For the Co-Lin Wolves there’s no place to go but up. Relegatedto the South Division cellar in a preseason poll of head footballcoaches, the Wolves take their hopes on the road tonight, travelingto Moorhead for a season-opening date with the Mississippi DeltaCommunity College Trojans.

Like Co-Lin, the Trojans were 3-6 last year. Not much to shoutand jump about, is it?

Co-Lin head coach David Poinsett is optimistic about this year’ssquad. Last year the Wolves lost 18 players to injuries andfinished the season with 37.

At Summit tonight, the Southwest Bears host Coahoma CommunityCollege in a season opener. Dom Green’s Bears also were 3-6 lastyear and one notch below Co-Lin in the South Divisionstandings.

Have you ever heard of junior colleges consolidating?

Add Co-Lin and Southwest together and it equals six wins. That’sstill behind the league leaders but certainly an improvement.

Consider the revenue that would be saved. Approximately $400,000could be placed on academic adventures instead of athletics if thefootball programs merged.

According to informed sources, Co-Lin and Delta both boaststrong defensive units. In other words, look for a 10-7 or 6-3score tonight. The giant mosquitoes will probably make moreconnections than the quarterbacks and receivers.

There were a few surprises last Thursday, Friday and Saturday asthe 2003 high school and college football seasons kicked off.Although Franklin County is in a major rebuilding campaign, theBulldogs made a respectable showing at Lawrence County on arain-soaked field. The 27-16 final score doesn’t show how closeAnthony Hart’s Bulldogs came to springing a major upset on theCougars’ home field.

Lawrence County senior running back Cedric Oatis remainshospitalized in Jackson since suffering a freak injury duringpractice on Aug. 14. Oatis, nicknamed “Fro Dog,” was air-lifted toJackson early Saturday morning, Aug. 16. Doctors at the Universityof Mississippi Medical Center discovered a slightly torn carotidartery at the base of his neck which caused a stroke.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Oatis and his family. A largered No. 23 was painted on the LCHS gridiron to honor their fallenteammate.

In another eye-opener, the Hazlehurst Indians might berebuilding but they have a legitimate shot at repeating as Region7-3A champions. The outmanned Indians battled heavily-favoredBrookhaven down to the wire before losing 12-8.

Two fourth-quarter interceptions and a tough Brookhaven defensekept the Indians from pulling a David over Goliath story. Tomorrownight the mighty Vicksburg Gators invade King Field and thePanthers are armed with slingshots.

Professor Hoopla B.S., is armed with his jug of orange Gatoradeand a rain poncho for the weekend outing. He’ll probably need bothitems.

Last week Hoopla predicted the winners of 16 games and got 12right. He’ll try to do better, starting with some Thursday nightspecials.

Co-Lin at Mississippi Delta: Wolves and Trojans dominate thegame on defense. Delta 9-7.

Coahoma at Southwest: Tigers are considered to be much improvedover last year. Coahoma 14-7.

Millsaps vs. Mississippi College: Plenty of seats are availablein Jackson’s Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium as theMethodists and Baptists clash in a protestant war. Give an edge tothe Choctaws. MC 23-17.

Southern Miss at Alabama-Birmingham: Golden Eagles have enoughdefense and offense to win their first game. Southern Miss14-10.

Vicksburg at Brookhaven: Gators boast a high-octane offense andan All-American linebacker. Vicksburg 14-6.

Centreville Academy at Brookhaven Academy: This cat fight willfavor the Tigers. Centreville 16-14.

Loyd Star at Enterprise: Sting Bowl provides a revenge motif forthe Hornets. Loyd Star 27-20.

Wesson at West Lincoln: Bears draw the dubious honor of playingthe top two Region 6-2A teams back-to-back. Wesson 39-12.

Stringer at Bogue Chitto: Rejuvenated Bobcats claim their firstRegion 4-1A victim of the season. Bogue Chitto 28-14.

Lawrence County at Mendenhall: Tigers appear to be on the mendthis season. Lawrence County 22-12.

Franklin County at Terry: In a battle of the Bulldogs, the hostsnotch a narrow win. Terry 21-20.

Other games: Hazlehurst should beat Velma Jackson 27-12;Hillcrest Christian should top Copiah 21-7; Tylertown should whipNorth Pike 26-6, Warren Central should beat McComb 21-14; SouthPike should smash Natchez 42-8; Hinds AHS should plug CrystalSprings 31-6; and Oak Forest should clip Parklane 20-12.

Still dreaming of a cold wave, Hoopla looks at Saturday’sscene.

Ole Miss at Memphis: Rebels survive another road test. Ole Miss21-14.

North Carolina A&T at Jackson State: The Tigers are stillworking on a rushing attack. North Carolina A&T 33-19.

Other college games: Delta State 21, Cumberland 10; Grambling28, Alcorn 18; Arkansas-Pine Bluff 28, Valley State 14; LouisianaCollege 31, Belhaven 17. Mississippi State has an open date tocount its TV revenue.