Pretty telling that Stricklin hasn't tweeted since about 3pm yesterday

[121Josey]

I got "flipped" too

I have never seen a flip like your opinion on Mullen. When I said back in the summer Mullen hadn't achieved anything here a number of coaches couldn't have, you, Goat, and the rest of the gang buried me.

I was on the fence but said we needed a complete offensive make-over. On the fence after OSU and Auburn.

LSU made me pull the trigger. BG and UK only supported my move out of the Dan Camp. He's shown his cards, hit his ceiling. I've seen too many programs hit this road.

The past three years without Hud and Diaz has shown he has no idea what he's doing. He's TRYING to learn on the job. He insults my intelligence on his post-game shows.

 

[CadaverDawg]

I was on the fence but said we needed a complete offensive make-over. On the fence after OSU and Auburn.

LSU made me pull the trigger. BG and UK only supported my move out of the Dan Camp. He's shown his cards, hit his ceiling. I've seen too many programs hit this road.

The past three years without Hud and Diaz has shown he has no idea what he's doing. He's TRYING to learn on the job. He insults my intelligence on his post-game shows.

You mean, "we're happy to be 3-3", and "Eeh, I'm really pleased with continuos improvement our kids are showing out there.....competing hard, ya know...the punting game...making some plays. So yea."
He never even makes sense..just rambling coach speak.

After every one of his interviews/pressers, I have a blank stare on my face and feel like he walks out of the room, grins, and thinks "I've been doing these for 5 years and haven't really said a damn thing".

It's awful, and im tired of watching that smug bastard laugh it off after we damn near lose to BGSU or UK. It was kinda funny when he was the cocky smug bastard that was WINNING, but it loses its luster after dropping a turd on the field against a nobody

 

[UIUCDog]

Yeah, if not for the Hudspeth thing, we aren't having this conversation. At least the reasonable among us aren't.

 

[121Josey]

All this talk about Mullen being fired is waaaay too soon. We can't fire him, even if he needs to be fired. We would look like idiots. To go from Jackies last few years to 5 yrs of Croom on top of our overall history, to a coach who has taken us to 3 straight bowls, a 9 win season, decent recruiting, etc. The media would hammer us. No other coach would want to come here. They would look at the challenge combined with "unreasonable" expectations and take a pass. The biggest thing we can offer potential coaches is control and resonable expectations (relative to the pressure cookers at the big programs). I know we have expectations of winning, but they need to be within reason.

We as fans may can get down in the weeds and see a negative trend on offense, defense, game day decisions, personnel decisions, etc.
What the media/potential coaches will see is 3-8, 3-9, 2-10, 3-9, 3-9, 3-9, 8-5, 4-8, Followed by: 5-7, 9-4, 7-6, 8-5, 6-6? and then fired.
We have to let it play out. Have no choice.
Disclaimer before all the stupid comments come in: I'm not Stricklin, Mullen, Mullen's mom, wife, yard boy, or dog, so don't ask.

This is pretty hypocritical of State fans if true. State fired Croom too soon. He was bringing in a trove of talent and we had a clean program.

What? People didn't call State stupid for firing Croom?

After loosing 5 of 6 last year, a lot of other fan bases were calling State - not stupid - but posers and pretenders. They even see now that Mullen is the problem. They won't call us stupid. They'll hate we didn't keep him longer.

 

[thatsbaseball]

"Disclaimer before all the stupid comments come in: I'm not Stricklin, Mullen, Mullen's mom, wife, yard boy, or dog, so don't ask."[/QUOTE]

Are you Rick Cleveland ?

 

[RocketDawg]

The only thing stupid about firing Croome is that it wasn't done sooner. He never should have been hired in the first place.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Perkins, Curry, DuBose, Shula. Names sound familiar ? Now before you start squauking like a seagull... We aren`t Alabama ! We aren`t Alabama ! that ain`t the point. If you`ve ever hired people you know there is NEVER a sure thing NEVER. It`s the most humbling part of being in management by far. The point is we just made two bad hires back to back even though one of them looked golden for a while. What do you do to correct the situation ? You cut your losses and move on...it comes under the general category of **** happens.

 

[Barkman Turner Overdrive]

State fired Croom too soon. He was bringing in a trove of talent

If you truly believe this, I am embarrassed for you.

