Examining Cohen, the New Dude, and MSU Baseball’s Crossroads

It’ll all be over soon.
Just three games remain in one of the toughest-to-watch seasons I can ever remember as a Mississippi State baseball fan. For those of you who know me, read me, listen to me, or tweet at me, you all know I can (and usually do) pump sunshine on the stormiest of days. And while, yes, there’s a mathematical possibility the Bulldogs could sneak into the SEC Tournament if things fall just right this weekend, we won’t bother with such talk here. That’s not because I’ve given up. I’ll do that when the season is actually over. It’s just because, no matter how this weekend plays out, it doesn’t change my point. Mississippi State baseball is at a crossroads.
I’m not even completely sure how we arrived at this point. I don’t think anyone is. In seemingly the blink of an eye, this program has gone from the cusp of a national title to the cellar of the SEC.
“Blame Cohen”, many of you would say. And yes, perhaps some of that finger-pointing is deserved. He might even tell you that himself. But don’t forget why you’re so upset at him in the first place. It’s not because of the bunts, the draw-it-from-a-hat lineup strategy, or the 0-2 count pitching changes. It’s ultimately because he didn’t meet expectations. Expectations that were largely put in place BECAUSE of John Cohen. You want to know why you’re so upset about the season that’s about to conclude? Because half of John Cohen’s last four squads made it to a Super Regional. One of those obviously made it all the way to the end. Of the other two, one was a single win away from yet another Super, and the other bowed out in their regional thanks in large part to a grueling run to the SEC Tournament Championship.
Don’t misunderstand me. This piece isn’t meant to defend Cohen. He’s the head coach. He’s accountable for the product on the field. But there’s no debating he’s earned the right to give this thing at least one more go. Anyone who doesn’t think so is either a prisoner of the moment, or one of several that seem to have this boiling disdain for Cohen.
If you fit in that first camp, I get it. I’ve been there. I’m a fan. When you’re emotionally invested in a team, it’s hard not to ride that emotional roller coaster. But if the latter describes you, that’s a stance I’ll never understand. I’ll be the first to admit, I second-guess John Cohen all the time. Robson in the cleanup hole, bunting a runner to third after a leadoff double in the first inning, stealing on every 3-1 count, I just don’t get any of that. But I darn sure hope it works. And judging by Twitter and message board posts, I gather that many times some fans are eagerly hoping for Cohen to fail. Is it just a part of the fallout from how Polk went out? Is it simply Cohen’s coaching style? Is it some combination of both? I don’t know. But as long as John Cohen wears maroon and white, he has my unconditional support. I would encourage others to do the same. Quite frankly, what good does it do anyone not to?
Which brings me to the next part of all this. What good is it doing this program for those who insist on bashing the New Dudy Noble Field?
I remember back when those renderings were first announced. All I heard or read, no matter the forum, was universal praise. In the months that have followed, something changed. Arguments have come from all angles, ranging from the pricing, to the new-look Left Field Lounge.
Maybe I’m an idiot. Maybe I just eat up whatever Mississippi State gives me with a spoon. But not a single argument that I’ve seen against the New Dude makes any sense to me.
I don’t get the “Lifetime Seats” argument. Those seats were yours for the lifetime of the current stadium. Did you really expect those seats to carry on for all eternity? That’s like me paying a car dealer for a new vehicle, then expecting him to continue giving me free vehicles when I get ready for a new one, all because I paid for the first one.
I don’t get the angst over the Left Field Lounge. Now I’ll go ahead and throw out this disclaimer: I’m not a lounger. I prefer sitting in the grandstand, watching and analyzing every pitch. But I do appreciate that many of our fans enjoy that experience and I certainly am a fan of the atmosphere and reputation that the Lounge provides us. And that’s why I don’t get the argument. All of you STILL HAVE THE LOUNGE! What does it really matter that it will now feature permanent structures? It’s simply the evolution of the Left Field Lounge. It has always evolved! From backing up to the fence and sitting on the tailgate, to building the elaborate rigs, to this. Will it be different? You folks would know better than me, but yes, I’m guessing it’ll be a little different. Does it change things all that much? If it does, I sure don’t see how. The Lounge is and always has been about the people. If you all still show up, it’ll be the same. If you don’t, it won’t . It really seems that simple to me. That goes for everyone, really, lounger or not.
Earlier today, MSU tweeted that it has reserved a little over 1,000 grandstand seats for the New Dude. Maybe I’m uninformed, but that seems way low to me. The current Dudy Noble has 4,660 chairback seats according to State’s website. I wasn’t able to find a number for exactly how many the new facility will have, but you can bet it’s a good bit more than 4,660. And just 1,000 of those have been reserved. Odd, seeing as to how every chairback in the current Dudy Noble is accounted for. So what’s happening? It seems like this fanbase is at its own crossroads as well.
I get it. Some of our fans are older. Some don’t want to commit to the ten-year seat donation fee. Some people are on tighter budgets than others. I get the financials. I’m not talking to those folks. Everyone knows their situation and should act responsibly and accordingly. I’m talking to the fans who would’ve forked over any amount if we had announced this new stadium on the day we gathered at Dudy Noble to celebrate the 2013 team right after the World Series.
You see, to me, supporting Mississippi State isn’t about jumping on board during the good times. It’s about riding out the choppy waters and doing our part, however small it may be, to get back to playing for championships. And to me, having the best college baseball stadium in the country seems like a pretty darn good way to ensure the long-term success of MSU baseball.
Yes, we’ve had a bad season. Yes, with the pressures of building a new stadium and such, Cohen will enter 2016 in a tight spot. There are a lot of unknowns and concerns surrounding our program right now for sure. Indeed, we sit at a bit of a crossroads. I just hope that as the best college baseball fanbase in the nation, we do our part to make sure things get steered down the right path.
And at least in my opinion (which you signed up to receive when you clicked on this website), griping, crying, and moaning about every little thing might just lead us straight off the road altogether.

