Zach Arnett trolls reporter, jokes he looks to social media for coaching advice

Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett is still relatively new to the head coaching world at the Power 5 level. Getting the job following the death of Mike Leach, Arnett has been thrust into the highest level of the sport.

Many in his position would lean on a mentor, perhaps a former head coach they played or worked for. Arnett, who didn’t actually answer if he does or doesn’t have a coaching soothsayer, managed to get a laugh on the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday with his tongue-in-cheek answer.

“I usually just get on Twitter or read your guys articles,” Arnett said.

After a laugh, Arnett did add that while he was being humorous, there is a value to staying in touch with the outside perception of the program he now runs.

“I’m not saying motivation, but public perception, right? We’re a democracy, and everyone has a say and majority rules, so try to just get a good feel for what everyone wants and make everyone happy with that,” Arnett said. 

Following a 2-0 start to the season, feelings are good around the Bulldogs, but they get a much tougher test with LSU coming to town this Saturday.

LSU is prepping for a tough road environment on Saturday vs. Mississippi State

Brian Kelly is in his second season as an SEC head coach, having learned a lot during his first year at LSU. But there’s still a few trials for the Tigers head man to navigate: Enter the cowbells at Mississippi State.

LSU opens the SEC schedule with a trip to play in Starkville in front of the cowbell-toting — and ringing — Bulldog faithful. Kelly offered some of his usual wry humor on the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday when discussing the preparations LSU is making.

“We’ve got all of our managers working on a cowbell,” Kelly said.

Jokes aside, Kelly does know the potentially overwhelming noise is something LSU has to be prepared for, be it silent counts, quieting their own minds and, ideally, eventually quieting the crowd and deadening the atmosphere with their own play.

“If you get used to it during the week of practice, it then becomes your job to make sure that they’re not as active in the game by playing well. So, certainly, early in the game we expect a really enthusiastic crowd. And it’ll be up to our play to manage that. But, again, I think you have to prepare for the eventuality of silent counts and things of that nature. But now, it’s the first time that I’ve gone into an environment with the cowbell,” Kelly said.