IYOK...

[BossDawg]

Dan's not going to be here after the EB.

Is that your guess or something you're hearing?

[BossDawg]

I'm all for giving Dan one more year, PROVIDED HE WANTS TO BE HERE. As much as he's done for the program, he's entitled to a down year. However, my biggest concern is if he has his head in the game - meaning, in the best interest of State. Like I've said before, whether he's simply burned out at State, or whether he's bummed about the season, to me it appears as if he has "better things to do". Again, I want to know he wants to be here for one, and I also want to see him get rid of Hevesy and step up recruiting, too. Finally, I wouldn't complain if he quit meddling so much with the defense and also got a legit OC so he can focus on actual head coaching activities.

If he does any of that, I won't be so critical of this year. If he does all of it, I'll certainly have a much better attitude about the future. I think this year was doomed to be a "down" year anyway, but I also think this team has(d) the capability of at least making a crappy bowl. IMO, the team simply dismissed the South Alabama team, got punched in the mouth and the rest of the season has been spiraling out of control. Part of that lack of preparation added to my worry that Dan just doesn't have the fire he once had. His desire to coach AT STATE is critical.

[Thick]

What I'm hearing, and I cautiously say that it will be his decision.

[GTHOM]

I'm currently in the "Mullen deserves to be fired, but we just can't do it this year" camp. However, if he loses to Samford he has to be canned. An SEC coach cannot be allowed to lose to South Alabama and Samford at home and keep his job. I'm sorry, he just can't.

An SEC coach in his 8th year that has tried to leave and that being a big reason we are in the spot we're in added on to it. I dont think an SEC coach should be allowed to lose to South Alabama, BYU, and Kentucky in the same year. Thats just my opinion

[Cooterpoot]

Some of you act like we're AL and can't have down years. Michigan St. is dealing with it. Oregon is dealing with it. We're in the damn SEC West. We aren't going to be successful every season. If Dan stinks it up like this year, again next year, then I'm good with him being shown the door. Losing to the teams we lost to this year is one thing, doing again next year is unacceptable. But, Dan is leaving anyway. He's going to have several job offers, regardless of how our season ends up.

[West Houston Dog]

after reviewing the entire situation USA game to date=

I would give Dan next year IF we upgrade to a new OL coach
+ promote our recruiting asst(Peterson?) to TE coach.
Dont mind keeping Knox as he can recruit some. Of Course keep the wr coach.

I would also insist on a new DC cause what i have seen so far this year hasnt been good.
+ possibly a new DL coach because I see our DL just push around too much. Auburn was brutual to watch.

But I could be wrong.....

[Tbonewannabe]

after reviewing the entire situation USA game to date=

I would give Dan next year IF we upgrade to a new OL coach
+ promote our recruiting asst(Peterson?) to TE coach.
Dont mind keeping Knox as he can recruit some. Of Course keep the wr coach.

I would also insist on a new DC cause what i have seen so far this year hasnt been good.
+ possibly a new DL coach because I see our DL just push around too much. Auburn was brutual to watch.

But I could be wrong.....

I think Sirmon has been good and bad which you may expect with a 1st time Defensive Coordinator. He is also known as a good recruiter. Also a lot of our problems have looked like effort and tackling more than play calling.

[JohnnyQuid]

I appreciate the love but there's others on the board with much more knowledge & info than me. Concerning the program I think we all see that this season has been a disaster. For all the woulda coulda shoulda 1 play away at some point you have to realize you are what your record say you are. Good teams find a way to win & bad teams find a way to lose. We see what side of the coin we are this year. Sometimes team pull out a close game & they go on a run because they found a pull out a tough game. Well this year this team went the other way. After the South Alabama gam every close game at the win we just can't find a way to make that play to get the W.

As far as players there are some guys that you can tell are playing better & some who haven't for whatever reason.