My Letter to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman

Earlier today, ESPN basketball insider Jeff Goodman took a Twitter cheap shot on Starkville for the second time in as many days. After the hiring of Ben Howland as Mississippi State’s new basketball coach, Goodman’s tweets seem to indicate he is floored that anyone would willingly move to or live in Starkville. Well I happen to love the place, so I took the time to contact Goodman via email. I don’t anticipate a response, but should I get one, I’ll update this post. In the meantime, here is my letter to Goodman.

 

Jeff,

I’m sure you’ll quickly delete this email. I’m from Starkville after all. Since we’re apparently the arm pit of America in your eyes, I can’t imagine you’d get much past the first or second sentence of an email composed by a resident of Stark Vegas. But if you do, I’d be curious to know why we’re apparently the recurring punchline of your jokes? Look, I get it. We don’t have any beaches or celebrities. We have creek banks and mom & pop shops. That might not appeal to everyone. It sure looks like it doesn’t to you. That’s fine. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. But to portray us to the country as inferior, or as a small corner of hell as compared to any other location under God’s hot sun, well that seems more than just a little uninformed to me. I mean, is it the university you have a problem with? Have you been to our campus in the last few years? Have you seen our athletic facilities? If so, you’d know projects like the Davis Wade Stadium expansion, the creation of the Seal football complex, the construction of the Mize basketball practice facility and the-soon-to-be built, $40 million new Dudy Noble Field have put us on par with anyone in the nation. Oh by the way, we win too. Our football team just spent 5 weeks as the top team in the country. Our baseball team played for the national title in 2013. Our women’s basketball team was just eliminated from the NCAA tourney after spending much of the season in the Top 15. Men’s basketball has struggled the last three years, but aren’t far removed from consistent NCAA tourney appearances and a home court advantage that many opponents have referred to as one of the best in the land. I’m betting Ben Howland gets us back there in no time. Why? Many reasons, but most importantly, because he did something that apparently your mind isn’t willing to let you do. He gave Starkville a chance. I don’t write this letter to convince you to change your mind about how you view us. You’re entitled to your opinion, as I am mine. I simply wonder what experience you have to validate why you apparently turn your nose to us, and to inform you we’re all well aware Starkville isn’t exactly a “city that never sleeps”. And while it might be inconceivable to you, there are many that embrace that and like it that way. I’m not sorry for what Starkville is. I love the people, my university, and everything about it. And while you may never prefer our laid back, small town, southern lifestyle, I’ll bet if you spent much time at all here and educated yourself just a little bit better, you’d see we’re much more than just the punchline of a joke. Thanks for your time, if you got this far.

Joel Coleman

The assailants aren’t the only ones at fault in Panama City attack

By now, you’ve all seen it. You know exactly what I’m talking about.
On Monday night, I was sitting comfortably at home when I received a text message. “Watch this,” it read. So I did.
What I saw was sickening. I don’t know the circumstances. I don’t know for sure what decisions or actions led to the happenings I was viewing. What I do know is that now, some 36 hours or so later, I have come to grips with my own personal emotions.
As I sat there, taking in the beatings being dished out to Dak Prescott, Torrey Dale and Damian Williams, a flood of feelings ran through me. From disgust at the cowards who were so tough they decided four-on-one against each Bulldog was a fair fight, to sympathy for three young men who simply had no chance to defend themselves, my nerves went on a bit of a roller-coaster ride.
Over the course of the last day and a half, my reactions to the incident have morphed into something different. Upon one more viewing of those disgusting happenings in Panama City, the most prevalent reaction that now festers up inside is pure old anger. And the funny thing is, it’s not even at the assailants.
Go ahead. Cue up the video again. This time, don’t look at a helpless Prescott getting kicked in the head. Don’t try to make out who is who on-camera. Just look around. What do you see? Oh look, there’s a guy standing around doing nothing. Look, there’s three or four more. Oh hi, how are you standing over there looking on? Would you like a hot dog to go along with your entertainment? And Mr. Cameraman, you brave soul! Thank the Lord above for heroes like you, not scared to go right into the heat of the action and provide some astounding commentary. Vin Scully, Al Michaels and legendary broadcasters everywhere should bow at your throne and praise you for your outstanding vocabulary you wordsmith, you!
I hope you caught the sarcasm.
Look folks, the problem in this situation was almost unquestionably the thug-like actions of a few individuals. There’s no denying that. But if you look closer and dig deeper, you might just see what’s becoming an even bigger issue in today’s social-media fueled world as we’ve apparently become an age of Tweeters, Instagrammers and bystanders instead of tighten-up-your-jockstrap-and-go-do-somethingers.
I usually reserve this area for my takes on sports, but let me throw a quick Bible reference at you. In the book of James, Christians are told that we are to be doers of the Word of God and not just hearers. Translation: If you’re going to be a Christian, make sure you’re a man of action.
Now maybe not everyone clings as dearly to the Bible as I do, but it’s a pretty good rule for life in general. Be a doer. Not a should-have-doner.
When the crap hits the fan around you, are you going to videotape it? Or are you going to get your butt in gear to go cut the fan off and stop the crap-thrower?
I say all that to say this. Dak and his teammates were in a bad situation on Monday. For whatever reason, their paths intervened with a bunch of nobodies who were probably seeking their few seconds of fame after noticing they were around one of the most recognizable faces in all of college football. Things got messy. With the atmosphere and the things that tend to happen on spring break in Panama City, there may have been no getting around that.
One thing could have changed though. Folks could have got involved. Sure, to do that takes a little bravery. You might get your hands dirty. You might get your knees cut up. IT MIGHT NOT BE COMFORTABLE! But for goodness sake, have we really become a generation that would rather flex our muscle on Snapchat and Facebook than actually, you know, do something that helps someone?
The bottom line is this. Only you can decide how you’ll live your life. But I challenge you to answer the following question honestly. If you had been in Panama City on Monday, which would you have been more likely to do? Pull out the smartphone, click record and get ready to post the happenings to your favorite app? Or get ready to jump in/scream for help/call the cops?
I pray we’re not becoming a generation that’s more often than not the bystander. Because if that’s the case, what happens when the lowlifes of this world are pointing at you? I guess then, the best you can hope for is that the guy recording gets your good side.

