September 2025

September 2025

Game Day Ready

HOUSE ON THE LAKE | HISTORIC RIVALRY| DOWN SOUTH DIVA ON A DIME

SATURDAYS

AT S TAT E

Your future starts here:

APPLY.MSSTATE.EDU M3

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution.

T

here’s nothing quite like the sense of community that comes from being among fellow fans.

Being among people who share a passion that burns just as intensely as your own is pure magic. It creates an energy that moves crowds, causing hundreds … sometimes thousands … of people to feel and act as one. They sing the chorus of a band’s biggest song. They shout every word of a familiar cheer. Their joy is a sunburst. Their sorrow is a tidal wave.

This is, naturally, very true for football fans. Cliche though it may be to say so, here in Mississippi, football is – for a few months during the fall, at least – a way of life. Team colors are everywhere. Game-night rituals are sacred. Even for non-fans (and there are a few of us here in the Mud & Mag o es, believe it or not; we won’t name any names), the sense of shared excitement is so palpable, it’s hard not to join in.

It’s that energy we were talking about before. Like a wide receiver, it’s catching.

So, with the issue you hold in your hands, let’s celebrate both the excitement and fun that comes from sharing an experience with others with whom you may have little in common other than the love of a team.

1242 S. GREEN ST. TUPELO, MS 38804 662.842.2611

GET SOCIAL WITH US! @mudandmagnolias @mudandmagnolias

If you have any thoughts about this issue, please email us at editor@mudandmag.com subscriptions@mudandmag.com advertising@mudandmag.com info@mudandmag.com mudandmag.com This magazine is a monthly publication of Journal Inc.

OUR STAFF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dennis Seid

Adam Armour, Editor; Shannon Johnson, Creative Director; David Johnson, Creative Team; Janey Shimp, Creative Team; Missha Mize, Sales Coordinator

Meredith Biesinger

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

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Leslie Criss

Eugene Stockstill

Thomas Wells

SALES TEAM

Brad Locke

Caleb McCluskey

William Moore

Adam Robison

June Phillips Teresa McDonald Danielle Daugherty Angie Quarles Leigh Knox Paul Fullerton Rebecca Walker Tim Watson Molly Self Missha Mize

CHECKMATE AT THE MALL

The members of Tupelo’s Mulligan Chess Club love the game, of course. But more than that, they love the sense of community, camaraderie and creativity the game fosters.

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SURREAL IN THE SOUTH

Although he’s renowned worldwide as an artist, Tupelo’s Ke Francis rarely if ever thinks of himself as one. The work he does, broad and multifaceted, defines who he is more than a single word can express.

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FLAGS AND THE FUTURE OF FOOTBALL

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THE SKUNA RIVER RIVALRY

Mississippians love football, both as a game and a cultural touchpoint. But for young players, football poses some significant health risks. The growth of flag football is changing that.

Though Calhoun City has dominated the Skuna River Rivalry since 2005, tales of the school’s longstanding rivalry with Bruce High School live on through players, fans and families on both sides.

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On the cover: An Amory High School Panthers uniform lies on the school’s new football field. Cover photo by Thomas Wells.

September 2025, Vol. 13 No. 10

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Tupelo poet, author and amateur fashionista Patrica Neely-Dorsey believes you don’t have to take out a second mortgage on your home to make a fashion splash at this year’s homecoming football game. She and her husband are living proof that first-rate fashion has little to do with a fat bank account.

BLACK, GOLD AND UNBREAKABLE

Meet The Handpie Guy, a veteran-turned-pastry-chef who’s bringing Cali cool and Southern soul to the city of Tupelo – one handpie at a time.

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For generations, the Amory Panthers have represented more than just touchdowns and state titles; they’ve embodied community pride, grit, and a legacy that continues to grow.

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BEHIND THE MICROPHONE

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ROLLING IN THE DOUGH

A HOUSE ON THE LAKE

After losing his longtime Amory home to a tornado, Louis Rowles has found peace and purpose at a new home on the shores of Turtle Point.

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THE DOWNSOUTH DIVA ON A DIME

Don Brooks is the voice of Oxford High School athletics. An independent insurance broker by day, he has been living his childhood dream behind a microphone for 30-plus years..

Inside this issue

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ACE TEAM

BRENDA, BLAIR, AND BETHANY

ANNA CINDY BLACK LISA BRADLEY DAYTON BENTLEY BURDETTE

BLAKE ESTES

JAMIYA FIELDS

CAROL KLOAC

KATIE KRAUSS

ETHAN PARK

LIBBIE PARKER

MARLO FINNIE

TAB CHERRY

GILLIAN FLOWERS

JESSICA LEE

DUKE LODEN

TIM PUTT

VI SANANIKONE

BRET & ALLIE CARROLL

COURTNEY COPELAND

NATE COLEMAN

MATT HARTIGAN

MARCUS MCCOY

ALLI SHACKELFORD

HAVEN HILDENBRAND

YVETTE CRUMP

DENNIS JAGGARS

BOOMER MIZE

HEIDI MILLS

JERRION SMITH

LISTING LADIES

ELITE 3

DIANTE CURLEE

CERRITOS JOHNSON

JESSICA JAMES

NICK NICHOLS

OZZIE TUMBLIN

TEREIF OSBORNE

CAROLINE UPTHEGROVE

PAYNE DUNN

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rolling in thc

food

DOUGH

Story By Meredith Biesinger • Photos By Thomas Wells M10

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Ryan Tate

D

o you know The Hand Pie Guy? Pull into the shopping center at 1133 W. Main Street in Tupelo, and you’ll meet Ryan Tate, a man who is giving new life to empanadas in a small, tiki-style drive-thru that serves big fl vors in palm-sized packages. With an array of sweet and savory homemade recipes, Tate has introduced the “hand pie” to the hungry.

The Southern California native’s portable hand pies go hand in hand with his love of skateboarding. You can grab them and go, much like a board.

