We just beat the hell out of you!!!

Beating Mississippi makes everything better. At least for a few days.

It's easy to lose the hate. If you move away from Mississippi and don't associate with any Rebels on a regular basis, you lose some of the passion. But damn, it only takes about 5 seconds for it all to come back.

I had actually forgotten how much I hated those bastards. Then, about 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, some jackal started driving around the parking lot playing Dixie on his car horn, followed by some group of yahoos yelling some gibberish about Toddy's and just generally getting on my f-ing nerves. Then it was on. The hate was back.

Thank you Jerious Norwood.

Thank you Willie Evans.

Thank you Kevin Dockery.

You three seniors deserved this win. Congratulations.

Evans, who has not always been on great terms with Croom, said after the game, "You don't understand what your coach is trying to tell you until your last game. You think back and say, maybe if I had done this or I had done that. But this win, you can't beat that."

Two sacks by Evans on Saturday gave him 15.5 for the season — the second most in school history — and extended his lead in the SEC.

35-14.

How sweet it is....

Things I Learned this Weekend...

1. A normal 7 hour drive takes 10 and a half hours on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

2. Our next feature tail back may already be on campus. Thornton played inspired football on Saturday, rushing for 80 yards on 13 carries.

3. The University of North Carolina-Charlotte has a horrible basketball team.

4. Winning the Egg Bowl after a dismal season doesn't make everything better, but it sure does make the next few days a lot of fun.

5. The DPR on the 50 yard line after the win was a nice touch, but nothing is better than hitting a knee on the five yard line with a minute and a half left against your rival when you're up by three touchdowns.

6. Weekends like the past one make working on Monday morning almost impossible.

7. If the football team and basketball team were to win on the same day a black hole would inevitably open up and swallow the campus, so props to the basketball team for saving the University.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm not going to post anything else this week.

I'm going to the UNCC game tonight and the Egg Bowl on Saturday (god help me).

Should I survive the weekend and arrive home on Sunday, I'm sure I'll have a lot to add on Monday morning.


(The Hokie Bird above is posted in honor of Turkey Day and my adopted team of choice when I feel like watching real football.)

Egg Bowl

So coach, which State team shows up on Saturday?
The one that played Alabama?

The one that played Arkansas?

The one that played LSU?

The one that played....

Croom is saying all of the right things this week. Biggest game of the year, blah, blah, blah. I guess we'll see on Saturday.

In another example of the shape of the football program when Croom took over, Bryson Davis is featured in today's Clarion Ledger. Among other things, Bryson admits to not knowing the plays, not working hard, being apathetic and not studying film, prior to this year. Just one more example of what Croom has had to overcome. Watching this mess the past five years, you have to think Bryson's behavior was the rule, not the exception.

I'll be there Saturday. I'll support the team. But my heart just isn't in it. I'm sure that will change by kick-off. I'll sure by then that I'll muster up all of that hate for everything UM. I'm sure by then I'll have forgotten the blowouts and all the losing. I just hope, that by the time 5:00 rolls around, I'm enjoying a whisky with my friends and toasting to the first SEC victory of the year.

Last prediction of 2005: UM 3 - State 6

"You play defense here."

"You play defense here," said Edmondson, who had 13 points and a steal against Chattanooga, despite being injured recently. "You don't have a choice."

That's the attitude that will keep the MSU basketball program at a high level. Stansbury teaches defense and rebounding first, offense second. With that combination, the team will always be competitive and with the athletes Stansbury brought in to the program this year, they won't just be competitive, they'll be successful.

As last year's freshmen class learned the hard way, under Stansbury, you don't have a choice.

The team is 1-0, after Saturday night's season opening victory against Chattanooga, 64-48.

(The picture above, courtesy of David J. Phillip, Associated Press, is of Edmondson battling for a loose ball against Duke in last year's round of 32.)

Arkansas Recap

I think that about covers it.

Arkansas

Two games left. And only two checks in the win column.

The story of the week is Croom's inability to produce wins in his second year. The criticism has been more fierce than at any other time during his short tenure, which is odd coming off a game in which the defense played spectacular football against the 4th ranked team in the country.