The Burning Questions of Mississippi State Baseball’s 2015 Season

The wait is almost over.
About eight months ago, Mississippi State’s 2014 baseball season came crashing down in Lafayette, Louisiana, just one win shy of another Super Regional appearance. Finally, it’s about time to take the field again. One week from now, you can climb on your outfield rig, fire up the grill and watch as the Diamond Dogs begin the quest for our 10th trip to Omaha and the College World Series.
But just what has to go right for the Bulldogs to climb that mountain one more time? We’ll discuss that here as I present to you the five questions head coach John Cohen and company must answer for another June trip to Nebraska.

1. Can Wes Rea bounce back?
Make no mistake, 2014 was a GIANT step backwards for Mississippi State’s big, burly first baseman as he went from a perceived centerpiece of MSU’s lineup, to a liability. His overall batting average dipped nearly 50 points from State’s 2013 national runner-up campaign, while his average in Southeastern Conference play was just .209. Rea’s struggles caused Cohen to drop his first baseman to the bottom third of the batting order, before essentially making him a part-time player down the stretch. After starting every single SEC contest in 2012 and 2013, Rea started just 22 of State’s 30 conference tilts in 2014. Despite his problems, Rea still led the Bulldogs last year in homers and RBIs. Not to mention, he is regarded as one of the best defensive first basemen in program history. With that, Rea will obviously be given every opportunity to return to something more reminiscent of his 2013 form. I anticipate he’ll be right back in the middle of the Bulldogs’ batting order come Opening Day, but Cohen showed us last year he’s not afraid to pull even a player with the presence of Rea should his production plummet. And if Rea scuffles yet again, that’s a big strike against the 2015 Dogs.

2. Can Ross Mitchell be left in the bullpen?
I’ve simplified all of our pitching questions into this one, which I believe could be the key factor of our entire season. If the answer to this question is “Yes”, that means two things: 1) We’ve found three capable arms to fill our weekend starting slots, and 2) We have a solid answer as to how to “build a bridge” to the back half of our bullpen on most nights. As for the back half of our pen, media relations guru Kyle Niblett indicated on Bulldog Sports Radio last month that Trevor Fitts and Vance “Moonlight” Tatum will each get tasked with closing out games in 2015 depending on the situation. Fitts will tackle ninth innings dominated by right handed hitters while the southpaw Tatum will handle things should a team have tough lefties coming up. Will they be effective in this closer-by-committee role? We’ll see. But the fact of the matter is it has to get to their hands first. If Ross Mitchell is in the pen, he’s proven time and time again he can be just the guy to do it, and as a reliever, can do so multiple times in a weekend. That said, this starting staff needs to find at least one workhorse, or the “Kendall Graveman” role as I like to call it. This is the guy who you can put out there on a Saturday who’ll take you through seven innings or so, letting your bullpen be fresh on Fridays and Sundays. Our rotation candidates include Austin Sexton, Lucas Laster, Preston Brown, and true freshman Jesse McCord among others. Personally, I was impressed with Dakota Hudson early last season, but is he healthy enough to even enter this mix? Paul Young is another candidate, if he’s able to bounce back from injury at any point. It’ll be interesting to see who of this group emerges. But in my opinion, three of them must take ownership of the weekend roles so that Mitchell can become our bullpen wizard again as he was two seasons ago.

3. Can Reid Humphreys become an elite power threat?
If he can, that could mean wonderful things for this Bulldog lineup. First off, it takes a load of pressure off of Rea. We could break down the mechanics of Rea’s swing all day long, but the departure of Hunter Renfroe left a gaping hole in State’s 2014 offense and much of that pressure was unfairly shifted onto Rea. For as good a player as Brett Pirtle was, and he was amazing, no one expected Pirtle to pick up all of Renfroe’s power and run production slack. Thus Rea shouldered those expectations and failed. But imagine if Humphreys can evolve and become another bopper in the State order. He and Rea can protect one another, take the pressure off of each other and give MSU some serious punch. Humphreys clubbed a homer in one of MSU’s first spring scrimmages last weekend, hopefully giving fans a sample of what’s to come. The question becomes where does Humphreys play? Though the DH spot is always an option, he is apparently slated to be an outfielder this year as well after stints at third base in 2014. If that’s the case, he’ll most likely be at one of the corner spots as a couple of other Bulldogs battle things out in center. Other DH and corner outfield options will include Jake Vickerson and Cody Brown.

4. Can we find answers up the middle?
Good baseball teams are almost inevitably strong up the center of the diamond, but the 2015 Bulldogs have a couple of holes there to fill. After excellent careers, C.T. Bradford and Brett Pirtle have moved on, leaving spots open in center and at second base. The second base job looks to be John Holland’s, a redshirt junior transfer from Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Alabama where Holland hit .406 a year ago and was named a second team All-American. In center, the battle includes a couple of speedsters in familiar face Jacob Robson and newcomer Michael Smith. With both guys having similar tools, could this be a platoon situation for Cohen with Smith drawing starts against left handers and Robson playing versus righties? We’ll soon see. Smith did have an excellent first weekend of spring scrimmages however as he tries to claim his spot. Smith went 4-for-4 over the course of that Saturday and Sunday, including going 3-for-3 on Saturday and coming up just a homer short of the cycle. As for the other spots up the middle, Seth Heck emerged last season as both a key defensive and offensive piece for MSU at short, while Gavin Collins should shoulder much of the catching load after an outstanding rookie season. One key area to watch for State’s catching corps: Can Collins and Cody Walker find better success blocking pitches in the dirt? With a year’s experience, plus the nasty slider of Jacob Lindgren now in the pros, this area should improve.

