STARKVILLE — There’s a chip on John Cohen’s shoulder.
In fact, there’s a chip on the shoulders of all of the Bulldogs after a disappointing 2015 season that saw MSU finish 24-30 and last in the Southeastern Conference (8-22).
Two years removed from a runner-up finish at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, big things were expected last season but failed to materialize. No. 20 MSU will try to put those lessons to use starting at 4:30 p.m. today (SEC Network +) when it plays host to Florida Atlantic at Dudy Noble Field.
“Every one of our returning guys talks about what they went through a year ago and how disappointing it was to them,” said Cohen, who is in his eighth season as coach at his alma mater. “I feel like they have a lot to prove. I am excited about seeing how they do it on the field.”
MSU won its first 13 games last season, but a 3-2 midweek loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on March 3 signaled a turning point that eventually saw it get swept three times in conference play. MSU’s only conference series win came against South Carolina at home. The Bulldogs had several chances to win SEC games, but it couldn’t hold leads in losses to LSU and Ole Miss that depleted the team’s spirit.
Junior center fielder Jacob Robson said the chip on the team’s shoulder is in everything the players have done to prepare for this season.
“It is a big deal to us,” Robson said. “Last year, we experienced a lot of failure, and I think it helped us grow as a team. One of the most important things to do in baseball is to learn how to deal with adversity. I think last year that was our biggest problem. We did not really know how to deal with it (adversity).”
Many see last season as a blessing because they feel the experience taught them valuable lessons they hope to use this season.
“Nobody goes through life without adversity, especially in baseball,” junior right-hander Austin Sexton said. “It has made us who we are as a team.”
Expectations for the 2016 season are high despite last season’s struggles. The Bulldogs are ranked in all six major polls, including as high as No. 11 by Collegiate Baseball. The expectations aren’t new, but Robson said the players want even more from each other and will try to hold themselves to a higher standard.
All of the veterans agree things got away from them last year. They don’t plan on letting it happen this year.
“Our offseason prep has been intense and we have worked really hard,” junior right-handed pitcher Zac Houston said. “We are ready to show what we have done.”
MSU hopes to receive contributions from freshmen and junior college transfers. Many of the returning players had good summers and improved their skills. When the team returned to Starkville in the fall, it was ready to tackle the challenge of getting over last season. Robson said they coaches have done a good job of keeping them focused.
“The key is to maintain confidence and continue to work hard,” Robson said. “The coaches have created a process for us to work along and we have to trust it. Everything from drill work to the weight room, it is all meant to get us to Omaha. We have to trust that process the coaches created.”
Many players have said they have felt something different in this preseason compared to the 2015 preseason, which is part of the reason they are eager to get started. Getting MSU back in the mix in the SEC and into the NCAA tournament are top goals for this team.
“I think our kids are excited,” Cohen said. “They are motivated and I think they have a bit of a chip on their shoulders. I think they are ready to play against somebody besides themselves.”
n MSU didn’t have any players picked to the All-SEC preseason team, which featured a first and second team.
The Bulldogs were picked to finish fourth in the SEC Western Division and received one first-place vote by the league’s coaches. Ole Miss was picked to finish fifth in the West, three points behind MSU. Alabama was picked last in the West.
Texas A&M, with five votes, was picked to win the West, while Florida was picked to win the East and the SEC outright.
Ole Miss junior shortstop Errol Robinson was named second-team preseason All-SEC. The third-year starter has received preseason All-America honors from Baseball America and D1Baseball.com. Major League Baseball scouts named Robinson the best shortstop in the country entering the season, which earned him a spot on Baseball America’s Preseason All-America First Team.
Robinson hit .297 last season and had a team-high 62 hits. He also had 11 doubles, 30 RBIs, and scored 31 runs.
n Junior right-hander Dakota Hudson will start today for MSU. It will be his first start since April 6, 2014.
Florida Atlantic will start senior left-hander Brandon Rhodes, who was 4-1 in 14 starts last season.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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