HOOVER, Ala. -- Mississippi State enters preseason practice with a four-man quarterback battle. Coach Dan Mullen admits its not an ideal situation.I will be a happy guy to name a starting quarterback and find somebody that has separated themselves from the other three, Mullen said.So far, the race to replace Dak Prescott has been too close to call. Prescott was easily the most productive quarterback in program history -- throwing for more than 9,000 career yards and running for more than 2,500. He threw 70 touchdown passes and ran for 44 more.He even caught three touchdown passes.Good luck filling those shoes.Its safe to say none of the four candidates for the job -- sophomores Nick Fitzgerald and Elijah Staley, junior Damian Williams and freshman Nick Tiano -- will match Prescotts production right away.But Mullen and players are confident someone will step forward to keep the Bulldogs competitive in the SECs Western Division.They all bring a little different skill set to the table, but they all can throw and they all can run, Mullen said. I think when you have that dual threat, it makes the defense have to account for all 11 players on offense on every single snap.The 6-foot-5 Fitzgerald was Prescotts primary backup in 2015. He completed 11 of 14 passes for 235 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Staley and Williams also have some game experience.It has definitely been different without Dak, Mississippi State receiver Fred Ross said. All of the quarterbacks have been working hard and doing things the coaches have asked of them.Quarterback might be the most high-profile position battle at Mississippi State, but theres also plenty of uncertainty on defense.The Bulldogs lost their entire defensive coaching staff during the offseason, including coordinator Manny Diaz, who left for Miami. His replacement is Peter Sirmon, who comes to Mississippi State from Southern California.Its Mississippi States third defensive coordinator in three years.The Bulldogs do have several veterans returning on defense, including linebacker Richie Brown, defensive linemen A.J. Jefferson and Nelson Adams and safety Kivon Coman.Jefferson said learning another defense wont be particularly difficult.Playing defense doesnt change, Jefferson said. Every defensive coordinator weve had come here might dress it up a different way, but its all the same thing. They want us to be juiced and have energy and just go out there and play.-----Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP-----AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Kevin Pierre-Louis Jersey . LUCIE, Fla. Stephen Denmark Jersey . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. http://www.cheapbearsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-mike-ditka-jersey . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Abdullah Anderson Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Cornelius Lucas Jersey . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Raise a glass to celebrate the life of golfs King -- and make it an Arnold Palmer.I imagine that Arnold Palmer walks into a restaurant and they ask him what hes drinking, and he says, `What the hell do you think Im drinking, comedian Will Arnett once cracked.Some sports greats have a trophy named in their honor. Others, a spiffy stadium or a playing surface.Palmer, who died Sunday at 87, had a much more refreshing choice, a mixture of lemonade and iced tea that was named for him.He created a stir on the course and with his drink that made him as much a cultural icon as much as his Grand Slam victories.Around the world, all you had to do was say his name and you could get the perfect mix of iced tea and lemonade.Palmer loved iced tea and suggested to his wife, Winnie, one day that she make a big pitcher of the drink. For fun, he suggested a dose of lemonade to mix things up. He drank it for lunch and loved it so much that the concoction would become a part of his daily routine.I thought, boy, this is great babe, he said in an ESPN documentary . Im going to take it when I play golf. Im going to take a thermos of iced tea and lemonade.The secret to a perfect Arnold Palmer, go heavy on the iced tea with just a splash of lemonade.Palmer said he was overheard ordering the drink in a restaurant and a nearby patron said she wanted an Arnold Palmer.dddddddddddd.Legend has it, the name stuck and -- even if he didnt invented the drink, he sure did popularize the beverage. The perfection was in its simplicity, ideal for a summer day, the end of a round of golf or lunch with the kids.Palmer would stick his name and likeness on a mass produced Arnold Palmer drink distributed by Arizona Beverage Company.He poked fun at the drink in pop culture and appeared in an ESPN SportsCenter commercial where he stood in line and poured himself iced tea from one dispenser and lemonade from another to mix the drink.Palmers drink was parodied down to his last day. The Simpsons poked fun in Sundays episode by having Homer Simpson plot with one of his friends to fill water guns with iced tea and lemonade so he could Arnold Palmer Lenny when he walks in!Arnold Palmer Lenny. Youre going to Arnold Palmer Lenny, Marge Simpson said.Arnold Palmer was a golfer and he made up this drink where its not a full glass of lemonade or a full glass of iced tea, Homer explained.Yes, even a dolt like Homer Simpson could make the drink.And the rest of us could enjoy one. ' ' '
