I don't come around here often but damn y'all are giving starkvegas a hard time. I love Dan Mullen personally--MSU is a tough gig. Great defense though--would love some of that in Aggieland.

mshipp...I expect to get that kind of treatment...most people write off Mississippi State Football...when we knock people off of their pedestal, it is that much sweeter (I got to experience it in college at State in the late 90's)...what I detest is our own fanbase spewing such negativity...It is tough to be an MSU Dawg...but we're Dawgs and we have to be tough and hang in there, I really think we are on track to do some special things. I like the Aggies too, we are more similar than you think...maybe it starts with the kitties from Baton Rouge this weekend

LSU is definitely a big game for y’all this weekend coming off a bye week. I have it circled as one of interest.

LSU 42 MSU 14. I would say MSU 17 but we have a kicker that can't make field goals. LSU will put up BYU type rushing yards against us.

Mullen trying to not reveal who the starter will be at qb like LSU really has to worry about either of them. Going on past performances by Russell against SEC competition they have absolutely nothing to fear. I would imagine they will be in shorts and t-shirts all week getting prepared for us. I think Prescott is the better option at quarterback against LSU but I am not the genius that Dan Mullen is.

Counting on Mullen to under achieve again this year still looks like a 3-9 or 4-8 team to me but then again DAN says we are working on a CHAMPIONSHIP!!! DO I SOUND LIKE A BELIEVER of the great Dan Mullen? I really hope USC looks at him as their next coach I can see him leading them to PAC & National championships on a regular basis.

You wouldn't be happy if you were a 3 peckered goat in a f'ing contest...I hope we beat the piss out of LSU not only for our team's sake, but to come back here and watch you crawfish. Get on board or take your negativity the hell out of here. Hail State!

STARKVEGAS

I just don't see what you see and can you tell me when was the last time we beat LSU? After you watch State/Mullen you really can not be happy with what you are seeing, are you? He just hasn't won any big games and I don't see us winning this one. Yes, I blame Mullen, his coaches and his recruits. I want us to win, get to the ccg and go to a nice bowl game. I want us to at least be competitive and we haven't been.

BTW, don't know if you have heard but Dan Van Cleve passed away today at age 53.

[This message has been edited by MSU/SECALUM (edited 10/4/2013 10:56p).]

Do MSU not have a board?

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I'd be more concerned about Arkansas not running for 350 yds against your D.

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Only 201. Moving up in the defensive world!

Mullen had 1 good season and fooled everyone in Starkville into thinking he was a coaching god. Seriously, after that season he could do no wrong.

So after 56 games at MSU, Mullen is 31-25 (.554). About average. But let's look at how he has done against SEC opponents: 13-21. Horrible.

Look for Mullins to come to WV if Dana gets canned this season. Luck to Texas as AD will seal Holgorsen's fate.

No, look for Mullen to get another year at STATE. I wish they would make a change because I am tired of seeing games where we play a decent 1st half and come out for the 2nd half flat and uninspired.

I wish they would drop the ax on him he would be a great hire for UCONN. He is from New Hampshire.

Same old STATE, right STARKVEGAS?

We played really well for 3 quarters against a top 10 team. LSU has more talent than we do and they are more confident as well. We need to get wins against Bowling Green and Kentucky to close out October to be 4-3 heading into our November slate...if we can put together an entire game, all 5 of our tough November games is winnable, with the exception of Alabama...We are getting Will Redmond back at CB after he served his five game suspension...I hate losing, but I also see a lot of progress...

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We played really well for 3 quarters against a top 10 team. LSU has more talent than we do and they are more confident as well. We need to get wins against Bowling Green and Kentucky to close out October to be 4-3 heading into our November slate...if we can put together an entire game, all 5 of our tough November games is winnable, with the exception of Alabama...We are getting Will Redmond back at CB after he served his five game suspension...I hate losing, but I also see a lot of progress...

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This looks like a Texags post from the Fran Era.

There are no moral victories, however I am a realist and we are not on the same level as LSU at this point...before Nick Saban arrived in Baton Rouge LSU had losing seasons in 8 of their previous 12 seasons...Rome isn't built over night...We are in the process of stringing together winning seasons, bowl appearances, and quality depth to lay a foundation for future success...you have to take your lumps...Mullen took over a program that was damn near rock bottom in 2008...You don't just start pulling 5 star talent into Starkville unless you start showing them something...Mullen is doing a good job of building us back up for long-term success...as Jackie once said, get your licks in now...

starkvegas

LSu's problem was never lack of player talent. It was lack of coaching. LSU was 3-8 the year before Saban showed up and won a bowl game the next year, and the SEC Championship and SugarBowl the year after that..with Dinardo's recruits.

MSU, bless their souls. doesn't have the resources of player talent LSU or Bama or Auburn or A&M have. They cannot really compete in the SEC West without being lucky with heavy JUCO help and/or cheating. Jackie Sherrill was somewhat successful there because he did both.

Realistically, MSU is playing for 4th in the SEC West in their best case scenarios.

Sam,

I disagree somewhat. SEC is a namebrand and they can get some talent in there. The key is getting the right coach. They won't get LSU or Bama talent, but they can get enough talent that a great coach could outcoach those programs (and need some luck that the SEC West is down similar to what it was in the late 90's). I agree that coach would likely leave after a relatively short stint, but that's really the only path to success.