But, this is a new week. And coming off a bye, State should have a few new weapons to play with. Conner will be playing receiver this weekend and there is a renewed emphasis in getting the ball to a beleaugered Butler.

All of this is great, but how it plays out on the road (where State hasn't won in five years) and against Arkansas (who State has never beaten on the road) is the question.

Why Arkansas: They always beat State at home. They've played decent football since their season opening train wreck in Los Angeles. And State hasn't proved they can score on a team with a pulse.

Why State: The defense played their best game of the year against Alabama, generating multiple turnovers in the red zone to keep the game competitive. The offensive line played one of their better games too, although it appeared Alabama was content to sit in coverage and not blitz and although Henig didn't get beat up too bad, he was unable to make any plays with our battered receiving corps. Perhaps Conner will add a spark at receiver and Norwood will get rolling (any one else sense the enthusiasm?).

Bottom line: State can't win on the road. And until they do, there is no reason to think they will (that's some wonderful circular logic, isn't it?). Arkansas 17 - State 10.

Andrews Out Again

Keith Andrews will miss his third straight game this weekend with a groin injury and reports are indicating that he will not be well enough to kick next week against Mississippi either.

With an offense that continues to struggle, it really hurts the team to be without it's only consistent field goal kicker. State obviously needs all the help they can get when trying to put a few points on the board.

Michael Heard is also out for the Arkansas game with a hairline fracture in his lower leg. He is probable for the Egg Bowl.

Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder to Retire

A coach who has given hope to small schools with no football tradition in powerhouse conferences, is going to retire after Kansas State's last game of the season Saturday against Missouri.

"Snyder is credited with one of the biggest turnarounds in college football history. When he took over in 1989, Kansas State was the only major college football program with 500 losses. Under his leadership, the Wildcats have gone 135-68-1, including a run of 11 straight bowl games that began with the 1993 season. "

Snyder is an example that the right coach can win anywhere, even at K-State. The K-State AD now has the most important decision to make of his career. The mass of fans Snyder created over the past 16 seasons will not be satisfied with returning to the cellar of the Big 12.

Here's to hoping they find a good one.


(The picture above, courtesy of Bo Rader, Associated Press, is of Kansas State coach Bill Snyder being showered with ice as his players celebrate the team´s first Big 12 Championship in school history.)

Things I Learned this Weekend...

1. No conference puts on a better show on Saturday's than the SEC. Almost 12 straight hours of ridiculously entertaining football. The ole ball coach beats Florida, LSU scrapes by Bama in OT and to top it off Auburn has a big pass play on 4th and ten go for 68 yards ending in a fumble that is recovered in the end zone, all resulting in a game winning FG with less than 10 seconds to play. Ridiculous.

2. How in the hell is an FSU team with three losses still going to play for the ACC title? Boo!!!

3. Tommy Bowden saves his job every November. Like clock-work.

4. Texas is the best team in the country and Vince Young should win the Heisman (he won't, but he should).

5. 1 down. 2 to go. I said last week and I reiterate this week - Alabama will not win another football game this season. They will lose the Iron Bowl and their "real" bowl game as well.

6. Off weeks suck, but I did find my Saturday afternoon much more relaxing than normal.

7. Unfortunately, it may be a long basketball season with all of these freshmen. This team needs to learn how to play defense before they get thumped by a couple mid-majors before Christmas.


(The picture above, courtesy of John Bazemore, Associated Press, is of Auburn kicker John Vaughn reacting after kicking a 20-yard field goal with six seconds on the clock to defeat Georgia 31-30 in Athens, Ga., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2005.)

Stansbury Inks Two

So it's not going to be another top ten rated class, what with only three seniors on the roster, that really wasn't possible anyway.

But Stansbury hauled in another athletic forward in Jarvis Varnado and a tough guard with good genes in Ben Hansbrough, little brother to all-world UNC freshman Tyler.

Stansbury's team has a lot of potential for the future with the players already on campus, but these two should provide quality depth for a serious NCAA run in a couple years.

Freshmen

Pegues fumbled on a Jimmy Johns hit (anybody loathe Johns even more now?) and the ball was returned for a TD.