His business logo features a humanized hand pie with blue eyes and a mustache wearing a chef ’s hat, sneakers and carrying a rolling pin.

The couple’s hand pie story got rolling about a year ago when Ryan and his wife, Carla, moved to Tupelo after visiting the local skate park. They decided to make the town their home and open a business that has been influen ed by their individual histories.

Carla, from South Mississippi, is the woman behind The Hand Pie Guy. From Mississippi Pot Roast to Gumbo, Carla’s South Mississippi roots,

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recipes and roux are incorporated in the pies.

Ryan is an Army veteran and self-proclaimed pastry chef who creates the dough and dessert pies.

“We make 600 pies daily, and sell out just about every day,” he said. “Customers come all day long, and we love to see them. Our Sausage and Gravy pie is a breakfast favorite.”

But Tupelo’s favorite hand pie is Cheeseburger.

Other hand pie fl vors include: Chicken Philly, Guava with Cream Cheese, Blueberry with Vanilla Cream Cheese, Chocolate Bavarian, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Pumpkin and Ham, Egg and Cheese.

Tate gets up at 3 a.m. and begins his day at the Hand Pie Guy location at 4 a.m., mixing the dough ingredients. He then rolls the dough into rectangles, wraps them up, and places them in the refrigerator for a few hours.

“This process is for a batch of 2,400 hand pies,” he said. “This is for about a week’s worth of pies, and you have to ensure the dough is rolled out thin enough.”

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Michael Parker, left, and Ryan Tate

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Tate makes more the 600 fresh handpies daily.

The Handpie Guy is located at 1133 West Main Street in Tupelo

After the dough has chilled, Ryan takes the squares and, using circular cookie cutters, creates small discs that are transformed into the hand pie part of the pie.

“You really get a workout when you’re cutting the dough like this,” he said, “but I’ve got it down to a process now.”

Ryan then puts the discs in a 30-piece stack back in the fridge.

With new recipes rotating every month, the art of cooking the pie fi ling begins. Ryan and Carla experiment with differen

ingredients and fl vors, often inspired by local produce and customer feedback, to create new hand pies.

“I like everything fresh,” he said, explaining that anything from pot roast to blueberry fi ling will be cooked fresh, put into separate containers, refrigerated, and then pulled out to fi l the pies.

Each batch of one fl vor equals 100 pies and 24 hours of labor. It’s proof of the discipline it takes to keep a small business going and growing. M

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Ray and Carrie Hamilton Story...

The owner and chef of Anthony’s Good Food Market has created a new lunch eatery for the town of West Point. Sticking to his Cajun roots, Mr. Hamilton, a native of the Mississippi coast, has set a southern-creole cuisine. His family has been involved in the food industry their entire life.

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home

A house by the

Lake Story by LESLIE CRISS Photos by Adam Robison

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Louis Rowles

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After losing his longtime Amory home in a tornado, Louis Rowles has found peace and purpose on the shores of Turtle Point

W

hen the March 24, 2023, tornado ripped through Amory, the house that Louis Rowles had called home for 40 years was in the path of destruction.

Even though the Amory sirens blared and the power went o , Rowles – familiar with Mississippi’s fickle eather – thought there would be a little wind and the storm would pass.

“So, I went to bed about 11 p.m.,” he said. “Then I heard things hitting the house and glass breaking. I rolled out of bed to the floo , wrapping myself in all the bedcovers and pillows.

In 30 seconds, there was complete quiet.”

Most windows were broken and trees were down. His glass greenhouse had disappeared, his deck was gone, and a fairly large Japanese maple in a pot had vanished. Rowles, injured, checked on neighbors after a cursory survey of property damage.

“My garden that I’d worked on and kept up for 40-something years was obliterated, gone,” he said. “But I was alive.”

In the following days, Rowles brie y considered repairing his 1957-built house. He loved its beautiful hardwood floor and windows. But there was another option. In the fall of 2020, he purchased a four-room lake house in Tupelo.

“I was looking online when I ran across it,” he said. “I emailed for more information. The house had been vacant for more than a year and was in bad shape. Even the real estate agent told me not to buy it, that she would help find som thing better. But I liked the setting. I could see potential. It was affordable.

When his offer w s accepted, there were things he immediately worked to change.

“The deck was painted bright red, and I repainted that,” he said. “I painted all the walls. There was carpet throughout the house, and I pulled it up, repairs were made to the roof, and I did not want to scrape the popcorn ceiling, so I had bead board put up to cover the popcorn.”

Though the idea of a lake house evokes images of tranquility, the lake house was chaotic and whirring with home improvement sounds when it became his permanent residence.

The house doubled in size when he added a master bedroom, a library, a second bathroom with a walk-in shower and a large closet.

“I’ve had no pangs about leaving Amory or my house there,” said Rowles, who taught school in Amory for 20 years, then worked 10 years as a curriculum specialist and federal pro-

Rowles’ home shows off i s owner’s eclectic style.

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grams director for the Nettleton School District.

After retiring from Nettleton, he spent seven years as a consultant, helping schools with underperforming student test scores and teachers learn better ways to educate. Then he bought a downtown Amory building and opened The Precious Possum, an antique store, before selling it seven years later and moving his merchandise to a booth at Relics in Tupelo.

In his four decades in the Amory home, Rowles amassed a trove of antiques and collectibles. The storm damaged several valuable clocks, books, artwork and an oak table. Rowles’ friends helped him sell some items. The rest were brought to the lake house, like the antique bed that now sits in the new master bedroom.

“It feels like home,” Rowles said.

Tour the lake house, and the rooms are chock-full of Rowles’ beloved collectibles, including Majolica, an Italian Renaissance tin-glazed earthenware in bright colors. You’ll also find tran ferware, a type of china dishware developed in the late 1700s that involves etching designs onto copper plates and pressing them onto a piece of dishware.

