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Better Bulldogs still face daunting path to success STARKVILLE ’all know how I feel about making predictions. I don’t like doing it. I didn’t even bother making a prediction on Mississippi State’s season last year. I imagine I would’ve been pretty close to nailing what transpired: an 8-5 record, including 4-4 in SEC play. AUG. 31 So what to Oklahoma State make of this (at Houston) year’s team? 2:30 p.m. Well, I truly believe this is the deepest team fifth-year head coach Dan Mullen has had, although a lot of guys are gone from last year. A lot of the depth is inexperienced, but the talent is tantalizing, with guys like Richie Brown, Taveze Calhoun, A.J. Jef-
Y
ferson and Josh Robinson. This being Mullen’s fifth year, there’s an expectation for the program to take a big step forward. All the BRAD players are Mullen recruits, LOCKE his system is entrenched, and the fans are on board. Three consecutive winning seasons and bowl appearances are great, but now is the time for MSU to do bigger and better things. Unfortunately, the SEC Western Division doesn’t give a rip about Mullen’s plans. Alabama will almost certainly win the division, and if it doesn’t, Texas A&M or LSU will. Ole Miss is on the
rise. Arkansas and Auburn have two awfully good new coaches and probably won’t be down for long.
isn’t too bad, what with Bowling Green, Kentucky and an off week. Then comes November and the Gauntlet of Death: at South Carolina, at Texas A&M, Alabama, at TOUGH TASK Arkansas, Ole Miss. There is no margin for error for Remember that faceplant MSU MSU. If it wants to reach the made at the end of last season? goals of which Mullen has spoThat could happen again, and ken openly – double-digit wins, a not because the Bulldogs aren’t a division title – then it will simply good team – and I believe they’re have to beat Alabama, A&M and better than last year – but beLSU. Otherwise, better get used cause the opposition is so good. to finishing fourth or worse every Again, I don’t like making preyear. dictions, but I feel like I oughta, The schedule State faces is an so here goes: MSU will finish the unforgiving one. It starts with Ok- regular season 7-5. And that’s lahoma State in the season leaning toward the optimistic opener, and while you don’t want side. to judge a team based on one Such is life in the SEC. game – especially the first one – it’s the kind of game Mullen Brad Locke (brad.locke@ needs to win in Year 5. journalinc.com) covers Mississippi State The October slate opens with for the Daily Journal and blogs daily at LSU, but the rest of the month DJournal.com.
2012: 8-5 (4-4 SEC)
S1 Jackson State S8 Auburn S15 at Troy S22 South Alabama O6 at Kentucky O13 Tennessee O20 Middle Tennessee O27 at Alabama N3 Texas A&M N10 LSU N17 Arkansas N24 at Ole Miss Gator Bowl J1 Northwestern
W, 56-9 W, 28-10 W, 30-24 W, 30-10 W, 27-14 W, 41-31 W, 45-3 L, 38-7 L, 38-13 L, 37-17 W, 45-14 L, 41-24 L, 34-20
LAUREN WOOD | DAILY JOURNAL
Josh Robinson and other young players could give a boost to the Bulldogs’ fortunes this fall.
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing: Tyler Russell 2,897 yards, 58.6%, 24 TDs, 10 INTs Rushing: LaDarius Perkins 205-1,024-8 Josh Robinson 55-344-1 Nick Griffin 32-234-1 Receiving: Robert Johnson 17-164-2 Jameon Lewis 10-108-0 Tackles: B. McKinney 102 (45 solo) Nickoe Whitley 88 (50 solo)
LAST 10 SEASONS
SEC All 2012 4-4 8-5 2011 2-6 7-6 2010 4-4 9-4 2009 2-5 5-7 2008 2-6 4-8 2007 4-4 8-5 2006 1-7 3-9 2005 1-7 3-8 2004 2-6 3-8 2003 1-7 2-10 All-time: 514-549-39 (.484 winning percentage)
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