Former Rebel and two-time All-American, Kristi Boxx, is blessed with a great family, friends and the talent that led her to become one of the top players in the history of Ole Miss women's tennis.  The Grenada, Miss., native recently wrapped up an outstanding career, becoming just the second player in the history of the program to achieve 200 wins combined in both singles and doubles. 

For Boxx, life is about more than tennis.  It's important to her to give back what she's been given, and for her that means helping others less fortunate.  This summer Boxx spent time in Corumba, a very small town on the border of Bolivia and Brazil.

"It's considered a small city, but it's still over a million in population," said Boxx, who traveled there for the third time in as many years.  "It's very bare there.  Some just have what they need, and a lot don't have any running water."

Boxx traveled to the small town via an organization called Grace International Miracle (GIM) Ministries.  She got involved through a family in Oxford, and it just so happens her two roommates are from Brazil.

"They've been going to the same area for 20-plus years, and they have built at least five churches in this area," Boxx said.  "Every time we go back we work with a different church. I've been to different places each time I've gone and met different people."

Among the things they did this time, Boxx said they set up medical care in an old building and offered the message of God while people waited to see a doctor.

"There were four rooms in this building. In the front room they created a triage where the patients waited, and before seeing the doctor, they would go through evangelism," she said.  "Everyone that came got a Bible, and they would hear the gospel. We had eyeglasses too, because a lot of them can't afford glasses.  To sit there and watch them open the glasses and look at the Bible and be able to read it, it was so cool."

While the women taught Bible study, Boxx said some of the guys worked on building a missionary farm. The plan is to have dorms on the land where they can take people off the streets and teach them a skill so they can eventually leave the farm and go make a living.

Boxx has also done mission work in West Africa before and on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona, which she described as like a third-world country.

"A lot of them didn't speak English, and they didn't have paved roads, and the houses were very small. It was very eye-opening," Boxx said.   

"I feel like everyone needs to go on some kind of international mission trip just to get a different perspective, because here we see the same thing all the time, and it's what's normal, but not everyone lives like us. Compared to the rest of the world we live like kings and queens, and so I'm very thankful that I've gotten to go.  Now I appreciate things more."

It's been a whirlwind summer for Boxx, who recently got engaged.  She is spending time in Oxford this semester working out with the team and training for the pro circuit.  Later this fall, Boxx plans to compete in some tournaments in doubles with another native Mississippian, Keri Wong, who earned All-America honors at Clemson.

Boxx says she plans to try and continue her mission work whenever possible.

"Life in and of itself should be a mission trip. It shouldn't be, you go on a mission trip and then you come back and go about your normal life," she said.  "My life in general is like tennis, I'm playing for the Lord and not for myself.  Whenever I have the opportunity to go and serve, if I can make it happen, then I'm going to do it."        

      

Former Rebel takes over as Meridian Police Chief

James Reed, one of the first two African-Americans to play football at Ole Miss, was named police chief of Meridian, Miss., earlier this month by Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry.

A native of Meridian, Reed has served in law enforcement for more than 35 years including stints as a probation and parole officer with the state of Mississippi and as a supervisory special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

He had been living with his family in Jacksonville, N.C., prior to his new appointment.

Ole Miss has been selected as one of the top 20 schools for "The South's Best Tailgate" by Southern Living magazine.

The Southern Living editors huddled together to post a roster of the top 20 Southern schools with the best tailgates, and of course The Grove was tabbed among them.

They're letting fans ultimately choose the winner. Rebel fans can vote daily for Ole Miss from August 15-October 1 at southernliving.com/tailgate or via smartphone by downloading the complimentary Digimarc Discover app.  Simply scan the corresponding text in the September issue. One vote per day is counted toward the final tally. Votes placed on Saturdays count twice toward the final tally.

The winner will be crowned "The South's Best Tailgate" at a home game by November 10. The September issue featuring the schools in the running for "The South's Best Tailgate" title hits newsstands August 24.

Southern Living chose the roster of universities vying to win "The South's Best Tailgate" based on the following criteria:

-      Most Spirited: Schools that turn "fan" into "fanatic."

-      Traditionalists: Schools renowned for game-day rituals.

-    Powerhouses: Southern schools with a history of winning on and off the field (chosen based on the most bowl victories).

-      Style Setters: From sundresses to cake stands, these schools showcase true splendor in the grass.

Here are the 20 schools that made the list:

Auburn University: Boasts an entire Wikipedia page devoted to pregame rituals.

Clemson University: Caps off pre-gaming with one of the best player entrances in college football.

Grambling State University: Turns its rival match up into a weeklong extravaganza.

Hampden-Sydney College: Inspired a Brooks Brothers ad with its well-dressed "Hillgaters."

Howard University: Sports the styles that have earned students mentions on best-dressed lists.

Louisiana State University: Enlists RVs and crawfish boils to cook up a massive tailgate.

McDaniel College: Houses the nation's only drive-in stadium.

Mississippi State University: Treats its friendly fan base to ice cream made on-campus.

Southern Methodist University: "Boulevards" instead of tailgates with stylish barbecues.

Texas A&M: Wakes the school up at midnight on game day with "The Midnight Yell."

University of Alabama: Packs tents 1,000-deep on the Quad each Saturday.

University of Arkansas: Claims two football stadiums in different cities.

University of Florida: Hosts annual tailgate-turned-block party occupying nine acres.

University of Georgia: Welcomes more than 100,000 tailgaters per game.

