Since Dan Mullen's first year in Starkville in 2009, he has worked feverishly to create a winning culture for the Bulldogs...
Mississippi State Football: Disassociation from Booster a Bad Sign for Bulldogs
Aug 29, 2012
Last week, it was revealed that the NCAA is investigating Mississippi State for what was termed by the school as potential "recruiting irregularities."
On Tuesday, more information came out that should be concerning to Mississippi State fans.
Brandon Marcello of the The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledgerreported that the university has disassociated itself from an unnamed booster for what is being termed as "impermissible contact."
The booster refused several requests by the Mississippi State compliance department to interview with the NCAA, according to a letter dated July 13.
Also on Tuesday, it was reported by Kyle Veazey of the Memphis Commercial Appealthat offensive lineman Brandon Hill—who committed to Alabama but did not qualify—interviewed with the NCAA last spring. The NCAA is planning on meeting with Georgia cornerback Sheldon Dawson.
The subject for both meetings appears to be Mississippi State, according to Veazey.
This comes on the heels of a report from Matt Stevens of The (Columbus, Miss.) Dispatchthat part of the NCAA inquiry centers around a car that was possibly purchased for current Bulldog defensive back Will Redmond.
The combination of a confirmed NCAA investigation, a booster being disassociated and confirmed interviews in the past and future is a bad sign for Bulldog fans.
It's clear that the NCAA is digging into the city of Memphis, which would likely create a situation that impacts individuals more than institutions—similar to the agent-related issues that plagued college football prior to the 2010 season.
But now it appears that Mississippi State is more of a target than initially thought. The school has indicated that it is working with the NCAA in this matter, and the news that it disassociated a booster earlier this summer is an indication of that.
It's also an indication that this is a relatively serious matter.
Mississippi State Football: Report Alleges NCAA Investigation Involves a Car
Aug 24, 2012
News broke Thursday that the NCAA was investigating "recruiting irregularities" at Mississippi State after ESPN.com's Joe Schad tweeted that the resignation of former Bulldog wide receivers coach Angelo Mirando stems from an ongoing investigation.
Now, we may know what that irregularity is.
According to Matt Stevens of the Columbus (Miss.) Dispatch, part of the investigation revolves around a Ford Mustang purchased for current Bulldog defensive back Will Redmond shortly before he signed with Mississippi State.
That would certainly qualify as an irregularity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEMOA88HGEo
Mississippi State and the NCAA have both confirmed the existence of the investigation and that the university is working in cooperation with the NCAA. That didn't stop Bulldog head coach Dan Mullen from questioning the report, according to the Dispatch.
"I would try to get a little more reliable source than Joe Schad," Mullen said. "I'm supposed to be coaching at State College, I guess, right now, too, according to Joe Schad last year. Wasn't that the case?"
According to the report, the automobile was purchased in Redmond's hometown of Memphis, Tenn., a city that has been the subject of some concern lately.
Auburn signee and Memphis native Jovon Robinson was ruled as a non-qualifier by the NCAA after Kyle Veazey of the Memphis Commercial Appealrevealed that a guidance counselor falsified his transcript. Veazey also reported that the city of Memphis is on the NCAA's radar.
Veazey reports that the NCAA has spoken to Byron De'Vinner, the 7-on-7 coach for Redmond and Robinson. De'Vinner plans on clearing his name and clearing the air regarding the investigation, according to Stevens:
In a text message to media, Byron De'Vinner says he will hold a media conference today or Sat. to "clear my name......"
I have enjoyed my time at Mississippi State as a graduate assistant and as an assistant coach. I have made friends that will last a lifetime; however, due to unforeseen personal issues, I believe it is in my best interest to resign from Mississippi State. I want to stress that these issues are personal. I look forward to pursuing other opportunities in the future. Finally, I want to thank my friend and mentor Dan Mullen for giving me this chance.
An inquiry by the NCAA would certainly qualify as an issue.
Mirando graduated from Case-Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio in 2008 and joined the Florida staff as a graduate assistant.