 

[121Josey]

If you truly believe this, I am embarrassed for you.

Do you think Croom could have won 5 games in 2009? In 2008 Croom went 4-8. He lost @LA Tech 22-14, ^AU 3-2, ^UK 14-13.

What about 2010? Does Croom get us to a bowl game?

Croom brought in plenty of elite JUCO talent built to win in two years. Plus would have played Russell from Day 1 and not short QBs.

WR	105	<nobr> </nobr>	Brandon Heavens (Jess Lanier HS) Bessemer, AL		<nobr> 5-10/170/4.40 </nobr>	02/04/2009		Mississippi State
WR	158	<nobr> </nobr>	Mardrecas Hood (Pickens County HS) Reform, AL		<nobr> 6-3/180 </nobr>	02/02/2009		Mississippi State
WR	89	<nobr> </nobr>	Ricco Sanders (James F Byrnes HS) Duncan, SC		<nobr> 5-11/175/4.36 </nobr>	02/02/2009		Mississippi State
CB	NR	<nobr> </nobr>	Billy Hamilton (Taylorsville HS) Taylorsville, MS		<nobr> 5-10/170 </nobr>	01/26/2009		Mississippi State
RB	116	<nobr> </nobr>	Darius Slay (Brunswick HS) Brunswick, GA		<nobr> 6-0/176/4.37 </nobr>	01/18/2009		Mississippi State
RB	77	<nobr> </nobr>	LaDarius Perkins (St. Joseph HS) Greenville, MS		<nobr> 5-10.5/195 </nobr>	01/17/2009		Mississippi State
S	40	<nobr> </nobr>	Dennis Thames (Louisville HS) Louisville, MS		<nobr> 5-11/185 </nobr>	01/17/2009		Mississippi State
WR	33	<nobr> </nobr>	Chad Bumphis (Tupelo HS) Tupelo, MS		<nobr> 5-10/193/4.40 </nobr>	01/17/2009		Mississippi State
DE	JC	<nobr> </nobr>	Pernell McPhee (Itawamba) Fulton, MS		<nobr> 6-4/250 </nobr>	01/02/2009		Mississippi State
DE	NR	<nobr> </nobr>	Johnathan McKenzie (Starkville Academy) Starkville, MS		<nobr> 6-4/235 </nobr>	12/20/2008		Mississippi State
WR	JC	<nobr> </nobr>	Leon Berry (East Mississippi) Scooba, MS		<nobr> 6-0/185 </nobr>	12/20/2008		Mississippi State
K	JC	<nobr> </nobr>	Sean Brauchle (Mississippi Gulf Coast) Perkinston, MS		<nobr> 5-9/175 </nobr>	12/19/2008		Mississippi State
WR	JC	<nobr> </nobr>	Maurice Langston (East Central (MS)) Decatur, MS		<nobr> 5-11/185/4.40 </nobr>	12/16/2008		Mississippi State
P	JC	<nobr> </nobr>	Heath Hutchins (Itawamba) Fulton, MS		<nobr> 6-1/190 </nobr>	10/30/2008		Mississippi State
RB	31	<nobr> </nobr>	Montrell Conner (Ouachita Parish HS) Monroe, LA		<nobr> 6-2/215/4.40 </nobr>	08/01/2008		Mississippi State
OT	52	<nobr> </nobr>	Gabe Jackson (Amite County HS) Liberty, MS		<nobr> 6-4/295/5.20 </nobr>	07/30/2008		Mississippi State
MLB	JC	<nobr> </nobr>	Chris White (Mississippi Gulf Coast) Perkinston, MS		<nobr> 6-4/235 </nobr>	07/24/2008		Mississippi State
FB	14	<nobr> </nobr>	William Shumpert (Itawamba Agricultural HS) Fulton, MS		<nobr> 6-0/238 </nobr>	07/12/2008		Mississippi State
SLB	28	<nobr> </nobr>	Deontae Skinner (Noxubee County HS) Macon, MS		<nobr> 6-2/234 </nobr>	07/12/2008		Mississippi State
DT	12	<nobr> </nobr>	Josh Boyd (Philadelphia HS) Philadelphia, MS		<nobr> 6-3/275/4.85 </nobr>	07/01/2008		Mississippi State
S	80	<nobr> </nobr>	Nickoe Whitley (Provine HS) Jackson, MS		<nobr> 5-11/195 </nobr>	06/07/2008		Mississippi State
DE	17	<nobr> </nobr>	Fletcher Cox (Yazoo City HS) Yazoo City, MS		<nobr> 6-4/238/4.65 </nobr>	05/13/2008		Mississippi State
S	69	<nobr> </nobr>	Johnthan Banks (East Webster HS) Maben, MS		<nobr> 6-2/170 </nobr>	04/27/2008		Mississippi State
WR	65	<nobr> </nobr>	Chris Smith (Meridian HS) Meridian, MS		<nobr> 6-1/195/4.45 </nobr>	04/06/2008		Mississippi State
QB	13	<nobr> </nobr>	Tyler Russell (Meridian HS) Meridian, MS		<nobr> 6-5/217 </nobr>	04/01/2008		Mississippi State
S	84	<nobr> </nobr>	Cameron Lawrence (Magnolia Heights School) Senatobia, MS		<nobr> 6-2/205/4.66 </nobr>	03/29/2008		Mississippi State
OT	66	<nobr> </nobr>	Sam Watts (Salem HS) Conyers, GA		<nobr> 6-4.5/290/5.62 </nobr>	02/16/2008		Mississippi State

