Beau Fontenot

I can't believe Carter would deign to respond to those people.

quote:

---

I think they should try midnight basketball programs. That generally works well in theses types of situations.

---

Huge success here in Memphis.

You see this a lot in the Arkansas delta. Marianna, where my grandmother grew up, was once a growing cotton town with wealth and highly educated citizens. Vibrant art scene in the early 20th century. Now it's a ghost town overcome by bad demographics.

My great-grandfather's big house is still there. He built it when he was a young cotton broker. Now it's surrounded by dumps.

quote:

---

Likewise for Sam Houston who firmly believed that the South had no chance of winning a civil war against the North.

In fact, Houston's prophetic warnings about what a war would actually look like, cost him his political career.

---

Correct. You obviously know his quote, " I tell you that, while I believe with you in the doctrine of states rights, the North is determined to preserve this Union. They are not a fiery, impulsive people as you are, for they live in colder climates. But when they begin to move in a given direction, they move with the steady momentum and perseverance of a mighty avalanche; and what I fear is, they will overwhelm the South."

quote:

---

Bloodthirsty savages

---

The tales of devastation in the Mississippi Delta and of course in Georgia are appalling. In some cases, they'd give the woman of the house 45 minutes to remove their belongings before burning their homes. But Sherman understood that to defeat the South, it meant taking the war to its people. And he did with no mercy.

quote:

---

There was also a misguided perception by the North, including Lincoln, that the "rebellion" could be put down quickly.

---

Sherman knew better and said so. People thought he was crazy.

A trying season, no doubt. Obviously will need to bring in some new talent, move some out, and perhaps a new assistant or two can get more out of the ones we want to keep. A fresh set of eyes and a new approach can do wonders with some guys. You can bet Jay will make the needed changes.

If you really want to understand the Mississippi Delta, or the old Cotton Belt in general, a foundational text is titled, "The Most Southern Place on Earth: The Mississippi Delta and the Roots of Regional Identity." It's a 1992 book by James C. Cobb, a B. Phinizy Spalding Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Georgia,

Ole Miss is not the physical Delta, but it has a deep cultural connection, as many planters and land owners sent their children there to be educated. The wealthiest sent children to Sewanee, W&L or UVA. Alexander Percy is a good example, but many went to Ole Miss.

Understanding the culture of place is critical in understanding how Ole Miss was, how it has endeavored to change and what it's like today. It helps one understand how old perceptions can linger, as well as sociological issues. Ole Miss has had difficulty escaping that, because it seemed to embrace the Old South culture more than other schools. But it also should receive credit for working diligently to escape it and build a culture of fairness as an institution.

quote:

---

No, no it’s not. Accepting kids who don’t belong in college is a great way to saddle your state with 100s of millions in student loan debt.

---

False. State governments do not generally have the responsibility. The federal government holds the debt.

quote:

---

I’ve posted this before but the company I work for hires grads of every SEC school and Ole Miss kids are consistently the most unprepared. I chalk it up to being unable to stop the party.

---

How do you measure this? What's your field? I honestly don't believe what you're saying. I think you're making a broad generalization based on anecdotal experience alone. Ole Miss excels in accounting and pharmacy.

quote:

---

Thank you. I'm just wondering when we get past this stigma that if we go to University XYZ we're better than you.

---

I spent a year at Ole Miss. I transferred there my junior year to take several classes in the English and History departments. David Sansing was a well known professor of Southern History, and I wanted to study under him. I was also considering becoming a writer, and the English department was top notch. As good as any in the country. I did graduate work at one of those highly rated schools in creative writing, The English department at Ole Miss was just as good if not better.

It's changed a lot, but I always loved my time in Oxford. I'd sit under a big tree in the Grove and study a lot. It was hard, however, to focus since there was so many beautiful girls walking by. Every day I thought I'd seen the prettiest, until the next day and there was one even prettier.

I tried to meet 'em all at the Gin. Great times.

Speaking of the prettiest, I'd say in my time it was Kathy Manning. Yes, related to Archie. What a beauty she was. Still might be the prettiest girl that ever walked that campus.

I hate to break it to you, but being condescending to people is not a sign of intelligence.
Ole Miss isn't for everyone, but it has a lot to offer, and Oxford is a great American town.