Devilsh1
The Preeminent One!
:jump:
However, Archie tragedy casts pall over archrivals
By Mark Alexander
malexander@clarionledger.com
Rick Guy/The Clarion-Ledger File Photo
Jackson State's Cliff Walker looks for a way around Mississippi Valley defender Attarrius Norwood during a game on Feb. 23, 2002. The Tigers hammered out an 89-75 victory.
JSU game
Who: Mississippi Valley, 5-11, 4-3 SWAC, at Jackson State, 4-12, 3-4
Where: Athletics and Assembly Center
When: Today, 7:30 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: WOAD-1300 AM in Jackson
Tonight's Jackson State-Mississippi Valley State men's basketball game figures to be like any other between the two in-state rivals.
Intense. Hard-fought. Exciting.
But something, make that someone, will be missing. Valley sophomore guard Michael Archie won't be at the Athletics and Assembly Center.
Archie, who was wounded in a nightclub shootout early Sunday, remains hospitalized at the University Medical Center in Jackson, located just minutes from the JSU campus.
"The game won't be the same without him," JSU swingman Tim Henderson said. "He brought so much energy and excitement to the game.
"It's a big loss to their team. They're really going to miss him, the league is going to miss him. We're all going to be keeping him in our thoughts and prayers."
JSU coach Andy Stoglin concurs, although he expects emotions to be running higher than ever.
"It's going to be a helluva game," Stoglin said. "There's going to be enough heat on that floor to burn paper.
"You've got all those Valley players from Jackson coming home to play, we're desperate for a win right now after losing straight, and then you've got the situation with Archie. He's such a good kid. I hate that happened to him; everybody hates that it happened to him. It's going to be a very, very emotional night for everybody."
Archie, a former Greenwood High standout and fan favorite, suffered a spinal cord injury from a stray bullet that paralyzed him from the waist down. Hours earlier, he had scored 11 points in Valley's 87-68 home win over Prairie View on Saturday night.
Archie mother, Carol Archie, said Friday her son will be hospitalized indefinitely. Exactly how long will depend on how well he responds to treatment and rehabilitation, she said.
Archie is also recovering from wounds to his stomach.
"He's doing better," Carol Archie said. "He's a little more alert and he's talking a little bit more. He even smiled today, which I was glad to see."
Carol Archie said her son should begin rehab next week.
"He's been a competitor his whole life, and I don't expect that to change now," she said. "This is a setback, and he knows things are going to be different, but we want him to remain strong."
The incident rocked the tiny campus and community. Archie's father, L.V. Archie, is a former Mississippi Valley campus police officer and is now a Greenwood police officer. His mother worked in Valley's business office.
"It's been devastating," Valley coach Lafayette Stribling said.
Said Valley athletic director Lonza Hardy: "It's going to take some time to regroup."
Valley officials have instructed the players not to speak to the media. But it was obvious to see how much they miss Archie Monday night when Valley lost on its home floor to Texas Southern ? the Delta Devils' first game without their fallen teammate.
Many of the players fought back tears during pre-game player introductions, just a few feet away from the bench where Archie's No. 20 jersey was draped over an empty seat.
In the four days since, Valley's players and coaches, and some JSU players, have been among those who have visited Archie.
"The support from Jackson to Greenwood has been outstanding," Carol Archie said.
Stribling contemplated letting the team visit Archie today upon arrival in Jackson but decided against it.
"He's had so many phone calls and so many visitors, I think it would probably do more harm than good," Stribling said. "His sister is supposed to come to the game and talk to the team in the dressing room before the game. That'll do more good than anything else."
JSU and Valley split a pair of games last season, with each winning on its home court. Archie had 33 points in those two games, including a 16-point performance in Jackson ? a game witnessed by his brother, Llvee Archie, a defensive lineman on JSU's football team.
If the Delta Devils are to win on the road tonight, they know they will have to do so without the 6-foot-4 Archie, who was averaging 11.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
"He was such a good player," Stribling said. "He did so many things. He could play the 2, 3, 4 and even the 5 if you needed him to."
As bad as Stoglin's team needs a win tonight, he would like to see Valley at full strength, with Archie in the lineup.
"Heart, fire. . . that's what he had," Stoglin said. "He played as big as he needed to play."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A fund has been set up for Michael Archie through Planters Bank in Greenwood. To contribute to the fund, contact John Pittman at (662) 453-1812.
