BulldogBacker Reports...

[dawgstudent]

Rockey Felker/Mike Nemeth Interviews _________________________________________________ <div id="post_message_2140"> Running backs Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Coach Rockey Felker and Associate Athletic Director for Public and Media Relations, Mike Nemeth were the guests for the "Bully Barkline Show." Rockey highlighted the recruiting rules that coaches must follow, including that for the first time in some years, Head Football Coaches are now allowed to go out on the road and contact high school coaches and recruits. Each school can have up to 7 coaches on the road at a time the next three weeks, with 2 coaches having to stay back on campus, so 9 coaches in total can make recruiting trips. The contact is allowed M-F, and no direct contacts can be made on weekends. MSU primarily recruits the states of Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, although some limited recruiting occurs in Kentucky and a few states out of the traditional SEC States. Each coach is assigned geographical areas they are responsible for. Rockey, for example, is assigned to recruit Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee. Five different coaches are assigned to Alabama, and almost all have Mississippi. Rockey says we must recruit Mississippi first, and pointed out that we signed 15 young men to scholarships from Mississippi last year, by far the most of any other team in the State.

Rockey says his biggest selling points are 1) Coach Croom and what a great man he is. 2) Our winning season last year. 3) The great family oriented and very friendly location. He says the coaches look at players' character, their potential, and their grades and ability to do college academics. He says they pay very little attention to "star" ratings, and most potential signees contact us and send us tapes of their play. Our coaches are limited in the number of contacts they make, as well as, the number of high school games they can attend. In the early phases of recruiting, coaches can make only one contact per period. If a recruit calls a coach, that isn't counted, and coaches try to make themselves available to all recruits anytime they wish to call or talk

Since Coach Felker is the running backs coach, he was asked about our running back situation. He says that all our tailbacks have improved from last fall. Anthony Dixon and Christian Ducre' both had good springs, especially Ducre'. He thinks the addition of the two freshmen redshirts will give our tailbacks more speed and quickness. Both Robert Elliot and Wade Bonner did very well in Spring. He is hopeful that Eric Hoskins will report full speed after his shoulder surgery.

When asked about the improvements of the offense over all, he says "we just HAVE to improve our offense!" He thinks that our WR's are ahead of where they were last year, and that Smith, Riley, McRae and Bell will be a quality unit. He says the seniors of that group have really stepped up with their leadership. He remarked on the excellent springs of both Wes Carroll and Tyson Lee, and says we will have the best depth of QB's since he has been here. He says Wes Carroll has really been working hard in the weight room and is much stronger. He said Wes has that "it" factor. He was glowing in his praise of Tyson Lee, saying he makes excellent decisions, has a very strong accurate arm, and is a "special player." He says Tyson also has "it." When asked about Lee's height, he pointed out that he has a very quick release, so defenders can't time any jumps. He said Lee had just one pass batted down last spring. He pointed out that Tyson Lee has been placed on scholarship, and that we are very glad to have him. He also pumped Chris Relf and his ability to throw and run, but said just his experience was holding him back from an "it" rating. He says we are deeper on the offensive line, despite the loss of Mike Brown. He hinted in changes to be made in what we do on offense, but wasn't specific. In short, he was optimistic about potential improvement.

Mike Nemeth talked about is experience and 23 years at Mississippi State. He is originally from Massilon, Ohio, and went to Miami of Ohio to college. Right out of college he got a media assistant job at South Carolina, and was at the front of the George Rogers Heisman Campaign. He then went to Northwestern University for a couple of years, then accepted a job here after Bob Hartley retired.

He was asked about the "Say it Loud" ESPN program, and the difficulties getting permission to edit it and post a video on the Official Athletics Department site. The producer was from Toledo, Ohio, and a big fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, which for accuracy's sake should be pointed out as a weed that grows in Ohio. Nemeth says he now says "y'all" despite being a Yankee who is a closet Bugeye fan, but a Bulldog at heart. He pointed out that Coach Croom is exactly the way he is behind closed doors as he is in public, and is a wonderful man to work with.

