MSU coaches prepare to say goodbye to Stricklin

Ben Howland got a good sense about Scott Stricklin as he interviewed for an opening at Mississippi State.

Mullen wants MSU to clean things up, get healthy

STARKVILLE — After four-straight games without a break, the Mississippi State football team is getting a chance to catch its breath this week.

The Bulldogs (2-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) are in the middle of their only bye week of the season. MSU will play host to Auburn (2-2, 1-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 (SEC Network) at Davis Wade Stadium.

Stricklin expected to take Florida AD job today

Mike Nemeth was so impressed with Scott Stricklin, he hired him three times.

Starkville’s defense answers call against Callaway

STARKVILLE — Giving up three touchdowns last week was too many for Willie Gay.

The Starkville High School linebacker watched Meridian move up and down the field on his defense. It didn’t sit well with him and, as always, he took it personally.

Starkville High’s defense learning to love ‘new’ Friend

STARKVILLE — When Natrone Brooks heard Starkville High School football defensive coordinator Brooks Oakley was leaving, he didn’t know what to think.

Oakley was hired as the new Senatobia High football coach in April just as spring practice was about the start. The announcement left Starkville coach Ricky Woods needing to call an old friend. He reached out to Chuck Friend, a former Starkville High football coach, to fill the vacancy. Friend showed up and immediately earned the respect of the defense.

Thomas steps in for injured teammate Forside

FULTON — It was hard for Roger Thomas to see Kadarius Forside break his leg last week.

The Itawamba Community College football running backs are more than teammates. The cousins played football together at West Point High School. They have a bond that goes deeper than your average junior college teammates who spend at the most two years together.

Fitzgerald eager for next chance to start vs. UMass

STARKVILLE — Nick Fitzgerald watched Saturday as Damian Williams nearly led the Mississippi State football team to a fourth-quarter comeback against then-No. 20 LSU.

The sophomore starting quarterback lost his helmet before a crucial fourth-down play midway through the fourth quarter. Williams came in and led the Bulldogs to a touchdown. After an onside kick, Williams led another touchdown drive to cut the deficit to a field goal, but MSU lost 23-20.

Five Things to Watch for in Mississippi State-Massachusetts

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team will step outside of the Southeastern Conference for a game against Massachusetts (1-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (WCBI) at Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

MSU’s Harris forces issue against LSU

STARKVILLE — As Dez Harris forced two fumbles against LSU on Saturday, the Mississippi State linebacker thought about his mother.

Overcoming three knee injuries wasn’t easy for the junior. If he gave up the game and decided to focus on other things, nobody would blame him. But that’s not Harris. He’s a fighter. Even so, the recovery process wasn’t easy.

He had a great support system behind him, including his mother, Delaina.

Florida interested in hiring Stricklin

Mississippi State Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin is the lead candidate for the vacancy at Florida according to a report by FootballScoop.com.

Durr making strides at cornerback position for MSU

STARKVILLE — When Lashard Durr saw two senior cornerbacks go down, he had to grow up fast.

Mullen excited about game, trip ‘back home’

STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen will be in familiar territory Friday when he steps off the plane in Providence, Rhode Island.

The Mississippi State football coach was raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, and played tight end at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. A huge New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox fan, Mullen will take his team to his old stomping grounds this weekend when MSU (1-2) plays Massachusetts (1-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (WCBI) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Inexperience plays key role in MSU’s loss to LSU

Young.

That is how Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen described his team Saturday night after a 23-20 loss to then-No. 20 LSU at Tiger Stadium.

Fourth-quarter rally not enough for Bulldogs in Death Valley

BATON ROUGE, La. — After struggling in the first half and not taking advantage of opportunities in the third quarter, the Mississippi State football offense finally came alive.

Notebook: Graves shows versatility in loss

BATON ROUGE, La. — Westin Graves showed his versatility Saturday night.

MSU defense makes halftime adjustments in loss at LSU

BATON ROUGE, La. — Getting off the field on third down in the first half was a problem for the Mississippi State football defense.

Starkville suffers first loss against Meridian

MERIDIAN — The Starkville High School football team ran off the field with heads hung down.

Five Questions for MSU-No. 20 LSU

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs (1-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) will play their first road game of the season at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2) when they take on No. 20 LSU (1-1, 0-0) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The last time the Bulldogs played in Baton Rouge, quarterback Dak Prescott led the team to a 34-29 win. It was MSU’s first win in Baton Rouge since 1991, and the first against the Tigers since 1999.

Tiger Stadium and the Tigers haven’t been kind to the Bulldogs. LSU won 21-19 last season at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville. The Tigers are a double-digit favorite.

Starkville’s Gardner emerges as bigger threat

STARKVILLE — Cameron Gardner looks down at his phone and sees a text message from A.J. Brown.

The Starkville High School football wide receiver has received text messages from the former Starkville wide receiver before every game this season. The text messages from the Ole Miss freshman have helped boost the confidence of Gardner, who said the encouraging messages help him get his mind right before he takes the field.

Thomas has tools to be reliable weapon for Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — Jordan Thomas wasn’t going to let the linebacker get the best of him.

South Carolina linebacker D.J. Smith had a bead on the ball and had a chance to get an interception and deny MSU a touchdown.

When Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald under the football in the end zone, Thomas knew he had to make a play, so he used his big 6-foot-5, 295-pound frame to deny Smith an interception. Thomas then used his big hands to rip the ball from Smith’s grasp and score his first touchdown in a 27-14 victory last Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium.