Best Jacksonstate Podcasts (2025)

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The Christmas-New Year's-Sugar Bowl edition 31:42

Play Pause

1d ago31:42

31:42

The question on everyone's mind: Does Ole Miss have a shot against mighty Georgia. The answer: Of course they do, but the Rebels will have to play their best game and hope Georgia doesn't. The Cleveland boys also discuss the New Orleans and Duke's Mayo bowls and the resurgent New Orleans Saints.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Lots happening in the Crooked Letter State… 27:32

8d ago27:32

27:32

We talk Tulane-Ole Miss, the Blake Anderson hire at Southern Miss, Coach Larry Ladner's legacy in Mississippi basketball, and the New Orleans Saints and their new franchise quarterback.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Ole Miss in, Notre Dame out … and other news 28:35

15d ago28:35

28:35

It may or may not be the biggest sporting event in Mississippi history, but we know for certain Ole Miss is hosting Tulane and you can sell your car and rent a room in Oxford. The Clevelands also discuss USM coaching vacancy, the high school championships and a whole lot more.By Crooked Letter Sports

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It's not like there's nothing to talk about… 39:26

22d ago39:26

39:26

Egg Bowl reduxe, Kiffin leaving, Golding elevated, SWAC Championship, state high school football championships, Southern Miss review, SEC Championship, FBS playoffs.By Crooked Letter Sports

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We're thankful for this Egg Bowl 24:14

29d ago24:14

24:14

The stage is set for another classic Egg Bowl, but the stakes have been raised substantially for both Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The Cleveland boys discuss scenarios for the game and the future of Ole Miss football should Lane Kiffin leave for Baton Rouge.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Oma-gosh, how did our teams let Ahmad Hardy get away? 27:06

1M ago27:06

27:06

The Clevelands discuss the Lane Kiffin situation, Southern Miss's crash to earth and how an underappreciated kid from the southwest Mississippi community of Oma has entered the national college football spotlight with a 300-yard rushing performance against Mississippi State.By Crooked Letter Sports

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An Empire State of Mind 27:43

1M ago27:43

27:43

Rick calls in from New York to discuss all the latest in Mississippi football, including the sixth-ranked Rebels claiming their latest victim, the Golden Eagles' improbable run and Delta State's opponents simply chickening out. Also, the Cleveland boys run down the 2025 Mr. Football winners and the first round of tge high school playoffs…

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Nationally renowned college football expert Ross Dellenger, a Biloxi native and all-around good guy, joins the podcast to share his expertise. 34:55

2M ago34:55

34:55

Nobody knows more about today's college football landscape than Ross Dellenger and he has plenty to talk about these days, including the stunning in-season coaching changes happening all over the country.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Discussions: Lane Kiffin's future; Will State win an SEC game; Can the Huff express keep winning; Shohei vs. the Babe… all that and more. 33:46

2M ago33:46

33:46

There's so much going on in the sports world, including an epic World Series, a memorable Mississippi college football season, an incredible turn-around at Lanier High School and so much more. All that and the Clevelands, in a generational argument, disagreeing on Shohei vs. the Babe.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Run another play or kick the goal? 26:34

2M ago26:34

26:34

That was the situation facing Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby Saturday at Florida. Lebby chose to run another play and Florida intercepted a pass to sew up a two-point victory. The Clevelands discuss the pros and cons of the strategy – and a whole lot more college football, high school football, the Saints and college golf.…

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Jeff Roberson joins the pod to talk all things Ole Miss, including The Ole Miss Baseball book, the football Rebels and their upcoming game with Georgia and the nationally ranked Ole Miss golf team. 35:54

2M ago35:54

35:54

We've got a huge week in Mississippi sports coming up. Ole Miss, State and Southern Miss all have huge conference football games and the three schools are hosting a huge college tournament at Fallen Oak on the coast this weekend and Monday.By Crooked Letter Sports

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So much to discuss, including maybe the worst roughing the passer call in history. 22:11

3M ago22:11

22:11

The Clevelands discuss last weekend and the one coming up, including what appeared to be a routine quarterback sack by the Saints' Carl Granderson of the Giants' Jaxson Dart that was somehow called roughing the passer. The Saints, believe it or not, won anyway. Also, the conversation turns to what might have been the last Sanderson Farms Championsh…

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The Sanderson Farms Championship and a whole lot of football 24:06