5. What effect will the new ball have?
In the John Cohen era at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs have become known for pitching, defense and small ball. With the ushering in of a new, lower-seamed baseball across the NCAA in 2015 with designs of increasing offense, how will that influence State’s style of play? On one hand, it could help. Maybe such a change sees guys like Humphreys and Rea get a few of those warning track flies over the wall, thus decreasing MSU’s reliance on bunting in key situations. Or maybe it hurts, as a team built on pitching now has another obstacle to overcome to keep the ball in the yard. Ultimately, it’s probably a push. Everybody’s playing with the same baseball. More than anything else, MSU pitchers in particular must not let the new ball get in their heads. If Bulldog hurlers stick to their game plans and hit their spots, it won’t matter what kind of ball is being thrown.
So what are your keys to the 2015 campaign? Feel free to share in the comments here or on Twitter @JoelTColeman.

A Post-Egg Bowl Message for Dan Mullen

Hey Dan-O! It’s ya boy Joel T. again. How’s it going?
On second thought, don’t answer that. If you’re anything like me, after coupling three days of turkey and dressing with an Egg Bowl beat down, your innards are raging like the final battle at Armageddon.
No, it hasn’t been a pleasant few days has it? You said after Saturday that you wouldn’t sleep until Ole Miss comes to Starkville next year and we reclaim our trophy. Me too brother. By my count, as of this writing, we’ve got about 360 nights left to stare at the ceiling and mumble angrily about bears, landsharks, Hobby Lobbies, and retribution. Therein is the point of this post. We still need you here big fella.
We’re not stupid. Over the coming weeks, I’m sure that phone of yours will be buzzing. Hopefully Bill Martin or someone has gotten to it at this point to make “Don’t Stop Believing” your ringtone so that every time Nebraska or Michigan or whoever might call, you’ll remember just how close we are to cementing our football program as a perennial contender.
In six years, it’s incredible what you’ve done with Mississippi State football. You’ve now been our head man for 76 ballgames. 46 of those times, we’ve wrapped the game in maroon in white. Three more years similar to the one you just put together, and you’ll be the winningest Bulldog coach in history, surpassing Jackie Sherrill’s 75 victories. By the way, that total took Jackie 13 years to attain. If you’re here for year 13, you could be well beyond victory number 100. Long story short, you’re not too far from having your own statue sitting out in front of Davis Wade Stadium. For the rest of time, you’d be sitting out front, carved out of stone for generations and generations of MSU fans to see.
We’d make it however you wanted it. Maybe it’d be gnawing a play card. Perhaps it’d come with a push-button feature that when pressed, would recite your rendition of Cousin Eddie’s famous line from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
“That’s Dan Mullen,” I might one day tell my future grandson while pointing at the thing. “By far the best coach we’ve ever had.”
Truth be told, an argument could be made you’ve already attained that title given the miracle work you’ve done the last half decade. Sylvester Croom before you, for all the glowing things we might be able to say about him as a man, won just 21 games in five seasons. You hit that mark in year three. This year alone, you’ve amassed half of Croom’s entire win total. Somehow, someway, you saw a raging dumpster fire of a football program, walked right in, and came out toting a sparkling chandelier. I think sometimes we lose sight of how incredible this turnaround has been.
We’re about to play in a bowl game for the fifth straight season. For five weeks this year, we were recognized in every single poll as the best team in all of college football. Mississippi State is at a level that I truly never believed it would be at.
I used to be a frequent player of the NCAA Football franchise on Playstation. I would take photos of my television screen whenever I could push MSU to the top of the polls, just so I could look back and imagine what it would be like if the Bulldogs could really attain that small little ‘1’ beside their logo in real life.
Well it happened. You did that. And quite honestly, you’ve left as all wanting more. Is that fair? Is it right that now the pressure on you has increased? I mean when you arrived, we might’ve made deals with Satan himself just to win 6 or 7 games. Now, it appears that’s the absolute floor of our expectations. You’ve pushed us to heights we never thought we’d see, and now we want to go higher. We were like the kid finally being taught by his father to ride the bike without training wheels. We didn’t think we could stay upright. You gave us a push and, despite a scraped knee or two along the way, now we’re cruising along with titles in sight.
Can we really get there? I don’t know. The SEC West is a murderer’s row. To call a spade a spade here, we don’t have the recruiting base of a Florida, or the name recognition of an Alabama or LSU, so our task is even tougher than the rest. Honestly, a national championship for Mississippi State football, some would say, is best left for those videogames of old.
Not long ago, I might would’ve agreed with that assessment. But as I’ve stated on this very blog before, you’ve completely altered our perceptions. Like you, we’ve become a fan base that doesn’t seem ready to settle for above-average. We now want elite.
You told us when you got to Mississippi State we were going to compete for championships. People thought you’d lost your mind. Indeed, many chuckled at the notion. As you mentioned after the Egg Bowl, no one’s laughing now.
Yeah, we lost on Saturday. Yes, in your words, it sucked. But 60 minutes in Oxford didn’t change a darn thing about the direction you’re taking this program. Every year you’ve been at Mississippi State you’ve either beaten the Rebels or finished ahead of them in the Western division. Usually, you’ve done both. Next year, I know you’ll do both again. You’ll also put us right back in that national title scene.
I don’t know if anyone else can do that here. You’ve proven that you can. When we finally bust through and win the SEC Title and hoist a national championship, the man we want standing at the podium is you. I want that for us, because of what it would mean to the fan base, and I want it for you so that you could finally, definitively, tell all your detractors “I told you so”.
In the Bible, it was of course Moses who led the children of Israel out of Egypt. He put them on the road to the Promised Land. Finally, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, God allowed Moses to get a glimpse of the destination, but he died before ever setting foot in it.
This year, you put the college football promised land in our sight. It was great seeing it. But I don’t think that’s as far as we, or you, want us to go.
So if or when those job offers come in the next few weeks, tell ‘em all “thanks, but no thanks,” for there’s still work left to be done in Starkville. And there’s only one man for that job.
So turn up Journey on your iPod and sing along. And go ahead and get some sleep. It’s still our state bud. Soon enough, it’ll be our nation too.
Hail State
Joel T. Coleman