Rowles has Staffordshire chic ens; blue and white chinoiserie, with Chinese styles or motifs; and various patterns of Spode dinnerware, including Christmas, Woodlands and Fox Hunt.

Every wall of the lake house features artwork – some that Rowles painted and some he’s found on eBay or in junk stores.

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He credits his maternal grandmother and mother for his affi ty for beautiful things.

“My grandmother and I were very close,” he said. “She would talk about family things and the importance of taking care of things and knowing the stories of the pieces of furniture and other things.”

His mother carried on his grandmother’s lessons.

“If something came her way, she would talk to me about its connection to family,” he said. “I have a great-niece who also treasures family things.”

Outside, a large deck overlooks the lake that Rowles has named Turtle Point because of the hundreds of turtles he’s seen in and around the lake alongside crappie, bass, catfish an bream.

A Master Gardener, Rowles has fi led the deck with plants thriving in the summer heat. And around back, wildflo ers, perennials and a few colorful annuals form an English-style border garden that attracts myriad butterflies Rowles now considers Tupelo home, and he enjoys entertaining friends and family.

“We have bonfires at alloween, family gatherings,” he said.

“It’s just a good place. One thing I do miss about my house in Amory are all my built-in bookshelves. When I moved to the lake house, I donated more than 100 books. But this is home now.” M

s

| The Precious Poum | When Louis Rowles opened his antiques store in downtown Amory, he needed a name.

One in particular kept coming to mind, but when Rowles shared his idea with his sister Mary, she told him he could absolutely not use that name – The Precious Possum – for his store.

The relentless Rowles gave it more thought, called his sister and told her he was sticking with The Precious Possum. She had also given it thought and had changed her mind. She told him the name was perfect.

The perfect name has an even better story.

Rowles’ mom was living alone in West Point and one day she made a frantic call to her son.

“I answered and heard her say, ‘You’ve got to come here. I’ve done something terrible,’” Rowles said.

“When I got to her house, I learned she had run off a possum, but in the process a baby possum had been left behind.”

The compassionate Rowles family bottle fed the tiny hairless creature.

“The possum prospered,” Rowles said. “It eventually grew hair and ears and actually looked like a possum.”

The young marsupial, given the name Precious, eventually moved to Amory and lived with Louis.

“She was litter box trained,” Rowles said.

Because possums are nocturnal, at night, Rowles put Precious in the bathroom with her litter box, and she’d snuggle into a towel.

Precious lived happily with Rowles for a little more than two years before she passed away.

“One morning she was just listless,” Rowles said. “I called the vet. They think she possibly had a heart attack.”

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Community

Checkmate at the Mall At Tupelo’s Mulligan Chess Club, the game is about community, creativity and a good nickname

Story by Caleb McCluskey

Photos by Adam Robison

Steve Johnson and Pat Bryson M &M

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Jon Giedd, 13, plays Steve Johnson

C

hess is one of the oldest games humans have played, coming in dozens of variants across cultures and time.

While its origins aren’t entirely known, the game has endured for generations.

And chess thrives in Tupelo.

The Mulligan Chess Club, which began with a group of gentlemen at what’s colloquially called the “old mall,” today has eight or nine regulars that play most Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the food court in the Mall at Barnes Crossing.

Ages range from individuals in their golden years to kids newly learning the rules.

Chess is a strategic game played by two players with 32 pieces. Players take turns moving the pieces with the goal of eventually capturing the opposing player’s king piece by putting it in a position known as check. If the king cannot move to a safe space, it is checkmate.

The game can be as simple or as complicated as the individuals who play, with hundreds of years of written strategy and now video resources. Stu Inkrott, the club organizer, became hooked on chess in college.

“You see something different very time you play,” he said.

“It is almost like a different onversation every time you play. I really enjoy seeing how creative people are.”

While many tournaments are fast-paced and cutthroat, Inkrott said the Tupelo club is more relaxed.

“We try to make it a lighthearted thing,” he said between

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making moves in a game. “Some clubs are serious, and it’s not fun, especially if you’re new to the game. It is not a fun experience to go to a club and get clobbered by someone.”

Some club members, like Steve Johnson, have been playing most of their lives. Others, like Jon Giedd, 13, recently started.

“The thing that’s attracted me to this club is that it’s not that serious,” Jack Kerson said. “It is just a fun way for a bunch of guys, and occasionally some women, to get together and play on Saturdays. This club is fun because you get all kinds of people … and they are all about the same strength.”

Giedd’s father, Charlie Giedd, said it’s great to see the younger generation getting involved with chess. While he taught his son the basics, he said Jon has already surpassed him in skill and wakes up early to practice online before attending club meetings. Multiple members said Jon has grown immensely from the time he started, often beating long-time players.

Kerson said he’s played chess since age 12, doing it in Memphis before moving to Mississippi for graduate school.

He served as a Presbyterian minister for 25 years in Tupelo at Lawndale Presbyterian and Maple Drive Presbyterian Church in Pontotoc before retiring.

“I like games of strategy,” he said, “and I’ve always been a person in life who tried to stay four moves ahead. Chess is great for that.”

Each member has different re sons the chess bug bit them, but all said they love the challenge of the game and the cama-

Synjon Jones, of Belmont, plays Pat Bryson

raderie. Each player has a nickname. For Inkrott, it is “Simple Stu,” while Johnson is called “Scuba Steve,” and Kerson is “Jack the Ripper.”

“It’s a thinking man’s game,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of relaxing. Also, it takes your mind off other problems. f you have some problems in your life, you can go to the chessboard and work things out like therapy.”

Inkrott said many professional-level chess masters play mostly online through Chess.com or other clients, so “overthe-board” chess has become more of a rarity. The group can play chess on their phones or computers any time and from

anywhere, but they all said they prefer the in-person experience of chess club meetings.

While online chess is highly accessible, Inkrott prefers overthe-board because there is little room for cheating, while an online opponent can use a chess engine to help.

