toys For Tots.

Random House reached out to Gene TURN TO GRINCHMAS PAGE 4

Finding a Way: Joiner, Chargers overcome scrappy effort from LHS

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 2

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

Boys & Girls Club of Oxford celebrates teen center

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

Six new basketball goals, and 8,000 square feet to move around in, is what teenagers can now take part in at the Barksdale Boys & Girls Club Teen Center. A red ribbon could barely reach across half of the new courts that were completed in the effort to give teens a place of their own within the club.

Hill Construction handled the project, and not only got the job done on time, but saved the board money.

All of it was a blessing to Zell Long, the Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi Chief Professional Officer.

“This has already made an impact and we're hoping to increase the number of teens that are coming to the club,” Long said. “We know that we compete with the basketball and football games and all of those things, but during those off seasons, and for the teens that don't come to the club

JOHN DAVIS

The Barksdale Boys & Girls Club of Oxford held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday to celebrate the opening of a new 8,000 square foot teen center. and play sports, we hope they'll want to come and see what's going on. Teenagers like their own space and this will separate them from the rest of the young people that are here in this area.”

Oxford is one of the satellite campuses associated with the Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi, which is based out of Tupelo. The new teen center will be geared to ages 13 to 18. It

was made possible through a grant of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson and proceeds from the Barksdale Endowment Fund.

Long said that over 30 teens come to the club on a daily basis and the goal is to build up to serving 50 each day. The teen center has gone from it being a dream, and a basketball slab, to an

actual building thanks to the Parsons Foundation, and the $300,000 it got from them. The Barksdale Endowment Fund gave the project $150,000.

“It's been in the works, talking about it, five or six years and then actual construction, we started on it in 2015,” Long said adding that an upstairs area has also been renovated at the club.

“There were some other

things done in the facility like painting.”

The most important thing Long tries to get across to the public is that the club is not a day care center.

“We're not just bringing in youth here and they're sitting around. It's youth development and we're teaching them and focusing on academics and leadership and being great citizens

with healthy lifestyles,” she said. “All of those things are happening everyday at the club. It gives me joy to see young people become confident, letting people see all of the gifts they have in their lives, and getting the attention they deserve as young people, and to see people care about them.”

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

JOHN DAVIS

Zell Long, the chief professional officer of the Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi, talks with those in attendance at the ceremony.

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

PAGE 3

Oxford welcomes members of the Lakota Nation

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Thursday night, a special delegation of representatives from the Lakota Nation of Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota held fellowship with members of the Oxford Community at the Burns-Belfry Museum and Cultural Center to pray, share the songs and dances of their culture and discuss the importance to cultural preservation.

The night was organized

by Sustainable Oxford with the help of local farmer Nathan Bell. Earlier this month, Bell took the initiative to, with the support of members of the Oxford community, deliver supplies and stand in solidarity with the U.S. military veterans who joined the protests at Sanding Rock against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

While at the Oceti Sakowin camp, he met Delwin Fiddler, his family and several other protestors.

Bell learned that the group wanted to share their message of community, peace and cultural preservation with the world. The group was making plans to visit different locations around the country to do just that. Bell suggested they make Mississippi their first stop and offered to house them. The group agreed.

“We just came down here from camp, which is where we connected with Nate,” Poe, a member of the group from Standing Rock, told the Citizen. “We just met him when he was there. I encourage everyone to go there, if possible. Go and

CHANING GREEN

Delwin Fiddler of the Lakota Nation, along with several family and friends, came to the Burns-Belfry Center Thursday night to speak about the importance of cultural preservation and discuss events unfolding at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota. experience the connections and the love that is around you and just how giving everyone is. Nate was just very open and very giving and welcomed us with open arms. We decided to make Mississippi our first stop because we connected with him very, very well.”

Fiddler led the event. He was there with his wife Sandra Chasing Hawk and their son Michael Looks Twice, who have all three been on the front lines of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests against the Army Corps of Engineers. Other members of the family as well as supporters and other tribe members were there as well, and are part of the group traveling to share their message.

“It’s vital for everyone to come together,” said Fiddler once the community discussion had ended.

CHANING GREEN

Fiddler dances while his son Michael Looks Twice plays a drum.As a part of the event, the visitors shared some of the songs and dances of the Lakota Nation with members of the Oxford Community.