OFFENSE

I think we're seeing the rawness & lack of reps from Fitz. He shows flashes of being really good then he makes a bad read on the option or stares down a WR on a pass. I think Fitz will be solid but we're having to go through the growing pains. My hope is Tiano & Keytaon push him in the spring so we won't feel like he can coast going into next season.
The rest of this year I would love to see Aeris & Gibson as the primary backs. We have to see if they can carry the load next year. Simple as that. Kylin is more physically ready than any HS back we've signed. The key will be mentally.
We're set at Slot WR for the rest of this year & the foreseeable future with Dear & Mixon. What I do want to see from those 2 are more routes down the field. Esp Mixon he's tailor made for the option routes that we used to run with Bump & Tubby. At outside WR need to see what Jesse & Couch can do. Esp Couch I like what I've seen from him. Next year an outside rotation of Gray, Couch, Todd, & Stephen Guidry will be very solid IMO.
OL. What hasn't been said about the OL. No need to harp on it. They haven't been good. Something has to change & we all know what.

DEFENSE

There has been some bits & pieces of hope with the young guys. Simmons, Spencer, F. Adams, & Thomas all have flashed talent. The next step is becoming consistent playmakers. The talent is there just have to do it every down. Bringing in Pope & Autry next year along with Kobe coming off his RS. Again a lot of talent. A lot of guys with a lot of SEC offers. Time to show it.
LB a little good mostly bad. Richie just hasn't looked comfortable all year in the 3-4. Gray & Ward give you what they've got but are limited. Leo is our next stud LB. He will be even better next year. I'm excited to see Erroll Thompson next season. He looks like a 3-4 ILB & when he hits you you go down. We'll take a Juco MLB also I suspect for depth & just in case Erroll isn't ready for the f/t job. At the Star I know JT will be back but Willie Gay there's your playing time. It's waiting for you come get it. At the Viper I let Sweat & Gerri fly off the edge. It's time for Gerri to be the player we know he can be. I don't know what the issue is but he has to play like a star.
CB again not a lot to say. I think Durr has been solid. I think we have to keep Jamal there just to give a sense of home & comfort. Jamal is in position most of the time he just doesn't know what he's doing yet. A full spring & summer playing only CB I think he will be fine. Cam Dantzler will be in the rotation next year mark it down & may start. Remember I said this. I would also be putting the full court press on Keisean Nixon from Arizona Western I think he is that good.
Safeties unless Brandon Bryant play matches his physical tools we won't be as good as we can on defense. He has 1st rd talent but he has taken a huge step back so far this season. McLaurin has made some plays & missed some plays. Just has to keep getting reps. Smitherman has started getting some more playing time but too early to know what we have. Where he plays next year I think depend on how we close with the Juco Safeties & CB.

COACHING

It's no surprise I want Mullen back. I think he's the guy for the job agree or disagree that's fine. I don't see anyone else out there available that can do better than Mullen. Yes he needs to come out after the season & say this season was unacceptable & won't be tolerated. He needs to say he's 100% committed to MSU & is planning on being here for another 10yrs. After he makes that statement he needs to announce that he is letting Hev & Sallach go. Thank them for all they've done but it's time to move in another direction. If he decides to let Knox go too I can understand. As far as who would get 1st calls if it would me I'd go

TE Coach - Brad Peterson. I think Brad is a very good coach but I also think he would do a good job on the recruiting trail. He's also very smart, intense, & gets the most out of his guys. He's also not a guy who would just agree with Mullen just to agree.
OL Coach - Will Friend. Currently the OC/OL Coach at Colorado St. Will is a MS guy but he's coached in the SEC (UGA). He has experience coaching in the south but also experience helping put together an offensive game plan & he's a pretty darn good OL Coach.
RB Coach - Robert Gillespie. Currently the RB Coach at Tennessee. Again another MS guy who's coached at big time programs. Before he was at TN he coached at West Virginia, Oklahoma St, & South Carolina. He also played ball at Florida. He's a very very good recruiter & also a good RB coach.

These are just who my 1st calls would go to but I'm sure there are a lot of other talented coaches out there. Sorry for the length but I got to rambling.

I always appreciate the insight you bring to this board and value your opinion on things - it helps I usually agree with them. this is just more of what I've come to expect - great read.