Mississippi State Football

In the midst of the college football world wishing away the 2013 season to get to the new playoff starting in 2014, some, like Mississippi State's Dan Mullen, would have no problem getting back to the old days of college football. As ESPN's Ivan Maisel reports, Mullen wouldn't mind getting back to the day when bowls were all that mattered, national championships could be split and the end game was not a playoff.

The Bulldogs head coach has got a point, the same point that Bob Stoops made in 2012 during the BCS Meetings: Just because the fans want it and television will pay for it doesn't mean the playoff is the best thing for college football.

Mullen's simply not as sold, not nearly as gung ho, about the playoff and all that is going to come with it. From his SEC Media Days appearance when asked about the new playoff, via Georgia's Red and Black newspaper:

I want to see how it's going to affect all of college football, whether it's in a positive way or negative way. After it happens for a couple years, I'll be better equipped to answer that question.

Nothing wrong with a wait-and-see attitude, especially when you look at what Mullen, a coach who lives his life around student athletes, says about enjoying the bowl experience with his players.

Where at the bowl system, we had a bunch of seniors leave winning a championship in their last football game last year.  What a great educational tool that is for them winning the Music City Bowl.  That's their lasting memory of football...

...The tradition that goes along with it, the excitement with the fan base, when you pull up to Nashville at the Music City Bowl, there's 30,000 fans outside the stadium to meet the bus, what a neat experience that is for your players and fans.

Ultimately, that is the nexus of Mullen's point, and it is a good one. These games are for the team and its players. These games are for the team and its fans. Sure, as it stands now, the four-team event allows the bowls to remain a fixture in the marketplace.

But, with folks already calling for an expanded field and the bracket creep that looms large on the horizon, someone has to look out for the future of the sport. That includes the bowls as not just money-making entities but as celebrations of the season for individual teams and their fanbases.

The casual college football fan is not looking out for that. Television networks are not looking out for that. Media pundits, largely, are not looking out for that. No, those entities want what they want, players and coaches be damned.

It is nice to see a coach, much like Stoops did a year ago, speak to what bowls mean to him and, more importantly, to his players. More often than not, the two most influential cogs in the system, the coaches and players, do not have much of a voice in the future of the game.

Mullen makes a great point, the postseason still needs to, in many ways, be a reward to the players who do the heavy lifting. The bowl trip, the experience, the swag, the per diem and the events are the reward. Hopefully, college football does not lose that.

Oh, teammates aren't ever going to let Mississippi State quarterback Tyler Russell live this down. College is a time in most folk's lives when kids have finally grown up and can begin making decisions on their own.

Simple decisions, such as what to wear during SEC media days.

The media flocks to every head coach and player participating during the event, so Russell wasn't taking any chances on not looking sharp.

What's the best way to show up looking fresher than everyone else? Have mom pick out the outfit, which is what Russell admitted to Bob Carskadon, general manager of Bulldog Sports Radio.

Mom always knows what's best, but hopefully for Russell's sake, his teammates don't see the video.

Russell's mother was kind enough to lay the outfit on his bed, and he was smart enough to take the hint and wear it during the big day. Of course, this was only possible with Russell growing up in Meridian, Miss., which is less than a two-hour car ride to Starkville, Miss., according to MapQuest.

The road trip wasn't a big deal and it certainly paid off for the senior quarterback. Former ESPN intern Megan White caught up with Russell later in the day, and he was able to showcase the lovey suit:

Today's media covers everything from how an athlete performs on the field to what he does off the field. Yes, that includes how he looks outside of a uniform. Just ask Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade how cruel it can get when the fashion statement isn't up to par.

Russell wanted no part in making headlines for all of the wrong reasons and being considered one of the worst-dressed players during SEC media days.

Mom saves the day once again.

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We've seen all the props these recruits could ever dream of coming up with.

Picking from a hat on the table, bringing live animals to the podium or shaving the team's logo of choice in the back of their heads. It's becoming as predictable as the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

We have Elijah Staley to thank for breathing life back into the recruiting process. He decided to announce his commitment by using a...well, we'll just let him make the announcement with his creative self.

What's the bigger news here?

Is it that he decided to pick Mississippi State over schools such as Vanderbilt, Boston College and Virginia or that he created a trend that is soon to take over the 2014 recruiting class?

We are going to see recruits decommit left and right just so they can remake their announcement by using the social networking site.

A Vine! Genius!

Staley is a 3-star dual-threat quarterback according to 247Sports.com and a big addition to this Mississippi State class. Not only is he exciting to watch, but he adds depth to a position where the Bulldogs haven't had great success at over the years.

His athleticism will also lead to him playing basketball.

Staley has terrific size at 6'6", 205 pounds and is a strong, tough runner. He isn't the most polished quarterback of the class, but you can't help but love the potential.

