The Croom bashing returns by most ignorant posters.
Croom inherited arguably the worst MSU team in history in 2003. The 2002 team and the even worse 2003 team were laughable - it was simply not competitive at all. When Croom was hired in December 2003, MSU had two commitments, both two stars. You have not heard of either one. It was one of the worst recruiting classes ever at MSU. In contrast, when Croom was fired in December 2008, MSU had 21 commitments, and numerous more stellar recruits that were private commitments, were heavily recruited by Croom, and joined the team. It was by the best MSU recruiting class in probably twenty years.That is what Croom did and the difference that Croom made.
Croom first three teams were bad, though his third year team was light years better than his first year team. MSU had the worst talent in the SEC. If you disagree, then why couldn't Jackie win with that talent either? But by his fourth year, Croom had changed that completely. His fourth year, he went 4-4 in the SEC and 8-5 overall with a brutal schedule, beating Alabama and Auburn.
In the spring of 2008, Croom, by no fault of his own, lost the best player on the team, Mike Brown, LT, a starting CB (best CB on team), Anthony Johnson, a starting LB (Jamon Hughes, a stud), a starting DL, Quinten Wesley, and a rotational player on the DL (Rodney Prince). Before the season started, MSU lost its starting TE, Marcus Green, for the season. In the first game of the season, MSU was also without Derek Sherrod, Derek Pegues, and lost the best defensive player on the team, Jamar Chaney, for the entire season to injury.
By dismissals or injury, in just those players, MSU a minimum lost 72 "starts" (would-be starters that missed a start). The highest in DI football that year, by a mile. The total number was greater, and probably at least 80 (I didn't count after those players, but other starters missed starts that year due to injury). That is a staggering number. To put it in perspective, the highest number last year in Division I football was 59 (Maryland). In 2011, by comparison, MSU lost 11 starts - total - for the year to injury or dismissal. (See Phil Steele's blog for all the numbers).
The whole previous paragraph is not an outright lie, but is intentionally misleading Bear Bryant and Steve Spurrier could not survive those types of losses. It was clear to anyone that knows football that by the end of spring, with those players gone, it was going to be a long season for MSU football. Teams can't survive that. Not even Alabama could survive that.
In 2008, MSU lost to La. Tech with crazy turnovers (without 8 starters - think about that - Mike Brown, Quinten Wesley, Derek Pegues, Derrek Sherrod, Marcus Green, Anthony Johnson, Jamar Chaney). We all know all those players because they were studs - they were not just "average" starters, they were the best on the team. That is incredible. Even then, MSU still won two SEC games (same as Mullen has done in 2 out of 3 seasons!), and lost two other SEC games by 1 point. The team was 3 points from a bowl game.
It was no surprise when 2009 was better, though I believe Croom would have made a bowl in 2009 with an easier schedule. His good recruits were now in the program.
Name one player recruited by Mullen that has been a major contributor to MSU football so far and is considered one of the"best" players at MSU? There is one - JUCO Vic Ballard. Every other player that has made any all SEC 1 to 3rd team has been a Croom recruit, including this year. Every Mullen starting lineup has been dominated with Croom recruits.
Mullen finally had a good recruiting class this year, but it was his first at MSU. I hope he does well when Croom's recruits are out of the program. The schedule is now a cupcake - Croom would have made a bowl in 2008, even with those devastating player losses, with this schedule rather than an OOC top 10 team like he faced every year. He would probably still be the coach today with Greg Byrne's and Scott Stricklin's schedule.
The moaning about Croom not leaving enough players on the OL, but no praise for the talent that he left Mullen? Where have Mullen's stud freshman and sophomores been? Why have so few of hisplayers been starting in front of Croom's recuits yet in 3 years?