Truly hilarious that any of you think this is about Dan Mullen......

[Taog Redloh]

Mullen still isn't even close to the hot seat: http://www.coacheshotseat.com/CoachesHotSeatRanking.htm

That is what people nationally think of our program. We can't just go out and get anyone, money or not.

[maroonmania]

Mullen still isn't even close to the hot seat: http://www.coacheshotseat.com/CoachesHotSeatRanking.htm

That is what people nationally think of our program. We can't just go out and get anyone, money or not.

No, we certainly can't get "anyone" but there are a lot of high quality coaches out there that would crawl to an SEC school to make 4 mil/yr.

[Taog Redloh]

No, we certainly can't get "anyone" but there are a lot of high quality coaches out there that would crawl to an SEC school to make 4 mil/yr.

But we wouldn't pay them that.

We had to overpay Mullen to keep him. Now, we can debate all day about whether that was a good decision. Most national people would have said that was the percentage play. Now? Who knows. Best to not judge until after the season ends.

[Bothrops]

This is about Mississippi State football. A normal coach cannot build a consistent winning football program here. We simply do not have the resources that the 'haves' possess. Make peace with this fact. I'll spare you details, because certain posters will just get bogged down on them. Bottom line is, we are at the bottom when the historical equation spits out what's needed to be a successful football program.

Until we redefine how we want to compete in football, this historical trend will continue. Dan Mullen is as good as the next guy, and he'd probably win big at a 'have' school. He nearly won big here. So let's quit thinking that we can just go get another guy. I know we have more money than ever before, but if you hadn't noticed, the price to play is higher than it's ever been before too. Not to mention assistants.

Ole Miss chose to pay players and recruit better. That's them - not us. It fits them - not us.

No, we're going to have to jar our line of thinking. I don't know the answer, but it's going to have to revolve around JUCO players and a true outside the box innovative offense. Great defense should come with the territory, that's what the state of MS produces better than anything.

Didn't read past the second paragraph. This is a bullshit post.

[Taog Redloh]

Didn't read past the second paragraph. This is a bullshit post.

Same goes for any small program in a small poor state. Many factors play into it. Seems the population sweet spot needs to be around 5 million in any state to adequately support TWO power 5 type programs and give them a chance to win, assuming there is talent nearby. In some places, even that doesn't work. You need a truly dynamic plan to overcome the lack of natural resources. For example, Oregon, Louisville and/or Oklahoma State had in influx of money. Kansas State works the JUCOs better than anyone. Ole Miss takes cheating to a new level. And even then, those programs have not gotten over the hump. Other than that, it's hard to get more than fleeting success every once in a while.

[GTHOM]

Its sink or swim time all this talk since saturday and really since the mullenites vs mullen haters (im a mullen hater) began its gonna end saturday. in my opinion its the biggest game of his career considering the circumstances. if we beat USCe Dan deserves credit for righting the ship now instead of letting it snowball, if he loses hes probably gone at the end of the year. by his own choosing or not

[dawgday166]

Better than Dan, and he wouldn't lose to USA..

That's irrelevant. I'm not even sure what your point is.

What record do you think Nick Saban would have here?

You're really asking this question? Really?

Since Jackie took us to the West Championship and Mullen had us at #1 for 5 weeks with as talented a team as anyone in the country not named Bama & Ohio State so here it is:

With the current crop of SEC W coaches, he'd own the West most years. The only 2 coaches I believe may be able to compete with him year in/year out in the SEC are probably 2 of his disciples in the East - Kirby & McElwain. No one else is close. Malzahn and Miles maybe on good years.

You have to go National to get to someone that not only is an outstanding coach, but also an outstanding recruiter as well (I read where Saban told Mal Moore that Mal probably thought he was getting a good coach, but he wasn't. Mal was getting a helluva recruiter.).

Coaches that are in Saban's League for sure: Meyer. Probably or maybe in his league: Harbaugh & Jimbo.

That sums it up nicely I believe.

[Bothrops]

Same goes for any small program in a small poor state. Many factors play into it. Seems the population sweet spot needs to be around 5 million in any state to adequately support TWO power 5 type programs and give them a chance to win, assuming there is talent nearby. In some places, even that doesn't work. You need a truly dynamic plan to overcome the lack of natural resources. For example, Oregon, Louisville and/or Oklahoma State had in influx of money. Kansas State works the JUCOs better than anyone. Ole Miss takes cheating to a new level. And even then, those programs have not gotten over the hump. Other than that, it's hard to get more than fleeting success every once in a while.

I agree with you here, but at the same time, we have resources abound. Best stadium and best football facility in the state, also, one of the better tailgating experiences, and traditions in the league. Not to mention SEC money. It's a very nice job, despite what the media and OM fans say.

[archdog]

C'mon Jack, since when has Mullen done that? We are regressing as a program. USA is just the first shoe to drop.

And it's a rebuilding year. Give the guy a little break on maybe losing some he should win and vice versa.

[I_Spy]

Simply... Graves missed the kick.

The secondary started to get beat and beat badly 2nd half. I blame the D but the D has new coaches, new players.

Damian did rally and 'should' have had a win. I think 7 wins was what we all were hoping for. We aren't out yet.

We pray for 6 or 7 wins this year. 8-10 next year.

I mean we knew we had no 45 pt scoring offense...21 D points given in 1 half to south ala is alarming. I have faith.

[Maroonthirteen]

I agree with the OP.

I agree we should not lose to S. Bama or other Sunbelt schools. However we just don't recruit at a high enough level to overcome the bad days from time to time. Some of that has to do with Mullen's approach in recruiting but a bigger factor is all the limitations we have in recruiting.

Let me ask this.. you're a big time recruit from MS. All the Big 10 schools offer you a scholarship. Saban is the new Minnesota coach. Would you sign there if OSU and Mich were offering too?

Something else....
Who is going to the next Clinton or Grenada or Morton game to kiss some backside and glad hand anyone you can hand a $100? To be a big time program, do the big time work.

[dawgday166]

I agree with the OP.

I agree we should not lose to S. Bama or other Sunbelt schools. However we just don't recruit at a high enough level to overcome the bad days from time to time. Some of that has to do with Mullen's approach in recruiting but a bigger factor is all the limitations we have in recruiting.

Let me ask this.. you're a big time recruit from MS. All the Big 10 schools offer you a scholarship. Saban is the new Minnesota coach. Would you sign there if OSU and Mich were offering too?

Something else....
Who is going to the next Clinton or Grenada or Morton game to kiss some backside and glad hand anyone you can hand a $100? To be a big time program, do the big time work.

Probably 80-20 or 70-30 if Miles, Sumlin, or Freeze were the HCs. Probably 20 - 80 odds with Meyer and Harbaugh as HCs tho.

[BayouDawg]

We don't even have a full 85 scholarships on the roster. That my friend is all about Dan Mullen. You seriously want to hit the Juco ranks hard? Recently This staff can't get juco players ready to play until the last 6 games of their career. And as far you saying it's too difficult of a job here at MSU. The man is making 4 million a year. I'm so sorry his life is so tough. Give me a damn break.

[Maroonthirteen]

The two points are both true. Which is how you lose to S.Bama.

State is a difficult place to recruit.

Mullen and Hevesy are not very good at game planning, personnel decisions and developing any position that isn't QB. True.

[Dawgface]

Truly hilarious that any of you think this is about Dan Mullen......

Of course it is. I doubt many if any here think we can be bama like year end year out, but our deficiencies on this team is directly related to Mullen. Just as the good years was related to Mullen. It's not that hard to figure out.