“When we have the opportunity, we take it.”

The event began with Daniel Doyle of the Missis-

sippi Sustainable Agriculture Network welcoming everyone and thanking them all for coming out.

Josh Green then took the mic to give a brief history of the Burns-Belfry Center, how it came to be and how

they can support the centers’ dedication to the preservation of AfricanAmerican history.

Fiddler then came out in traditional dress and thanked the crowd for the opportunity to join them and share his culture. He declared everyone in the building friends of the tribe and led everyone in a chant of “water is life,” both in English and the language of the Lakota. Fiddler sang and performed traditional songs on a flute. His son Michael Looks Twice, in traditional dress, performed a song while he played a hand drum. The two then performed dances and chants while the crowd watched. They spun and sang while a song of the Lakota was piped in through the PA system set up in from the crowd.

Upon completion, there was a question and answer session held where members of the community thanked them for coming out to share their way of life.

Oxford was on the first stop on their journey. The group currently has plans to appear in Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura and other cities in California.

They’re hoping to make stops in different communities along the way.

For more information about the Lakota, as well as details on how to support Fiddler and his group as they make their way across the country, email or call Sustainable Oxford at sustainableoxford@gmail.com or 662-333-5405. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 4

OBITUARIES ANNIE BUSBY Annie Pearl Thomas Busby, 96, pased away Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, at Christian Care Center in Memphis. The funeral service was Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Allen officiating. Burial followed in Oxford Memorial Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. Busby’s memory may be made to First Baptist Church, 800 Van Buren, Oxford, MS 38655.

BOBBY DANIELS Bobby Daniels, 80, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo.

A graveside service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 at 3 p.m., at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, beside The Orchard church at 295 Hwy. 7 North, Oxford, MS 38655.

Donations and memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

MATTIE BROWN Mattie Lee Brown died on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, at Oxford Health and Rehab.

Visitation and funeral services were held on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 at First Baptist Church of Abbeville with Bro. Randy Hope officiating.

Donations and memorials may be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.

Online condolences may be left on the tribute wall at www.colemanfuneralhome.com.

Support Your Community

SHOP LOCAL Grinchmas FROM 1

Hays, who is the representative from the local branch of Toys For Tots. Hays than contacted Square Books, and they began collaborating on the event. Square Books Jr. offered 10 percent off of the purchase price of any item that people were purchasing to donate to Toys For Tots. The nonprofit had boxes set up in the bookstore so that people could come in, purchase

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

OHS students take scientific tour of Woodlawn-Davis

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Students from Oxford High School’s new Field Experiences class received and exclusive tour last week of future sight of the Woodlawn-Davis Nature Reserve.

Conservation Education Manager Mitch Robinson, who works for the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center, has been working with the park and led the tour.

He connected with the field experiences class through OHS Assistant Principal Duncan Gray.

“One of the things we’re doing in order to help secure the funding and support needed to see to the park’s completion is building these partnerships with different community organizations, schools and business to all become Friends of WoodlawnDavis,” Robinson said.

“One of the things that I did was reach out to Duncan Gray, who lives in that neighborhood and is serving on a committee for the park. I asked if he knew of a teacher who would be interested in working with us and using the park. He did.”

That teacher was Angela Whaley. In addition to being the faculty advisor for the school’s Envirothon team, she also leads a class that she began this semester called Field Experiences. The class is an elective and is made up entirely of students from Whaley’s advanced placement Environmental science course.

Students enrolled in the course meet for two hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They are given whatever they would like to donate at a special discount, and then drop the items into the box on their way out of the store.

Paul Fyke works at Square Books Jr. and looks forward to Grinch-mas every year. He said that the thing that makes Grinchmas such a popular event every year is that it provides an easy, and slightly discounted way for people to give back to the community, while also enjoying an engaging event they can bring their kids to. Fyke

COURTESY OF MITCH ROBINSON

Mitch Robinson of the Strawberry Plaines Audubon Society led a tour of the future site Woodlawn-Davis Park with Oxford High School teacher Angela Whaley and her students.The students are in a new class being offered at the school called Field Experiences where they get to leave the classroom and get hands-on experiences concerning natural science.