The day of the interview, Kerson pointed to his opponent, also named Jack, declaring that no matter who wins, it will be a Jack. Regardless of winning or losing, the goal for each member is to have fun.

“It’s fun,” said Pat Thompson, who sports the nickname ‘Patient Pat,’ with a chuckle. “I lose almost every game.” M

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Adventure ATV, LLC 5801 Hwy 45 Alt. S West Point, MS 662-494-5462

property of their respective owners. BRP reserves the right at any time to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Products performance may vary depending on weather, temperature, altitude, driving ability and driver/passenger weight. BRP recommends that all ATV-SSV drivers take a training course.

For safety and training information, see your Dealer. See your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887 (USA) or the Canadian Safety Council at 1-613-739-1535 (Canada). ATV and SSV can be hazardous to operate. Never exceed the ATV-SSV’s passenger capacity. All adult model ATV are meant to be used by drivers of age 16 and older. Carefully read the vehicle’s operator’s guide. Follow all instructional and safety material and observe applicable laws and regulations. ATV and SSV are for off-road use only; never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. ATVs and SSVs are primarily designed for use on unpaved surfaces (off-road) use; avoid paved surfaces. For your safety, the operator and passenger(s) must wear a helmet, eye protection and applicable protective clothing. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speed and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Always ride responsibly and safely. See your authorized BRP dealer for details and visit https://can-am.brp.com/.

©2024 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ® ©2024 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®

include optional equipment. Products performance may vary depending on weather, temperature, altitude, driving ability and driver/passenger weight. BRP recommends that all ATV-SSV drivers take a training course. include optional equipment.

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use; avoid paved surfaces. For your safety, the operator and passenger(s) must wear a helmet, eye protection and applicable protective clothing. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Never engage use; avoid paved surfaces. For your safety, the operator and passenger(s) must wear a helmet, eye protection and applicable protective clothing. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Never engage

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SURREAL

S

art

IN THE

30

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oouutthh

Renowned Tupelo artist Ke Francis defies convention with every piece he creates

Stor Pho

Story By Dennis Seid Photos by Adam Robison

“Keys to Purgatory” M &M

31

T

o know Ke Francis is to … well … not know him. At least, not at first Francis is much more than a Tupelo artist. He is a painter, writer, photographer, sculptor, printmaker and bookbinder. And, at 80, he is awake and working before many a quarter of his age.

When asked if he has a signature piece in his six decades of work, his answer was curt and definitive “There’s no way in hell,” he said.

Francis is a self-described narrative artist and writer. He describes himself as an “artist that moves comfortably through all of the forms that have occurred through my lifetime,” blending analog and digital mediums.

The work produced by that blend has been exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Boston, New Orleans, Atlanta, Shanghai, Beijing, Manilla and Singapore. He currently publishes his own limited edition artist books and collaborative projects with established poets, musicians and visual artists at Hoopsnake Press, which he founded in 1970.

During a recent visit to his west Tupelo workshop – fi led with his tools of trade, including a Deardorff 8-by-1 field camera, a Washington hand press, and more vintage printing equipment, with a computer and digital printer nearby – Francis was adding the fina touches to the “Surreal South,” an exhibition at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs set for December. It will feature his paintings, woodcuts and engravings, alongside Walter Anderson’s illustrations for “Alice in Wonderland.”

Wearing a gray polo shirt and slacks, he broke away from the workshop tour to discuss a special project that brie y took him away from the exhibit work.

It is another limited edition print book with a poem from Michael Hanna.

“He’s a friend who’s a terrific poe from California,” Francis said, “and we’ve done a number of projects with William T. Wiley.”

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Wiley, like Francis, was an artist whose work spanned many mediums, including drawing, painting, sculpture, film, performan e and pinball machines.

“Michael called me and said he’s got a poem, but it’s only 13 pages long,” Francis said. “Someone else started it, but it didn’t work out, so he sent it here. That was a couple of weeks ago, and I’m collating the images now.”

With that project complete, Francis is now working to finish the “Surrea South,” an exhibit conceived after a visit from Julian Rankin, executive director of the Walter Anderson Museum.

“Anderson had done the drawings and illustrations for ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ and they were doing a second edition of that,” Francis said.

Rankin knew he wanted Francis to have an exhibit at his museum alongside Anderson’s “Alice” illustrations when he was inspired by Francis’s newest book “Devil and the Mudcat” and his “Dixie Compass” narrative, a sculptural book with letterpress text and woodcuts.

Francis’ book synopsis should come from him: “’Devil in the Mudcat’ is a story about a catfish, rom inception to spawning, in a horseshoe bend river who gets stuck in a TVA dam, and an engineer, who falls down a hole in the dam, and finds the d vil and the mudcat doing a podcast,” Francis said.

How could Rankin not be inspired with such a visualization? He wanted the paintings, prints and everything Francis did for the story displayed alongside Anderson’s work.

Francis contacted University Press, which published Anderson’s book, and had them send 25 unbound but stitched copies.

“I printed wood-cut covers to match his book to my book,” he said, with a satisfied smile, and I put them together in a folio, so they’re both together.

Bound in red leather, wood-cut end papers, there it is.”

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Never wanted to be an artist Francis received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Visual Arts in 2023. He was a previous recipient of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters award for Visual Art, and he received the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Susan B. Herron Award for Visual and Literary Art. He was a former Rockefeller Fellow. He received a Southern Arts Federation grant in sculpture, and a Polaroid Foundation grant, among many others.

For someone with so many accolades of his artwork, Francis doesn’t seem overly concerned about being known as an artist.

“Being an artist has never been of much interest to me,” he said. “My idol was Benjamin Franklin. He knew more about everything than anyone at the time – a scientist, inventor, diplomat.

And he was a printer, hell.”

Francis’ foray into art began when he was about 10. His uncle in Memphis – a “bad painter” Francis said – provided him with paint and brushes, but stopped the supplies after he discovered Francis was tearing pages from library art books to copy Picasso.

