STARKVILLE — Like many coaches, Dan Mullen was excited to talk to the media at Southeastern Conference Media Days earlier this month.
Staring at more than 100 media members, the Mississippi State football coach ended his opening statement by saying, “Some of the best times of the year is Saturdays down south in the fall. There’s nothing like it.”
Many college football fans agree. For some, the build up is just as exciting as the games.
Entering a new era without quarterback Dak Prescott and a new defensive coaching staff, Mullen is confident.
“I’m excited about this year’s team,” Mullen said. “Guys have been working hard. The attitude of our team, the expectations of the guys within our program, they expect to win football games, and they expect to do it by work ethic every single day and showing up and trying to outwork everybody.”
Mullen will get his first look at his squad Monday. MSU will practice for the first time at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday. Practice is closed to the general public. MSU will open the season 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 (SEC Network), at home against South Alabama.
MSU is coming off a 9-4 season and a fifth-place finish in the SEC Western Division. MSU beat North Carolina State in the Belk Bowl. The Bulldogs have been to a school-record six-straight bowl games. The only time MSU didn’t go bowling under Mullen was his first season in 2009, when it fell one win shy of becoming postseason eligible.
Mullen has led the program to uncharted territory, especially in the last two seasons. MSU finished 10-3 and was ranked No. 1 for five-straight weeks in 2014. Back-to-back nine-win seasons is something Mullen takes pride in.
“I said eight years ago that we wanted to change the expectations of Mississippi State football,” Mullen said. “I think we’ve been able to do that. Our players have bought in and we’ve been able to do that.”
It hasn’t always been easy for Mullen, though. After bowl wins in 2010 and 2011, MSU finished 8-5 in 2012 and lost to Northwestern in the Gator Bowl. The 2013 season saw a lot of turnover, and November tested Mullen. Sitting at 4-6 with two games to go, MSU beat Arkansas and Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl to become bowl eligible. MSU beat Rice in the Liberty Bowl to finish 7-6. That was the starting point for the 2014 team that started 9-0.
Mullen hopes the win in the Belk Bowl will help do the same.
“Any time you can win that last game in the bowl game, it leaves a great taste in your mouth,” Mullen said. “Now it’s nine months before they get to have the opportunity to go feel that again. That’s a tremendous motivator for them.”
The 2016 team faces plenty of turnover and questions, including who will be its starting quarterback. The next month will be about answering those questions and finding new faces to step up into some big roles. But as Mullen pointed out, he’s excited.
“I think our teams had a fantastic attitude all spring long and summer. Hopefully that will lead into the fall,” Mullen said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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