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Mississippi State

Will Rogers opens up about honoring Mike Leach this upcoming season

Screen Shot 2024-05-28 at 9.09.17 AMby:Kaiden Smith•07/18/23•

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Mississippi State QB Will Rogers and HC Mike Leach
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

The death of Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach last December sent shockwaves across the entire college football landscape, as the game lost a pioneer of the air raid offense and one of the most charismatic personalities in the sport.

The Bulldogs played just one game without Leach at the helm last year, finishing off the season with a ReliaQuest Bowl victory over Illinois in his honor. But now they’re tasked with taking on the entire 2023 season without him, and at SEC Media Days, Mississippi State quarterback Will Rodgers spoke on how he plans on honoring Leach this upcoming season and beyond.

“I think the only thing you can do is just continue to work hard, continue to dedicate yourself to the game for four full quarters,” Rodgers said. “I think that’s what Coach Leach would want us to do so I think that’s all we can do.”

Rodgers is one of many quarterbacks to thrive in Leach’s offensive season system, ending the regular season last year as the SEC’s leader in passing yards and touchdowns. He impressed in back-to-back seasons under Leach, throwing for 4,739 yards and 36 touchdown passes in 2021 and 3,974 yards and 35 touchdown passes last season.

Leach definitely played a pivotal role in Rodgers’ name now being all over the SEC’s passing record books, but his impact on him as a mentor to Rodgers is likely immeasurable.

Rodgers will now play under a new head coach and new offensive coordinator for the first time in a long time, as Zach Arnett has now taken the mantle for Mississippi State and Kevin Barbay will be the team’s play-caller.

There’s no doubt that the offensive scheme will look different this upcoming season, and Rodgers’ production may even dip due to a more balanced offensive attack. But he’ll likely be playing more inspired than ever with Leach heavy on his heart and mind moving forward.

Joey McGuire honored Mike Leach at Big 12 media days

At Big 12 media days, Joey McGuire chose to honor Mike Leach. After previously wearing a “Swing your sword,” shirt at Texas Tech’s bowl game, the Red Raiders head coach wore a suit with a pirate-themed lining to media days.

The suit was a clear tribute to Mike Leach, who previously coached at Texas Tech and was nicknamed “The Pirate.” Later, McGuire joined the ESPN crew and explained his decision to honor Leach.

“It’s just a tip of the cap to Mike Leach, and respect to him. Kind of starts with being a high school coach, and the influence he had on the game. You can’t go a Friday night and not see something that Mike Leach — a part of his offense, in any stadium in Texas,” McGuire said.

“So I feel — I didn’t know him very well, but I feel like I get to know him more and more every day, being the head coach of Texas Tech.”

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report