Today, his surreal work appears to be influen ed by Picasso and Salvador Dali.

Francis did well in school and initially attended Mississippi State University to study aerospace engineering before realizing art was his calling. That led him to Memphis College of Art and the Cleveland Art Institute. He later became chair of the art department and dean of research at the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Central Florida.

“There’s some question about whether I’m an artist or not,” he said. “If you make a marketable object that’s easily branded, like Jackson Pollack, you’re doing something recognizable. If I’m not doing something that’s recognizable, and I’m only interested in reporting as narrative what my life is like ... If

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I just recreate these times in my art...”

He trails o , the thought unfinished “I’m not a good painter,” he says later. “I’m a great editor.”

Painting, writing, sculpting, printing ... Francis creates to pay the bills, then creates even more.

“I’ve always been lucky I’ve been able to make what I want to make,” he said.

“If I sell one in five pie es, the four I pay to put in storage. One in five i enough to keep everything I need. I’m not ambitious for money. I just want to make more work.”

While he’s working on a project, it’s likely he’ll be listening to some music.

He could easily stream it if he wanted to, but having physical media seems to be his preference, as he has a shelf full of CDs, with more loose CD holders scattered around.

Blues is a favorite, with the sounds of Bukka White, Big Joe Williams, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.

And there’s the complete collection of Robert Johnson, the legendary bluesman who sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads in Clarkdale. But toss in some Dylan, Mozart, Tony Bennett, CCR, Fleetwood Mac and Sinatra, too.

Francis is a perfectionist, never completely happy with his work.

“I don’t like any of them,” he said of his projects. “I love to see the finishe work. My work, I don’t have to have an opinion about that. I just like what I was seeing in my head get real ... I like self-expression and narrative stories, but I don’t have a medium I like, really.

They’re all a pain in the ass. And every time I change one, it takes about four days to get up to speed.”

Nothing feels better than finishing project and having someone understand what he is trying to communicate.

“That’s amazing to me,” he said.

“The problem I have with my work, as opposed to other people, is that I always see the flaws that I thought were OK, and after a year, they begin to get at me. “ When he retired to Tupelo after his tenure at Central Florida, he brought

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more than a dozen students to his property to learn about becoming an artist. Being showered with compliments about their work in school wasn’t beneficial, he said. They needed to understand the reality of being a working artist.

“I told (them), it’s a hell of a tough time,” he said. “The competition is unbelievable. And the only reason to do it is because you love seeing the work, or you love the work like most. I mean, they love making those things. But that’s got to be the reward. Anything beyond that is a bonus. And most of the time it will, if you stick with it.”

So how does one get advice from an artist who doesn’t really consider himself an artist?

“I can’t imagine anybody who would want to do that,” he said with a mischievous grin.

“This is what I’d say to you: If you get up every morning at 4, then work until 7 writing, then (eat) breakfast, you work from 8 to 5, seven days a week except Sunday afternoon, and you do that for 58 years, someone will probably pay attention to what you do.

“That’s not aspirational. But it’s the fking truth.” M

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The

FOOTBALL Issue - The rise of flag football - Historic Rivalry: Bruce vs. Calhoun City - Thrift store finds and fashions - The history of Amory’s football program - The voice of Oxford

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With safety, fundamentals, and fun at its core, flag football is teaching skills, building confidence, and giving kids a safer start to the state’s favorite tradition

and the

Future of Football

Story by Meredith Biesinger Photos by Thomas Wells M &M

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Throughout: Youth players from the Tupelo and Mooreville areas learn the basics of football through friendly flag football matches

I

n Mississippi, football is more than a pastime – it’s a tradition stitched into Friday nights. We grow up under the glow of stadium lights, with the drum line keeping time in the background and the smell of concession stand foods drifting through the air.

But lately, a fresh take on the sport is winning over communities across the state: fl g football. This fast and fun alternative to traditional football is now recommended by the NFL for kids under 14. The reason is simple – fl g football delivers all the excitement without the bone-rattling collisions of tackles. This safety factor, along with its skill-building benefits, h s Mississippi parents and coaches embracing the change, knowing their children can enjoy the sport without the same level of risk.

Chris Edmonson, who oversees the Tupelo Parks and Recreation program, admits he didn’t

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expect to become as big a fan of fl g football as he has.

“I am a baseball guy, but it is a joy watching these kids play fl g football,” he said. “I look forward to it every year.”

In Tupelo, teams play 7-on-7, where smaller rosters mean more room for teachable moments.

“Kids can come out here and play fl g football, enjoy themselves, and it’s an all-around good time,” Edmonson said. “What other game can a coach come out and draw a play in the dirt?

That’s happened, by the way.”

The focus is on fundamentals – throwing, catching, footwork, formations – as well as sportsmanship and safety. And the growth is undeniable: Tupelo expects around 240 players this season, the league’s biggest year yet.

“Tackle football is not a necessity when they’re young,” Edmonson said. “Until they get older,

Players in Tupelo receive guidance on how to line up in formation.

Bottom photos: Mooreville players practive how to catch a pass and take a hand-o .

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Throughout: Youth players from this Tupelo and Mooreville areas learn the basics of football through friendly flag football matches

they need to develop the fundamental skills that will help them be safe and successful now, and later.”

Over in Mooreville, Head Coach Jacob Massey is just as passionate about the fl g game. He runs the school’s league alongside his Mooreville High School and Middle School teams, creating a pipeline of future athletes – and a culture of community.

“I have a 4-year-old son, and he will not put on a helmet until middle school,” Massey said. “Kids don’t have the skills to tackle or block at a young age, and there’s no need to risk head trauma. If you don’t teach how to fundamentally block or tackle the right way, a catastrophic injury can occur. We don’t want that.”

For Massey, fl g football is more than a sport.

“We love running a fl g football league for our future Troopers,” he said. “Throwing, catching, and footwork are the fundamental skills that need to be learned first. The ability to tackle and block can come later when their bodies are developed.