COURTESY OF MITCH ROBINSON

The students spent the morning learning about different invasive species that have overtaken the area and the park’s plans to completely remove them from Woodlawn-Davis. the unique opportunity to take regular trips off of the OHS campus to visit different locations in the community where they can learn more about local ecology, as well as the conservation efforts being done to study and protect pointed out that the event serves as a reminder that there are those in the community less fortunate, while giving them the opportunity to actually do something about it.

“I think a big thing about Grinch-mas is that people get really busy during the holidays, and it’s not that they don’t wanna give, we just sort of forget,” he said.

“We all just get so caught up in shopping for our three kids and four nieces and two nephews and this and that and we just get

these habitats.

Under Whaley’s supervision, students visit research facilities like the university’s Field Station out toward Abbeville as well as the USDA’s Sedimentation Lab.When they’re not in research facilities, the group stuck in those day-to-day thoughts. It’s hard to remember that there are some kids out there who don’t have anyone doing that for them.”

Alissa Lily works for Square Books and said that she loves Grinch-mas not only because of the generosity perspective, but because it is also one of the many events they do that allows the bookstore to become more involved with community.

“It’s a great way to get people in the store and

can usually be found trekking through the woods examining different species of flora or kneedeep in a creek studying the presence of different wildlife and what that means for the local ecosystem. allow them to feel comfortable there so they’ll want to come back and hang out with us later,” she said. “Obviously, we’re retail, so we have to sell books to survive as a business, but it’s also so, so important for to us to be a part of the community.

We want to embrace the community and build a community around books.

There’s a significant percentage of people who come to the bookstore to just simply be in the bookstore. It has become a community gathering place. It

“We don’t have to meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so not only do we get a break, we also get the chance to go out and have so many different experiences and actually learn,” said student Olivia Meyer.

“We get to do and see things we normally wouldn’t be able to do. Like that time we went electro-fishing.”

At Woodlawn-Davis the students were given handson experience learning about the different types of invasive species that have overtaken that particular landscape and the larger ecological impact it has on the area. Upon it’s completion, Woodlawn-Davis will be populated solely by native species. The removal of all invasive species will be done in phases until the park is completely devoid on nonnative plant life.

As of yet, there is no set date of when the removal effort will begin full force, but Robinson is hoping that students in the community will be able to play a big role in in the process.

“We did a lot of tree identification as well and tied that into education about nonnative species,” Robinson said. “We discussed setting up a workday where the students could come out and help us identify the nonnative invasive species we’re planning to remove, as well as workday where we actually do some removal. It’s good for the students to see real-world examples of how conservation is being done on the ground and how it is being done through collaborations.” chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

has become a weekly, and sometimes even daily part of people’s lives.”

The collection boxes from Toys For Tots have been collected and donations are currently being sorted through so they can go to children in need. For more information about the nonprofit and the work they do in they do in communities around the councheck out try, www.toysfortots.org. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: @chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

PAGE 5

WellCare launches telemonitoring pilot program

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Medicare Advantage organization WellCare Health Plans Inc. is currently testing a telemonitoring program that would allow for the remote monitoring of Medicare Advantage subscribers who have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure or diabetes.

By keeping regular tabs on members, WellCare can maintain access to patient vital signs in real time, allowing for immediate medical response if a situation requires it. Special devices are placed within the homes of participating members that record and report data to WellCare clinicians. Those clinicians can then monitor a patient’s stats and notify his or her physician if they note something of concern. The physician can then call the patient and talk to them, ideally deescalating the situation before a trip to the emer-

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OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 7

November Sales Leaders TOP LISTERS

Danny Flowers

TOP S ELLERS

Weesie Biedenharn

Eileen Saunders

Blake Thompson

Eileen Saunders

Betty Wiseman

TOP PRODUCERS

Blake Thompson

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 8

Eileen Saunders Danny Flowers Nicole Cain Wright Polina Wheeler Kaye Ladd 662.816.7294 - Oxford 662.617.5744 - Oxford Managing Broker, Oxford 662.404.0816 - Oxford 662.401.4632 - Oxford

Will Troxler 662.231.6362 - Tupelo

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James R. Hunter, Sr. Deborah Tierce 662.790.5331 - Tupelo 662.871.8658 - Tupelo

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Stan Abel 662.816.9363 - Oxford

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Jennifer Harrelson Amanda Miller 662.871.3574 - Tupelo 662.213.2764 - Tupelo

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OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

PAGE 9

Caroline Felker Weesie Biedenharn Paula Crum 662.801.0878 - Oxford 662.638.5332 - Oxford 662.701.7789 - Oxford

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PAGE 10

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

AND THE

AROUND SQUARE BEYOND JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

Different energy needed for OM Rebels to turn things around

F

or the first time in a while, Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze could smile. He had a different energy Friday when he talked about the future, and his two new coordinators. Freeze had experienced a whole lot of change to his staffs ever since he became a head coach.