Time for State to rub some dirt on it

I hadn’t gotten 100 yards from the doorstep of Bryant Denny Stadium Saturday night following Mississippi State’s 25-20 loss to Alabama when a Tide fan mockingly shouted me an offer:
“I got four Peach Bowl tickets to sell you,” the older guy said. “That’s as far as you guys are going.”
I politely declined the boastful fella’s propisition. I told him I was holding out just in case I needed to buy those College Football Playoff tickets for our rematch with the Tide.
“Playoffs?” He scoffed back with a laugh. “You can forget about that.”
I kept my head down and continued on. Maybe he’s right. Maybe Cinderella’s foot finally outgrew the slipper. Perhaps now the best we can hope for is a New Year’s Day bowl game and thoughts of how close we came to having the whole enchilada.
Or maybe, just maybe, Old Man Bama could do well to heed this warning: You haven’t heard the last from us.
I once gashed my arm on a dugout fence during a youth baseball game. My coach at the time gave me some words of wisdom.
“Rub some dirt on it,” he said. “It’ll be alright.”
Our Bulldogs could do well to adhere to that same advice.

See, Mississippi State has absolutely no reason to feel like they are out of this thing. When the College Football Playoff committee releases its rankings on Tuesday night, the smart money is on the Bulldogs sliding into that fourth spot, right where they now sit in both the AP and Coaches’ polls.
The argument then becomes whether or not State can stay there over the coming weeks. In the upcoming scenarios, I’m going ahead and assuming you know the Dogs MUST win their final two regular season games for any of this to matter. With that said, let’s play this thing out. At this point, the odds seem to favor Alabama advancing to the SEC Championship game. I’m definitely not shutting out all hope that Auburn could upset Bama thus sending MSU to Atlanta, but if Saban and company hold serve and go to the Georgia Dome, let me spell this out for you Bulldog fans. YELL ROLL TIDE until your vocal chords beg for mercy! At that point you want Alabama as your SEC Champion. Why? It’s simple. You’re 11-1. Your only loss? Well it came on the road to the team that just won your league and could very well be the top-ranked team in the country at that point.
A win in Atlanta would obviously guarantee Alabama’s playoff spot. Unfortunately, another of those four slots is almost assuredly to be snagged by last year’s national champion Florida State. The Seminoles sit undefeated and there’s little resistance to keep them from staying that way. With that said, FSU hosts Florida in each team’s regular season finale in what we now know will be Gators coach Will Muschamp’s swan song. Can Florida rally the troops and win another big game to send Muschamp out in style? I’d say no way, but then again, the Gators unexpectedly pounded Georgia just a few weeks back. Practice your Gator chomp if you’re an MSU Bulldog. Still, FSU is sitting pretty for now.
One-loss Oregon also holds its fate in its hands it appears. Just a week ago, the CFP committee leapfrogged the Ducks over FSU, almost guaranteeing Oregon is in if it just wins out. That could very likely happen, though the Ducks still must go on the road for a rivalry game at Oregon State and win a Pac-12 title game. A slip up anywhere would be a welcome sight for those in maroon and white.
Anything can happen as we’ve seen time and time again this year. But at least at this point, that’s three of four spots that look to be pretty well locked in. Who holds that fourth and final position? Honestly, it’ll all come down to the answer of one question: Just how much will the College Football Playoff Committee value conference championships? To this point, the weekly rankings haven’t had to reflect that answer.
If the answer to that question turns out to be “a lot”, the Bulldogs might very well be in trouble when it comes to a playoff berth, barring an upset in the Iron Bowl that propels State to an SEC title. Sure, I think a one-loss Mississippi State team deserves to be in the field, no matter the situation. But if Ohio State finishes 12-1 with a Big Ten title, will the committee allow that conference championship to push the Buckeyes over the hump? TCU and Baylor each sit with one loss apiece in the Big 12. There’s no Big 12 championship game, so that could hurt both teams’ chances. Still, one will carry the banner as the conference champ, thus earning a boost if the committee indeed is putting an emphasis on such things.
My personal guess is that, while the committee will value conference titles, it won’t be the end-all, be-all of the conversation. For example, if two one-loss teams are compared and both squads’ losses and resumes were impressive, a conference title might give one team the nod over the other. Conversely, let’s say the final playoff spot comes down to 12-1, Big Ten champ Ohio State and 11-1 Mississippi State. I truly believe the committee will lean to the Bulldogs in such an instance, as Ohio State’s loss was a brutal, ugly home loss to Virginia Tech, whereas MSU’s lone blemish would be a competitive road game in one of the country’s toughest places to play.
Really, there are enough scenarios left on the table to make your head spin. Call me a homer, but I really believe it all comes down to this: win and you’re in.
SEC Championship or not, can the committee really turn away an 11-1 Mississippi State that in their only loss, statistically outplayed Alabama (save for the punting game and turnover margin)? Can they, with a straight face, say Ohio State, TCU, or Baylor is better than MSU? Like it or not, perception is reality, and the perception (I would say fact) is that the SEC West has provided State a gauntlet that those other teams I’ve mentioned just haven’t come anywhere close to seeing. Will that be ignored? I just can’t see that.
And quite frankly, we really can’t worry with it. We can only focus on these certainties: 1) We have an amazing group of players and coaches that are as skilled as anyone, anywhere and 2) That group of young men, if they play to their capabilities, is going to win the next two football games and make that committee have to deal with this issue.
When that happens, my personal opinion is we’re going to be very pleased with where we wind up.
And who knows? When we meet up with Alabama again and take out the Tide with all the marbles on the line, I might just run into my old bragging Bama buddy. Then I’ll finally give him the response I wanted to so badly last Saturday night.
“You’d have been much better off if you guys had just went to that Peach Bowl you had tickets for.”
Beat Vandy. Then Ole Miss. Win it all. Hail State.

