Dawg of Texas
12-31-2019, 10:50 AM
I?ve heard a lot of talk about Moorhead not being the right fit for Mississippi State. Most of the time, it is associated with him being from the northeast with no real explanation of why that matters. Personally, I don?t think someone?s origin matters as long as they can put their finger on the pulse of the University. We had another guy from the NE that seemed to do that.
My wife and I are both State grads and live in Texas for ?economic? reasons. We proudly wear our MSU gear here in Texas. We love Mississippi and the University. In fact, we both think that Starkville is the one place that truly feels like home. Maybe one day we'll be lucky enough to retire there. When people ask us about moving to Texas, it?s easy to explain that we moved for better jobs and more opportunities, but explaining our love for Mississippi and unconditional love for MSU is more complicated. I mean, it?s Mississippi right?
For most people, Mississippi is an afterthought at best. Mississippi doesn?t have a professional team. The state doesn?t have juggernaut corporations or national attractions to hang its hat on. For so many decades the state has been the stepchild of the country and the butt of jokes. Most years we are near the top in all the wrong things, teen pregnancy, obesity, healthcare, and near the bottom educationally and economically. Hell, a recent study showed that over 40% of college graduates leave the state within five years of graduation (I left after two). We have a history that most of us have moved past and the media can?t seem to exploit enough. To outsiders, there isn?t a lot to be proud of. Which takes me to my next point?
The football program (and anything associated with the University) means more to the people of Mississippi, because it?s personal. Because of everyone?s perception of us, we have a chip on our shoulder. Each time we play a game, it is one of our few chances in the national spotlight for something ?good?. We must capitalize on the opportunity to show the country what we are really about. We must show toughness, integrity, and perseverance. It is our chance to fight back. To prove everyone wrong. Most importantly, to stick it to those who look down on us! The reality is, this state is full of tough, honest, hard-working people looking for something to hang their hat on. It?s not ?poor pitiful me?, it is an ?us against them? mentality. We know who we are, we just want everyone else to see it. We require unshakable determination and intensity and that?s what we expect to display on the field. Our fans AND PLAYERS deserve this level of dedication from the coach. Of course we want to go undefeated, but pride isn?t necessarily just based on the number of W?s and L?s. It?s playing with the right mentality in those W?s and L?s and how we fight throughout the game that matters. Albeit, most people believe that the right mentality on the field would have led to more W?s and a more promising trajectory for the program, but I?ll move on.
Moorhead (or any coach) not being the right fit has nothing to do with where he is from and more to do with understanding where the MSU culture comes from. Telling disappointed fans that the program is his and to shut up and kick rocks, proves he doesn?t get it and that his fervor is misdirected. This program and university is part of all of us. There are reasons why the Egg Bowl rivalry is so intense, and the fans are so passionate about the product they see on the field. Reasons the national media, and apparently Moorhead, don?t understand. He alienated much of the fanbase because he sounded just like the outsiders? looking down their collective noses at us. This culture has been developed over a long, long period of time. Fair or not, any coach that is going to be successful here must understand and embrace the culture. Moorhead doesn?t know how to approach the culture so he attacked it.
I?m going to take a side step here and say I appreciate every player that chose to play at MSU. That includes every player. These young men chose MSU because they saw a home. I believe they have worked hard but have been misguided on what areas matter. Lets not forget that they are all at an age where they require guidance and a leader. They deserve a leader that understands discipline is a form of love because it leads to success and satisfaction in life not just football. So in that sense, I want to apologize to them for not providing the leader that they needed and deserved. In reality, we promised them and their families that the coaches would be father-figures.
I could go on for days. This is just my opinion and I am not claiming to be the spokesman for the MSU fanbase. And sorry this is a bit long-winded.
My wife and I are both State grads and live in Texas for ?economic? reasons. We proudly wear our MSU gear here in Texas. We love Mississippi and the University. In fact, we both think that Starkville is the one place that truly feels like home. Maybe one day we'll be lucky enough to retire there. When people ask us about moving to Texas, it?s easy to explain that we moved for better jobs and more opportunities, but explaining our love for Mississippi and unconditional love for MSU is more complicated. I mean, it?s Mississippi right?
For most people, Mississippi is an afterthought at best. Mississippi doesn?t have a professional team. The state doesn?t have juggernaut corporations or national attractions to hang its hat on. For so many decades the state has been the stepchild of the country and the butt of jokes. Most years we are near the top in all the wrong things, teen pregnancy, obesity, healthcare, and near the bottom educationally and economically. Hell, a recent study showed that over 40% of college graduates leave the state within five years of graduation (I left after two). We have a history that most of us have moved past and the media can?t seem to exploit enough. To outsiders, there isn?t a lot to be proud of. Which takes me to my next point?
The football program (and anything associated with the University) means more to the people of Mississippi, because it?s personal. Because of everyone?s perception of us, we have a chip on our shoulder. Each time we play a game, it is one of our few chances in the national spotlight for something ?good?. We must capitalize on the opportunity to show the country what we are really about. We must show toughness, integrity, and perseverance. It is our chance to fight back. To prove everyone wrong. Most importantly, to stick it to those who look down on us! The reality is, this state is full of tough, honest, hard-working people looking for something to hang their hat on. It?s not ?poor pitiful me?, it is an ?us against them? mentality. We know who we are, we just want everyone else to see it. We require unshakable determination and intensity and that?s what we expect to display on the field. Our fans AND PLAYERS deserve this level of dedication from the coach. Of course we want to go undefeated, but pride isn?t necessarily just based on the number of W?s and L?s. It?s playing with the right mentality in those W?s and L?s and how we fight throughout the game that matters. Albeit, most people believe that the right mentality on the field would have led to more W?s and a more promising trajectory for the program, but I?ll move on.
Moorhead (or any coach) not being the right fit has nothing to do with where he is from and more to do with understanding where the MSU culture comes from. Telling disappointed fans that the program is his and to shut up and kick rocks, proves he doesn?t get it and that his fervor is misdirected. This program and university is part of all of us. There are reasons why the Egg Bowl rivalry is so intense, and the fans are so passionate about the product they see on the field. Reasons the national media, and apparently Moorhead, don?t understand. He alienated much of the fanbase because he sounded just like the outsiders? looking down their collective noses at us. This culture has been developed over a long, long period of time. Fair or not, any coach that is going to be successful here must understand and embrace the culture. Moorhead doesn?t know how to approach the culture so he attacked it.
I?m going to take a side step here and say I appreciate every player that chose to play at MSU. That includes every player. These young men chose MSU because they saw a home. I believe they have worked hard but have been misguided on what areas matter. Lets not forget that they are all at an age where they require guidance and a leader. They deserve a leader that understands discipline is a form of love because it leads to success and satisfaction in life not just football. So in that sense, I want to apologize to them for not providing the leader that they needed and deserved. In reality, we promised them and their families that the coaches would be father-figures.
I could go on for days. This is just my opinion and I am not claiming to be the spokesman for the MSU fanbase. And sorry this is a bit long-winded.