3M ago24:06

24:06

Ole Miss and Southern Miss are off this weekend and Mississippi State is on the road, but the Sanderson Farms Championship, Mississippi's only PGA Tour tournament returns to the Country Club of Jackson. Today's discussion includes golf – both a Ryder Cup review and a Sanderson Farms preview – and a Mississippi college football season that keeps get…

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Randy Watkins joins the pod. It's Ryder Cup Week, but there are huge football games, too 35:23

3M ago35:23

35:23

Our resident golf expert Randy Watkins breaks down the Ryder Cup. Our discussion also includes LSU-Ole Miss, Mississippi State-Tennessee and a whole lot more.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Big starts for Mississippi's 'Big 3' 30:19

3M ago30:19

30:19

Ole Miss and Mississippi State move to 3-0 and Southern Miss picks up a pivotal win over Appalachian State, plus the Saints finding new ways to lose and one singular high school performance that tested the record books.By Crooked Letter Sports

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As the football world turns (and Mississippi State shows up) … 25:43

4M ago25:43

25:43

An eventful week in Mississippi football is highlighted by Mississippi State's huge, exhilarating victory over No. 12 Arizona State.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Mississippi football's big opening weekend 24:17

4M ago24:17

24:17

The 2025 football season is underway, as both Ole Miss and Mississippi State moved to 1-0 with opening game wins. Tyler talks high school upsets and Rick breaks down the Bulldogs' win over Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. Plus, how many commercials is too many commercials?By Crooked Letter Sports

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Finally, football is here, so let's talk a little swimming 20:31

4M ago20:31

20:31

Football starts this weekend, but it's not every day we have a world champion in Mississippi. That's what 17-year-old Rachel McAlpin of Brandon is after the world junior swimming championships in Romania last week. Of course, there's also a football discussion, including the big State-Southern Miss game in Hattiesburg and what T.C. Taylor has in mi…

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Brandon High football coach Lance Pogue joins the podcast. 30:10

4M ago30:10

30:10

Lance Pogue has coached Mississippi high school football teams to 246 victories and 71 defeats, an incredible winning rate of 78 percent. He has won five state championships and one national championship. Now, he takes on another challenge at Brandon High School.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Here are the football games we most look forward to this fall. 31:14

5M ago31:14

31:14

Hard to believe the Mississippi football season opens later this month. Not so hard to believe is that the Clevelands have looked ahead at the schedule and picked the five most interesting high school and college football games on the schedule. A hint: You don't have to wait long for one some of the most intriguing games, both high school and colle…

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The Dog Days of Summer in sports... 23:16

5M ago23:16

23:16

We are in that period of the sports calendar when baseball is winding down and football talk is heating up. The Clevelands discuss Saints pre-season camp, the college football preseason rankings, the lowly Atlanta Braves, and much more.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Former award-winning Clarion Ledger sports editor Rusty Hampton joins the podcast to discuss the glory years of sports writing in Mississippi 26:03

5M ago26:03

26:03

Rusty Hampton was the sports editor at the Clarion Ledger for 11 years and worked there for 25 years in two different stints. He talks about some of the highlights, including Mississippi State's amazing run to the 1996 Final Four. Also discussed: a salute to Ryne Sandberg, the SEC preseason football poll, and Konnor Griffin, the newly elevated top …

1
Derrick Nix and Dexter McCluster both go into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame this Saturday night. "Two of the biggest hearts I have ever covered," Rick Cleveland says. Nix joins the podcast to talk ... 27:08

5M ago27:08

27:08

Derrick Nix played much of his college football career, hindered by a life-threatening kidney problem that sapped his strength and ended his playing career prematurely. Dexter McCluster spent much of his career with coaches and talent evaluators telling him he was too small. Eventually, Nix became McCluster's coach at Ole Miss. Saturday night, they…

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The Open goes to Northern Ireland 29:20

6M ago29:20

29:20

Randy Watkins returns to the Crooked Letter pod to discuss The Open, where the weather will be wet, windy and coolish at Royal Portrush. Scottie Scheffler will be the betting favorite, but the Europeans, including Rory McIlroy, definitely will have a home-course advantage. The recent Major League Draft also will be discussed.…

1
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class of '25 24:00

6M ago24:00

24:00

The MSHOF will induct eight new members on Aug 2. Rick Cleveland has covered them all and he and son Tyler talk about what makes them all special.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Soon to be Hall of Famer Mike Justice joins the podcast. 34:21