An open letter to the MSU football team

Hey guys,
Heard you all had a pretty big game this coming weekend. With that in mind, I wanted to write you all a simple letter of encouragement. I wanted to give you words of inspiration and just a few sentences to let you know all Bulldogs everywhere are behind you. Sorry though fellas. I can’t do that. According to everything I’m seeing, there’s really not much point in you all even heading east on 82 over to Tuscaloosa.
Yeah, you’re the nation’s top-ranked team, but so what? Big whoop! You’re going to Alabama. ALA-freakin-BAMA. You know, the place where college football was invented. It’s their game, we’re just fortunate enough that they let us suit up and play it each year. And that head coach over there? I heard God created him on the seventh day. Yeah, I know the Bible tells us our creator rested on the last day of the week, but secretly he’s an Alabama fan and on his day off he molded Saban. Right after Bear Bryant of course.
The national pundits know this already. And though you guys as NCAA athletes shouldn’t be paying attention to this sort of thing, Vegas knows it too. You’re a touchdown underdog. Basically, to sum it up, your efforts in Bryant-Denny Stadium will be futile. Might as well just save a little energy. And fuel. Go ahead and call up Everett. Tell him not to worry about filling up the bus. We’ll just go ahead and chalk this one up as a big fat ‘L’ and get ready for Vandy and the Egg Bowl. 9-0 was fun while it lasted.
I mean, if only we could have a chance come Saturday, that would’ve been cool. Wouldn’t it be awesome if you all had proven to the world at some point during this run that even the most intimidating of environments doesn’t bother you? Like, what if we had gone into Death Valley earlier this year and throttled LSU and emptied out the stadium? Wouldn’t that have been…. Wait, we did do that. In fact, if memory serves, we tore through the Tigers like Dillon Day tears through some Umi’s on Thursday nights.
Well, that had to have been luck. I mean, even a blind dog can find a tire to urinate on every now and then. No need to get excited over one measly win over a highly ranked opponent. It’s not like you did anything special such as tear through three straight top-10 teams, beating them by a combined total of 37 points. Oh that’s right. We did that too.
So let me see, there’s got to be some reason we have no chance against the Tide. Oh yeah. Arkansas. Little ol’ Arkansas. The Hogs haven’t done much of anything since Bobby Petrino’s motorcycle joy ride a few years back and yet those boys almost spoiled your season. Alabama would never let something like that happen. Saban’s warriors absolutely tore the Razorbacks apart in their matchup by an astounding, eye-opening final score of…..14-13?
Wow. The more I think about all this, it’s almost like everyone is picking this game just based on the names on the front of your jerseys. I mean you’re Mississippi State. You’re the Cow College. You’re the farmers and the no-good, sorry doormat of the SEC that has a solid year in baseball here and there. Mississippi State? Undefeated? This late in the year?
You darn right you are. If you haven’t picked up on it yet, there’s been a good bit of sarcasm in the previous few paragraphs. This Saturday, when you take the field, know this… You’ve earned every bit of the right to step on the field, look the Tide square in the eye and tell them that to be the man, they have to beat the man, and on this day in November of 2014, the man wears maroon and white.
You’re not in this position by some stroke of luck. There’s no rabbit’s foot under Dan Mullen’s pillow. The SEC West isn’t “down” so you just happen to be the better of a weakened bunch. No, you’re here because through the first 75% of the season, you have proven time and time again, week in and week out, that you are the best team in the country.
In Tuscaloosa, you’re not playing the David to Alabama’s Goliath. You are Goliath. You’re the giant that must be taken down. And with all due respect to David’s abilities, it’s going to take more than one stone shot to the head to bring you crashing back down to earth. You’re resilient. You’re tough. You may get punched in the mouth, but you get up swinging.
This writing isn’t to diminish the Tide. They’re good too. Really good. This is all about reminding you, assuring you, that you are better. I don’t care what the talking heads on the networks say. It doesn’t bother me one bit if Vegas is giving you no respect. Honestly, I don’t know if I’d want it. It’s not really the Bulldog way. Saturday is just another opportunity. It’s another chance to prove what I already know. You are the best team in the country.
Saturday, you take the field and let Alabama know it too. Saturday, you go out and put the next to last nail in the coffin of the SEC West race. Saturday, you turn away the Tide.

Rammer Jammer. Yellow Hammer. 3 days left Alabama. HA1L STATE!
Joel T. Coleman

Only one big question remains for the Bulldogs

Never has a gust of wind felt so good. Saturday night around 10 p.m., that stiff breeze you felt wasn’t a product of anything Mother Nature cooked up. No, that was the remnants of the collective exhales of thousands of Mississippi State fans across the Southeast as Will Redmond hauled in his second game-clinching interception of the season in a 17-10 escape over Arkansas.