Mike (I don't think this is what the fan base hoped for when they said he looked like Favre) Henig, throws directly into the d-line for another turnover/TD return.

Final score: 17-0.

With the help of a great spot (if your Dog) and a couple timely turnovers by Croyle, the defense almost matched Alabama by itself. Heck, if one key block is made by Culbertson, the State defense would have beat the Tide without any assistance from the offense.

So, State freshmen cost the Pups 14 points on the scoreboard. The defense let in the other three.
Experience is one of those intangibles you can't coach. Unfortunately, no player on this team has any experience winning on this level. That is Croom's toughest battle.

Well that and putting some points on the board.

Things I Learned this Weekend...

1. Freshman kill you. Everytime.

2. Miami looked like the Miami of old. And Virginia Tech, they looked like, well...Georgia Tech.

3. Texas will win the NC.

4. UCLA has no chance against USC. Have you ever seen such a beating of an undeafeted team by a team with three wins? (Hell of a call by Herbstreit.)

5. I'll be surprised if Fulmer isn't fired at the end of the season. UT won't take this kind of effort.

6. The ball coach is bowlin'. Look out Florida...you're next!

7. Hope the Tide fans enjoyed the run, because Alabama won't win another game this year.

Alabama

Good old fashioned hate.

It all started for me in 1996. Still have the bolt from the south end zone goal post that came tumbling down. Still have the 17-16 t-shirt. Still have the video of the game and if it wasn't for a house cleaning project gone awry, would still have part of the hedges. State started a streak that night that lead to Alabama beat-downs in three of the next four years. Not a bad college run.

Since then however....

It's been five years since the last State victory over the Tide. It's been 25 years since the 6-3 shocker. Destiny anyone?

Why Alabama: Bigger, faster, stronger, blah, blah, blah and of course Croyle. And of course they have history on their side. In addition, State can't score on Kentucky and Alabama has one of the best defenses in the country.

Why State: Perhaps Croyle will fall down the steps getting off the bus on Saturday and break his ankle. And perhaps Alabama is looking past the Pups towards LSU. And perhaps it will be just one of those one-in-a-million upsets. Right....

Bottom line: Alabama wins big. I'm predicting 28-10, but I'm not sure if that's hope getting the better of me.

If you've watched so much State football this year that you have forgotten what it's like to have a packed house, a solid offensive line, playmakers on offense and a relentless defense, you should check out this highlight video.

Me, jealous?

No.....

Everybody Loves Henig

That's the theme this week with redshirt freshman Michael Henig preparing for the first start of his college career against #4 ranked Alabama.

Henig said everything slowed down for him in the 4th quarter against Florida and then the Kentucky game was the same speed. Hmm...4th quarter Gator defense in a blowout and Kentucky defense all game are the same speed. Very nice.

This weekend he's going up against arguably the best defense in the country. I'm guessing the game speed will pick up again.

"I'm ready for the challenge," Henig said. "All SEC defenses are going to be good. Everybody's fast, everybody's going to try to kill you. I'm not worried about it."

With your offensive line Mike, perhaps you should be.


The image of above of Michael Henig throwing a pass over Kentucky's Bo Smith during the first last week is courtesy of Garry Jones, Associated Press.

Dangerous Dogs?

The Mobile Register takes the award for the most ridiculous headline of the week:

Tide knows wounded dogs are dangerous dogs

Mississippi State is ranked 100th or worse in these offensive categories: No. 114 in scoring (13.5 ppg), No. 101 in passing (158.1 ypg), and No. 107 in total offense (292.9 ypg). The Bulldogs have the worst third-down conversion percentage (.310) in the SEC and have allowed the highest number of sacks (27).

Anyone seeing any danger in those numbers?

Why?

Last week I tried to use comedy.

This week Chicken Little isn't quite as amusing.

Kentucky?!?!

Seven points against Kentucky.

Not seeing the game, it's tough to comment on specifics. But damn, seven points against Kentucky!?!?

So, congratulations to Norwood for breaking the all-time school rushing record. He has accomplished this feat while winning just 10 games during his career. Unbelievable.


The picture above of Croom in the first half is courtesy of Garry Jones, Associated Press.