He thinks there will be a lot more excitement surrounding MSU sports in a short while due to some plans yet to be implemented. Mike was very cordial, loves MSU and MSU sports, and stayed at least 30 minutes after the program just sitting and talking about different sports issues off the record. </div>

 

[OEMDawg]

The seniors of that WR group? Isn't that all of them but McRae?

 

[Columbus Dawg]

Yes. '09 should be fun.

 

[TR.sixpack]

[No message]

 

[ShrubDog]

You got Co-Eric, Mason & Smitty.....</p>

 

[Bulldog Backer]

You got Co-Eric, Mason & Smitty.....</p>

...that means we will have McRae and a bunch of totally inexperienced WR's in 2009. Although not able to make any specific statements, Rockey also said there will be some significant changes on offense. What was surprising was that Rockey spent so much time both on the radio and off, talking about Tyson Lee. He said Tyson Lee is a very. very bright guy, and really makes excellent decisions. He talked about how his height is not all that big of a problem because he takes a taller stance, a shorter step to throw, and has such a quick release. He said he had just one knocked down pass that he could remember all spring. He also said that Lee can throw the deep ball. Talked about a pass he threw 65 yards to hit McRae in stride during an early scrimmage. The tone suggested Riddell may have left because he would have been at least down to 3rd string. He also thinks Derek Sherrod will do a good job at Left Tackle, acknowledging that Mike Brown was a huge loss. He thinks Melichar will do an excellent job at RT. Despite the loss of Brown, he felt good about the offensive line, because of their respect for Jenkins and Saulsberry. Mike Nemeth added that Mike Brown is one of the nicest guys on the team, not at all a bad person, just made a stupid, stupid mistake. Brown had a license to carry the handgun he owned, but it was still illegal to have it on campus. I left the meeting thinking there will be real competition for starting QB come this fall. </p>

 

[rebelrouseri]

to shoot it on campus too:

Nemeth added that Mike Brown is one of the nicest guys on the team, not at all a bad person, just made a stupid, stupid mistake. Brown had a license to carry the handgun he owned, but it was still illegal to have it on campus.

 

[lanceharbor7]

Rockey Felker/Mike Nemeth Interviews _________________________________________________ <div id="post_message_2140"> most potential signees contact us and send us tapes of their play. </div>

Does this strike anyone as fairly lazy recruiting?

 

[OEMDawg]

Rockey Felker/Mike Nemeth Interviews _________________________________________________ <div id="post_message_2140"> most potential signees contact us and send us tapes of their play. </div>

Does this strike anyone as fairly lazy recruiting?

Croom = lazy recruiting? Heck no, that thought never crossed my mind. </sarcasm></p>

 

[JR]

Mike Brown is one of the nicest guys on the team, not at all a bad person WHEN HE IS NOT SHOOTING AT YOU</p>

there fixed.

'cause I think its going to be critical to someones judgement on whether a guy is "nice" depending on if he has shot at you recently.

 

[KurtRambis4]

by jr...i nominate this for 6pack remembers...

 

[dawgstudent]

[No message]

 

[KurtRambis4]

seconded???

 

[Cains Major]

I don't, but I do think it was just a "stupid" reaction.</p>

 

[patdog]

My understanding is that Wesley was the one arrested for shooting a gun on campus and Brown was arrested for possession of (not shooting) a gun on campus. Not that the distinction make a heck of a lot of difference, except that I bet Wesley does a good bit more time than Brown does over this.

 

[JR]

"Stupid reaction" typically means someone insulted you and you punched them.

What it doesnt "typically" mean being someone who is having thier entire scholarship and living expenses paid for by the University, then getting getting your gun and chasing someone onto the university campus, into the center of the residece hall section of campus and either shooting or being there while you "possee" shoot fire arms that could kill an innocent bystander who by the way is paying $10,000 of dollars so that they can have a chance at bettering thier lives.
Going to Starkville to attend college shouldnt put you life in danger from being shot by people who are getting a free ride to be there.

So I am sticking with my original Nemeth "correction"...when you behave like that I thnk you forfeith your shot at the title of "One of the nicest people around"