For the second straight week, the top-ranked Bulldogs had their mettle tested. For the second straight week, they passed. Survive. Advance. On to the next one. It wasn’t always pretty, but then again, even the most beautiful of supermodels has those mornings where her hair won’t cooperate and there’s a pimple on her chin. Some days, you just have to cover up the blemish and do the best you can with the hand you’re dealt. Saturday night the SEC’s only undefeated team did just that.
This simply wasn’t the Bulldogs we’ve become accustomed to watching in 2014. Coming in to Saturday, MSU had scored at least 34 points in every game this year. They tallied just half of that total against the Razorbacks. Dak Prescott, though he became the first State quarterback to throw for over 300 yards since Wesley Carrol in 2007, accounted for more turnovers (2) than touchdowns (1). Josh Robinson and his famous rear end only averaged 3.4 yards per carry, less than half of what we’ve come to expect. Top target De’Runnya Wilson hauled in just two passes for 18 yards. MSU trailed at halftime for the first time all year. Arkansas held the ball for more than 17 minutes longer than Mississippi State. Yet one night after Halloween, the Bulldogs channeled their inner Michael Myers. No matter how many shots the Hogs fired, the Dogs just wouldn’t die.
“Our guys are finding ways to win,” said Mullen to the media after the game. “And that’s all that matters.”
Amen, Dan. Amen.
Anyone who has ever played any sport at the high school level or above can attest to the fact that games don’t always go as planned. One mistake can shift the balance of power in a contest and take it from a potential blowout, to fingernail-biting close.
What if Jamoral Graham doesn’t muff a punt early in the second quarter Saturday that allowed Arkansas to set up shop just 25 yards from the goal line for a drive that resulted in the Razorbacks’ only touchdown? In all likelihood, the Hogs never find the end zone all game and we’re talking today about a two or three score win instead of a down-to-the-wire gut-wrencher.
Odds are State is going to experience another big blunder at some point down the stretch of this magical run. Maybe next time it’ll be Prescott or Robinson or Wilson or someone else that makes a potentially season-changing gaffe. When that happens, what Saturday served to do was to provide all Bulldogs, both on the field and in the stands, with the confidence that this team won’t roll over and quit.
“It’s good for the team and it’s good for everyone to fight adversity,” Prescott said postgame. “This is the type of game we needed to have.”
Seems odd doesn’t it? What we all wanted was a blowout when the game first kicked off. What we all needed was a stressful, comprehensive exam. That’s what we got. If a professor had graded it and returned it, it would have had a big fat “A+” written at the top of the page. Not because the performance was anything exceptional, but because in spite of the roadblocks, MSU found the detours to carry them to 8-0.
Robinson’s rushing attack is slacking huh? How about we just let him rack up 110 yards in the passing game instead? No Wilson? No problem! Fred Ross is right there for a career night himself, racking up 107 receiving yards, including being on the back half of Prescott’s Heisman highlight reel, game-winning, 69-yard touchdown pass. Championship teams are built on the “yeah, buts”. Yeah, this particular thing might not be working. But, we’ll find a way.
“Throughout the season we are going to have to face adversity,” noted Robinson. “That just shows you what kind of team we are.”
In two weeks, Mississippi State will no doubt have to deal with hard times when the Bulldogs face off with Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Thing is, no matter what MSU faces that day, it can now do so with confidence. This squad has now faced and answered every question that could be asked of it. Can you finally get over the hump and start beating the big boys of the SEC? Check. Can you win in the toughest of environments on the road? Check. Can you handle prosperity? Check. Can you win on nights when you aren’t at your best? Check.
There’s but one big question left now for these Bulldogs. Can you do it all again?

The Maroon Mansion in the Sky

Once upon a time, far beyond the sky,
Sat a maroon mansion catching everybody’s eye.

Pedestrians wandered up and down the sparkling street of gold,
Just to see this wondrous place, for it was a sight to behold.

The home, maroon, surrounded by a lovely fence that’s white,
The inside lit up like a Christmas tree come every Saturday night.

“Who lives in there” asked one young lad, his mother said she didn’t know,
All she knew was this home popped up several weeks ago.

What Mom did know was ever since this dwelling first appeared,
From the inside came a clanging sound that wasn’t too pleasant to her ears.

“Let’s go find out, let’s knock and see” said the eager child.
Mom tried to discourage the thought, “This place seems a little wild”.

“Oh come on Mom, it’ll be OK, this is heaven after all.
Besides, look through the window, whoever’s there is just watching football!”

Reluctantly, Mom agreed, the two walked slowly through the fence’s gate,
When that clanging noise kicked up causing them to stop and wait.

“Let’s turn back,” the mother said. “Nonsense,” the child exclaimed.
“If anything, we should hurry up! Seems like an exciting game!”

Stepping on the porch, Mom raised her arm to knock.
Before her hand hit the door, she heard it starting to unlock.

The door swung open, there stood a man, his face lit up the night,
“Come on in folks,” he bellowed out, “We just wrapped it in maroon and white!”

What kind of fan are you?

I interrupt your Monday afternoon with this public service announcement: It is now safe to return to social media. To repeat, it is now safe to return to social media.
It has been two days now since the amount of undefeated collegiate football teams in the state of Mississippi got cut in half. Nearly 48 hours have passed since Mississippi State survived a scare in the Bluegrass State and Ole Miss’ perfect season croaked in Death Valley, while Facebook and Twitter turned into a something reminiscent of last night’s slaughter scene on The Walking Dead (For those who don’t watch, just know it was gory. Very gory.).
Today, the smoke seems to be clearing from this Saturday night storm of stupidity. Though there are a few lingering pieces of debris and ash falling from the sky, I feel now is as good a time as any for us all, the author of this blog included, to take a good, hard look at ourselves. It doesn’t matter what colors you wear. It doesn’t matter if you call the Grove or the Junction home. The question is simply what kind of fan do you really want to be?

