COLUMN: 2014 team gives Jeff Lebby aspirations for his program at Mississippi State
A couple of weeks ago in this space, the word “hope” was prevalent when explaining the current state of Mississippi State football.
The Bulldogs have gone from having the absence of hope early on in the season to three-straight weeks of promising performances against three top 15 teams. While there are still massive issues to address, there’s no doubt that the Bulldogs are a better team right now than they were in weeks two through four.
In the middle of the 34-24 defeat to No. 14 Texas A&M on Saturday, I couldn’t help but feel a little more of that hope seep in when thinking about the future under Jeff Lebby. It wasn’t so much what I saw from Michael Van Buren and the offense, although there is plenty there to bring excitement for the future. The biggest glimmer came from the past.
Familiar faces and legendary figures from a decade ago packed inside the South end zone of the stadium in the early stages of the ball game as MSU recognized the 2014 Bulldog football team.
Everyone remembers that little team, right? Heisman candidate quarterback that was recruited elsewhere as a tight end? A polarizing Yankee head coach embraced as one of State’s own? A psycho defense? Yeah, that one.
As Dak Prescott, Dan Mullen and the boys all stood around and soaked in the adoration of the 50,000 plus inside Davis Wade Stadium, every memory I had from that team flooded back. I watched as the camera panned across the faces in the end zone and remembered a moment from nearly every player that popped on the screen.
Every big pass, catch, run, tackle and interception from the team’s run to No. 1 in the country flew through and I was reminded of just how special of a run that was. I was also reminded that moments like that are possible in Starkville and at State.
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No one ever really gave the Bulldogs a chance at being a playoff contender or an SEC Championship threat. By most, Starkville and MSU is considered lucky to be involved in the SEC. Mullen was performing miracles just getting the team to bowl games routinely. The reality is that the coach had the right blueprint to win and win big at MSU and nothing is stopping that from being the case yet again.
Coach Jeff Lebby sees that same vision. He hasn’t set any ceilings on what his program can do. His message to his team on Saturday was that the best is still ahead for his team and they can accomplish some of the same heights as the ones before them and go beyond.
“For me, frustrating for me to not get it done while they’re back in town and are here. The message for recruits that were in the building today is that there truly is no ceiling here at State,” Lebby said. “Those guys understand it and what a great visual to be able to go point at and to see what they were able to accomplish while they were here. As we continue to build it the right way, that is something that is very real for our recruits and our people. It was awesome to have them back.”
As Lebby also said, moral victories aren’t something that his program will strive to accept. The last three losses were just that – losses. Coming close is nothing to brag about, but it’s the building blocks of what Leby is hoping to build in Starkville.
But for a young, hungry team full of fight, a win could be just what this program needs to really get a jumpstart. The work began on Sunday to try and make that a reality.
