STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen pulled a fast one on everybody willing to listen.
Less than 30 minutes after MSU lost to No. 3 Arkansas 44-17 last week, the third-year coach didn’t want to take questions on the quarterback issue because he was willing to hand over the answer: Tyler Russell was starting the 2011 Egg Bowl.
Turns out his classic needling of the University of Mississippi had started early because he had handed the opposition incorrect information. That became apparent minutes before kickoff when it was announced senior Chris Relf would make his eighth start of the season, and 21st of his college career.
“We got back (from Arkansas) and I thought about it,” Mullen said. “We wanted to start as many seniors as we could today and fully planned to rotate those guys.”
It just so happened Relf, who had made only one start in the past five games, took every snap in the first three quarters.
“Chris was really playing well and we were moving the ball really well,” Mullen said when asked why he didn’t rotate quarterbacks.
Relf tied former MSU quarterback Kevin Fant for seventh all-time in program history in touchdowns with 36. In his past three Egg Bowl matchups, Relf is 3-0 with 664 total yards (401 passing, 263 rushing) and eight touchdowns.
“I always feel the same no matter how it is, but it’s all about execution,” Relf said. “It means a lot to play well in this game. Beating them three times in a row just feels good.”
With one final game left in his career, the question now is will Relf get the nod in whatever bowl game MSU is selected to participate in. When asked after the victory Saturday night, Relf made his plea to start.
“I want it and I like to play ball, no doubt man,” Relf said. “Whatever my role is, that’s what I’ll be focused about doing.”
Music City Bowl likely destination for MSU
The combination of the University of Tennessee’s 10-7 loss at the University of Kentucky and MSU’s 31-3 victory against the University of Mississippi on Saturday likely means the Bulldogs will play in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn.
With the Southeastern Conference unable to fill its eight bowl slots, MSU likely will move up one selection and will move one step closer to its first appearance in that bowl, which will be at 5:45 p.m. Dec. 30 (ESPN) at the home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin refused to speculate about which bowl the football program would be invited to, but he said fan will be able to reserve tickets starting Saturday night.
“All I know is we’re going to go somewhere,” Stricklin said. “That’s all I care about.”
Brett McMurphy, CBS Sports national football writer, tweeted a report Saturday afternoon after the Tennessee loss that the Liberty Bowl likely will take a school from the Big East Conference.
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