He took a similar role with the Bulldogs when Dan Mullen was named head coach prior to the 2009 season, and was elevated to wide receivers coach before Mississippi State's 52-14 win over Michigan in the 2011 Gator Bowl following the 2010 season.
The Jackson Clarion-Ledgerreports that former Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster will join the Bulldogs staff as wide receivers coach following Mirando's departure.
Mississippi State Football: Davis Wade Stadium Set for Expansion and Renovation
Aug 15, 2012
Davis Wade Stadium is getting a face lift.
Mississippi State announced on Wednesday that the home of the Bulldogs will undergo a $75 million renovation and expansion. Construction is slated to be complete in time for the 2014 season, which is the 100th anniversary of the stadium.
The project will enclose the north end zone and add 8,815 seats, bringing the capacity to 61,337. The addition will include 7,076 grandstand seats, 1,155 Scoreboard Club seats, 236 loge seats, 22 traditional suites and 60 field-level suite seats.
Underneath the addition will be a private club exclusively for season ticket holders who buy a membership and the visiting locker room.
The previous locker room for visitors will be renovated and become Mississippi State's game-day recruiting center.
The renderings of the expanded north end zone look sharp. A new high definition scoreboard will sit atop the standard suites and the club area underneath the addition resembles the field-level club that exists at the $1.3 billion Cowboys Stadium.
Currently, the north end zone of Davis Wade Stadium is not fully enclosed and consists of bleacher seating.
The project will also add a new concourse to the west side of the stadium.
Click here to see the full press conference from Mississippi State, and click here to see a photo gallery with renderings of the expansion.
Mississippi State Football: Meet Chris Wilson, DC of the Bulldogs
Aug 13, 2012
Every Monday, The SEC Blog will feature an assistant coach in the SEC. This week, we take a look at Mississippi State defensive coordinator Chris Wilson.
When Chris Wilson was elevated from co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach to defensive coordinator prior to the 2011 season, he had some big shoes to fill.
Manny Diaz had just led the Bulldogs to the SEC's third-best scoring defense (19.8 points per game) and fourth-best rushing defense (119.08 yards per game) and parlayed his one year as Mississippi State's defensive coordinator into the same role on the staff at the University of Texas.
No pressure.
Wilson came through in his first true season as defensive coordinator, when the Bulldogs improved upon their scoring defense by one-tenth of a point to finish fourth in the SEC.
Not a bad debut.
Wilson is a 19-year coaching veteran who spent the entire decade of the 2000s as a position coach in the Big 12, including stops at Colorado (2000-04) and Oklahoma (2005-09). Wilson graduated from Oklahoma in 1992.
He has plenty of pieces to work with in 2012, particularly in the secondary. Johnthan Banks and Corey Broomfield are perhaps the most underrated cornerback tandem in the country, linebacker Cameron Lawrence returns as the SEC's leading returning tackler, and Denico Autry joins Josh Boyd on a defensive line that is strong despite the loss of Fletcher Cox to the NFL.
Wilson did a good job in 2011 in the rough-and-tumble SEC West. If he can repeat the feat in 2012, he will be well on his way to being considered one of the SEC's best defensive coordinators.
Mississippi State Football: Dan Mullen Nearly Storms out of Press Conference
Aug 3, 2012
Fall practice just started around the south, and we've already had a coach blow up on the media.
Speaking with reporters on the first day of fall camp, Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen refused to discuss injuries citing university policy, according to Brandon Marcello of the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger.
Mullen was asked about the status of guard Tobias Smith (knee) and safety Nickoe Whitley (Achilles), both of whom had offseason surgery.
Apparently, that rubbed him the wrong way.
Mullen abruptly got up from his chair (1:25 mark), thanked the media for coming and said that he was too busy to deal with this considering that everyone in the room "knows the policy," even though he has commented on injuries in the past—even as recently as at SEC Media Days.
Coaching is a stressful business, but if you're going to institute (or adhere to) specific policies that haven't been paid as much attention to in the past, it's only fair to make that known beforehand before storming off.
The football season doesn't kick off for another month, but things are already heated in Starkville.