However, Archie tragedy casts pall over archrivals
By Mark Alexander
malexander@clarionledger.com
Rick Guy/The Clarion-Ledger File Photo
Jackson State's Cliff Walker looks for a way around Mississippi Valley defender Attarrius Norwood during a game on Feb. 23, 2002. The Tigers hammered out an 89-75 victory.
JSU game
Who: Mississippi Valley, 5-11, 4-3 SWAC, at Jackson State, 4-12, 3-4
Where: Athletics and Assembly Center
When: Today, 7:30 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: WOAD-1300 AM in Jackson
Tonight's Jackson State-Mississippi Valley State men's basketball game figures to be like any other between the two in-state rivals.
Intense. Hard-fought. Exciting.
But something, make that someone, will be missing. Valley sophomore guard Michael Archie won't be at the Athletics and Assembly Center.
Archie, who was wounded in a nightclub shootout early Sunday, remains hospitalized at the University Medical Center in Jackson, located just minutes from the JSU campus.
"The game won't be the same without him," JSU swingman Tim Henderson said. "He brought so much energy and excitement to the game.
"It's a big loss to their team. They're really going to miss him, the league is going to miss him. We're all going to be keeping him in our thoughts and prayers."
JSU coach Andy Stoglin concurs, although he expects emotions to be running higher than ever.
"It's going to be a helluva game," Stoglin said. "There's going to be enough heat on that floor to burn paper.
"You've got all those Valley players from Jackson coming home to play, we're desperate for a win right now after losing straight, and then you've got the situation with Archie. He's such a good kid. I hate that happened to him; everybody hates that it happened to him. It's going to be a very, very emotional night for everybody."
Archie, a former Greenwood High standout and fan favorite, suffered a spinal cord injury from a stray bullet that paralyzed him from the waist down. Hours earlier, he had scored 11 points in Valley's 87-68 home win over Prairie View on Saturday night.
Archie mother, Carol Archie, said Friday her son will be hospitalized indefinitely. Exactly how long will depend on how well he responds to treatment and rehabilitation, she said.
Archie is also recovering from wounds to his stomach.
"He's doing better," Carol Archie said. "He's a little more alert and he's talking a little bit more. He even smiled today, which I was glad to see."
Carol Archie said her son should begin rehab next week.
"He's been a competitor his whole life, and I don't expect that to change now," she said. "This is a setback, and he knows things are going to be different, but we want him to remain strong."
The incident rocked the tiny campus and community. Archie's father, L.V. Archie, is a former Mississippi Valley campus police officer and is now a Greenwood police officer. His mother worked in Valley's business office.
"It's been devastating," Valley coach Lafayette Stribling said.
Said Valley athletic director Lonza Hardy: "It's going to take some time to regroup."
Valley officials have instructed the players not to speak to the media. But it was obvious to see how much they miss Archie Monday night when Valley lost on its home floor to Texas Southern ? the Delta Devils' first game without their fallen teammate.
Many of the players fought back tears during pre-game player introductions, just a few feet away from the bench where Archie's No. 20 jersey was draped over an empty seat.
In the four days since, Valley's players and coaches, and some JSU players, have been among those who have visited Archie.
"The support from Jackson to Greenwood has been outstanding," Carol Archie said.
Stribling contemplated letting the team visit Archie today upon arrival in Jackson but decided against it.
"He's had so many phone calls and so many visitors, I think it would probably do more harm than good," Stribling said. "His sister is supposed to come to the game and talk to the team in the dressing room before the game. That'll do more good than anything else."
JSU and Valley split a pair of games last season, with each winning on its home court. Archie had 33 points in those two games, including a 16-point performance in Jackson ? a game witnessed by his brother, Llvee Archie, a defensive lineman on JSU's football team.
If the Delta Devils are to win on the road tonight, they know they will have to do so without the 6-foot-4 Archie, who was averaging 11.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
"He was such a good player," Stribling said. "He did so many things. He could play the 2, 3, 4 and even the 5 if you needed him to."
As bad as Stoglin's team needs a win tonight, he would like to see Valley at full strength, with Archie in the lineup.
"Heart, fire. . . that's what he had," Stoglin said. "He played as big as he needed to play."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A fund has been set up for Michael Archie through Planters Bank in Greenwood. To contribute to the fund, contact John Pittman at (662) 453-1812.