The bigger inhibitor to MSU long-term is Ole Miss. Mississippi just doesn't have enough talent to support two SEC quality programs. Blows my mind that Louisiana has one program in the SEC and Mississippi has two.

I think the state of Mississippi produces enough talent, but a lot of that talent leaves the state.

State's Recruiting Rankings with Mullen (from 247sports Composite Rankings):

2009 #19 Ranked Class
2010 #29 Ranked Class
2011 #34 Ranked Class
2012 #22 Ranked Class
2013 #25 Ranked Class
2014 #28 Ranked Class (Currently)

We have drastically improved our talent level as compared to the Croom-era talent with Coach Mullen. We have lost a few recruits here and there, but by and large, Mullen has done a good job recruiting and building depth. I think we are a lot closer than most think we are. Really looking forward to watching folks squirm in November.

November belongs to State & Mullen. A&M and Bama are ready to squirm.

All Dan does is win!

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The bigger inhibitor to MSU long-term is Ole Miss. Mississippi just doesn't have enough talent to support two SEC quality programs.

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This. MSU can be up if Ole Miss is down. Hard to see both programs being strong for a substantial period of time. With that, Ole Miss has a lot of built-in advantages to be the one strong program of the state.

USC whipping that ass today. MSU going to 4-4 with A&M and Bama up next, where they'll be double digit underdogs. If they can't beat Arkansas and Ole Miss to finish the year, Lieutenant Dan is going to be watching bowl season from his couch.

[This message has been edited by Basketball & Chain (edited 11/2/2013 1:47p).]

Unrelated topic; I have asked several old time SEC folks about the msu obsession with cow bells( I have heard several stories:

Can't make enough noise yelling
Calling the homecoming queen home
Trying to get a date

What is the real story?

They need help creating a home field advantage because thy apparently can't get enough people to yell, clap, bang seats, etc.

Can't say ole miss is any better, having to use speakers to pipe in their weak ass band and club DJ mixes for atmosphere.

The state of Mississippi gets an F in my book.

The most popular legend is that during a home football game between State and arch-rival Mississippi, a jersey cow wandered onto the playing field. Mississippi State soundly whipped the Rebels that Saturday, and State College students immediately adopted the cow as a good luck charm. Students are said to have continued bringing a cow to football games for a while, until the practice was eventually discontinued in favor of bringing just the cow's bell.

Good luck this weekend to all you Aggies. I hope we finally put together a complete game, it hasn't happened all year, but we're getting close. Johnny is a legendary QB, I respect the hell out of Sumlin and what he has done with your Offense. Our only hope is to pound the ball and control the clock (we're ranked #5 in the country in TOP, btw), and get a couple of stops on D. Our D has been playing much better this year (#22 in Nation in Total D), but are still giving up a couple of big plays that break us.

The South Carolina game was gifted to the ole ball coach...we coughed it up 5 times and beat them in ever other statistical category...you can't beat Starkville HS with 5 turnovers...Our QB, Dak Prescott, had his mother pass away yesterday from cancer so I don't know if he is even going to play...Tyler Russell is supposedly healthy and ready to go if need be. Should be an interesting game...Mullen is in a situation where we are getting backed into a corner just for bowl eligibility. The wildcard of course is Johnny and Mike Evans...nobody has stopped them yet...good luck and don't be surprised if it is a ball game heading into the 4th Qtr.

And for some more clarity on our squad, yes we are 4-4, but those losses are to current BCS ranked:

#9 Auburn (on the road and they had a last minute drive to beat us with seconds left)
#12 South Carolina (on the road, 17-10 at half, 5 turnovers and beat them in every statistical category)
#13 LSU (at home, back and forth game into the 4th qtr...down 5 and we threw a pick that snowballed )
#14 Oklahoma State (neutral in Houston, our starting QB Tyler Russell got knocked out in the 1st qtr with a concussion...was close until late 3rd qtr...)

We should have beaten Auburn without question...Dan got conservative with the play-calling (ala Kubiak) and that bit us in the ass...but overall we have improved and have yet to put together a complete game...it is going to happen really soon...good luck again Ags...

Great story Stark- thanks for sharing.

Sorry to hear about Dak's mom.

Look forward to the game. Are you making an appearance in College Station, Stark?

I'll be there live and in color. Looks like it will be a Chamber of Commerce type of day.

Any SEC team can have good seasons. Doing it consistently will be a real challenge considering who all is in the conference, particularly in the west.

I think State would be a bit rash to get rid of Mullen. Overall, he's done a decent job in Starkville. I think State's best strategy is consistency--get a decent coach and stick behind him through the inevitable ups and downs.

I think State is a slow build, sort of like Kansas St. or Virginia Tech. With its small fan and alumni base, State has to take a longer view of things, IMO. It's also the only SEC school that can't really claim a major metropolitan area as a fan zone.

MS seemed a lot better this year than last year. Really made us work for it, last year it was a laugher.

Yeah, on the whole, I think Mullen is doing about as well as someone can do at MSU. Just a brutal set of competition and don't have the clout and history to sell vs the rest of the West.

MSU just doesn't have a very high ceiling. Mullen is doing about as well as one can be expected to do there. Their fans have unrealistic expectations.