STARKVILLE — For the first time in his career, Greg Knox had to take what he called his “horse blinders” off.
In his 30-year coaching career, Knox never has had this much responsibility. He always has been a position coach — wide receivers or running backs — and sometimes has had the added titles of recruiting coordinator or special teams coordinator.
As the Mississippi State football team’s interim head coach, he’s feeling the grander calling of the job.
“I got the whole team now,” Knox said. “I’m covering academics for the whole team. I’m making sure everyone is at tutoring. I’m making sure the whole team is at study hall. I had to take the horse blinders off. (Friday) was actually good to be out there running around with the defense and the offense. I haven’t done that before. That was exciting for me.”
Friday was MSU’s first practice for the TaxSlayer Bowl. No. 24 MSU (8-4) will practice at home until it leaves Christmas Day for Jacksonville, Florida, where it will face Louisville (8-4) at 11 a.m. Dec. 30 (ESPN) at EverBank Field.
Knox said he hasn’t thought about his future, which has been cast in doubt after new MSU coach Joe Moorhead hired Charles Huff to be his running backs coach. Knox said his focus is on the current team and the senior class. That effort has been rewarded.
“When he first addressed the team, everybody bought in. Everybody loves coach Knox so far,” said MSU defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, a former standout at Noxubee County High School. “Once coach Mullen left, everything stayed the same. What we have here, the bond we have, it won’t be broken because of one guy. We’re focused on winning this bowl game.”
Said freshman running back and former Columbus High standout Kylin Hill, “It’s same old coach Knox. Nothing’s changed. He’s just trying to be the guy, do all the extra stuff. ”
Last week, while the players were in final exams and several staff members were on the road recruiting. Knox dedicated his energies to preparing for the bowl game and getting ideas about how to handle a month as a head coach.
“I’m a learner. I’m a sponge. I don’t have all the answers,” Knox said, “so I lean on my staff.”
With tight ends coach D.J. Looney and defensive line coach Brian Baker, among others, on the recruiting trail, Knox was left to talk to safeties coach Ron English, who is four years removed from a five-season stint as the head coach at Eastern Michigan. Knox said he has watched film with English in recent days and has asked him about what he will have to do as head coach.
English would have made a good candidate for the interim coach job with that experience, but Knox said his role as the special teams coordinator came up in his conversations with MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen.
“It was a point where I was the one that had the most communication with the entire team, being the special teams coach,” Knox said. “It’s a great responsibility. I’m excited about it. The players are excited about it, and it’s a great opportunity.”
Knox is still taking the traditional approach to the 12 practices prior to the bowl game. He said the first five practices will be used to develop younger players before the Bulldogs turn their attention to the Cardinals.
“I thought they came out with a lot of juice, a lot energy. We came to work today,” he said. “We were back in our element. For a week now, they’ve been in finals, so they were excited to be back on that field.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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