He has typically hired the right guys and they have remained with him. Tom Allen left for a promotion. So did Wesley McGriff following the 2012 season.

The last few weeks, following the Rebels' 5-7 season, was the toughest for Freeze. He actually had to cut ties with friends. He had to make tough calls on re-assign some duties for coaches who have been with him for longer than a minute.

It showed in the words that Freeze used to describe the transition from the 2016 season to the future, which now includes finishing strong in recruiting and getting ready for spring football.

“In my tenure, ever since Lambuth to Arkansas State to here, I’ve had very little change. That’s something I’m proud of, but there comes a time where change is good. I think this is the case,” Freeze said Friday.

“We’re very indebted to the coaches who have been with us for a long time, but I’m really excited today to announce a couple of new hires that I think are going to bring a new energy and new vision and take us from being good to great. That was the whole philosophy behind the search of these guys. Offensively, Dan Werner has done a great job. Our five years here, if you check, what we’ve accomplished is unprecedented in the history of Ole Miss football.”

Freeze had to make changes on both sides of the ball, but especially on defense where Dave Wommack announced his decision to retire as coordinator just before the loss to Mississippi State. Chris Kiffin is TURN TO REBELS PAGE 11

BILL BARKSDALE

Oxford's Jarkel Joiner scored 32 points in the 75-39 win over Lafayette Friday night in the OHS gym.

Finding a Way Joiner, Chargers overcome scrappy effort from LHS

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Oxford's Jarkel Joiner expected to see an extra defender on him Friday night. He knew Lafayette coach John Sherman had the experience to throw anything and everything at him. For a quarter and a half, the extra defender slowed Joiner down. But the Commodores couldn't do enough to completely shut his water off.

Joiner finished with 32 points in the Chargers' 75-39 win over the Commodores. It was the most intense game the Chargers had played this season, he felt. The extra defender

frustrated Joiner, but he channeled the energy by playing better on defense, and hitting the glass for rebounds.

“I was just trying to do anything I could to get stats for the stat book,” Joiner said. “Every game we go in like it's our last game, like we're playing Wayne County. Two years in a row they beat us so I play every game like they have Wayne County on their jersey. I go in and play like it's like my last game. This team, we're young, but we play so hard together. You can't tell the young guys are young.”

Oxford (7-0 overall) scored 24 points in the first quarter and 26 in the final

period. In between, Lafayette (2-5) made the game more competitive, and had its chances to tighten the game even more.

“I thought we battled, especially in the first half. Jarkel scored one point in the second quarter and two points in the third quarter. We had several opportunities in the third quarter,” Sherman said. “They jumped out and extended a 10-point lead to 16 and then it seemed to stay that way for half the quarter. We certainly had our opportunities and that's where we fell short because we don't take advanTURN TO JOINER PAGE 12

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

Rebels

Hope he’ll be able to stay here and assist us in some role, not sure what that is FROM 10 yet, but we’d love to keep no longer on staff, headed him in the building.”

McGriff comes back to to coach with his brother Oxford to coordinate the at Florida Atlantic. And Corey Batoon, who helped defense, and to coach somewhere in the secondin the secondary, will be ary. He is an intense relocated in another part of cruiter and let's be honest, the football building. the Rebels need an influx “It’s time for some of talent. This year's rechange to revive us a little cruiting class ranks at the bit. We’ve had a good run. bottom of the SEC in The first four years here terms in rankings, but with were incredible. But we live in a society where they McGriff now locked in, Ole Miss will move up. This forget about those and year's class won't be the move on to the next one and we needed a change,” best Freeze has ever signed due to the looming Freeze said. “Grant Heard NCAA sanctions, but Mcand Chris Kiffin, anytime my guys get to go and have Griff has the ability to change the outcome of the a chance to pursue their career goals, both of those class.