He struggles with accuracy at times and can be a little quick to run before going through his progressions. Still, his size and athleticism could lead to positive results for the Bulldogs.

247Sports has Staley as Mississippi State's ninth commitment of the 2014 class and the first quarterback.

If Staley can help set the bar the way he did with his announcement, he will be off to a successful career.

The NCAA has released the sanctions that will be presented to Mississippi State for recruiting violations.

According to the NCAA website, penalties will include a reduction in scholarships, two years of probation, a reduced number of in-person recruiting days and a one-year show-cause order for a former assistant coach.

This all stems from a Mississippi State booster who made contact with a recruiting prospect and provided him with impermissible benefits. Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News provided exact details of those benefits:

As for the player who received them, Matthew Stevens of the Commercial Dispatch reports that he won't be getting off the hook, either.

What made things even worse in the eyes of the NCAA is that a former assistant football coach knew about the allegations and didn't choose to come forward. He then later provided false information to the NCAA when he was interviewed.

Per the NCAA report, the former assistant coach denied knowing anything about the booster's activity during the first two interviews. After he later resigned from his position is when he admitted knowledge of the situation and decided to provide the NCAA with information. That then gave the NCAA enough to cite the school for unethical conduct and come down hard with the sanctions.

The two years of probation will begin on June 7, 2013, and last until June 6, 2015.

As Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports reported, the NCAA accepted the self-imposed reduction in scholarships:

Mississippi State will lose two total scholarships, which drops the total from 85 to 83 for the 2012-13 academic year. The NCAA also accepted the self-imposed reduction in the number of official visits, which has been reduced to 39 instead of the four-year average of 41. Complimentary admissions to football recruits for the first two conference meetings of the 2013 season will be prohibited.

Other sanctions include a reduction in spring evaluation days from 168 to 164 for the 2013-14 academic year, as well as a reduction in initial scholarships from 25 to 23 for the 2013-14 academic year. The one-year show-cause prevents any booster interaction or recruiting activities for the former assistant coach.

While these sanctions are no laughing matter, things could have certainly been a lot worse.

Another day, another creative recruiting tactic revealed on the Internet. 

Only this time, it appears to be the start of a trend for one SEC program.

Marlon Humphrey, a 247Sports.com 5-star cornerback prospect from Birmingham, Ala., in the class of 2014, received a clever letter from Mississippi State:

Guess ill be going to Mississippi State soon....SWAG twitter.com/marlon_humphre…

— Marlon Humphrey (@marlon_humphrey) April 4, 2013

Believe what you're seeing. That's a hand-drawn can of "swag" complete with the catchphrase "drink of champions."

Humphrey's Twitter account doesn't specifically state whether or not the drawing came from Mississippi State's football program, but it's not like it'd be a stretch for the Bulldogs. After all, this is the same program that sent Michigan commit Michael Ferns a letter with the phrase "you're a baller" last week.

Bravo, Mississippi State, if this is your new recruiting tactic. 

It's simple, straight-forward, to the point and—in a sense—creative.

In this day and age of the social media, we know more about the day-to-day lives of potential student athletes. Making an impact to the point where your name or a picture gets floated around the Internet is a good PR move, whether it's cheesy or not.

Plus, with Humphrey, it'd be good for Mississippi State to differentiate itself a bit. The Bulldogs don't have the national titles or the prestige that other schools in the Humphrey sweepstakes, like Alabama, Florida and Florida State, have.

Go ahead and be creative and see what happens. You never know what might work.

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In this day and age of social media, prospects are giving the public a much bigger glimpse of the day-to-day events that take place.

It seems like every week a recruit is posting a pic holding 100 hand-written letters received in one day, or a specific message designed to get their attention.

Mississippi State has taken that message to the most simplistic level.

Michael Ferns, a 4-star linebacker/tight end from 247Sports.com from St. Clairsville, Ohio, posted a pic of Mississippi State's latest recruiting pitch on his Instagram and Twitter accounts—and it's spectacular.

Ummm.. Thanks Coach instagram.com/p/XmhmUZSqhs/

— Michael Ferns (@M_Ferns10) April 2, 2013

The message is simple, "You're a Baller."

That's it. Nothing more and nothing less.

Is it cheesy? Yes. Is it a shot in the dark? Probably. Is it effective? Absolutely.

Recruiting is all about making an impression, and Mississippi State certainly did with this message. Is it a positive impression? That remains to be seen, but why not take a shot? 

What's the harm? Postage? No big deal. 

Mississippi State has to know that messages like this are going to get spread all over the Internet, and no matter how it's received, people are talking about Mississippi State.

That's a win no matter what.

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It's not exactly a make or break year for Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen.

Except, well, it sort of is.

After starting the 2012 season 7-0, the Bulldogs sputtered down the stretch, losing five of their last six games culminating with a 34-20 loss to Northwestern in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl.

