Three days after the death of Mike Leach, Mississippi State, led at the time by interim athletic director Bracky Brett, promoted then-defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to full-time head coach.
Less than a year later and with two games remaining on the Bulldogs’ regular-season schedule, athletic director Zac Selmon fired Arnett with MSU sitting at 4-6 overall and 1-6 in Southeastern Conference play. The move made Arnett the first Bulldogs head coach to last just one season in Starkville since Spike Nelson, who went 4-6 in 1938.
These are the biggest moments, positive and negative, of Arnett’s 11-month tenure as the man in charge at MSU.
Jan. 2: Arnett wins head coaching debut as Bulldogs defeat Illinois in ReliaQuest Bowl
Arnett’s first game as head coach, fittingly, was a defensive battle. MSU held the Fighting Illini to 275 yards of offense, including just 22 rush yards. Trailing 10-3 entering the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs tied the game on the first play of the final period on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Will Rogers to Justin Robinson. A Massimo Biscardi 27-yard field goal with four seconds remaining gave MSU a 13-10 lead, and safety Marcus Banks returned a fumbled lateral for a touchdown on the game’s final play.
“I know there’s a cowbell ringing down from heaven for them,” Arnett said after the 19-10 victory.
Jan. 12: Bulldogs hire Kevin Barbay as offensive coordinator, moving away from ‘Air Raid’
With Arnett’s defensive background, his most significant hire was always going to be on the offensive side of the ball. Ten days after the bowl game, he landed on Barbay, who coordinated the 26th-ranked total offense in 2022 at Appalachian State. Barbay had previously coached at Florida, Colorado State and Baylor, and spent 2021 as the offensive coordinator at Central Michigan. His offense is designed to get the ball in the best players’ hands in space — a much more balanced, pro-style system than Leach’s “Air Raid.”
“Kevin Barbay is an innovative rising star in college football,” Arnett said in a release. “He’s an outside-of-the-box thinker with a brilliant Xs and Os mind. His offenses have proven to be creative, efficient and explosive, and his attacking offensive philosophy will be an excellent fit for our program.”
July 18: Arnett speaks at first SEC Media Days in Nashville
Arnett presented an optimistic vision for the Bulldogs following a 9-4 campaign in 2022 in which MSU finished third in the SEC West. Many national pundits expected the Bulldogs to take a step back, but MSU had plenty of returning starters on both offense and defense. Arnett made sure to honor Leach, as well, during his remarks at SEC Media Days.
“Last year at this event, Coach Leach’s (opening statement) was seven words,” Arnett said. “I’ve already said too much. That, combined with wearing a tie, I’m sure I’ve disappointed him a little bit here today. In recognition of his tremendous impact and influence not only on the game of football but on myself, I’m going to do my best to keep this short and sweet.”
Sept. 2: Arnett earns first win at Davis Wade Stadium as Bulldogs defeat Southeastern Louisiana
MSU started slowly in its opening game against an FCS opponent but ended up cruising to a 48-7 victory. Rogers was an efficient 20-for-29 passing with two touchdowns, Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks rushed for 127 yards and a pair of scores, and the defense pitched a shutout in the second half. Most importantly, the Bulldogs emerged from the game largely injury-free.
“A lot of guys could have gone anywhere they wanted to in the transfer portal when the season ended, but they bleed maroon and white and they want to be right here,” Arnett said postgame. “They like playing in front of this crowd.”
Sept. 16: Bulldogs get blown out by LSU in SEC opener
Following a dramatic overtime win over Arizona, MSU’s first conference game was never close. Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels and receiver Malik Nabers picked the Bulldogs’ defense apart, and MSU managed just one first down on its first five offensive possessions in a 41-14 loss.
“We obviously had a poor plan,” Arnett said. “We have to go and reevaluate what we called and why we called it. It was a complete, dominant victory by them.”
Oct. 7: Bulldogs defeat Western Michigan, but lose Rogers to shoulder injury
MSU ended a three-game skid with a 41-28 win over the Broncos, but Western Michigan third-string quarterback Hayden Wolff added to the Bulldogs’ defensive woes, completing 27 of 35 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. More concerning, though, was an injury to Rogers, who started his 40th consecutive game before sustaining a left shoulder injury in the fourth quarter. He has not played since, and MSU has managed just two offensive touchdowns in its last four games.
Oct. 21: Arnett nabs first SEC win in defensive battle at Arkansas
Following a bye week, the Bulldogs’ defense delivered by far its best performance of the season, shutting out the Razorbacks after an opening-drive field goal. MSU’s season was suddenly looking up again, with a 4-3 record and the chance to complete a perfect October.
Nov. 6: Top local recruit Braylon Burnside decommits from MSU
After losses to Auburn and Kentucky, the latter of which came on Homecoming, prized recruit Braylon Burnside, a four-star wide receiver from Starkville High, chose to reopen his recruitment after having committed to the Bulldogs in June. Burnside has offers from five other SEC programs, including Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Auburn.
Nov. 13: MSU fires Arnett, names Greg Knox interim head coach
Two days after the Bulldogs lost 51-10 at Texas A&M and one day after the Aggies fired head coach Jimbo Fisher, athletic director Zac Selmon chose to move on from Arnett. Senior offensive analyst Greg Knox was named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2023 season.
“It has become clear that we need a shift in leadership, so therefore we must act,” Selmon said. “Throughout the season, you want to see progression in certain areas, and I don’t think we met the standard on the field.”
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