Room renamed for alum Norwood

STARKVILLE — A donation from the Miskelly family of the Jackson area has resulted in a new name for the players' lounge of State's Holliman Center football complex.

The Miskellys donated the money to rename the Croom Room, a lounge with pool tables, televisions and computers, as the Jerious Norwood Room.

Norwood snipped the ribbon leading from the team locker room to the newly named room at a Saturday morning ceremony prior to State's spring football game.

"There's nothing like coming back to Starkville, Mississippi, where I had so many great memories," said Norwood, who played at State through 2005 and is playing professionally with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

The room was outfitted with new furniture and flat screen televisions. But the most notiecable differences are throughout the Holliman Center. A variety of graphics now adorn the walls, ranging from motivational messages to information about former Bulldogs playing professionally.

"When I see these guys come back I feel like a proud papa, I really do," MSU coach Sylvester Croom said.

No update

Croom wouldn't comment when asked Saturday about the two players, Mike Brown and Quinton Wesley, who were arrested Thursday on gun-related charges and summarily kicked off the team.

"When everything is final, when the dust settles, I'll make a comment at that time," Croom said.

Absent from game

Reserves Jamon Hughes and Rodney Prince weren't in attendance at Saturday's spring football game. Neither was cornerback Anthony Johnson, who is recovering from knee surgery. Croom wouldn't say why the players weren't there.

- Kyle Veazey