6. Freshmen follow-up: There were all sorts of impressive debuts by true freshmen in the opening week. Now it's time for the encores. Auburn running back
Onterio McCalebb rushed for 148 yards, which was more than Bo Jackson rushed for in his first game on the Plains. Mississippi State receiver
Chad Bumphis started and caught two touchdown passes. Tennessee running back
Bryce Brown rushed for 104 yards and averaged 9.5 yards per carry. Vanderbilt running backs
Zac Stacy and
Warren Norman each rushed for more than 100 yards, and South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore started and came up with a key pass breakup in the end zone to seal the game in the final minutes.
7. Anthony Dixon's debut: After serving a suspension in the opener against Jackson State for his DUI arrest back in July, Dixon is back and raring to go. Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said Dixon looked great throughout the preseason, and now that he's down around 235 pounds, is moving as well as he ever has. Dixon's 2,603 career rushing yards are more than any active player in the SEC. If he stays healthy, the Bulldogs plan on riding him this season. Look for him to get a workout Saturday against an Auburn defense that held Louisiana Tech to 96 yards rushing last week.
8. Protecting the Plains: Auburn gets the second of four straight games at home to open the season. This is the most important of the four with Mississippi State coming to Jordan-Hare Stadium. Getting off to a 1-0 start in the SEC would speak for itself. But if Gene Chizik and his bunch can hold serve at home (West Virginia and Ball State are up next), this is a team that all of a sudden becomes a player in the Western Division going to Tennessee on Oct. 3. The Tigers know a little something about themselves, too, after dominating Louisiana Tech in the second half last week. The Bulldogs were no pushover, which makes winning the second half so convincingly all the more impressive.