Freeze feels comfortable have a chance to go and be with McGriff and he said coordinators at good prothat the man that they call grams, and I’m one who “Crime Dog” did a great gives them advice. Somejob interviewing. times I don’t tell them “The comfort level I what to do, but I tell them, have with Wesley McGriff when you get a chance, was very important to me, shoot your gun, go. Both and the energy he will have those opportunities bring in reviving our deat places. I think they’re fense is going to be vital. close to finalizing those The experience he has with their next schools.

Corey Batoon right now is been able to have, whether going to be assigned in an it’s coaching the No. 2 secoff-the-field position here. ondary in the nation in pass defense at Miami, We love him and his working for great coordiknowledge of the game.

PAGE 11

here.”

Phil Longo will lead the offense, and Freeze raved about his ability, and what he brings to the table. At Sam Houston State, Longo was in charge of an offense that averaged over 500 yards and almost 50 points per game.

“His offenses have been No. 1 throughout the FCS the last two years. He’s been very balanced. He’s coached All-American Jeremiah Briscoe throughout this and people like Mike Leach, Kliff Kingsbury, people who know him very well, did not have enough good things to say about him,” Freeze said.

“He’s a tireless worker and he’s going to bring a great energy and drive and JOSH MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS hunger to help us improve Chris Kiffin will no longer be the coach of the Ole Miss defensive line. He is joining his brother offensively. So we’re very excited about Phil.” at Florida Atlantic after serving five years as an assistant to coach Hugh Freeze.

So it's a new start for the Rebels, a much needed that. The critical areas that and gave up very few exnators at Vanderbilt and one, with two coaches I really wanted to look at plosive plays, and those Auburn, and the NFL exwho have been very sucdefensively in this hire areas were critical areas perience. In his interview, cessful at several different were stopping the run, red that I thought we had to he blew us away. We love zone scoring and not givreally look closely at in hir- stops. Freeze knew that the energy he’s going to being under .500 couldn't ing up explosive plays. ing the defensive coordibring back to Oxford,” last past this year, and he When you look at what he, nator, and his name just Freeze said. “He’s one of reloaded his gun, and along with his staff at kept coming to the top. the better recruiters I’ve fired, just like he told his Auburn, Kevin Steele The energy that I know ever faced. And as we assistant coaches to do. know, you have to have highly recommended him. he’ll bring and the staff great players on the defen- What they’ve done there in we’ll put together on that sive side. There’s no doubt those regards, top 10 in side to revive the way we John.davis@journalinc.com that he will assist us in rushing, top 10 in scoring should be playing defense Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Defense keys Lady Commodores past OHS Lady Chargers

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Lafayette settled for longdistance shots during the first quarter of its game with Oxford Friday night.

Then the Lady Commodores settled in, they started to penetrate the Lady Chargers' zone defense and the points started to roll. The end result was a 57-29 win that kept the Lady Commodores unbeaten on the year.

Lafayette coach Shayne Linzy said he knew that Oxford coach Cliff Ormon was going to have his team play hard, and give every bit of effort they had inside.

“I'm sure he told his girls to play hard but also that they didn't have anything to lose. Fight, scratch and claw and see what happened and that's what they did in the first quarter,” Linzy said. “We were forcing some stuff and we really weren't rotating well on defense. Once we calmed

JOHN DAVIS

Lafayette's Orianna Shaw, right, cuts off Oxford's Jordan Freeze to try and garner a steal. down, I thought we were much better, especially in the second and third quarters.”

Lady ComThree modores scored in double figures for Linzy, who said the key to the win was how well his team played on defense. Only Jordan Freeze scored in double figures for

the Lady Chargers, who scored just two points in the decisive second quarter.

Once the Lady Commodores realized they needed to dribble into the zone, and then pass the ball outside for 3-pointers, the offense really started to flow.

I don't want to take the 3 when we have to settle. I wanted us to drive and then dish or even kick it outside for a really wide open 3.”

Lafayette had a big lead at the half, but Linzy wanted his team to clamp down in the third quarter because last season, the Lady Commodores let too many teams stay with them.

“This year, we're starting to put teams away in the third quarter and that's huge. That's growth,” Linzy said. “And that's all the kids, playing and being more confident and really buying in to what we're doing on defense and then getting out in transition. We talked about it at half, that we can JOHN DAVIS put it away or continue to Lafayette's Xhiir Burgess (5) looks for an spot to put up a shot make it a game. And we during Friday night's game with Oxford. The Lady Com- were able to keep up that modores won 57-29. defensive pressure and put the game away.”