Mississippi State Football: Bulldogs Unveil Slick New Uniforms
Jul 26, 2012
The summer of 2012 could be considered the "Year of Uniform Change."
Mississippi State hopped on the bandwagon on Thursday, when the Bulldogs unveiled their updated uniforms (via hailstate.com) for the 2012 season.
The updated uniforms, which are designed by Adidas and include TECHFIT technology, feature home maroon and road white jerseys and pants, with an additional third option of silver pants.
The jerseys have large stripes down the shoulders and arms, and a larger Mississippi State logo across the chest.
The most noticeable difference in the design is the large stripe down the middle of the helmet.
Mississippi State has had stripes on its helmets in the past, most recently on alternate helmets. This particular stripe is thicker than ones in recent years, and provides continuity for the stripes on the pants and jerseys.
They're not very unique. In fact, the updates look similar to the ones that Texas A&M unveiled last month which, not coincidentally, are also designed by Adidas.
But that's okay.
The subtle changes are a nice update to the Mississippi State uniform. Nothing flashy or overly distinctive, but a classy, updated look.
It's an updated look that doesn't make Mississippi State look like an XFL or Arena League team. That should always be the goal of any uniform update.
Mississippi State Football: My Interview with Johnthan Banks
Jul 13, 2012
Johnthan Banks may be the best cornerback available come April 2013 and the NFL draft.
This may seem like lofty praise, but Banks has earned the right to be involved in discussion surrounding the best players in the SEC and all of college football.
Rewind back to December 2011, and Bucky Brooks of NFL.com considered him a better prospect in the secondary than Janoris Jenkins and Mark Barron.
Barron went seventh overall and Jenkins went 39th overall in the 2012 NFL draft.
NFLDRAFTSCOUT.com rates the 6'2", 185-lb Banks as the best senior cornerback in America.
It was somewhat surprising to see Banks, a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe award, fail to follow teammate Fletcher Cox into the NFL last year.
Banks is still a bit of an unknown because of the other talented cornerbacks in the SEC like Tyrann Mathieu. But his play during the last three years should give people reason to believe he could end up being a first-round pick next year.
Constantly lined up against great receiving threats like Reuben Randle and Alshon Jeffery, Banks always showed up well.
Banks was happy to agree to a small interview with me. I hope you find it interesting.
Colan Lamont: What made you decide to return for your senior season?
Johnthan Banks: I came back to continue my development as a player and a person. I've always wanted to play football here, and I love the university, my coaches and teammates. I would love to play football for as long as I can, and my career goal of becoming a State Highway patrolman following my football career will be helped by getting my degree before I leave.
CL: You met with the NFL Draft Advisory Board. What did you think of their opinion on your draft status?
JB: I was humbled that they gave me the draft status they did. I feel very blessed that all of the work I put in at Mississippi State has been noticed. It's also been noticed because of the great players around me, Coach Smith and the entire program supporting my dreams.
CL: Do you see yourself as an elite prospect like other SEC cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Stephon Gilmore?
JB: I see myself as Johnthan Banks. I don't like to compare myself to other corners because we're all different as players. I like to think there's only one Johnthan Banks, and I'm just going to be the best player that I can be.
CL: Do you think that playing in the SEC makes you a more prepared player for the next level because of the talent level?
JB: The SEC has definitely prepared me for the next level because of the level of talent that is in this league. Just look at all the NFL players that are from the SEC. Look at all the draft picks from 2012 alone. This year I'll be going up against more future NFL wide receivers, so the league is definitely a preview of what's to come at the next level.
CL: What have you been working on during the offseason?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qw0GN4lrKc
JB: One thing I tried to work on was my leadership skills. Being a leader is hard, and it takes a lot. You have to be great all the time and you can't make mistakes. You got to lead by example, and that is the main thing I've tried to work on, be a main leader for the team.
CL: You have a knack for getting to the quarterback. Do you enjoy being given that freedom?
JB: I love the trust that the coaching staff puts in me when they call blitzes. We have a great defensive line year in and year out, and that combined with the defensive schemes makes it easy for me to get in the backfield when called upon.