The program is 5-21 versus teams that finish the season with eight or more wins since 2009. Simply put, Mullen has raised the floor in Starkville but hasn't had a major impact on the ceiling. At some point that's going to have to change.

The Bulldogs kick off spring practice Thursday, and one of the top questions facing the team is the noticeable absence of an established downfield threat in the passing game.

Gone are Chad Bumphis, Arceto Clark and Chris Smith, Mississippi State's three leading receivers from the 2012 squad.

Who's going to step in?

The spring depth chart was released prior to the opening of camp and with it saw sophomore Joe Morrow and juniors Robert Johnson and Jameon Lewis atop the depth chart at the three wide receiver positions.

Have you heard of them? No?

Well that may change in the near future, because each player possesses particular skills that fit well into Mullen's scheme.

Johnson caught 17 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns a year ago and is the most experienced player of the group. The 6'1", 220-pounder has the size to be a fantastic possession receiver but the speed to keep opposing cornerbacks honest.

Lewis is one of those guys that you don't want to get too close to as a defensive back, because he's quick enough to scoot right by. The 5'9", 185-pounder burst onto the scene with four catches for 113 yards and a touchdown in Mississippi State's opener versus Memphis in 2011 but has been MIA since.

Mullen likes to get the ball in the hands of playmakers in space and Lewis absolutely can be one of those playmakers—think "Percy Harvin Light."

Morrow is another guy that can really make an impact in Mullen's offense. At 6'4", 210 pounds, Morrow has the ability to out-jump most opposing defensive backs. He was one of the stars of spring last year but didn't see the field that much in the fall.

Behind the talented trio of presumed starters is a loaded group of wide receivers that's only going to swell this summer. 

Junior college transfer Jeremy Chappelle enrolled early and will be joined in the battle for playing time by Michael Carr. Five or possibly even six more wide receivers are on their way this summer, which means that spring is the time to shine for players looking to make a positive impression on the coaching staff.

It should be an interesting spring in Starkville and watching how the wide receivers sort themselves out will be a big reason why.

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Recruiting deregulation is already one of the hot-button topics of the offseason, and battle lines have already been drawn.

Programs like Auburn and Alabama have already begun hiring high-profile college and high school coaches into "front office" positions. The intention is to hit the ground running when the new rules take effect in the summer, which will allow unlimited contact for coaches and support staff.

Meanwhile, the Big Ten has taken exception along with several other coaches and athletic directors, including Georgia's Greg McGarity.

Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen lands somewhere in the middle in the fight over recruiting deregulation and has his own thoughts on how to limit the impact.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mullen thinks that adding a four-week "dead period" in the summer with no contact would be a good way to minimize the impact of the unlimited contact rule. 

I don’t want to want to sound like a non-worker, but everybody worries about these new rules, and how you will be working 24 hours per day. They want to know where is your down time? If they want a time for where coaches have to shut it down, then you designate four weeks in the summer where you’re completely off. You can do no recruiting during those four weeks, and you’ve eliminated the problem for all coaches.

Mullen went on to add some specifics to his proposal, which would allow teams to designate which four weeks they'd use as their "dead period."

Currently, we have eight weeks where we’re not allowed to do anything with our (current) players. You can do that for coaches with recruiting, too. You would let the schools pick their four weeks because schools get out earlier in the South than they do up North. Schools up North, they would need later recruiting times to do camps and summer visits. You can pick your four weeks, and move from there. So for four weeks, you can’t do anything during the summer. 

Four weeks is a long time, especially in the summer when players are attending camps across the country. The length of time may need to be tweaked, but Mullen's goal is something that I can absolutely hop on board with.

The new recruiting rules will certainly separate the "haves" from the "have nots," not only from across the country, but within each individual conference—including the SEC.

In theory, allowing for unlimited contact will go a long way toward paring down the NCAA's rule book. However, it also runs the risk of creating a "Wild, Wild West" atmosphere, which is something that can't be sustained.

That's what makes Mullen's idea so intriguing.

He says that he loves the unlimited contact rule, but cutting down on the time periods in which it is allowed would limit that atmosphere and the gap between the programs with differing recruiting budgets.

It's also clear that he's concerned about the perception that comes along with opposing the new legislation.

I love how NCAA deregulated recruiting. College coaches complaining are scared of getting outworked or out-spent

— Michael Carvell (@RecruitingAJC) February 25, 2013

Mullen doesn't fall into that category.

Sure, Mississippi State isn't going to be able to compete with the big boys in the SEC on the bottom line; but Mullen's idea suggests that he's interested in tweaking the rules to make them better, and not concerned about being outworked.

I like that.

The idea could use a little adjustment, because four weeks may be two too many. However, while the NCAA is interested in deregulating its recruiting rules, some structure needs to remain in place.

A summer "dead period" for unlimited contact may be an interesting method to provide that structure.

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