Quote Originally Posted by Jarius View Post
Mullen would have failed to make a bowl game in 2011, 2013, and 2016 had he played an 11 game schedule like Sherrill did and had bowl games not been so readily available for anyone who got to 6 wins. That?s nearly half of his time in Starkville That he would not have made a bowl game if you add the 2009 year. He probably would have been fired instead of getting the Florida job had he been in Sherrill?s situation. Sherrill was the better coach due to doing what he did without all of the SEC money and extra cupcake game per year.
The number of available bowls and the 12th cupcake game really benefited Mullen. In 1970, the 11 game schedule was added. If you go back to 1970 and add a 12th cupcake game and assume a win, and apply 6 wins making you bowl eligible you get this:
- 3 additional seasons of 9+ wins (plus additional 10 wins - '74, '76, '80)
- 7 additional "bowl eligible" seasons ('77, '82, '85, '86, '89, '90, '96)
- 4 seasons we were already "bowl eligible" but did not go to a bowl ('75, '76, '78, '97)
- 6 additional regular seasons of .500+

That would be a huge perception changer outside of the Croom Error, giving us 5 Bowls in the '70s (instead of 1); 6 in the '80s (instead of 2); and 8 in the 90s (instead of 5).

This should not detract from the job Mullen did - he did great. But, it does show the benefits the era gave him compared to others.