CL: You are a really fast player. What is your current 40-yard dash time?
JB: I've never actually asked for my 40-yard dash time because that and game speed are two totally different things. I've gone up against guys with 4.3 speed and I've more than held my own, so times aren't really important to me. It's what you do in game situations.
CL: Do you enjoy man coverage or press the most?
JB: I really enjoy whatever coverage is going to help us win games. I want this team to be one of the top teams in the country, so I am going to keep working hard in whatever coverage is called.
CL: Which current/former NFL player do you admire most and why?
JB: Probably former Bulldog Fred Smoot. We talk a lot and have gotten close and he helped me out with the whole draft process last year. Just to hear him talk gives me motivation and he gives me tips and stuff. He is like one of us. He ain't gonna sugarcoat nothing, and if you are playing sorry he is going to tell you, and he is going to tell you when you need to work on something. He won't sugarcoat nothing, and I appreciate him for that. I could shoot him a text right now and he will have some good motivation for me.
CL: Favorite NFL team?
JB: I'm so busy with getting my degree, raising a child and focusing on the team here that I don't actually have a lot of time to watch the NFL. Because of that, I don't really have a favorite NFL team.
CL: What do you consider to be your best performance for Mississippi State?
JB: People will always remember my game against Florida where I had two interceptions returned for scores, so that's one of my favorite memories. But we've won a lot of big games here during my time, so I can't really pick a single game.
CL: Is there any game that stands out to to as your worst performance?
JB: The best trait a corner can have is having a short memory and moving on to the next play, so I can't remember a worst performance.
CL: Which opponent do you enjoy facing the most?
JB: I enjoy facing any team in the SEC just because I know it's going to be a war once we get on the field with them. The NFL-caliber talent is so high in this league that every Saturday just pushes you to the next level. The Egg Bowl is always fun, but so is going up against a top team in the country like Alabama, LSU or Arkansas.
CL: You have played safety before. Did that enhance your cornerback skills in any way?
JB: Playing safety really helped me because once I moved to corner I had a clear understanding of what the guys behind me were doing. That allowed me to mentally play faster, which led to better play from me.
CL: How much do you expect the defense to improve next season? Can you replace Fletcher Cox?
JB: We have a lot of athletes in the secondary—myself, Slay, Broom, Jamerson Love, Taveze Calhoun, Nickoe (Whitley). I can't name all of them, but we are deep in the secondary and we have a lot of athletes back there. That is something we haven't had in the past, and we have a lot of depth. I can remember playing Arkansas here a couple of years ago and I played 90-something snaps in that one game. Now that we have Love and Calhoun and guys like that, that is going to make our team that much better. I am not trying to brag, but I am going to be shocked if we are not the No. 1 secondary in the country.
CL: Do you have any personal goals that you have set?
JB: Breaking the school's interception record. I am looking forward to breaking that record, and if I don't I am going to be pretty disappointed. If I don't break, I hope I at least move up to second place. That way I won't feel too bad being behind a guy (Walt Harris) that played in the NFL like 15 years.
CL: What are your expectations for the team?
JB: Just win, baby. Just win.
Thanks to Johnthan for his great responses and to Joe Galbraith and Kyle Niblett for setting up the interview.
All quotes were obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted.
Johnthan Banks Is the SEC's Best Defensive Back, Not Tyrann Mathieu
Jul 12, 2012
The SEC lost many of its premier defensive backs to the NFL this offseason. Notable names such as LSU’s Morris Claiborne, Alabama’s Mark Barron and Dre Kirkpatrick, South Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore, Vanderbilt’s Casey Hayward and Georgia’s Brandon Boykin will all be playing on Sundays in 2012.
Remember, though, this is the most talent-stocked conference in college football that we’re talking about. No matter how many great players the league may send off to the pros every year, there are always new young potential stars who are waiting to make a name for themselves.
This season, the SEC should once again feature some of the best defensive backs in college football. However, there’s one player in particular that will receive the most amount of praise and publicity this summer, and that’s LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu.
