STARKVILLE — Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen wasn’t his usual self Monday afternoon.
Days after learning of the passing of Keith Joseph Jr., a freshman defensive lineman for the Bulldogs, and Keith Sr., a former Bulldog, Mullen spoke to the media for the first time. As each question was asked about the passing of the father and son, Mullen’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Losing a family member like that, there is nothing more devastating that is going to happen to you as a coach, a football team, or a program,” Mullen said.
The MSU athletic department will host a memorial for both Keith Jr. and Sr. 12:30 p.m. Thursday inside Humphrey Coliseum. It’s open to the public. MSU will also wear “MJ” decals on their helmets to remember Keith Jr., who was born Marshean Joseph on July 1, 1997. He was affectionately knowing as “MJ” to his Bulldog teammates. Even with all that is surrounding the Bulldog program right now, they have to move on. No. 20 MSU (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) faces its toughest challenge of the season with No. 3 Alabama (8-1, 5-1) 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon (WCBI) at Davis Wade Stadium. A moment of silence will be observed prior to kickoff.
Mullen was at the Starkville High School football game against Clinton High School Friday night when he got a call about the passing of the father and son. Mullen said Director of Player Personnel/High School Relations Rockey Felker called him and patched him through to a state trooper, Keith’s uncle, to explain that Keith Jr. and Sr. were killed in a one-car accident on their way to Pascagoula High School.
Mullen said freshman safeties Jamal Peters and Mark McLaurin dropped Keith Jr. off in Meridian and he met up with his dad.
The weekend was a sad time for the Bulldog players and many were in shock about the situation. They took to Twitter to remember their brother.
Senior quarterback Dak Prescott, a captain, was looked to.
“You have to be there for somebody and be a brother,” Prescott said. “It’s something I don’t think any of us have been through.”
Prescott lost his mother, Peggy, to cancer during the 2013 season.
Keith Jr. was redshirting this season after signing with the Bulldogs in February out of Pascagoula High School. Mullen will remember Keith Jr. as a great person.
“Keith was such a great young man,” Mullen said. “He gave unbelievable effort in everything he was doing. He was a 4.0 student. He was the scout team player of the week every week.
“He was the guy that gave everything that he had at whatever he was doing. He gave his absolute best every single day.”
Keith Sr. played linebacker for the Bulldogs from 1989-1992. He is 10th all-time at MSU with 14 sacks.
Mullen said the freshman class took it the hardest because they were the closest to Keith Jr. Mullen’s wife, Megan, had all the freshmen over to their house Sunday night.
“They are just 18-year old kids who just lost a very close friend and family member,” coach Mullen said. “To keep them together, I thought was really important. I think they really enjoyed being around each other instead of being alone.”
The Bulldogs had the weekend off after beating Missouri 31-13 Thursday night on the road.
Keith Jr. is the second player Mullen has lost way too soon. Defensive lineman Nick Bell lost his battle to cancer in 2010. Mullen said last week it was the hardest thing he ever dealt with as a coach and was something he never wanted to go through again.
For the players, they have a lot on their minds this week, but have to return to football.
“It will be emotional,” Prescott said. “It’s an emotional situation, but we can’t let it be an obstacle. We have to do as Keith would do and go hard every day in practice and get better.”
Keith Jr. and Sr. will live on with the Bulldogs this season and beyond. As for football, the players can find an escape on the practice fields and on Scott Field Saturday.
“I think for all of these young men, football is their safe place,” Mullen said. “For any problem our players are dealing with, when they step on the football field, that is when a lot of things disappear. They are getting to do what they love. I do think that for players, it is a comforting, safe place to be when dealing with this situation.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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