SEC PREVIEW New day, new way for MSU

Mullen spreading fresh philosophy

By Tom Murphy

Posted: July 29, 2009 at 4:35 a.m.

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LITTLE ROCK — Seventh in a series previewing SEC football teams.

HOOVER, Ala. - Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen joked about his youth in the first seconds of his opening statement last week at SEC media days.

"I'm only going to answer questions through Twitter or Facebook so I can be the cutting edge young coach up here," the 37-year-old Mullen said, chuckling.

The move was a mood lightener, but it revealed a not-so subtle truth about the Mississippi State program.

In a way, Mullen's hiring dismissed the old guard in Starkville, Miss. Only modest success, and a dose of unwanted NCAA infractions scrutiny, accompanied the past 18 years of Mississippi State football under Jackie Sherrill and Sylvester Croom, both Alabama graduates.

Brash, new athletic director Greg Byrne, 37, made Mullen his first football coaching hire, signaling a nod to the newest craze in college football by snapping a sprig off the tree of Spread offense guru Urban Meyer.

Mullen tailed Meyer from Notre Dame to Bowling Green to Utah and finally Florida,where their system spawned Bowl Championship Series national championships in 2006 and 2008.

"He knows how to win, and he knows what we need to do in order to win," Bulldogs offensive tackle Derek Sherrod said.

From Croom to Mullen, the Bulldogs have switched from classic old school to cutting-edge new wave in one off-season.

"It's different," Mississippi State linebacker K.J. Wright said. "We're always known for pounding the ball, pounding the ball. But now we've got this young new coach who's going to spread it out a little bit, try to put points on the board."

Mullen echoed the thoughts of his mentor, Meyer, when he said the Spread offense is more about personnel than it is play calling.

"I don't know if we're Spreadoption, Spread passing, Spread running or just Spread," Mullen said. "To me, we're a multiple-Spread team. ... I want to make sure the defense has to defend the entire field, sideline to sideline."

That could hardly be said for the team Mullen inherited.

The Bulldogs ranked last in the SEC in scoring (15.2 points per game), 10th in total offense (274.9 yards per game) and 11th in rushing offense (100.6 ypg).

It is unrealistic to believe Mullen can transform his program into an SEC challenger overnight, particularly considering his quarterback situation is unsettled between 5-10 senior Tyson Lee, 6-3 sophomore Chris Relf and possibly even 6-4 true freshman Tyler Russell, plus the fact the Bulldogs were below average on defense in 2008, ranking 10th in the SEC (327.5 ypg).

However, Mississippi State does bring back a solid offensive line that has the most returning experience of any unit on the team, led by juniors Sherrod and J.C. Brignone, as well as one of the league's best backs in Anthony Dixon.

With 2,603 career rushing yards - which is 609 yards shy of Jerious Norwood's school record - and 30 touchdowns, Dixon already ranks as one of the best runners in school history. However, he was arrested on DUI and other charges in July and Mullen has not announced his status or any disciplinary action to this point. Dixon faces an Aug. 17 court date on the charges.

Mullen tried to infuse his enthusiasm into the Bulldogs' ranks during spring practices.

"We all feed off his energy,"Wright said. "He's an up-tempo guy. We want to feed off his intensity."

Mullen said he'll pattern his program after the one Meyer installed at Florida, and he hasn't written off a big season this fall.

"Our goal at Florida was to get to Atlanta," he said. "Then the goal was how do we win in Atlanta. That's the approach we're taking. If we follow that approach, get ourselves to Atlanta, find a way to win that game, maybe we'll have an opportunity for a bigger prize."

Pupil also will meet mentor this season when Florida visits Mississippi State on Oct. 24 in Starkville.

"It'll be a neat deal," Mullen said. "I'm going to have fun doing it. It'll be a fun challenge. Obviously I've learned so much from him."

The Bulldogs point to the work ethic established by strength and conditioning coach Matt Balis, formerly at Florida, to emphasize their off-season gains.

"I've never worked this hard before," Wright said. "Not even close."About the Bulldogs LAST YEAR 4-8, 2-6 (tied for 4th in SEC West) RETURNING STARTERS Offense 7, defense 5 SURE THING Running back UNSURE THING Quarterback OFFENSIVE MVP RB Anthony Dixon DEFENSIVE MVP K.J. Wright SEC TITLE SCENARIO It's a long shot for Coach Dan Mullen to take a perennial bottom dweller in the SEC West and turn Mississippi State into instant contender. But if the quarterback position is stabilized and productive, the offensive line gives Anthony Dixon lots of space, and the defense plays over its head, it's not out of the question for the Bulldogs to finish in the upper part of the SEC West.

2009 SCHEDULE Sept. 5 Jackson State Sept. 12 at Auburn* Sept. 19 at Vanderbilt* Sept. 26 LSU* Oct. 3 Georgia Tech Oct. 10 Houston Oct. 17 at Middle Tennessee Oct. 24 Florida* Oct. 31 at Kentucky* Nov. 14 Alabama* Nov. 21 at Arkansas* Nov. 28 Ole Miss* *SEC game

Sports, Pages 17, 22 on 07/29/2009

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