“I told them that they they wanted us to shoot john.davis@journalinc.com were clogging up the mid- outside,” Linzy said. “We'll Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd dle with the big girl and take the 3 on a kick out but

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 12

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

McGriff, Longo hired to help turn around OM Rebels in 2017

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Ever since Hugh Freeze became a head coach, dating all the way back to his days at Lambuth, he's had very little change on his staffs. After the Ole Miss Rebels suffered a 5-7 season this fall, Freeze felt the time was right for a new look.

Freeze officially introduced the hiring of his two new coordinators — Wesley McGriff and Phil Longo — to the media Friday. McGriff will be looking to improve a defense that ranked No. 110 in the nation last season, while Longo has been asked to improve a running attack to complement the talents of quarterback Shea Patterson.

Freeze felt the new hires were going to “bring a new energy and vision and take us from being good to great.”

McGriff, who will coach at Auburn through the Sugar Bowl, was awarded a three-year deal that is worth $3.3 million total.

Athletics director Ross Bjork said that there are incentives tied to the deal as well.

“It feels great. I had the opportunity to work under Coach Freeze before and what a great leader he is and a great, great person,”

Joiner FROM 10

tage of opportunities to score.”

Turnovers on the part of the Commodores led to transition baskets and ultimately allowed Oxford to open things up in the second half.

“We don't take care of the ball and we don't have enough people that can make a play and you have to be able to make plays,” Sherman said. “We don't seem to be very good at that. We need to get into the gym and learn how to make a play, when to make a play, where to make a play. We gave up too many layups and they were from turnovers and missed shots. We had guys that weren't aware of their guards releasing and going down the court and then getting back and

JOSH MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS

Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze hired Wesley McGriff to coordinate the defense, while Phil Longo, was hired to coordinate the offense. said McGriff, who coached OM defensive backs in 2012. “He's a guy I've always said if I had a chance to go back and work with anybody in my career, it would be Coach Freeze. To come back and work at Ole Miss as the defensive coordinator, that's phenomenal.”

McGriff's second question to answer was about which style of defense he would use to stop offenses in the SEC, and the Rebels' schedule in general.

“We're going to run the defense that's going to stop every offense that's playing football in America,” said McGriff, who will stay at Auburn until the Tigers wrap up play in the Sugar Bowl. “We'll run a 4-3, attacking defense. I have a lot of ideas from my past experience and what we want to do on defense, but I think it's all about the guys that's in the room. You have to formulate a plan with the talent that's in the room.

We have to do a good as-

stopping layups.”

Oxford coach Drew Tyler remembers burning several timeouts right after the halftime break.

He went on to say it took his team five minutes in the third quarter to finally put the plan made up at the break into action.

“For two and a half quarters, they played two guys on Jarkel and manto-man on Terry Williams.

They played three Oxford guys with two Lafayette guys,” Tyler said. “We made adjustments at halftime, but it took us five minutes into the third quarter to finally go from the chalkboard to the playing floor. We burned a lot of timeouts and kind of had to have come to Jesus type talk. Once we finally did it, we got easy baskets and we made Lafayette play horizontal basketball and it allowed for a big leads for us.

We've seen trick defenses and we will continue to see trick defenses. People are going to guard Joiner with two guys.”

Stepping up (subhead) Sherman was proud of the way Hogan Linzy, who led Lafayette with 11 points, played despite being sick. After a slow start, Sherman said Linzy played like a man. Linzy had a shot in the morning just to be able to play.

“I wasn't feeling it at first but if there is any game I've got play hard, it's this one,” Linzy said.

“Coach Sherman pulled me off the court and told me I had to lead this team. I told him I would be ready. I knew I had to do something for this team. The scoreboard doesn't show that the first three quarters, we fought our tails off.

“If we play three quarters like that each game,

JOSH MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS

Phil Longo is the new offensive coordinator at Ole Miss. He was hired after spending the past three seasons at Sam Houston State. sessment of who is in the room at what position and then you have to develop a plan that your assistant coaches are very comfortable with.”

Longo, who is coming in from Sam Houston State, has a two-year deal that is

worth $600,000 in 2017 and $700,000 in 2018. The Bearkats were one of the most prolific offenses in the nation the past three seasons under Longo. This past fall, Sam Houston went 12-1 and averaged 547.3 yards and 49.5 points per game.