6M ago34:21

34:21

Before he became a Hall of Fame football coach and won 297 games, Mike Justice played on Mississippi's first integrated high school football team in Fulton. Justice talks about that and a lot more.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Soon-to-be Hall of Famer Scott Berry joins the podcast. 39:48

6M ago39:48

39:48

We begin a series of podcasts with Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2025, which will be inducted the first weekend in August. First up is highly successful baseball coach Scott Berry, who won big first at Meridian Community College and then at Southern Miss.By Crooked Letter Sports

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So much to discuss… 24:09

6M ago24:09

24:09

This week's pod touches on a number of subjects: the grit of J.J. Spaun, Cam Akers to the Saints, the College World Series, the NBA playoffs and tomato pie.By Crooked Letter Sports

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When golf becomes a horror show… 38:54

7M ago38:54

38:54

With the U.S. Open returning to diabolical Oakmont, Jackson's Mr. Golf, Randy Watkins, returns to Crooked Letter to discuss what golfers will face. Watkins, who once played in the US. Open at famed Winged Foot, knows a thing or two about high rough, slick greens and fairways only slightly wider than hallways. The Clevelands and Watkins also discuss…

1
College baseball wrap 25:11

7M ago25:11

25:11

So much to discuss, including bitter endings Monday night to the Ole Miss and Southern Miss baseball seasons, a new baseball beginning with Brian O'Connor at Mississippi State, the SEC's surprisingly poor showing in NCAA regionals, and the success of the little guys (Murray State, UTSA, Little Rock, Wright State, etc.) Also, a salute to LSU-Shrevep…

1
Michael La Sasso of Ole Miss claims NCAA individual golf championship, while Ole Miss, Southern Miss and Mississippi State enter NCAA Baseball Tournament play 22:43

7M ago22:43

22:43

La Sasso becomes the second Rebel ever to win the NCAA golf title, which qualifies him for the U.S. Open in two weeks and next April's Masters. Also, the Clevelands discuss how Mississippi's baseball coaches should address pitching in the upcoming NCAA Regionals.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Baseball, baseball, baseball … and Davis Riley 24:48

7M ago24:48

24:48

The best baseball teams in Mississippi, high school and college will be busy in post-season tournament play this week. Meanwhile, Davis Riley was pretty busy and pretty successful last weekend.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Belhaven softball coach Kevin Griffin, father of 19-year-old baseball prodigy Konnor Griffin, makes a return Crooked Letter appearance 28:20

8M ago28:20

28:20

Griffin talks about his Blazers team, which enters the NCAA softball championship tournament this week, and about his famous son who is killing it in his first season of professional baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization. The Clevelands also size up Mississippi teams entering the final week of college baseball season and also discuss nex…

1
Pine Belt News sports editor Andrew Abadie joins the pod to talk all things Southern Miss, Bobby Halford's latest achievement and high school baseball excellence in the Hattiesburg area 24:46

8M ago24:46

24:46

Abadie, who might be the busiest man in Misssissippi sports, is always especially when the high school, junior college and college baseball seasons move into playoff mode.By Crooked Letter Sports

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What next for Mississippi State baseball? 21:51

8M ago21:51

21:51

Mississippi State didn't even wait until the end of the season to fire Chris Lemonis, who brought the national championship to Starkville not quite four years ago. Where do the Bulldogs go from here. Robbie Faulk who covers the Bulldogs more closely than anyone else joins the podcast to discuss the situation.…

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What should the Saints do? Jaxson Dart? 23:22

8M ago23:22

23:22

The Clevelands take a comprehensive look at this weekend's NFL Draft, assessing Mississippi prospects and what the New Orleans Saints should do with the ninth pick. Many experts believe the Saints will take Ole Miss quarterback Dart, but the Clevelands are not so sure. It would not be the first time the Saints have taken an Ole Miss QB in the first…

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Basking in the glow of The Masters… 27:05

9M ago27:05

27:05

Has a sporting event ever produced more drama than the 2025 Masters? Has any network ever displayed it better than CBS? No and no, say the Clevelands, who also opine on the sad case of former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, Mississippi's college baseball teams, and what the Saints should do at quarterback.…

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Masters week is back and so is Mississippi's Mr. Golf, Randy Watkins 35:52

