Sylvester Croom Resigns!! A sad day for Mississippi State football fans and all fans of SEC football. Coach Croom was a great man. The first black head football coach in the SEC; he took the Bulldogs to the Liberty Bowl last year. A student of "old school" tough-nose, Bear Bryant football. But, this year it just was not to be. MSU ended up dead last in the SEC with a 2-6 conference record and 4-8 overall. But losing to rival Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl by a 45-0 loss was just too much to bear. That was the most lopsided Egg Bowl in 37 years. We wish Coach Croom all the best.
Croom will be replaced by Florida Offensive Coordinator, Dan Mullen. Read more about him at our new Dan Mullen Biography.
MSU runner stiff-arms opponent
Thanks to haydensimons at flickr.com for the picture.
MSU ended its 2007-2008 football season with a final record of 8-5 and 4-4 in the SEC. One of the best years for the Bulldogs in recent memory. Sylvester Croom has turned out to be a great coach, molding his team in the image of his mentor – Bear Bryant. Tough, physical defense; conservative offense; few mistakes. That was the Bear’s recipe for success and it’s what Sylvester Croom has turned Mississippi State into. Croom has excellent coaching staff, including assistant Woody McCorvey, coach Rocky Felker and Charlie Harbison. The Bulldogs are fun to watch for those of us who enjoy “old-time football.”
Miss. State only lost 7 starters from last season. Their top rusher (Anthony Dixon) and passer (Wesley Carroll) both return. On defense, Free Safety Derek Pegues is a 1st Team All-SEC Preseason Pick. Dixon, along with Anthony Strauder on the offensive line and Jamar Chaney at linebacker are 2’d Team All-SEC players.
UAB defender knocks Mississippi State football helmet off head.
Thanks to haydensimon at flickr.com for the picture .
The reason we think Miss. State has a legit shot at winning the West is because they have a nice schedule. They are lucky to not play the top 3 teams in the SEC East (GA, FL, SC) and they play no powerhouses in their non-conference schedule. Plus, there is a lot of parity in the SEC West. So, it wouldn’t take more than one upset to put MSU right in the thick of things. And, the Bulldogs have shown they can upset the powers of the SEC West.
Still, we have to make a call. In the end, we predict that 2008 Mississippi State Bulldogs football will end up 4th in the SEC West. Still, they will get a nice bowl game; win it; and, end up ranked in the top 25 nationally in the final poll next season.
If you haven't heard already, Mississippi State’s probation period has recently ended. The Bulldogs had violated NCAA rules in 2004. MSU will remain under the five-year repeat offender status with the NCAA until October 29, 2009.
Thanks to flickr.com/photos/rogersmith for all photos. Some rights are reserved for these photos.
2008 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedule
Aug 30 at Louisiana Tech (ESPN2)
Sep 6 Southeastern Louisiana
Sep 13 Auburn
Sep 20 at Georgia Tech
Sep 27 at LSU
Oct 11 Vanderbilt
Oct 18 at Tennessee
Oct 25 Middle Tennessee State
Nov 1 Kentucky
Nov 15 at Alabama
Nov 22 Arkansas
Nov 28 Mississippi
Head Coach: Sylvester Croom (17-30 .362)
5th season at Mississippi State Stadium: Davis Wade at Scott Field (55,082); 90 year old stadium -- 2d oldest in Division 1-A
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