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“Our players have the opportunity to coach these younger kids, and it’s a great opportunity for the younger generation to meet our guys and interact with them. A culture is being instilled here, and we couldn’t ask for anything better for our community.”

And here’s a milestone worth celebrating – fl g football isn’t just for boys. Thanks to a partnership between the MHSAA and the New Orleans Saints, Mississippi is now the 14th state to sanction girls’ fl g football as an official high scho varsity sport. It’s part of a Gulf South surge that’s inspiring future generations to take the field fl gs and all.

From North Mississippi’s rolling hills to the salty breeze of the Gulf, fields are alive with th sound of whistles, laughter, and footsteps pounding the grass. Bright fl gs flut er in the wind as young players chase not just each other, but the dream of Friday nights to come. In Mississippi, football is more than a game – and with fl g football, the story starts early, safe and full of joy. M

| Why flag football is on the rise in Mississippi | Safety First – Lower risk of head injuries.

Accessible and Inclusive – Less costly equipment, open to all skill levels.

Fundamentals Over Force – Builds routes, formations, ball skills, and game IQ. Life Lessons – Teamwork, discipline, and confidence that last beyond the field.

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THE

RIVALRY Though Calhoun City has dominated since 2005, the stories of the school’s epic rivalry with Bruce live on in players, fans, and families on both sides

By William Moore Photos by Thomas Well & William Moore

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The Skuna River Rivalry trophy has been kept in Calhoun City High School since 2005

Rivalries can be the fire in the bellies of football teams and their fan bases – that one game each year that you have to win over your blood enemy.

Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State.

Army vs. Navy.

Ohio State vs. Michigan.

While some of the biggest rivalries are traditions between neighboring schools, others evolve. That is the case with the Skuna River Rivalry.

In its heyday, 6 points were all you needed to win a game, and a missed fiel goal meant a loss. While the Bruce-Calhoun City game has not been competitive for years, there is a rich history of epic victories and heartbreaking losses.

Bruce and Calhoun City are the biggest towns in Calhoun County. Less than 10 miles of Highway 9 separate them, as well as the Skuna River – a series of natural and engineered channels draining into the north fork of Grenada Lake.

The proximity made the schools natural competitors, and an in-county rivalry football game is a good way to ensure stands are packed. But the game meant little for several years. Through the 1960s, the schools competed in differen conferences. In the 1970s, both became members of the Tri-Lakes Conference, and winning the conference title could extend the season with a bowl game.

When the high school activities association organized the playoffs for state title, the Bruce-Calhoun City game had post-season implications. In the late 1980s and 90s, the schools were powerhouses in the same 2A division. The game’s outcome could determine whether the season was extended or a home-fiel advantage.

The rivalry gained its name and its own trophy thanks to a pair of local newspapers.

“The name came from Bill Ross (long-

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vs time sports editor at the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal),” said Jimmy Ball, a Calhoun City 1966 graduate. “He was trying to play it up like the Ole Miss-State rivalry.”

With a bit of homage to the Red River Rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas, the annual game got a name.

During the years when the game was the most contested, Calhoun City’s weekly paper, the Monitor-Herald, purchased a traveling trophy based on the state title trophy.

Unfortunately, the trophy has traveled little in recent years, or recent decades. Since 2005, Calhoun City has won the football game 19 straight times, keeping the trophy inside the Wildcat’s field house in alhoun City. The schools did not play each other in 2007 and 2008 when the Wildcats dropped to 1A. Calhoun City dropped in classification gain last year, so the teams are not scheduled to play each other this fall.

In the mid-60s, Calhoun City was in the Tombigbee Conference, and Bruce was in the Little Ten Conference.

Jimmy Ball missed the Bruce game his senior year because of a knee injury. But that 25-24 opening game loss meant little to the Wildcats.

“They (Bruce) beat us my senior year on a missed 2-point conversion,” Ball said. “Back then, it wasn’t set up like today, where you can play for a state title. Back then, if you had a good team, you would go play in a bowl game.”

Calhoun City finished se ond in conference in 1965 with an 8-2 record, and the Wildcats were

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rewarded with a bowl game, playing Shelby at Delta State University.

“I remember that bowl game more than the Bruce game,” Ball said. “It was just a football game, but we damn sure wanted to win.”

Two decades later, both football programs were hitting their strides, dominating opponents and making the playoffs regular y. And the result of the Bruce-Calhoun City game could decide whether a team made the playoffs or got o host a game.

“We went toe-to-toe in the ‘80s and ‘90s. It was a heck of a rivalry,” said Brad Logan, a 1996 Bruce graduate. “During the peak, we were in the same division, and some years we played twice. In 1995, we beat them 13-6 in the regular season, but we didn’t celebrate a lot because we knew we would see them again in the north half.”

The Wildcats returned the favor in the rematch to earn a berth in the 2A state title game. Bruce won the state title the next year, defeating the Wildcats twice along the way.

When the rivalry was the most competitive, it was attractive not only to the schools’ fans but also others, including the media.

“It was always one of my favorite rivalries, especially in the 1990s when both teams were battling for North Half titles in 2A,” said Adam Gore, Itawamba Community College sports information director, who covered the Skuna River Rivalry for both print and broadcast media.

“There are so many families that have folks on both sides of the river,” Gore said. “It’s a close-

This page: Clippings from local newspapers chronicle the intense rivalry between Bruce and Calhoun City high schools knit community, and there is a tradition of the rivalry. And both were so good for so long.”

While intense, especially when both teams were good, the rivalry was never bitter. Gore was always impressed by the way the intensity of the game never carried over.

“Nothing crazy happens, win or lose,” he said.

“It’s intense, yes, but afterward, everybody is cool.”

Logan agreed, using a boxing term to say the rivalry was “bell-to-bell.”