<tbody>
</tbody>

 

[engie]

Do you think Croom could have won 5 games in 2009? In 2008 Croom went 4-8. He lost @LA Tech 22-14, ^AU 3-2, ^UK 14-13.

What about 2010? Does Croom get us to a bowl game?

Croom brought in plenty of elite JUCO talent built to win in two years. Plus would have played Russell from Day 1 and not short QBs.

Please read your own information. Pay particular attention to commitment date. Damn near half that class was Mullen's. And all the JUCOs besides Hutchins and White. Thanks, Hud**

 

[121Josey]

Please read your own information. Pay particular attention to commitment date. Damn near half that class was Mullen's. And all the JUCOs besides Hutchins and White. Thanks, Hud**

I don't take away from the fact that Hud helped on that class. But don't act like these recruits were not in contact with State before the new regime came in. Most of those JUCOs were on campus during the season.

But I do now need to compare the new regime's 2010 and 2011 classes to the 2009 class. Thanks Croom.**

 

[engie]

I don't take away from the fact that Hud helped on that class. But don't act like these recruits were not in contact with State before the new regime came in. Most of those JUCOs were on campus during the season.

But I do now need to compare the new regime's 2010 and 2011 classes to the 2009 class. Thanks Croom.**

Who cares if "they were in contact with State or on campus"? That means nothing. They didn't commit to MSU until Dan Mullen took over -- and Sylvester Croom doesn't get a damn bit of credit for that.

Look -- a bunch of people want Mullen gone at the end of this year barring something unforeseen(myself included). You don't have to make ridiculous statements and go into crazy hypotheticals to try to convince anybody of anything.

 

[justinrsutton]

May have been me..

Ok..I was just wondering because I was listening to someone on Bulldog Radio the other day that was saying something like we could'nt afford to fire him or something..I think it was Matthew(Anti-State)Stevens.

Was more bringing up the 1.4 million buyout in the interview to just to bring up the idea...for what its worth, Ron Sanders from Football Rumor Mill said it would not be a problem at all.

 

[RocketDawg]

If ... a big if ... Hudspeth is hired at the end of this season, would he bring Diaz back as DC? I assume he's still unemployed. And who for OC?

 

[drt7891]

I've met the guy a couple of times and everything I've heard about him (including from players) is that he is a complete, unapproachable *******. I think that has impacted not just his recruiting, but his relationships with his assistants, too. It's obvious to most he, Heavesy, and Koenning are buddies, but I think the rest of the staff is kind of alienated and, in many ways, can be interpreted as disrespected. The fact he chews the ever living **** out of his defensive coordinator after a TD when his offense has gone on 2 or 3 consecutive 3 and outs is pretty telling to me...

