State already getting some recognition for 2011 football season

Sep 15, 2009
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<font size="2" face="Arial">Hopefully not Germans, but here is the link. I pasted a portion below.

http://www.nationalchamps.net/2011/earlybird/teams/mississippistate.htm

The answer is yes…Dan Mullen will keep the Bulldogs on the recent upswing that has turned heads nationwide. Marginal improvements seen and the groundwork laid by former head coach Sylvester Croom gave Mullen the foundation needed. Now, State is finally reflecting the efforts over the last four recruiting classes in the ‘W’ column. Eager fans cannot wait to see how good this team will be, especially with seven senior starters and 17 returning starters in all building on this past season’s respectable accomplishments. Chris Relf is an exceptional quarterback, both with the X’s and O’s in Mullen’s intricate, modern offense, and with tough decision-making when foes force his hand. The team’s top four rushers and top four receivers return, and that will make foes again spread out so Relf can smell out the mismatches. Throughout 2010, we all saw how Relf’s feet are that extra dimension which puts the Bulldogs in the driver’s seat. Also seen this season has been some real stinginess on defense – giving up an average of six points less per game compared to last year has meant ranking 27th in the FBS for scoring allowed and 3rd in the SEC, THE toughest defensive conference. What has to be found is depth at linebacker…no problem, really, with the cupboards full of talent. Mississippi State is once again a chosen destination for top in-state players, and the “snowball effect” of the program growing in quantity and quality will just keep rolling into 2011. In arguably the toughest division in the toughest conference (year in, year out), Mullen has placed his kids in genuine position to challenge for both the West Division and SEC titles, but the mountain is steep with the four teams that beat the Bulldogs in 2010 - LSU, Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn - ranked in our Top 10 ahead of Mullen’s crew. With their work cut out, State will put in the effort needed, and (even if minimal,) improvements mean they will likely beat two of those West rivals, and, therefore, find themselves in the division hunt and climbing the rankings polls well into November.</font>
 

GloryDawg

Heisman
Mar 3, 2005
19,027
15,141
113
What do we lose? Two offensive line, one defensive lineman and two line backers?
 

mstatefan88

Redshirt
Nov 30, 2008
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I could see us being ranked somewhere around 20th maybe to start the season next year, and a decent chance of going 5-1 to start the season beforethe SC gameat home. I know 4 of our 1st 6 games are away, but 2 are against UAB and Memphis, one is against what will be a significantly weaker Auburn team, then @UGA. Should be interesting to see if we get the preseason love, then can follow that up with a good start to the season.
 

UpTheMiddlex3Punt

All-Conference
May 28, 2007
17,946
3,908
113
I don't see Newton and Mallett coming back next year. We will have a chance to make a run at the west, but LSU and Alabama will be the teams to beat next year. Fortunately we have them both in Starkville.
 

jacksdawgs

Redshirt
May 18, 2009
564
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Most everything I've seen has us preseason top 25. I really think we have a shot at a special year if we can somehow replace those two linebackers, which will be a tall task.
 

mstatefan88

Redshirt
Nov 30, 2008
3,396
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Its going to be tough to win in Athens and beat SC at home with Garcia and Lattimore. I think we can go into Jordan-Hare and beat Auburn and we should be 2-0 to start the season.2-0 going into that game against LSU and we could seeCollege Gameday in Starkville for a matchup of Top20 teams. That would be huge for us and our program, and if we couldpull off the win at home on national TV,I can't even imaginehow positively that wouldeffect our football program in the state of MS, and on a national scale. We win that game and we will be 4-0 heading into Athens. That scenario has the potential for special.
 

vegasdawg

Redshirt
Mar 4, 2010
67
0
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I'm really hoping CJ Johnson is as good as advertised and can come in and start, or at least play a lot his first year. And I think chris Hughes is going to be good for us, he could win one of the olb starting jobs next year as a true sophomore.