Mark Schlabach leaves MSU out of pre-season top 25

[ShotgunDawg]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...op-25-rankings

Well, here we go again I guess. I have no idea why this keeps happening. I'm at a loss.

[Coach34]

The mantra is we lost too many "starters" to be any good next year- and Mullen doesn't recruit well enough to overcome it. I laughed reading that shit on Bafoom.

They are too stupid to realize that Jones, Redmond, Ross, etc weren't listed as starters but were the best players at their position.

[ShotgunDawg]

The mantra is we lost too many "starters" to be any good next year- and Mullen doesn't recruit well enough to overcome it. I laughed reading that shit on Bafoom.

They are too stupid to realize that Jones, Redmond, Ross, etc weren't listed as starters but were the best players at their position.

I agree, but this, again, shows the pure laziness of the media. Anything can happen, but, with Dak returning, it's absolutely ridiculous to say we aren't a top 25 team.

[Dawgface]

Has Dak officially announced he's coming back? Many may think he's not coming back.

[CadaverDawg]

Hell, after what I saw once we became #1, I'll take being overlooked to start the season. We proved we can climb the ladder by winning, so I'd prefer us not having a target on our back to start the year.

[ShotgunDawg]

Has Dak officially announced he's coming back? Many may think he's not coming back.

Possibly, he did officially start grad school yesterday though. It wouldn't have been difficult to figure out he's coming back if someone cared in the slightest.

[ShotgunDawg]

Hell, after what I saw once we became #1, I'll take being overlooked to start the season. We proved we can climb the ladder by winning, so I'd prefer us not having a target on our back to start the year.

True, but my issue is that this is our perception and how recruits look at us as well. Ole Miss is #11 on the list and they don't have a quarterback, lost good players on defense, and cannot run the ball. However, for some reason, their perception is different.

There is a missing ingredient in the soup that promotes MSU football. For this to keep happening means that something simply isn't right.

[Bothrops]

When I saw OM at #11 l clicked her off.

[CadaverDawg]

When I saw OM at #11 l clicked her off.

Yea, Ole Miss at 11 is ridiculous. These media guys can't see football outside of what's on a piece of paper. their mindset...

"Ole Miss had a top 5 recruiting class 3 years ago, so all those guys will be Juniors....they should be really really good". Most of these guys probably think Wallace returns next season. They clearly do little to no homework.

[bluelightstar]

True, but my issue is that this is our perception and how recruits look at us as well. Ole Miss is #11 on the list and they don't have a quarterback, lost good players on defense, and cannot run the ball. However, for some reason, their perception is different.

There is a missing ingredient in the soup that promotes MSU football. For this to keep happening means that something simply isn't right.

Oh that's easy -- our recruiting classes aren't flashy. That's a good way to start every season ranked.

[codeDawg]

That may be the least informed top 25 list I have ever read. Seriously. Complete garbage. Somebody needed some page views.

[Coach34]

Fredo has road trips to Fla, Bama, Auburn, and Starkville. They won't be close to 11th

[CadaverDawg]

I think people are underestimating Georgia Tech next year too. 18 is too low. I have seen a lot of option in my day, but what Paul Johnson showed against us and FSU, was amazing. They return a lot next year, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see them win the ACC. That offense is extremely difficult to stop.

[HSVDawg]

Possibly, he did officially start grad school yesterday though. It wouldn't have been difficult to figure out he's coming back if someone cared in the slightest.

I think Dak might be waiting on Mariota to make his move before deciding. If Mariota returns, Dak's worst case scenario if he left early would be him getting taken as the 3rd QB off the board (behind Winston and Hundley) which would put him as a 2nd to 3rd rounder depending on his combine performance. The only sure thing is that Mariota will be the first QB taken whichever year he decides to leave. The other QB's are a crapshoot and could easily raise or lower their stock at the combine. It's in Dak's best interest to not be in the same draft as Mariota. So if MM returns, don't be surprised if Dak bolts. He can still withdraw from grad school without penalty between now and Thursday, so that's not really the issue.

[engie]

If Mariota returns, Dak's worst case scenario if he left early would be him getting taken as the 3rd QB off the board (behind Winston and Hundley) which would put him as a 2nd to 3rd rounder depending on his combine performance.

That is not even remotely close to his worst case scenario.

[Coach34]

No- Dakota is returning-100%

[MetEdDawg]

True, but my issue is that this is our perception and how recruits look at us as well. Ole Miss is #11 on the list and they don't have a quarterback, lost good players on defense, and cannot run the ball. However, for some reason, their perception is different.

There is a missing ingredient in the soup that promotes MSU football. For this to keep happening means that something simply isn't right.

It's a repeating cycle that we have not be able to overcome. Typically Top 25 teams get respect, but we never get the hype of being in the Top 25 Preseason to have anyone talk about us and get the exposure. So then the cycle repeats because the recruiting stays down.

We will have to earn respect because the recruiting aspect is currently not in our favor. There is so much stock put into recruiting in these preseason polls that teams like us that haven't had high ranking recruiting classes have to have consecutive years of finishing in the Top 25 to prove that we deserve to be there. It sucks but it's our path and we have to embrace it for what it is.

My problem is that we do NEED experience with the target on our backs. We did play better this year as the underdog, but I don't want that to be our mantra. We should all want the target to be on our back because that means there are expectations of the players and the program to perform at a high level, which is what we are trying to get to. If we can string together a good class this year and next year while finishing in the Top 25 again next year, I think we will have earned the respect we've been looking for and built something sustainable. It sucks that this is the way it is, but like I said, we've got to embrace it for what it is and force people to change their minds. If we keep winning, people can't keep us down forever.

[thf24]

I think Dak might be waiting on Mariota to make his move before deciding. If Mariota returns, Dak's worst case scenario if he left early would be him getting taken as the 3rd QB off the board (behind Winston and Hundley) which would put him as a 2nd to 3rd rounder depending on his combine performance. The only sure thing is that Mariota will be the first QB taken whichever year he decides to leave. The other QB's are a crapshoot and could easily raise or lower their stock at the combine. It's in Dak's best interest to not be in the same draft as Mariota. So if MM returns, don't be surprised if Dak bolts. He can still withdraw from grad school without penalty between now and Thursday, so that's not really the issue.

Dak would be nowhere near the 3rd QB on the board right now. I don't even know who specifically is up there, but I don't need to look because there's no way a QB who is inconsistent at best throwing deep and struggles at times reading defenses at the college level is 3rd on the board. It is highly unlikely he leaves, and if he does it would be a tremendous mistake, period. Regardless of what other QB's are on the board.

[ShotgunDawg]

We have finished ahead of Ole Miss in the SEC standing for 5 straight years, and I'll tell you right now that, when you look at schedule for next season, MSU will likely finish ahead of Ole Miss again. However, this doesn't seem to stop the media from continually projecting them ahead of MSU.

The problem is that top 25 teams get all he publicity in the off season, and, when we aren't in them, we are treated like we don't exist, which hurts our perception and recruiting

[Bama_Dawg]

Hell, after what I saw once we became #1, I'll take being overlooked to start the season. We proved we can climb the ladder by winning, so I'd prefer us not having a target on our back to start the year.

^^This. If we "come out of nowhere" again in 2015, we should get the respect (we'll have done enough to earn it). Hopefully then the national media will then figure out we aren't "Mississippi" we are "Mississippi State"