Look, it’s tough. I get it. I’ve got enough Bulldog in me that I should be required to have yearly fecal and heartworm evaluations. I was born and raised 20 minutes from Starkville. After a childhood of fandom, I went on to get a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Mississippi State. For three and half of my collegiate years, I had the privilege to work on the inside of this athletic department that has its own luxury suite inside my soul. It’s woven into me.
Mississippi State University isn’t just some team that I pull for. It’s a large part of what made me who I am. I was shaped into a man in the days of walking from class to class on the Drill Field. Getting to know the inner workings of a big-time athletic department gave me countless life lessons. You think you’re a good problem-solver? Try thinking on your feet in front of an audience of tens of thousands of folks on any given Saturday.
My truck is maroon. My dog has an MSU collar. When the day comes and the Good Lord calls me home, I’m sure I’ll have a cowbell in my casket while I wear a maroon and white tie. So do I take this college football stuff a little personal? You’re darn right I do, just as I’m sure many of you do, regardless of if you’re a Bulldog, Rebel, or something else. I know some people will never understand that. “It’s just football,” they’ll say.
To a point they’re right. It’s a game. In an age where the news is all about ISIS and Ebola, a 60-minute escape from reality on a gridiron really isn’t the world’s greatest concern. But you know what? I’m competitive. I’m passionate. I’m proud of my university. It has taught me and molded me. So you’ll have to excuse me if I think Mississippi State sporting events hold a degree of importance in my life.
Full disclosure here before I continue, I don’t root for Ole Miss in any shape, form or fashion. Check my blog post from a couple weeks back if you want to see my full opinion on that, but long story short, I think it’s impossible for anyone with 100% maroon and white blood in them to ever pull for the Rebels and vice versa. Spare me the “I root for the state of Mississippi” rhetoric. If that’s the case, you either: 1) Don’t have a horse in the race, 2) Can’t name any more than one or two players on either team, 3) Are a bandwagon jumper and can’t decide which wagon needs your presence, or 4) Are perhaps the most unique individual under God’s hot sun because you can ring a cowbell and say “Hotty Toddy” at the same time without any hesitation.
Now that I’ve fully revealed my Mississippi State bias (as if it was some big secret), I feel I can now appropriately address both parties. Folks, my social media outlets looked like a den of doofuses on Saturday.
I understand it’s fun to show your school spirit. It’s even fun to comment on the game and offer opinions and criticisms. I’m all for that. Check my social media, especially Twitter. It’s full of that kind of stuff. If Ole Miss fans want to take good-natured jabs at me, have at it. If Rebels want to tell me that Mississippi State’s win at LSU on September 20th wasn’t that impressive because it came against a “bad” team, that’s fine. Just don’t get upset when I point out a month later that you lost to that same “bad” team on that same field. That’s sports banter folks. I love it. I like talking about it and going back and forth with anyone. I think many are in that same boat. But like with anything, there’s a right way and a wrong way to handle everything.
What follows here is just some social media wisdom for us all. Feel free to take it or leave it. And since we’re in the Bible Belt and I like the Bible, we’re going to give this a biblical twist. What kind of fan do you want to be? Let’s go to the Good Book:
• “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles..” (Proverbs 24.17)

State fans, this one should really speak to us this week. We’d be wise to adhere to this verse for all upcoming Facebook and Twitter postings. Proverbs 16:18 also tells us that pride goes before destruction. So remember, there’s a long way to go. Visits to Tuscaloosa and Oxford loom in the distance. And should we lose any of those tilts, consider this some early advice Rebels.

• “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” (1 Corinthians 13:11)

That’s a nice thought. Then you see 50-something year old men and women name-calling in front of the world like a couple of brats on the elementary school playground. Really people? I don’t care what team you pull for, if you’re on a social media outlet calling anyone anything, you really need to go back to the drawing board and reconsider your sports-discussing tactics. Someone post something you disagree with? It’s fine to talk about it. But if your contribution to the conversation is to call someone a name or to tell someone where to go, well, I’ll just recite you a line from the theatrical classic Billy Madison: I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

• “…I say to every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment…” (Romans 12:3)

I saw an Ole Miss fan on Facebook the other night posting they couldn’t stand MSU fans because “they act like they do” and “they’re classless”. Yep. I’ve never seen an Ole Miss fan with anything questionable to say. Angels, they all are. (In case you didn’t catch it, that was sarcasm.)
Can we just come to an agreement people? There are rotten eggs in both fan bases. There are wonderful people in both fan bases. And if you don’t believe that, you’re just wrong. To quote an old friend of mine some of you might recognize – PERIOD. END OF DISCUSSION.

• “Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.” (Proverbs 11:12)

With all due respect to Thumper, I’d like to amend his famous quote in Bambi: If you can’t play nice, don’t play at all. We all have a little bit of stupid in us. Shame on us if we go on the internet to let it all out. Think about it. Somebody goes on Facebook and posts an opinion. Rather than continue the discussion, you respond with something along the lines of “Kiss my backside you blankety-blank-blank-blank.” What in the world did you just accomplish?

You know, I’m sure this post won’t change much. This Saturday, I’m sure the social media volcano will erupt yet again, the severity of which all depends on the results of the games. I just wanted to present all this information to everyone on both sides of the Mississippi football fence. The next few weeks will give folks plenty of more opportunities to break out their smartphones, tablets and keyboards and pop open a big old can of dumb. It doesn’t have to be that way though. It just depends on what kind of fan you want to be.