By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

MOBILE, Ala. — After both teams reported here to this Port City Tuesday afternoon, neither squad in the annual Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Football Classic wasted any time team getting to work as each team hit the practice field Tuesday night.

The two squads in the prestigious affair hit the training sessions after check-in and orientation and rules meetings and dinner at The Mobile Marriot and then left for the campus of the University of South Alabama.

The host team and the visitors will alternate practicing at both the Jaguar Training Center which is the indoor facility for the USA squad as well as the Yance practice facility which is the outdoor fields. The facilities are right next to each other, adjacent to Hancock/Whitney Stadium where the 38th annual game will be played at Noon on Saturday.

A trio of senior standout players from the “Southern Six” as well as a veteran head coach all reported for Team Mississippi on the first day of action. Stadium in Mobile on the campus of the University of South Alabama.

George County standout signal-caller Deuce Knight, St. Stanislaus suburb placekicker Evan Noel and Gulfport stalwart offensive lineman Jamarius “J.J.” McCann were all selected to represent their home state in the annual affair.

Pascagoula veteran head coach Lewis Sims will serve as the defensive coordinator for the Mississippi team.

“Ready to get going,” Sims said, Tuesday afternoon. “To be chosen to coach in this game is one of the highest honors you can achieve as a coach in Mississippi. I’m excited and honored for the chance.”

Mississippi hopes to turn the tables and flip the script this year in enemy territory after Alabama did the same last season.

Last year, Mississippi proved to be quite a hospitable host against Alabama in the 37th annual Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Football Classic.

The visiting squad took advantage of six Mississippi turnovers plus a botched punt attempt, as Alabama took a 26-17 win at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in the annual affair. It marked the fourth straight win for Alabama, and Alabama leads the overall series 26-11.