“My family and I are excited to be joining the Ole Miss community. The opportunity to be in the SEC is something every college aspires to do,” Longo said. “I am looking forward to working together with the offensive staff and taking advantage of the opportunity that Coach Freeze has provided me. I'm a competitor, like most coaches, and you want to have the opportunity do what you do against the very best.

There is no question we're going to see the very best in the SEC. It's a dream come true.”

Freeze added that Longo has been on his radar for “a long time.”

“Specifically, his units have excelled in three key areas that we need to address — rushing offense, third down efficiency and red zone success,” Freeze said.

Freeze still needs to hire a defensive line coach and someone to coach the linebackers on defense, as well as a wide receivers coach.

Grant Heard left Ole Miss to join Tom Allen at Indiana.

Chris Kiffin, who coached the defensive line, will join his brother Chris at Florida Atlantic.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

we come out on top more often than not. They're a good team. We know that this is what you have to do if you want to win. Our thing this year is getting out of the bottom of the division. We're climbing the ladder right now, and this is a starting point.”

Terry Williams finished with 22 points for the Chargers to complement Joiner's scoring effort.

Michael Bianco had 10 rebounds and Hiram Wadlington had 11 assists.

“We lack height and in some place we lack talent, but the thing we don't lack is being a team,” Tyler said. “We have other teammates that know how to hit the stat book, and that's a good thing.

For a quarter and a half, we did that.”

BILL BARKSDALE

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Oxford's Terry Williams scored 22 points to complement Joiner's big night scoring.

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

PAGE 13

Former Chargers doing big things at Meridian CC

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Being home for the holidays only means a temporary break for Meridian Community College tennis players Will Swindoll and Callan Shinall. The former Oxford High standouts have had a busy fall playing for coach Wanda McPhail and the Eagles, who ranked No. 11 in the nation at the break.

Shinall and Swindoll play doubles together, and garnered a ranking of No. 14.

Swindoll ranked No. 23 in singles in Region III. Both have filled a big hole in the lineup for coach Wanda McPhail, who said Swindoll had a “huge serve” and Shinall had “great hands at the net.”

Shinall is just happy to be back playing tennis after missing his senior season at Oxford after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He didn't swing a tennis racket between February and July.

“It took a couple of months to get back. I'm not fully back, my serve still isn't there yet but my ground strokes have come back, and some of my volleys,” said Shinall, who added the biggest difference between OHS and college is how competitive the tennis is. “We have a different format. We get to play doubles and singles now. The competition has been a lot harder. We've gotten to play against a lot of great teams.”

Shinall added that McPhail has made him more accountable with things overall. The main season for the tennis team is in the spring, and that means even more work in the attempt to get into shape.

Swindoll expected the tennis to be more competitive, and for things to be a little tougher than in high school. His thoughts still weren't enough to deal with the reality of how tough it was.

“I knew it would get

JOHN DAVIS

Former Oxford High standouts Will Swindoll, left, and Callan Shinall are back at home for Christmas getting a little rest after a busy fall playing tennis for Meridian Community College. tougher, but I didn't expect it to get this much tougher,” Swindoll said adding his ground strokes improved the most over the first semester. “I'm still pretty strong serve

$0 $0 $0 $0

wise. I've always been a bigger guy and stronger than pretty much every tennis player that I play.

I'm used to that, that's happened for me for a while.”

College has been enjoyable for both, with Swindoll adding “it's been a nice change up” because school isn't as long.

(Swindoll had two classes a day). Shinall took 26

hours, while Swindoll logged 18 hours of work.

“We had one early morning class that the tennis team had to take,” Swindoll said. “Then the rest of mine were a class at 9:30 and then one at 11.”

Getting back in tennis shape is a focus for Shinall and Swindoll, who was happy with his success in the fall, but always room to improve.

“It was a good start, I'm happy with what I did,” Swindoll said.

MCC has been a safe haven for many tennis players from Lafayette and Oxford. The Chargers' Max Mauney will be on the team next year. Standout Nathan Hollis, who attended Lafayette, is on the team along with former OHS standout Alex Vaughn. Will Huntington and Judson Watson, two former Chargers, also played for McPhail in the past.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

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