Coach Mullen - regarding next season

[615dawg]

These are expectations.

You will open with Jackson State. You may not be familiar with them, but if you want to get the fan base pumped, win by 60. Crooms never scored more than 38 in five years. If you want instant support, beat JSU so badly that you can have the team hang out and watch the Sonic Boom at halftime. 1-0 out of the gate - just like Crooms.

Next up is a trip to Auburn, coached by Derek Dooley. They will be in a rebuilding mode. We only lost to them by 1 last year, so if we can catch them in rebuilding mode, this could be a nice road SEC win. 2-0.

Here comes Georgia Tech, a team that will be in the running for the ACC championship. We probably won't win this one, but I'll go ahead and tell you - be ready for the option. 2-1.

LSU comes to Starkville. This is an interesting game for you Coach. You see, we hate LSU, and there are fifth graders that have never seen us beat them and college students that have only seen us beat them once. Might be too much to ask in your first year, but the way they finished, this is a tossup. 2-2/1-1 though.

Let's go to Vanderbilt. You know what you did to them this year. Do that. 3-2/2-1.

Good Houston team from crappy C-USA comes to town. We won't be alarmed if this is a shootout, because they can score, just make sure you're on the winning side of a 45-42 game. 4-2/2-1

You may have heard of Larry Templeton. We don't like him very much. He's the reason you are having to make a mid-season trip to a Sun Belt conference team. Take care of business and hopefully Byrne will never have you do that crap again. 5-2/2-1

Now here comes Florida. We understand that this is a reunion of sorts. ESPN is going to tout it as the Mullen Bowl. We know we're not Florida, but they have not won here in 24 years. Just be competitive. 5-3/2-2.

Trip to Kentucky. We should have beaten them like a drum last year and Crooms beat them by 17 in Lexington a couple years back. Take care of business and you're bowl eligible. 6-3/3-2.

Not too shabby as Alabama comes calling. Not sure what to think about the Tide - they are losing a lot but they are pretty good. 6-4/3-3.

Now you have to go to Fayetteville or Little Rock to face Petrino and the Hogs. If Crooms can beat them, you can. 7-4/4-3.

Want to become a sheep hero? Beat Ole Miss and knock them out of Atlanta. Don't think we can next year though - 7-5/5-3.

How's Memphis for New Years?

 

[615dawg]

These are expectations.

You will open with Jackson State. You may not be familiar with them, but if you want to get the fan base pumped, win by 60. Crooms never scored more than 38 in five years. If you want instant support, beat JSU so badly that you can have the team hang out and watch the Sonic Boom at halftime. 1-0 out of the gate - just like Crooms.

Next up is a trip to Auburn, coached by Derek Dooley. They will be in a rebuilding mode. We only lost to them by 1 last year, so if we can catch them in rebuilding mode, this could be a nice road SEC win. 2-0.

Here comes Georgia Tech, a team that will be in the running for the ACC championship. We probably won't win this one, but I'll go ahead and tell you - be ready for the option. 2-1.

LSU comes to Starkville. This is an interesting game for you Coach. You see, we hate LSU, and there are fifth graders that have never seen us beat them and college students that have only seen us beat them once. Might be too much to ask in your first year, but the way they finished, this is a tossup. 2-2/1-1 though.

Let's go to Vanderbilt. You know what you did to them this year. Do that. 3-2/2-1.

Good Houston team from crappy C-USA comes to town. We won't be alarmed if this is a shootout, because they can score, just make sure you're on the winning side of a 45-42 game. 4-2/2-1

You may have heard of Larry Templeton. We don't like him very much. He's the reason you are having to make a mid-season trip to a Sun Belt conference team. Take care of business and hopefully Byrne will never have you do that crap again. 5-2/2-1

Now here comes Florida. We understand that this is a reunion of sorts. ESPN is going to tout it as the Mullen Bowl. We know we're not Florida, but they have not won here in 24 years. Just be competitive. 5-3/2-2.

Trip to Kentucky. We should have beaten them like a drum last year and Crooms beat them by 17 in Lexington a couple years back. Take care of business and you're bowl eligible. 6-3/3-2.

Not too shabby as Alabama comes calling. Not sure what to think about the Tide - they are losing a lot but they are pretty good. 6-4/3-3.

Now you have to go to Fayetteville or Little Rock to face Petrino and the Hogs. If Crooms can beat them, you can. 7-4/4-3.

Want to become a sheep hero? Beat Ole Miss and knock them out of Atlanta. Don't think we can next year though - 7-5/5-3.

How's Memphis for New Years?

 

[patdog]

You will open with Jackson State. You may not be familiar with them, but if you want to get the fan base pumped, win by 60. Crooms never scored more than 38 in five years. If you want instant support, beat JSU so badly that you can have the team hang out and watch the Sonic Boom at halftime. 1-0 out of the gate - just like Crooms.

Reminds me of back in 1991 when it really hit me that things were going to be different with Jackie Sherrill coaching us. First game, we beat Fullerton St. 47-3. Then after upsetting what turned out to be a mediocre Texas team, we beat Tulane 48-0. I remember thinking, holy ****. We used to win those kind of games by 10 points or so, now we're winning them by 40+. Things are really different now.

 

[Frances Drebin]

...that damn Texas game. I couldn't believe what I was seeing at the time. MSU wasn't supposed to be able to win those types of games.

 

[patdog]

Rodney Stowers was a beast in that game. My brother's girlfriend at the time went to high school with him and said he was a great guy. He could have been a great football player if he'd had the chance.

 

[eckie1]

Are you serious?

 

[saltybulldog]

This is what the kool-aid will do to you. One month ago I saw us winning 2-3 games. Now I see your 7 wins and believe. God help me I am kool-aid drunk in December and we arent even bowling.

Thanks Croom.

 

[Frances Drebin]

...Stowers could've been a pro, and a good one. Hard to believe a broken leg did him in like it did, but you never know. That's why you can never take lightly the types of injuries like Brandon McRae suffered.

 

[Todd4State]

was what made me an MSU football fan. I had been an MSU baseball fan forever before that, and all I remember about MSU football before Jackie was a guy on the news holding up a "Fire Rockey" sign- guy is probably a sixpacker now -and my Mom and Dad telling me about going to the 80 Bama game and leaving me with a baby sitter- I was 3 at the time. Not that I would have remembered anything about that game.

After that game and that start I begged my parents to take me to a MSU game and they finally did for my birthday- it was the 1991 Egg Bowl. I remember that we pretty much kicked their *** and my Mom covering her eyes when Tom Luke was blown up by Keo Coleman. That was one of the most vicious hits I've ever seen. I also remember us blocking one of their punts and then Sleepy Robinson threw a 20 yard bomb to Willie Harris.

Dare I say Thanks Jackie?

 

[615dawg]

let's jump on him.

Yes. I fully believe Ole Miss is capable of winning the West next year. They are returning virtually their entire team (which by the way, finished second in the West and is playing in the 17ing Cotton Bowl). That, combined with the following, adds up to a possible trip to Atlanta.

1. Houston Nutt.
2. Alabama will be competition, but should be down a bit.
3. LSU will be down, but they did blow them out this year.
4. Arkansas will be better, but still rebuilding
5. MSU will be better, but rebuilding
6. Auburn will flat suck

6-2 will likely win the West. Hell, if we could win a couple more games we could be in the running.

 

[MissStateDog]

Yeah, they return their whole team, except both lines.

 

[SLUdog]

the SECW as long as Jevan Sneed is healthy.

 

[eckie1]

I just don't see any way that they make to ATL next year. Aren't they losing a bunch of their best linemen besides Powe? That was the main reason for their success this year.</p>

I don't see why Alabama will be down next year, either. And, that's the main reason that I don't see umiss (or anybody else) winning the west besides them next year.</p>

 

[8dog]

they may never win it. the schedule is perfect.