“There were not a lot of shenanigans after the game,” Logan said. “We went to church with the other players. We shook hands with the other

team. It was never contentious, at least for the players. I can’t speak for the fans.”

It was the same for coaches Phil Ferguson and Mike Ray. They were close friends, but the players didn’t learn that until years later. And back in the 1960s, there wasn’t a lot of trash talking between teams leading up to the game.

“Back then, it was long distance to call Bruce,” Ball said. “That cost money. During the summer, I played semi-pro baseball with a lot of boys from Bruce. They were just like us, regular guys. They were just on the other side of the creek. I never did have any animosity towards them.” M

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DOWN

SOUTH Story by Eugene Stockstill

ON A DIME

Photos by Thomas Wells

Tupelo woman makes it her business to style on a shoestring budget

I

n her younger years, Patricia Neely-Dorsey of Tupelo modeled clothing for Reed’s, McRae’s and Westbrook’s stores. She won best dressed in ninth grade but was sorely disappointed when the school yearbook incorrectly identifie her as “best overall.”

“I aimed at being best dressed, LOL,” said the woman whose high school nickname was “G.G.” – “Glamour Girl.”

While living in Memphis in her 20s, a friend convinced her that fashion did not require much cash. That friend, she said, arrived at church wearing a $5 dress and blew away the entire assembly.

“I was hooked,” Neely-Dorsey said.

Even today, Neely-Dorsey believes you don’t have to take out a second mortgage on your home to make a fashion splash at this year’s homecoming football game. Far, far from it. She and her husband are living proof that firs -rate fashion has little to do with a fat bank account.

“Style is what you make of it,” she said. “Dr. Seuss said it best: ‘Why fit i when you were meant to stand out?’”

The Boston University graduate has always had an eye for fashion. Her mother, a retired educator who reads 15-20 books a month at age 90, was her first eacher.

“My mom was always a very meticulous dresser when I was growing up,” she said. “I really don’t hold a candle to her.”

So, if you are trying to get ready for the upcoming football season or just need help nailing down your wardrobe on a sensible budget, let Neely-Dorsey, who bills herself as the “Down South Diva on a Dime” and has published several books, including an autobiography with her mother (“Fabulous Life”), be your guide into a world you may not know exists.

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Step 1

“Know thyself,” as the ancient sage counseled, as well as your own particular tastes.

“I still love very classic styles,” Neely-Dorsey said, naming Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis as an example. Call it 50s/60s retro, uber-feminine or soft-classic, with frills, bows and an emphasis on dresses rather than pants. “I very rarely wear pants. Maybe one or two times a year.”

Her go-to brands? Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and White House Black Market.

So if you’re classic, be classy. Minimalist? Minimize. Grunge? Get as grungy as you care to go. Study and learn what makes you who you are, she said.

“Every person is different,” she said. “ veryone has their own unique style or can find it. ind what makes you smile.

Find what speaks to you.”

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Step 2

Early morning shopping is usually better.

Neely-Dorsey said she likes to do her shopping early, when the crows are usually lower and she can shape her style in a more relaxed atmosphere.

“I like to go early and be there when they open around 9 a.m.,” she said. “Defini ely with yard sales, I like to get there very early to find the best selection.

Step 3

Creative bargain-shopping should not take all day.

If we had tagged along with Neely-Dorsey for a shopping spree, we might have been in and out in less than 30 minutes with enough high-quality stuff o last for quite some time.

“I usually spend less than an hour,” she said. “One of my friends that I saw in Goodwill one day was so amazed that I came in, zeroed in on the most amazing dress in less than 10 minutes and was out.”

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Step 4

Keep your eyes open. Yard sales, nondescript dime stores, out-of-the-way value shops ... they are all over the place, it seems.

“My hubby purchased a St. John Knit suit for me from City Thrift several years ago for $10,” she said.

“The retail list price was $1,100.”

Need more detail? Salvation Army, City Thrift, Shabby Chic, Sanctuary Village Shoppe and Goodwill in Tupelo are all regular stops for Neely-Dorsey. Goodwill has $1 Mondays. Auburn Road Thrift has frequent $1 sales too.

Neely-Dorsey did such a fine job pitching shoestring fashion, her husband does most of the shopping for them now.

“He makes the rounds,” she said. “They all know him very well.”

Step 5

Repeat as often as necessary, but only if necessary.

Years ago, Neely-Dorsey shopped daily. She’s since dropped back considerably, since thrifting has given her more than enough to make a solid statement every time she leaves the house.

“You could spend a day in a thrift shop and purchase your complete wardrobe … for well under $500,” she said. “Some people spend $500 for one or two outfit at regular retail prices. Trust me. I have done it.” M

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Black, Gold, and

Unbr akable

The Amory Panthers return to a brand-new fiel , carrying the weight of 100 years of history – and the hope of what’s next

By Meredith Biesinger Photos by Adam Robison & Thomas Wells 52

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Previous Page: Amory Head Football Coach Brooks Dampeer speaks with his team during a game in Tupelo in 2023.

This Page: Members of the Amory Panters practice on the team’s new football field

I

n Mississippi, football isn’t just a sport – it’s a heartbeat. And in the railroad town of Amory, that heartbeat wears black and gold.

For generations, the Amory Panthers have represented more than just touchdowns and state titles; they’ve embodied community pride, grit, and a legacy that continues to grow.

Brooks Dampeer, now in his fift season as head coach, knows that legacy well. “Amory is special,” he said.

“We always find a way o compete, and when you say ‘Amory football’ across the state of Mississippi, people know it. They know we carry deep roots here.”

Those roots run through names that have made their mark in the sport – Jim Burrow, Lee Davis, Rufus French, David Hadley, Will Hall, Dennis Johnson, Marcus West, and more – each

connected to Panther football history.

Amory’s trophy case holds multiple state championships, but the program’s pride isn’t just in the past. Last season brought a new milestone: the Panthers won their firs -ever 4A playoff game o the road. As of August, they’ve racked up 39 wins in the past four years.

