http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080515/SPORTS030103/80515031/1287/SPORTS&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL OXFORD - Chris Strong, The Clarion-Ledger's Mississippi Mr. Football selection in 2006 out of powerhouse South Panola High School, has withdrawn from Ole Miss after one season with the team. "We do not expect Chris to be with us this fall, but wish him well in whatever his future holds," Nutt said in a statement released by the university. Strong's mother, Brenda, said last week that her son struggled with his grades throughout his freshman year at Ole Miss. The 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive lineman struggled to qualify academically out of high school, enrolling at controversial prep school Genesis One in the spring semester of his senior year to finish work needed to meet the NCAA minimum standards for freshmen eligibility. Clarionledger.com 5/15/08

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080515/sports030103/80515017 5/15/08 Ole Miss junior reliever Scott Bittle is one of 10 semi-finalists for the 2008 Clemens Award, the Greater Houston Baseball Administration announced today. Bittle, who has a 5-1 record and seven saves, leads the nation in strikeouts per nine innings, 16.33. The right-hander has struck out 99 in 54‚ innings. The other nine on the list are Brian Matusz of San Diego, Aaron Crow of Missouri, Joshua Fields of Georgia, Scott Gorgen of UC Irvine, Chris Hernandez of Miami (Fla.), Shooter Hunt of Tulane, Mike Leake of Arizona State, Andrew Liebel of Long Beach State, and Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State. Named after seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, the award is given each year to the pitcher voted tops in the nation by a committee comprised of Division I baseball coaches, media and past finalists for the award. The award will be presented at a dinner July 11 in Houston. Clarionledger.com posted 5/15/08