Mississippi State senior Dillon Day has found himself in the middle of controversy thanks to a pair of plays Saturday in the first half of the MSU football team’s 34-29 upset victory against then-No. 8 LSU In Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.
Day, a fifth-year center from Monroe, Louisiana, was involved in a pair of incidents that left LSU players down after the play. LSU coach Les Miles said Monday in his weekly press conference that the Tigers sent video of both incidents to the Southeastern Conference office. Miles added he “hopes the league will do the right thing” in reference to Day, who has started more games than any other Bulldog in his four years in Starkville.
Day was part of an offensive line that paved the way for 302 rushing yards against LSU. He wasn’t flagged for either play.
The two plays in question each came after similar plays by MSU quarterback Dak Prescott. On the first, Day trailed the junior quarterback after he crossed the line of scrimmage and then jumped in an apparent attempt to avoid contact with Prescott and defender Davin Godcheaux, but Day’s leap ended with his right foot landing on Godchaux. On the second play, Day appeared to attempt to jump over the ball carrier and tackler at the end of an 8-yard pass from Prescott to Jameon Lewis. This time, Day landed on cornerback Rashard Robinson. Robinson and Godchaux received medical attention following Day’s landings.
In the third quarter, Day was flagged for a personal foul for a late hit.
On Monday, the leader of MSU’s offensive line took to Twitter to defend himself against the incidents.
At approximately 2:30 p.m. Monday, Day tweeted from his personal account (DoomzDAY63) a picture of a letter he penned to MSU fans.
In that letter, Day wrote:
Dear Bulldog fans,
I met with Coach (sic) Mullen regarding the two plays Saturday night that I have been wrongfully accused of intentionally stomping on players. Ever since I started playing football I was taught to always hustle to the ball, and never give up on a play. You never know when the ball carrier will break loose and you can make another block or if a fumble may happen. It is essential to follow the ball. In the two clips, you can see I’m doing just that. On the first one, it was just me running down the field to try and make a play. I made contact with the defender and I released him to not draw another penalty as I hustled to the ball. Dak hit the hole and I kept running to him hoping he would break a tackle and once I realized he was down, I was going too fast at 300 pounds to stop. I had all that momentum running, and I tried to clear the pile after not being able to stop. I jumped and the defender rolled where I was coming down at. I had no chance to stop.
On the second clip, it was a similar situation. It was a play where I was hustling to the ball hoping we didn’t fumble, but if we did I would be able to recover it, and if he broke loose I would be there to protect him and possibly make a block. I was running full speed to the ball and once I saw him completely down I tried to pull up and the momentum carried me across the pile. When I jumped to clear the pile, the ball carrier’s momentum carried the tackle forward. I misjudged the distance and didn’t even know where I was going to land.
Here at Mississippi State, our coaches do not condone or allow illegal conduct. We are held to the highest standard both socially and athletically on and off the field. I never go into a game or play with the intention of hurting anyone. I apologize that it has been perceived that way. I try to give my all for my school and hustle to help us compete athletically on every play.
Sincerely,
Dillon Day
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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