100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 93 Days - 3rd and 93
Jeff Lebby’s era of Mississippi State football has arrived.
The Bulldogs are on their third coach in as many years as Mike Leach’s tragic passing opened the door for defensive coordinator Zach Arnett’s debut as head coach last year. That experiment failed before the year even ended for State and now it’s Lebby’s turn to take the wheel.
While there is always a risk in hiring first time head coaches, Lebby brings to Starkville an exciting offensive scheme that has been productive everywhere he’s been. The coach has also brought with him some swagger that has the fanbase ready to see what’s next.
Over the course of the next 100 days, we will take a look at Lebby’s roster and even some fun historical rewinds that will bring back memories for Dawg fans of all ages.
Today, we take a look back at one of the wildest plays in MSU football history.
100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 93 Days – 3rd and 93
It might be difficult to find a game with a 36-point differential with the type of action that was seen between MSU and Louisiana Tech seven years ago.
It was game two of the season for Dan Mullen’s last State team and they were looking to make a statement on the road against the other Bulldogs. State won this game 57-21, but the first quarter was a struggle.
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After State fell down 9-0 in the first quarter, the Bulldogs reeled off 36-straight points. In the midst of that was a blocked punt by Jeffery Simmons that was recovered for a touchdown and La Tech had a PAT block that it returned for 2 points.
As exciting as those plays were, nothing would top what was to come in the fourth quarter.
With La Tech inside the 10 yard line and looking to cut into the lead, quarterback J’Mar Smith had a snap go over his head and he chased it down around the 30 yard line. As it slipped away from him, a bevy of Bulldog defenders looked primed to pounce on the suddenly greasy football but it took two kicks and ends up all the way at the 7 yard line where Willie Gay Jr. had it just out of his grasps.
The end result was La Tech facing a 3rd and Goal from its own 7. It was ultimately inconsequential to the outcome of the game, but 3rd and 93 will forever go down as one of the wildest plays in State history.