 

[drt7891]

All this talk about Mullen being fired is waaaay too soon. We can't fire him, even if he needs to be fired. We would look like idiots. To go from Jackies last few years to 5 yrs of Croom on top of our overall history, to a coach who has taken us to 3 straight bowls, a 9 win season, decent recruiting, etc. The media would hammer us. No other coach would want to come here. They would look at the challenge combined with "unreasonable" expectations and take a pass. The biggest thing we can offer potential coaches is control and resonable expectations (relative to the pressure cookers at the big programs). I know we have expectations of winning, but they need to be within reason.

The fact we are investing so much in a stadium expansion (and just invested in a football facility) should at least be reason enough that his coaching performance the remainder of the season should be heavily criticized by the administration. We aren't paying him 2.4MM to be satisfied with just kinda sleepwalking through the games we should win and completely forget how to play in big games.

Another thing is that our team has not even come close to playing with the potential we are capable of, with the exception of the first halves of the Troy game and the LSU game. That's through 7 games... yet another concerning aspect.

Don't get me wrong, we've taken steps forward under Mullen. We aren't losing to teams we should be beating, but against Bowling Green and Kentucky this year (including La Tech '11, UAB '12), we were dangerously close to losing those games. The other games, we weren't remotely competitive in. Mullen has no excuse not to have his teams playing better than they are right now... and to play to the level they are capable of playing more than 1/7 (first half of Troy/LSU) of the season. Inexcusable.

We misplayed badly not firing jackie/croom before we did... I think they know that, too. We can't let our program go back to the cellars before we do something about it, no matter how bad we'd get blasted in the media. We can't afford to fall back as far as we did after Jackie/Croom again just to hold precedent. Risks have to be taken... and holding onto mullen at this point is risky and letting him go for Hud (or anyone else) is risky, too.

 

[FormerlyHighLifeRebel]

Hey Coach34

I'd be happy to discuss this post on your board, but you've banned me twice for disagreeing with you. Not because I was a rebel, but because I disagreed with you and PoliticalHack.

 

[Strike.sixpack]

Well my experience with him the four times I've met him (twice with my family and twice away from a met and greet situation) is completely opposite. He's been nothing but nice and very approachable. Have no information about his relationship with staff and players.

 

[drt7891]

I can only go off my experiences around him and the people I've talked to who have worked around him (I don't know any coaches personally... I can only go off what I've seen on the sidelines).

 

[Strike.sixpack]

Me to. Just given my personal experience. The sideline stuff I kind of write a lot of that stuff off since its not uncommon for head coaches to get after his assistants. Some more than others depending on personalty. Saban gets after his coaches and players pretty hard while Miles is much different. Tubberville dressed his OC down the other night in a win at the very end of the game for trying to go against what he wanted.

 

[BriantheDawg]

I know you're "the enemy", but I can't help but like you. Post MORE.

 

[drt7891]

I'm fine with him getting after his assistants... but it seems to me he only gets after the guys he's not "buddies" with. Maybe I'm totally wrong, but I've never in his 5 years seen him get after Heavesy (don't know about Koennig... he sits in the box... although if practice is any indication, I imagine he doesn't get after him too much), while Collins has been absolutely demoralized a couple of times this year (even though his unit is one of the harder playing units on the field). Equal treatment. Just like you'd expect your boss to treat his/her subordinates as equally as possible, the same goes for Mullen.

 

[Strike.sixpack]

Yeah I've seen him get after Heavsey during games. And Knox. And GA's. And Collins. Like I said its just not something I put much stock in nor something I zero in because it happens a lot of places. If your going to coach at this level you better have thick skin and a short memory because you may be working with them again. I will say I have seen him and Collins outside of a game together and it appeared that they were pretty friendly. Again don't know what's real behind close doors and that's usually where the relationship breaks down.

 

[RocketDawg]

Yeah I've seen him get after Heavsey during games. And Knox. And GA's. And Collins. Like I said its just not something I put much stock in nor something I zero in because it happens a lot of places. If your going to coach at this level you better have thick skin and a short memory because you may be working with them again. I will say I have seen him and Collins outside of a game together and it appeared that they were pretty friendly. Again don't know what's real behind close doors and that's usually where the relationship breaks down.

Saban was jumping all over Kirby Smart yesterday for some misstep, and Alabama was ahead by about 40 at the time. Yelling at the assistants isn't an unusual thing.

 

[Strike.sixpack]

Exactly. It happens a good bit even when teams are playing well.