9M ago35:52

35:52

Former SEC golf champion and PGA touring pro is Crooked Letter's resident expert on all things golf. He's back with us to tell us who might win this week's Masters and why.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Springtime in Mississippi 23:41

9M ago23:41

23:41

The Ole Miss basketball season draws to a close in the Sweet 16, just as college baseball (and the weather) heat up. Rick opines on how the season is shaping up, while Tyler wonders whether the Braves will ever win.By Crooked Letter Sports

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How sweet it is for Ole Miss 25:43

9M ago25:43

25:43

Former college and NBA coach - and friend of the pod - Tim Floyd joins the show to talk about Ole Miss' success in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.By Crooked Letter Sports

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At the intersection of basketball and baseball… 25:00

10M ago25:00

25:00

We cover a busy Mississippi scene in both hoops and hardball with a little Jaxson Dart to the Saints projection thrown in for good measure.

1
Raymond basketball coach Tony Tadlock joins us to talk about high school basketball championships and this week's SEC Tournament 30:18

10M ago30:18

30:18

One of the state's top basketball coaches, Tadlock overcame the loss of all five starters from last year's championship team and losing his leading scorer this season, to win a second straight state championship and the seventh in school history. Tadlock talks about how he works with a 40-man basketball roster and maintaining a remarkable winning c…

1
Jackson suburbs rule in high school hoops … and a whole lot more. 26:45

10M ago26:45

26:45

Germantown, Ridgeland, Canton and Raymond all won State Championships, showing how the power has shifted in Mississippi high school hoops. Plus we get up to date with college basketball, college baseball and the amazing Konnor Griffin story.By Crooked Letter Sports

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The week begins with three Mississippi teams in the Top 25 D-! Baseball poll. 20:17

10M ago20:17

20:17

Southern Miss and Ole Miss got some welcomed news as both joined Mississippi State, giving the Magnolia State three teams in this week;s college baseball poll. Otherwise, the college basketball grind continues and the best high school basketball teams converge on Jackson for the annual MHSAA boys and girls state tournament.…

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State finishes the sweep, college baseball returns 24:36

10M ago24:36

24:36

Mississippi State makes a statement with a quality win over Ole Miss, improving their NCAA Tournament resume. Rick pontificates on the importance of the Dawgs win, as well as the opening weekend of college baseball and the direction of the new Saints regime.By Crooked Letter Sports

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Southern Miss football coach Charles Huff joins the show. 36:42

11M ago36:42

36:42

Charles Huff left the Sun Belt championship Marshall football program to take over the job at Southern Miss, which finished last. He talks about the difficult task ahead of him in his Crooked Letter debut. Also, the Clevelands discuss the Super Bowl, college basketball and the up[coming weekend of college baseball.…

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Noland "Super Gnat" Smith, who still bleeds Kansas City Chiefs red, joins the pod. 28:37

11M ago28:37

28:37

What do the Super Bowl and Jackson's own Noland Smith have in common? Both got their nicknames from Lamar Hunt, for whom the Super Bowl winners' trophy is named. Super Gnat, all 5 feet, 6 inches and 154 pounds of him, took the NFL by storm in the last 1960s with his blazing speed and quickness on kick returns.…

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Questions: Can the Eagles get the Chiefs this time? Can anybody block Chris Jones? 21:38

11M ago21:38

21:38

The Clevelands discuss a familiar Super Bowl matchup and whether or not the Philadelphia Eagles – or anyone else – can block Chris Jones, the NFL's most intimidating defensive player. The seesaw fortunes of Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the SEC basketball race, Jackson State basketball and Southern Miss are also part of today's discussion, alon…

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Ohio State won it all, but where would Ole Miss been with Quinshon Jundkins? 19:31

11M ago19:31

19:31

Lots to talk about on the days after the national championship game, but im Mississippi, especially in Oxford, much of the talk is about what might have been had Judkins stayed at Ole Miss. Also, the Clevelands discuss Egg Bowl basketball, the grueling SEC schedule, the NFL playoffs, and the John Wade's saga at Southern Miss.…

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Mississippi's college hoops revival (and rivalry) 26:39

12M ago26:39

26:39

Don't look now, but the Magnolia State has two ranked teams on a collision course for a Saturday showdown in Starkville this weekend. Rick and Tyler talk about what makes both Ole Miss and Mississippi State so solid, and check in on a JSU squad that is 3-0 to start SWAC play. Plus, Rick's NFL playoff picks and a sneak peak at the CFB National Champ…