MSU RB Griffin medically cleared to play vs. La. Tech

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State redshirt freshman tailback Nick Griffin could get see his first action Saturday.

MSU coach Dan Mullen confirmed Monday afternoon in his weekly press conference that the redshirt freshman has been medically cleared to play and will be active for the team’s game at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU) against Louisiana Tech (1-2).

Attitude adjustment at MSU

STARKVILLE — After the Mississippi State football team fell inches shy of getting a chance to beat the defending national champions in the second week of the 2011 season, head coach Dan Mullen admitted he received a lot of “hate mail” from fans.

Chamberlain leads Noxubee County past West Point

MACON — The week before one of the biggest rival games on his team’s schedule, Noxubee County High School football coach Tyrone Shorter decided to try somebody new at quarterback.

MSU loses offensive lineman Smith for season

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State junior right guard Tobias Smith will miss the remainder of the 2011 football season after injuring his left knee Thursday night in a 19-6 loss to No. 3 LSU at Davis Wade Stadium.

‘We got our butts kicked’: No. 3 LSU dominates No. 25 MSU

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team’s home opener and likely its Southeastern Conference Western Division title hopes were spoiled Thursday night after another deflating loss to LSU.

On a night where points were at a premium, No. 3 LSU physically took away everything No. 25 MSU wanted to accomplish in a 19-6 victory before a crowd of 56,924 at Davis Wade Stadium.

LSU’s Lee carves up MSU’s defense

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State defensive coordinator Chris Wilson entered Thursday night with a mission to make LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee win the football game.

The Tigers’ senior quarterback did just that in a 19-6 victory, connecting on 21 of 27 passes for 213 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown that sealed the win.

Russell takes over for Relf in fourth quarter

STARKVILLE — For the final 10 minutes Thursday, Mississippi State starting quarterback Chris Relf stood on the sidelines with headphones on watching his backup finish the job.

MSU coach Dan Mullen went to sophomore quarterback Tyler Russell with 10 minutes, 8 seconds left in the contest and his team trailing 16-6 hoping for what he called “an offensive spark.”

SEC showdown: No. 3 LSU takes on No. 25 Mississippi State

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LSU relies on Chavis’ stingy defense

STARKVILLE — The players come and go, but the constant on defense for the LSU football team is John Chavis.

Despite philosophical changes on offense that have led to spread schemes and teams running more plays and scoring more points, LSU’s defensive coordinator has relied on the same approach for more than 20 years in the Southeastern Conference.

MSU must change for LSU QB Lee

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football coached divided scouting reports of Southeastern Conference teams in the spring and summer.

Days before the start of the 2011 season, the offensive report for LSU was in the trash can.

Stricklin asks for mid-season form with cowbells

STARKVILLE — For the first time this season, Mississippi State football fans will be allowed to bring cowbells into Davis Wade Stadium and to use them when No. 25 MSU plays host to No. 3 LSU at 7 p.m. Thursday (ESPN).

MSU defense will try to rebound

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State offensive coordinator Les Koenning sent out a tweet Sunday night following the Bulldogs first loss.

“Film doesn’t lie,” Koenning tweeted.

The “film” Koenning is referring to is the game tape from MSU’s 41-34 loss to Auburn on Saturday in which quarterback Chris Relf was stopped at the goal line in the waning seconds.

Carmon day to day; Saulsberry likely to play vs. LSU

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen said Monday he expects senior center Quentin Saulsberry to play against No. 3 LSU at 7 p.m. Thursday (ESPN), but senior left tackle James Carmon is “day-to-day” with a left knee injury.

Mullen said Sunday both players’ injuries didn’t require surgery but weren’t available to practice Sunday night. Saulsberry left the Bulldogs’ 41-34 loss to Auburn University on Saturday with what Mullen said was a knee sprain.

Mullen says Bulldogs would have went for two-point conversion

AUBURN, Ala.– When Mississippi State’s 11 players lined up Saturday at the Auburn University 2-yard-line with 10 seconds remaining in the game, they knew a tie wasn’t in their future.

Denied: MSU comes up an inch short at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. — For the third straight season, Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen will leave a game against Auburn University with a 0-1 record in the Southeastern Conference.

SEC backs officials’ call on Auburn first down

AUBURN, Ala. — Mississippi State senior defensive back Charles Mitchell was standing right next to the football and was convinced his team has stopped Auburn University on fourth down.

MSU has statement game at Auburn

STARKVILLE — Embrace the moment.

This is the attitude Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen wants to convey to his players in arguably his team’s most important Southeastern Conference game since he took the job in Starkville

MSU, Auburn have dynamic duos at running back

STARKVILLE — The Auburn and Mississippi State defenses see rushing games that have speed and power every day.

Mullen: Coaching rumors mean Bulldogs are winning

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen can barely get out of the month of August without rumors of his imminent departure from Starkville.

Mullen, who is 15-11 at MSU, addressed rumors as a guest on Garry Parrish’s ESPN Radio show in Memphis that he likely will leave MSU after another successful season.

Auburn wants to get physical with MSU

STARKVILLE — Auburn University football coach Gene Chizik left Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday feeling Utah State pushed his bigger team around in the season opener for both teams.