<div> <font color="#660000">
SYLVESTER CROOM RESIGNATION</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <div> <font color="#660000">As I'm sure you're all aware of by now, Sylvester Croom resigned as head football coach early Saturday morning. We wish him and his family the best in the future and thank him for his work in building a solid foundation for our football program during his five years here.</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">His character and integrity, while well documented, should not be understated. And all of those positive qualities will be sought in the next head football coach.<font color="#660000"></font></font> <p align="center"><font color="#660000"><font color="#660000"><font color="#660000">* * *</font></font></font></p><font color="#660000">
NEW FOOTBALL COACH SEARCH </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">We have begun a national search, and while we will move as efficiently as possible through the process, we will take as much time as necessary to find the best fit for Mississippi State. With bowl games being played throughout the month of December and into January, the college football season continues and that could have an impact on the timing of our announcement. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">The search will obviously be confidential in nature, and we will not be discussing possible candidates at any point.</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">We have no plans to speak publicly during this process until the time that we announce a new coach.
While we understand that a search of this nature will generate rampant rumors and speculation, please know that information is not coming from the people making the decision.<font color="#660000"></font></font> <p align="center"><font color="#660000"><font color="#660000"><font color="#660000">* * *</font></font></font></p><font color="#660000">
SEARCH FIRM'S ROLE</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">Neinas Sports Services has been retained by our department to assist during the search process. Neinas' background includes several high-profile national coaching searches, and his experience will undoubtedly help us in this important task.</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">However, the Neinas group will NOT hire the next football coach for Mississippi State. That is a charge that we have been given by interim president Dr. Roy Ruby and incoming president Dr. Mark Keenum, and one that we do not approach lightly.</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">Neinas Sports Services will assist us by conducting background work and by putting us in contact with possible candidates, and the group often times provides information about candidates that is not available to the general public.</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">But the final decision will remain one that we make.<font color="#660000"></font></font> <p align="center"><font color="#660000"><font color="#660000"><font color="#660000">* * *</font></font></font></p><font color="#660000">
THE NEXT COACH</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">When the search is complete and we bring the next head football coach to you, the great fans of Mississippi State, we ask for the continued support of the Bulldog Family that makes this place so special.</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">As far as what we'll be looking for in a head coach, we're looking for someone with high energy, a passion for recruiting and a strong work ethic. While it would be nice if they had an understanding of the SEC, experience in the SEC isn't a prerequisite. We want somebody who has the intensity and the energy level to continue on what Coach Croom has built and take it to a higher level for us.</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">No matter the final selection, please know that we will have done a great deal of background and personal interaction with the candidate and believe that he is the best person to lead Mississippi State football into the future. We will use every resource and contact available to us during the process.<font color="#660000"></font></font> <p align="center"><font color="#660000"><font color="#660000"><font color="#660000">* * *</font></font></font></p><font color="#660000">
BASKETBALL RETURNS HOME</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">While the search for a new football coach will generate a great deal of attention from our fans, please know that your continued support of all Mississippi State athletics continues to remain vital to our athletic department and our student athletes.</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">The women's basketball team - now 4-0 on the season - will play a pair of games at the Humphrey Coliseum this week. They face Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Nicholls State at 2 p.m. on Sunday.</font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000"> </font> </div> <div> <font color="#660000">The men's team returns to the Hump with a Noon tipoff Saturday against Alabama State.</font> </div><font color="#660000"></font> </div> <p align="center"><font color="#660000"><font color="#660000">* * *</font></font></p> <p class="" align="center"></p> <p class="" align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p><font color="#660000">We appreciate what you do for Mississippi State Athletics and want to encourage you to get others involved. There are three things you can do to help Mississippi State reach its desired goals -</font> <p class="" align="left"><font color="#660000">1. Buy Season Tickets
2. Financially Support the Bulldog Club
3. Get Others To Do The Same </font></p> <p class="" align="left"><font color="#660000">Thanks for taking the time to read this update. </font></p> <p class="" align="left"><font color="#660000">Go Dawgs! </font></p> <p class="" align="left"><font color="#660000">Greg Byrne
</font><font color="#660000">
[email protected]</font> </p>
