INTENSE...Buy/Sell

[Dawg725]

I know we have been on the B-Ball topic here lately, but I am getting REAL antsy about football season ...

BUY/SELL - Our beloved Bulldogs are no longer a "gimme win" to the more difficult bigger programs like LSU, AUBURN, FLORIDA, etc...

I BUY. I still want to see what kind of improvement we have over last year, but I think we are back on the right path and heading in the right direction. Wes' elbow should be 100% and it seems as though our receiving corps MAY be up to the challenge. Not to mention, Dixon, Ducre, and Elliot in the backfield - WOW; and the defense returning a lot of starters...there's a lot of hope out there. Lets hope losing Ellis doesn't hurt the D as bad as we anticipate....

 

[Dawg725]

I know we have been on the B-Ball topic here lately, but I am getting REAL antsy about football season ...

BUY/SELL - Our beloved Bulldogs are no longer a "gimme win" to the more difficult bigger programs like LSU, AUBURN, FLORIDA, etc...

I BUY. I still want to see what kind of improvement we have over last year, but I think we are back on the right path and heading in the right direction. Wes' elbow should be 100% and it seems as though our receiving corps MAY be up to the challenge. Not to mention, Dixon, Ducre, and Elliot in the backfield - WOW; and the defense returning a lot of starters...there's a lot of hope out there. Lets hope losing Ellis doesn't hurt the D as bad as we anticipate....

 

[BriantheDawg]

for LSU. No matter how good we are or how bad they are. Doesn't matter.

 

[Coach34]

on LSU...they own us. However, when was the last time Fla beat us in Starkville? the 70's? We have never been a gimme win for the Gators

 

[Barkman Turner Overdrive]

Talent wise, we are nowhere close to being in the same league with LSU, UGa and Florida. We are gimme wins for those programs.

Edited to say that we are lucky we miss 2 out of the 3 this year.

 

[patdog]

They were a permanent opponant back then and we were as much their ***** as we have been LSU's since then. Ironicly, LSU was our ***** back then. It didn't matter how good they were or how bad we were, we usually kicked their ***. I know at least twice we had losing records but beat LSU to keep them from winning the SEC title and going to the Sugar Bowl.

To answer the original poster, sell. We are still an easy win for the LSU's, Georgia's, and Florida's of the world.

 

[Coach34]

but I dont remember Fla beating us in S'ville since maybe 86 or so...I need to go look that up

 

[patdog]

<table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">10/8/2005</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (9-3)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">35</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">10/23/2004</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (7-5)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">W</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">38</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">31</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/29/2001</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (10-2)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">0</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">52</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/30/2000</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (10-3)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">W</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">47</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">35</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">10/2/1993</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (11-2)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">24</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">38</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">10/1/1992</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (9-4)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">W</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">30</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">6</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/28/1991</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (10-2)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">7</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">29</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@ Orlando, FL</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/29/1990</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (9-2)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">21</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">34</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/30/1989</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (7-5)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">0</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">21</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@ Tampa, FL</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/24/1988</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (7-5)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">0</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">17</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/26/1987</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (6-6)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">3</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">38</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/27/1986</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (6-5)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">W</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">16</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">10</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/28/1985</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (9-1-1)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">22</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">36</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/29/1984</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (9-1-1)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">12</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">27</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/24/1983</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (9-2-1)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">12</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">35</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/25/1982</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (8-4)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">17</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">27</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/26/1981</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (7-5)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">W</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">28</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">7</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@ Jackson, MS</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/27/1980</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (8-4)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">15</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">21</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/29/1979</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (0-10-1)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">W</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">24</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">10</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@ Jackson, MS</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/30/1978</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (4-7)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">0</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">34</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/24/1977</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (6-4-1)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">22</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">24</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@ Jackson, MS</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/25/1976</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (8-4)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">30</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">34</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/27/1975</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (9-3)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">10</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">27</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@ Jackson, MS</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/28/1974</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (8-4)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">13</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">29</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/29/1973</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (7-5)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">W</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">33</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">12</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@ Jackson, MS</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/30/1972</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (5-5-1)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">13</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">28</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/18/1971</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">vs.</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (4-7)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">W</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">13</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">10</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@ Jackson, MS</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">9/19/1970</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">@</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">*Florida (7-4)</td> <td bgcolor="#00FF00">L</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">13</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00FF00">34</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Edited to add that after looking at this more closely, I see that thanks to Templeton selling two home games, Florida hasn't actually beaten us in Starkville since 1985. But we were still their ***** until 1992. And if we'd played more often, the series since then wouldn't be nearly so even. We've been lucky that the last 3 times they came to Starkville, we had kick-*** teams twice and they had Ron Zook the other time.

 

[Coach34]

I remembered LT selling us out to go play in Fla...at least the guys got a Disney trip out of it

 

[Todd4State]

We are closing the gap a little bit- especially at home.

It also depends on whether we play them at home or on the road.

For example, we played UT at home, and they clearly had the more talented team, but we were able to hang with them at home, and we lost something like 28-17.

I will say that the last time we played UGA we should have beaten them, and probably would have if Henig wasn't our QB. That was the now infamous punt from the 30 yard line game, so our coaching staff wasn't necessarily having their A game that day either. Anyway, if I remember right, it came down to the last play, and we had a breakdown in our blocking scheme where we left a DE for UGA unblocked and he came through untouched and caused Henig to fumble and we had someone that was open in the end zone.

