Zach Arnett addresses first half absence of Tulu Griffin
Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin was noticeably absent in the first half of Mississippi State’s 41-28 win over Western Michigan. After the game, Bulldogs head coach Zach Arnett discussed the reason behind Griffin’s first-half absence.
“That’s an internal matter,” Arnett said. “I’m not going to get into specifics but I will say, we have standards and expectations in this program. Accountability is one of them. So, he didn’t play in the first half, but, to his credit, it’s all about how you respond and he came out in the second half and provided a spark to our offense and did some really good things.”
Despite missing the first two quarters, Griffin finished the game with four receptions for 65 yards. The impressive performance is just another day in the office for Griffin. The senior wide receiver leads Mississippi State’s receiving corps with 29 receptions, 474 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
For reference, no other Bulldog has more than 20 receptions or 150 receiving yards this season. In Starkville, Griffin is in a league of his own, and he’s more than just a receiver. Griffin is also the team’s main kickoff returner.
The Mississippi native has already racked up 160 return yards on only six returns. In 2022, Griffin led the nation in kickoff return yards (32.2 yards per return), the second-most in SEC history behind Tennessee’s Evan Berry in 2015.
Zach Arnett happy to see his team find a win
While Mississippi State missed its top receiver in the first half, it still comfortably walked away with a win. The team needed it. The Bulldogs entered Saturday’s contest on a three-game losing streak. Arnett claims his team properly celebrated the win.
“They’re 18 to 22 year old guys, they’re not big on showing their emotions. But winning is hard,” Arnett said. “When you lose everyone is frustrated. These guys have put in the work. They’ve done what we’ve asked them to do.
“Came out and got a hard-fought victory. They deserve to enjoy this one. Go into the bye week, take advantage of it, get some guys rested up – bumps and bruises – and go into the second half of the season.”
The second half of the season won’t be any easier than the first. The team still has two more ranked opponents ahead in the regular season along with formidable foes such as Texas A&M. Nonetheless, before the Bulldogs can look ahead they must bite what’s in front of them.
After a bye week, Mississippi State will face off against another team that is yet to pick up a conference win: Arkansas. The two teams will square off on Oct. 21 at noon ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.