Our reality

[HueFreeze]

Dan Mullen is Petrino-lite
[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif]Mississippi State ranks 12th in the SEC and last in the West in terms of talent over the last five years. Yet, the Mullen-led Bulldogs have won 24 games in the last three seasons including three bowl appearances. Hail State has also had nine players selected in the last three NFL Drafts including a first-rounder in each of the last two seasons. Breaking through against LSU or Alabama (and now Texas A&M) is a tall order, but for a team ranked last in the SEC West in terms of talent to win eight games per season is incredibly impressive.[/FONT]

the link

[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif]I get down, I think last year we should have done better, but you have to stay in the scope of things. We have some great things happening here.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif]This is why I stick to saying we have to keep comparing ourselves to the first couple of years of Spurrier at South Carolina.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif]It takes time to build up a team of nothing to compete in the SEC, It takes even more when you consider the route SEC and powerhouses have went in the last 5 years.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif]I am not saying whoo is me attitude, but guys 8-5 is not a dissappointment, I don't care who we played non conference
Screw what OM and rebels tell you ...Enjoy your success of finally starting to climb out of the cellar [/FONT]

 

[Railin Jemmye]

I completely agree. But take a look at this. It is widely known that you need to land the 5 stars from your own state to compete at a high level. South Carolina rose up when they landed Gilmore, Lattimore and then Clowney. Those two are a big part of their success. It was 5 years after Spurrier got there before they landed the really big fish (Stephon Gilmore). Mullen landed a somewhat big one last year in Evans, but the REAL big get would be Jones this year, which is the EXACT same time time as Spurrier. I'm talking about the guys who get in and contribute. That's how guys like Mullen will build a team.

In the end, you have to have those studs (dependable ones) to build your team around. It's not the end of the world, but it would be a set-back if Jones does not sign with us.

And don't compare this with Ole Miss and their 5 stars. We do things differently than them. But they are definitely doing what they need to do. But going forward, we have to start beating them for the Tony Conners in-state.

 

[maroonmania]

My only issue is we still aren't breaking through...

Dan Mullen is Petrino-lite[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif]Mississippi State ranks 12th in the SEC and last in the West in terms of talent over the last five years. Yet, the Mullen-led Bulldogs have won 24 games in the last three seasons including three bowl appearances. Hail State has also had nine players selected in the last three NFL Drafts including a first-rounder in each of the last two seasons. Breaking through against LSU or Alabama (and now Texas A&M) is a tall order, but for a team ranked last in the SEC West in terms of talent to win eight games per season is incredibly impressive.[/FONT]the link[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif]I get down, I think last year we should have done better, but you have to stay in the scope of things. We have some great things happening here.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif]This is why I stick to saying we have to keep comparing ourselves to the first couple of years of Spurrier at South Carolina.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif]It takes time to build up a team of nothing to compete in the SEC, It takes even more when you consider the route SEC and powerhouses have went in the last 5 years.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif]I am not saying whoo is me attitude, but guys 8-5 is not a dissappointment, I don't care who we played non conferenceScrew what OM and rebels tell you ...Enjoy your success of finally starting to climb out of the cellar [/FONT]

and beating quality teams. A lot can be said for beating teams that you are as good or better than but we still aren't really even competing that well with upper tier teams. Another reason we HAVE to be able to hold onto our top end talent guys in recruiting if we are going to keep going up the ladder.

 

[johnson86-1]

and beating quality teams. A lot can be said for beating teams that you are as good or better than but we still aren't really even competing that well with upper tier teams. Another reason we HAVE to be able to hold onto our top end talent guys in recruiting if we are going to keep going up the ladder.

We can move up the ladder quite a bit just by getting classes like last year. Not to the top of the conference, but people have to remember that we have a talent problem because we had two bad years of recruiting. It will suck to lose Chris Jones, but I think even if we lost him our recruiting is good enough to keep improving. But we definitely have to get some game changers (which hopefully Chris will be one) in order to really threaten the top of the SEC, as opposed to simply moving into the 15 to 25 in the nation range.

 

[Maroonthirteen]

Thanks for pointing that out. It was obvious to me, down the stretch, we were way behind in terms of talent. Even OM looked to have a slight talent edge in our game. Northwestern....we just sucked. But my point, I think Mullen is helluva coach. He is just so far behind in team talent. He has to.....HAS TO start winning these battles for the CJs (both). Otherwise, we will continue to win the OOCs and lose the SECs. I have been watching State for 30 years and driven to more losses than wins some of which were embarrassing. Then I still wear the garb, defend and talk up the school. Time for State to step. State has never had better facilities, resources and coaching talent as it has now. With all that, Mullen has to land a guy that we lead a mile on for 3/4 quarters of the race. Do it now! I am tired of waiting on tomorrow. WIN this damn battle for Jones!!!!! Then you start winning more games.

 

[maroonmania]

Exactly, if we have our...

Thanks for pointing that out. It was obvious to me, down the stretch, we were way behind in terms of talent. Even OM looked to have a slight talent edge in our game. Northwestern....we just sucked. But my point, I think Mullen is helluva coach. He is just so far behind in team talent. He has to.....HAS TO start winning these battles for the CJs (both). Otherwise, we will continue to win the OOCs and lose the SECs. I have been watching State for 30 years and driven to more losses than wins some of which were embarrassing. Then I still wear the garb, defend and talk up the school. Time for State to step. State has never had better facilities, resources and coaching talent as it has now. With all that, Mullen has to land a guy that we lead a mile on for 3/4 quarters of the race. Do it now! I am tired of waiting on tomorrow. WIN this damn battle for Jones!!!!! Then you start winning more games.

top recruit (5 star type guys) plucked from us in 2 of the last 3 recruiting classes in the last month of recruiting by OM after having been committed to us for months and months and months it not only leaves a void of having real difference makers on the field but it wears on the pysche of the fan base. Our program is in better shape now than its probably ever been but we really do need to hold Jones in a bad way. Absolutely no good reason for him to defect at this time with the program improvements and the fact that he is at a position of need for us.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

That's a pretty good post, and good summation of how the MSU fanbase feels.