Also, as far as LSU, I would like to see what would have happened if we don't turn the ball over seven times. I'm not saying that we would have won, but it wouldn't have been a gimme win.</p>

 

[ArrowDawg.bulldogsonlymessageboard]

......that we weren't just a 5-win team that made few mistakes and sneaked up on a lot of opponents last year. If we win 7+ again this year, then I'll be mistaken.

I'll grant you that I don't think we'll get "blown out" too often anymore, except maybe by LSU, but nobody will be taking us lightly this year. I just think that our team and their $1.7 mil coach still have a lot to prove.

 

[TR.sixpack]

Until proven otherwise, we are LSU's plaything. Everyone else -- well, it depends on the team and the year.

 

[TR.sixpack]

No, we made our share of mistakes last season. However, we were much better at cashing in on our opponent's mistakes and limiting the damage we screwed up. That's what good (or above average) teams do.

 

[windcrysmary]

croom knows how to strengthen a team's trenches and play smash mouth on both sides of the ball....

the question is whether or not he and mccorvey have developed/learned a way to put an offense together that resembles a D-1 offense...

if we suck offensively as bad as we have in the past and croom doesn't make any changes, then we are in deep do do for quite a while... it will show he has personal ambitions that are more important than the program itself..

how many coaches would still have their offensive coord at this juncture considering our offensive output?

 

[patdog]

if we suck offensively as bad as we have in the past and croom doesn't make any changes, then we are in deep do do for quite a while... it will show he has personal ambitions that are more important than the program itself..

And for the record, I think Croom's stubbornness in keeping the same old offense and the same old offensive coordinator is going to cost us big-time. </p>

 

[MaxwellSmart]

We are still a gimme for the teams that are playing good ball at the time we play them.

 

[TBonewannabe]

Our defense is good enough to keep us in any game but if the offense is only putting up 10 points it doesn't matter.

 

[JohnRocker]

Im 23 years old. I had no idea we played Florida in the 70's in Jackson. What was the reason for this? Money or the Gator's made us?</p>

 

[patdog]

When I was at MSU (83-87), we generally played 4 games in Starkville and 3 in Jackson every year. I think in the 70s we played even more in Jackson. Mississippi also played a lot of their games in Jackson too and about once every year or two there would be a day-night doubleheader with both MSU and UM playing in Jackson the same day. Of course, back then Scott Field held about 33,000 (Vaugh-Hemmingway was about the same) and Memorial Stadium in Jackson held 62,000.

 

[Coach34]

I grew up in the 70's going to watch us and Mississippi play big games in Jackson. We would play Bama, Auburn, and LSU most every year there. I couldnt wait for the schedules to come out to see who we were playing in Jackson every year. A few times you would have the State-Bammer game during the day, and then Mississippi-LSU game at night for the DH. Made for a fun day of watching football back when Jackson was electric on Saturdays.

I also got to see Mississippi beat Notre Dame in 1977. It was so damn hot that day. We were behind the ND bench and I'm 8 yrs old rooting them on. The heat just wore them down, they were throwing up on the sidelines.

 

[JohnRocker]

Lets just say "hypothehicly speaking" our wonderful Jackson council got together on one issue. A brand new state of the art football mix use stadium. Im talkin really nice Coach. Could you ever see the Dogs or the Rebels coming here and doing these double headers you speak of? Im guessing there would be some arguements from some folks leaving the beloved grove or junction. I can't imagine too many other states being able to offer this? I would LOVE that game day experince. Remember i said "hypothethicly" because im well aware of the fact our Jackson city council is a joke.

 

[graddawg]

I would vote an emphatic no. Home football games are too important to Starkville as a whole to move them anywhere.

 

[Croomp]

I never want to see us return to Jackson until Jackson is cleaned up and we have an NFL team with a big population to support it.. Which will never happen.

 

[Todd4State]

would be if MSU and UM both played I-AA opponents on the same day and Jackson had this state of the art stadium, of course Jackson getting such a stadium isn't happening, which makes it a moot point.

And then you would have Byrne fighting with Khayat over who would get the day game vs the night game.

But I like the games on campus for a different reason besides the economic well being of Starkville- the atmosphere is better on campus, even if Jackson had an awesome stadium. The students are a huge part of the atmosphere, and fewer of them would likely drive down to Jackson as opposed to walk from their dorm or drive from their apartment/condo to Scott Field.

Plus, tailgating in a parking lot would suck. Ask UK fans. </p>

 

[OEMDawg]

Sell. I have ZERO faith in our WR corp. Tony Burks was the best WR talent we've had on campus in Croom's tenure and he had less than 20 catches on the season last year. Jamayel Smith is pretty good, but he's not a #1. Are you really expecting anything out of Co-Headcase or Aubrey Bell? McRae is just the latest in a Croom era of players that gets huge headlines in the offseason who probably won't see ANY playing time once the season kicks off.

We FINALLY have decent talent at QB, both in school and in recruiting, but we also have the coaching staff that NOBODY has any faith in that they can accomplish anything on the offensive side of the ball.

Until we have an offense that can consistently put up 330-350 yards per game, we haven't turned any corners.

 

[Stansfield]

Sell, we haven't done enough in the SEC to not be a gimme to the bigguns. It would be a different story if we were in a different weaker conference.

And thank God we don't have to go down to Jacktown for any home games. That would suck big time. Gameday in Starkville is the best thing going in Starkville all year round. Taking that away to go down to the appendix of the south would just be wrong on so many levels.