The team’s rallying cry is simple but powerful: “Move the bar.” As Dampeer explains, “It represents not only earning it in the weight room but also getting back to those championship years. Let’s do and be our best.”

But life has a way of putting football into perspective. In March 2023, an F3 tornado tore through Amory, destroying homes, businesses, and the Panthers’ football field and facilities “In one night, all things football didn’t matter anymore,” Dampeer said, reflective. “When something li e that

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happens, it becomes about helping our community. It’s not about brick and mortar – it’s about people. Football is a game, but it’s also a tool to teach life lessons.”

With their home field gone, the anthers played an entire season on the road, finishing 9-3. That year became a testament to their resilience.

“I told our guys, control what you can control, practice like there’s no tomorrow, and play every game like it’s your last,” Dampeer said.

Today, the community is thriving again, as Downtown Amory has experienced a revival. As the streets thrum with hustle, bustle and business, the Panthers are preparing to take the field for another se son on their beautiful new field and facilit .

“There’s no bigger gathering place in our community than our football stadium,” Dampeer said. “Amory athletics are at the heart of our town, and my goal is to be the best team we can be.”

Amory’s history is so rich that it inspired Sam Baker to pen “Amory High School Football: Panthers Past, Present and Future.” That history includes legendary coach Bobby Hall, who led the Panthers to three state titles after being hired by none other than Amory native James Burrow.

Amory Head Football Coach Brooks Dampeer provides guidance during a practice session.

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Top: The Amory Panthers practice on their new fiel Bottom: Photos show the destruction to the school’s old football stadium in the wake of a 2023 tornado.

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When Hall was first in erviewed for the job, James told him they might not win a game. Hall famously replied, “If you hire me, I guarantee you we’ll win more than we lose.”

Seven wins followed in that first year alone, and th rest is history – 309 victories at Amory, to be exact.

Coach Dampeer sees those same qualities – work ethic, accountability, consistency – in his own players.

“You’re as good as the people you surround yourself with,” he said. “I coach along with my sta , not above them. We’re a team. You have to earn it. No one’s going to give you anything, and if there’s no risk, there’s no story to tell.”

And that might be the perfect way to sum up Amory football. It’s a story still being written – one of state

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championships past, historic names, unforgettable seasons, and a community that keeps showing up no matter what. It’s a story about a team that’s proud of its past, hungry for its future, and unshakably rooted in the belief that the bar can always be moved a little higher.

In Amory, Friday nights are about more than a scoreboard. They’re about standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the stands, remembering where you’ve been, and believing in where you’re going. This season, as the Panthers take the field in their n w stadium, they’ll do it with the weight of history on their shoulders and the bright promise of tomorrow in their sights. M

Don Brooks has been the voice of Oxford High’s athletics for nearly 30 years

BEHIND

e n o h p o r c i M THE

By BRAD LOCKE Photo By THOMAS WELLS

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B

efore he ever had an audience, Don Brooks was a play-by-play announcer. As a child, he would take a copy of the Sporting News magazine, plop on his bed, and study the box scores.

And then he would “call” the game, fi ling in the details with his imagination.

These days, Brooks is the voice of Oxford High School athletics. An independent insurance broker by day, he has been living his childhood dream behind a microphone for 30-plus years.

“When I put the headsets on is when I love it,” Brooks said.

The 55-year-old is entering his 29th year of calling Oxford games. Besides football, he calls basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer. Some games can be heard on WOXD 95.5, and all the games Brooks calls are livestreamed. He mainly calls home games, but he goes on the road with football or when another Oxford team has a big playoff game Brooks’s day job gives him the flexibility o call so many games.

“I’ve always said that one of the reasons I like the insurance business and being a self-employed person is it gives me the freedom to do what I really love to do,” he said. “If I want to take off on riday, and if I’ve got a road game somewhere far off and I need o leave at 3, I can leave at 3.”

GETTING HIS START Brooks, a Coffe ville native, graduated from Ole Miss in 1992. Not long after, he caught on with W07BN, a low-power television station in Bruce. The first game he ver called – outside of his bedroom – was the Red Hills Classic in Ackerman on Nov. 11, 1993.

It was a bowl game between Bruce and Kossuth (Bruce won, 28-27).

“I started working in the insurance business, but I needed some extra money, and so I thought it’d be a great part-time job,” Brooks said. “And so that’s how I got started, was they let me come over there and do a game, and then the very first game in 1994 w s at Scott Field.”

That game at Scott Field – home of the Mississippi State Bulldogs – was between Aberdeen and Calhoun City. Brooks kept calling games for the Bruce station until 1997, when the family that owned W07BN expanded their reach into Oxford with Vista III Media.

That year, Brooks split time calling both Oxford and Lafayette football games. He did that until 2009, when he started broadcasting exclusively for Oxford athletics.

Brooks has seen a lot during his time in the broadcast booth; he estimates he’s covered 26 championship contests in various sports. But those moments aren’t the best part of what he does.

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“The relationships that you build with people is the most rewarding thing,” Brooks said. “Drew Tyler and I have been together the whole time.

I came up there doing football about the same time he got the (basketball) head coaching job, and so that relationship has been great.”

Brooks once called games when Chris Cutcliffe w s playing quarterback for Oxford.

Cutcliffe is now en ering his 10th season as the Chargers’ head coach.

“You get to know some of these guys over the years, and you get to build some friendships. And I think that’s what’s really cool about being with one team,” Brooks said.

Brooks wants to call games for as long as he’s able, but he admits that the travel involved can become wearisome.

“That’s the thing that wears on you as you get older,” he said. “… It’s not so bad for football, because it’s Fridays, the end of the week, even though you’re tired. But it’s terrible for everything else – having to go on a Tuesday night or whatever.

“So that certainly is wearing on you, but I love it,” he said. “So as long as they keep me around, I guess I’ll keep going.” M

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