BlackSailsDawg
10-16-2022, 10:52 AM
Barely a year ago, a penalty cost a redshirt freshman at Mississippi State, a whole lot more than 15 yards. It set in motion a chain of events that landed Groce in Scooba, a place that for one-time Power Five players can feel a bit like rock bottom.
Despite an unceremonious exit from Mississippi State, Groce is still a Bulldogs fan. After an Oct. 6 game against Coahoma Community College, he even emerged from the EMCC locker room wearing a maroon MSU T-shirt.
?That?s where I started off, you feel me?? Groce said. ?I still get a chance to go watch them. They?re right up the road. I?ve still got a lot of teammates I mess with who go there.?
With Mississippi State trailing LSU 21-10 in the fourth quarter in Starkville, the Bulldogs forced the Tigers to punt.
Groce wanted to make a game-changing play.
?I was just really excited,? Groce recalled. ?It was loud in Davis Wade.?
When LSU lined up to boot the ball away, Groce left his feet and tried to propel himself over the Tigers? formation, hoping to block the kick. It didn?t work: LSU?s Avery Atkins got the punt away anyhow.
Then Groce saw the flag. He was confused.
?I didn?t know it was on me,? he said. ?When I came to the sideline and I saw everybody ? I was like, ?Oh, God.??
The consequences of Groce?s penalty went far beyond its on-field impact.
As soon as he got access to his phone in the locker room, Groce saw the social media comments from fans. Some were sent straight to him; others just mentioned him.
?Don?t let him play another snap on punt team. Ever again. Ever.?
?He should never see the field.?
?The level of stupid on this team at times is outrageous.?
Groce said he took screenshots of some of the harsh words, using them as motivation.
?I was kind of shocked, but then I kind of came back to reality,? Groce said. ?This is the SEC. This comes with it. They love you when you?re doing good. They hate you when you do bad. Just keep pushing. Keep your head straight.?
In a now-deleted tweet later that day, Groce shared one example of the online hate. By and large, Mississippi State fans backed him up, telling him to ?hang in there? and that they could forgive his mistake.
https://cdispatch.com/sports/2022-10-14/now-at-emcc-former-mississippi-state-linebacker-rodney-groce-jr-reflects-on-costly-penalty/
Despite an unceremonious exit from Mississippi State, Groce is still a Bulldogs fan. After an Oct. 6 game against Coahoma Community College, he even emerged from the EMCC locker room wearing a maroon MSU T-shirt.
?That?s where I started off, you feel me?? Groce said. ?I still get a chance to go watch them. They?re right up the road. I?ve still got a lot of teammates I mess with who go there.?
With Mississippi State trailing LSU 21-10 in the fourth quarter in Starkville, the Bulldogs forced the Tigers to punt.
Groce wanted to make a game-changing play.
?I was just really excited,? Groce recalled. ?It was loud in Davis Wade.?
When LSU lined up to boot the ball away, Groce left his feet and tried to propel himself over the Tigers? formation, hoping to block the kick. It didn?t work: LSU?s Avery Atkins got the punt away anyhow.
Then Groce saw the flag. He was confused.
?I didn?t know it was on me,? he said. ?When I came to the sideline and I saw everybody ? I was like, ?Oh, God.??
The consequences of Groce?s penalty went far beyond its on-field impact.
As soon as he got access to his phone in the locker room, Groce saw the social media comments from fans. Some were sent straight to him; others just mentioned him.
?Don?t let him play another snap on punt team. Ever again. Ever.?
?He should never see the field.?
?The level of stupid on this team at times is outrageous.?
Groce said he took screenshots of some of the harsh words, using them as motivation.
?I was kind of shocked, but then I kind of came back to reality,? Groce said. ?This is the SEC. This comes with it. They love you when you?re doing good. They hate you when you do bad. Just keep pushing. Keep your head straight.?
In a now-deleted tweet later that day, Groce shared one example of the online hate. By and large, Mississippi State fans backed him up, telling him to ?hang in there? and that they could forgive his mistake.
https://cdispatch.com/sports/2022-10-14/now-at-emcc-former-mississippi-state-linebacker-rodney-groce-jr-reflects-on-costly-penalty/