They are my preseason favorite to win it. Replacing Miller and Oher are the big question marks.

 

[FlabLoser]

1) A punt might have been the biggest play. Texas had us pinned deep, about to take momentum and a go-ahead score (I think). Our kicker was no McAdams, but regardless he kicked it a mile. Flipped the field for us. We got a good boost out of that.

2) The rain. It was hot at Hades that day. In those days, men were men and the band wore uniforms to the game. Band members were passing out left and right. Did I say it was hot as Hades? A brief shower came and everybody cheered the rain. Unfortunately, it lasted long enough only to steam the place up.

 

[BriantheDawg]

they should be the preseason favorite to win the West. Bama loses Sarah Jessica and pretty much the rest of the Division is in rebuilding mode right now. If not for Jevan Snead, you could say every team in the West will be in rebuilding mode next season. Crazy that they could go from winless to Atlanta in 2 years. A good quarterback makes all the difference in the world. Maybe sooner than later, we'll actually have one.

 

[jmbeck]

And check your math...

But, I get what you're saying...

Now you have to go to Fayetteville or Little Rock to face Petrino and the Hogs. If Crooms can beat them, you can. <span style="font-weight: bold;">7-4/4-3.</span>

Want to become a sheep hero? Beat Ole Miss and knock them out of Atlanta. Don't think we can next year though - <span style="font-weight: bold;">7-5/5-3.</span>

 

[Frances Drebin]

...another thing I remember...after the game, all of the Texas fans stayed in the stands quietly holding up their little "hook 'em horns" hand signals. I always thought that was kinda cool.

 

[8dog]

P. Jerry and Hardy, but they got by a lot without Hardy. Lawon Scott, Tillman, Locket will be fine. Not as good but solid. Their LBs matured over the year. Their O-line will be serviceable despite losing Oher and Miller. They get Mcluster, Hodge and Sneed back. The schedule is all you could ask for.

Bama loses 3 offensive linemen, including their 2 best. More importantly they lose their QB. They lose Terrence Cody and Rashad Johnson, 2 of their 3 best defenders. Cody is a huge loss. They are a different defense without him.

It could come down to the game in Oxford.

 

[Frances Drebin]

...Ole Miss will take a step back next year, but they still have a chance to win the west because everyone will take a step back. LSU will probably be better, but Bama loses a lot, Auburn will probably suffer aGAIN, Arkansas and State are complete question marks at this point, and Ole Miss loses some beef on the interior lines.

Ole Miss folks think this is comical, but I really think they are going to see some regression over the next few seasons. Nutt has a history of underachieving as a recruiter, so he may never have a collection of talent as strong as he has this year. But we'll see.

 

[BriantheDawg]

but I'm sold on Snead. He is what made the difference this year for Ole Miss. Nutt obviously had a hand in their success but a good quarterback makes up for a lot of other shortcomings. Your #1 should be Snead, not Nutt. We'll see what Nutt's able to do when Snead is gone. Unfortunately, that's not for another 2 years.

 

[RipleyReb.sixpack]

that G. Hardy is only a Junior, thus it's not a foregone conclusion that he's leaving. He missed a lot of time this season, which could hurt him in the draft. Thought is he may come back to try and prove he can make a season injury free ( if this happens, he's most likely a 1st rounder). We'll know soon enough when we find out if he's been attending classes and kept his grades in order. We need him for the CB regardless.

Congrats on the hire!

 

[8dog]

they lose virtually their whole offensive line, and many of their key defensive players.

Jefferson is still a question mark.

Arkansas will certainly be better. They are likely upgrading at QB and that guy can coach.

 

[Tito Cheeseburger Jr]

I was at that game and I remember how hot it was. I spent the night with a friend, didn't realize we were going to the game the next day and I didn't pack any shorts so I had to wear jeans. I have never worn jeans to another Sept. football game again. Nothing worse to sweat through a game in.

I also remember Michael Davis got a lot of carries.