University of Mississippi: Is home to The Grove - chandeliers, candelabras, linen napkins and all.

University of Oklahoma: Starts with "The Land Run" to lay territory claim before each game.

University of South Carolina: Tailgates in Cockabooses, 22 train cabooses turned game day suites.

University of Tennessee: Unites 150 houseboats and yachts nearby for a massive "sailgate."

University of Texas: Co-hosts annual Red River Rivalry in Dallas at the local State Fair.

University of Virginia: Tailgates against the backdrop of Charlottesville's Monticello Mountain.

OXFORD, Miss. - Former Ole Miss women's golfer, All-American Dori Carter, posted her best-ever finish in an LPGA event, recording a top-20 finish at the Safeway Classic presented by Coca-Cola over the weekend in North Plains, Ore.

Carter, who finished the tournament in a tie for 19th, carded a 69 in the first round and finished the three-day tournament with a three-under 213. In 2010, before turning pro, Carter won the Pennsylvania Classic on the Symetra Tour.

Complete results can be found by clicking here.

This week, Carter will be joined by Natalie Gleadall in the Canadian Women's Open. Carter and Gleadall, who earned a sponsor's exemption to the Open, will begin play tomorrow at The Vancouver Golf Club.

Carter will tee off in group 10 at 7:55 a.m. on Thursday while Gleadall will tee off in group 14 at 8:06 a.m. Live scoring for the event can be found by clicking here. Thanks to Natalie for the picture!

After winning the NGA/Hooters Tour Tom Moore Open on Sunday, former Ole Miss All-American Jonathan Randolph drove to Knoxville for a shot at qualifying for the Web.com Tour's News Sentinel Open. Randolph, one of 87 contestants aiming for two spots, fired a 62 to win the qualifier and one of the two open spots for this weekend. 

Former Ole Miss All-American Jonathan Randolph carded a 4-under 68 in the final round to win the Tom Moore Open with a total of 18-under on Sunday.

"It's great to finally come out here and do what you set out to do," said Randolph. "I had good distance control with everything. I could back off or crank it up and still keep my distances. I didn't have many bogeys and putted it well. It was an efficient day."

Check out the National Golf/Hooters Tour for more info: Link

Former Ole Miss All-American Jonathan Randolph fired a 5-under 67 today to grab the lead heading into the final round of the Tom Moore Ford Open sponsored by the National Golf/Hooters Tour. Randolph currently leads the field with a 14-under and is one shot ahead of four other golfers.

Follow the final round action here: Leaderboard

Members of the Ole Miss Athletics Department, including administrators, staff, coaches and student-athletes, participated in Groovin' At Move-In 2012 Friday.  Athletics Director Ross Bjork (pictured above) was among those who helped incoming students move into their dorm rooms for the new school year, which starts Monday.

Photo Gallery

The Jackson Touchdown Club presented by C-Spire Wireless will host its first meeting of the season on Monday, August 20, 2012, at 6 p.m. at the River Hills Tennis Club located at the intersection of Ridgewood Road and Lakeland Drive. Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze will kick off the club's 67th season that night.

The admission fee for non-members and guests for this meeting is $30. Space is limited at Club meetings. The media is cordially invited to all meetings at no cost. For additional Club information, contact Glen Waddle, Secretary of the Jackson Touchdown Club, at 601-506-3186, or visit the Club's web site at www.jacksontouchdownclub.com.

Persons, corporations, or businesses interested in joining the Jackson Touchdown Club may download a membership form on the Club's web site at www.jacksontouchdownclub.com.

The Jackson Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization that has existed since 1946 when the late Dr. Lacey Hughes gathered 15 football fans together to celebrate the sport of football in the Jackson area. The Club is one of the oldest and most prestigious quarterback or touchdown clubs in the southeastern United States. The Club sponsors the Gene May Scholarship Fund and helped originate the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1960.

Former Ole Miss women's basketball player Yolanda Moore is set to release her autobiography, You Can Win If You Don't Quit, on September 15.

Moore, a two-time First Team All-SEC honoree and WNBA Champion, co-founded Everyday Publishing Group with Jermaine Smith to launch the new book

If you recall our story back in May, Coach Hugh Freeze teamed up with Rebel hoops great Sean Tuohy to raise some big bucks for charity in the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge. An additional $20K was added to the donation to bring Ole Miss' total contributions this year to $87,500. A Chick-fil-A Bowl Endowed Scholarship Fund houses $60K of that total.

Watch Freeze and Tuohy tee it up Sunday, as highlights of the tournament will air on ESPN2 at 1 p.m. CT. It will broadcast again on December 29 at 10 a.m.


Follow me on twitter @CampbellKyle.

The Rebels have done SEC Media Days and the ESPN Car Wash, and now it's the local media's turn. Rebel Media Day activities are set for Friday afternoon on campus, and this year, one fan can have their voice heard. During his press conference at 2 p.m., Coach Hugh Freeze will take one question tweeted by a fan. To propose your question, tweet it to @OleMissFB and use the hashtag #AskFreeze.

RebelVision subscribers can follow Media Day live starting with the press conference and followed by interviews with several key players. Coach Freeze's media rotation will also include a couple live radio interviews, and the list is below. Stay tuned for a lot of Rebel buzz in the air Friday, including a full recap on the official site.

2:50pm - ESPN Radio Chattanooga  - Listen
3:05pm - ESPN Radio Nashville - Listen


Follow me on twitter @CampbellKyle.