No other defensive player in college football garnered the type of attention and recognition that Mathieu did in 2011, as he became one of the biggest breakout performers of year. The tiny yet tenacious 5’9’’, 175-pound junior quickly rose to national prominence after taking over the starting cornerback role from his former mentor Patrick Peterson.
Throughout the course of the 2011 season, Mathieu proved to be a true difference maker for the supremely stacked LSU defense. He displayed an outstanding nose for the football, as he racked up 76 tackles, two interceptions, nine pass break-ups, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 1.5 sacks.
When Mathieu was labeled with the nickname the “Honey Badger” for his persistent playing style, the moniker instantly went viral. His popularity quickly skyrocketed, and by the midpoint of the season, he became one of the most talked about players in all of college football.
By the end of the season, many fans and media members had gotten swept up in the Honey Badger hype.
For his efforts, Mathieu was rewarded with basically every possible honor you could think of, including the Bednarik Award, first-team All-American honors and a trip to New York City as a Heisman finalist.
Now, Mathieu will enter the 2012 season as one of the most decorated defenders in all of college football.
After a poor no-show performance against Alabama in the BCS championship game, however, it’s now fair to wonder if Mathieu is really the elite player that many have made him out to be.
Mathieu may be fun to watch, and he’s certainly shown that he has a knack for making momentum-changing plays. Still, as far as pure talent and skills are concerned, you could make the argument that not only is the Honey Badger not the best defensive player in college football—he’s not even the best defensive player on his own team.
Defensive Ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery and safety Eric Reid all played just as big of a role in LSU’s defensive success in 2011, and if they decide to declare for the 2013 NFL draft as expected, all three will most likely hear their names called before Mathieu will.
It may be easy to get caught up in the Honey Badger hype like so many others have, but if you’re truly looking for the best defensive back in the SEC, you don’t have to go to Baton Rouge to find him. Instead, you better head down to Starkville, because that's where Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks is prepping for a showcase senior season in 2012.
Since the Bulldogs didn’t receive anywhere near the same kind of national attention as LSU did during its undefeated run through the regular season last year, Banks never had the chance to flaunt his talents for the entire college football world to see like Mathieu did.
Even though he didn’t have the spotlight shining on him, and even though he wasn’t competing on the national stage week after week like Mathieu was—the 6’2’’, 185-pound senior still had an outstanding 2011 campaign, as he racked up 71 tackles, three sacks, five interceptions and nine pass break-ups.
Banks is the type of big, athletic and intelligent corner who has the ball-skills and coverage ability that is sure to make NFL scouts salivate, which is why he flirted with entering his name in the 2012 draft just like his former teammate DT Fletcher Cox did.
Cox was taken with 12th overall selection this year, and Banks may just end up as a top-15 pick as well in 2013 if he can have the type of final performance that he’s capable of.
Mathieu, on the other hand, will probably have a tough time living up to sky-high expectations, because the fact is, he just doesn’t possess the skills to be an elite cornerback. It would hardly be surprising if Mathieu’s own teammate, safety Eric Reid, who like Banks could also develop into a top-15 NFL draft pick in 2013, ends up overshadowing and outperforming him this season.
Last year, the Honey Badger clearly benefited from the college football snowball effect, which is something we’ve seen happen to plenty of players in recent years. After putting together a couple of great performances in a row early in the season, everyone wanted to jump on Mathieu’s bandwagon and praise him. However, soon enough, the hype got out of hand.
It’s hardly the first time it’s happened. Just ask Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson.
You certainly can’t take anything away from what Tyrann Mathieu accomplished last season, but the book has closed on 2011, and the focus has now shifted to the upcoming 2012 season.
In today’s sports world, it’s all about what you have done for me lately.
While the LSU corner may begin the year as the SEC’s most talked-about cover man, it won’t take long for Banks to ultimately rise up and unseat him.
Mathieu and Banks are both special talents, but there’s no argument to be had about who the better overall player is.
Johnthan Banks will without a doubt be the SEC’s best defensive back in 2012.
