Crooked Letter Sports

Mississippi-centric sports talk and stories with Hall of Fame columnist Rick Cleveland and Scorebook Live senior reporter Tyler Cleveland. Produced in Jackson and made by Mississippians, for Mississippians.

The Christmas-New Year's-Sugar Bowl edition

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.  

12-24
31:42

Lots happening in the Crooked Letter State…

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.

12-17
27:32

Ole Miss in, Notre Dame out … and other news

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.  

12-10
28:35

It's not like there's nothing to talk about…

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

12-03
39:26

We're thankful for this Egg Bowl

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.  

11-26
24:14

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

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.  

11-19
27:06

An Empire State of Mind

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  

11-12
27:43

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

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.

11-05
34:55

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.

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.  

10-29
33:46

Run another play or kick the goal?

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.

10-22
26:34

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.

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.

10-15
35:54

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

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 Championship and the upcoming weekend in college football.  

10-08
22:11

The Sanderson Farms Championship and a whole lot of football

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 getting more interesting.

10-01
24:06

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

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.

09-24
35:23

Big starts for Mississippi's 'Big 3'

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.  

09-17
30:19

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

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

09-10
25:43

Mississippi football's big opening weekend

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?

09-03
24:17

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

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 mind for an encore at Jackson State.

08-27
20:31

Brandon High football coach Lance Pogue joins the podcast.

 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.  

08-20
30:10

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

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 college.  

08-13
31:14

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