COLUMN: Saturday feels like the bottom but tougher times ahead for Bulldogs
I’ve watched a lot of Mississippi State football over the last 35 years.
The amount of time that I’ve spent inside Davis Wade Stadium might be unhealthy, but it’s been a large part of my life as a fan, student intern and for a living. I’ve watched some pretty big moments along the way, but I’ve also watched some absolute stinkers.
Saturday night might have topped them all.
I remember the Maine. I was also there when a tornado couldn’t stop Troy from knocking off Jackie Sherrill’s promising team in 2001. I watched as Dan Mullen (in shorts) had his team unprepared against South Alabama in a last-second loss to the Jaguars.
Those games were competitive losses against bad teams, but the showdown with Toledo was just downright embarrassing for the Bulldogs this week.
“It’s incredibly frustrating, but we’re going to get it fixed,” coach Jeff Lebby said. “What we have is today and the opportunity to fix it tomorrow and go have a great week before we get SEC play started next Saturday. We’re going to fight like heck to fix every bit of it. I think our guys are going to get back in the building and get ready to work.”
Last week against Arizona State, the Bulldogs were manhandled on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Doing it against an opposing Power 6 team on the road is one thing, to get controlled against a team from the MAC is entirely something else.
The Bulldogs were blown off the line of scrimmage on offense and defense from the first whistle until deep into the ball game. It allowed the Rockets to build as much 32-point lead. Defensive players were being run over, defensive backs were left chasing receivers and quarterback Tucker Gleason was given time to pick apart that group for four quarters.
On offense, State’s offensive line rarely gave QB Blake Shapen enough time and the five starters couldn’t give running backs room to run for a third-straight week. It all led to a disastrous night for the maroon and white and had fans already questioning whether or not Jeff Lebby is the answer.
Time will tell what Lebby’s fate will be, but making yet another change at that spot isn’t the answer. More than anything, the Bulldogs are seeing the repercussions of what has happened since 2017. Two failed hires and the loss of head coach Mike Leach have created a chaotic program searching for an identity.
Missed evaluations and poor recruiting have hurt during this transition. As for the current coaching staff, there’s a lot to be desired in the last two ball games. State has come out unprepared and lack the intensity needed to set the tone. A 55-6 differential in points tells the story for a team that has dropped two in a row before SEC play even begins next week.
As bad as Saturday night was, however, Bulldog fans have to settle in for even tougher times ahead. The Bulldogs are 1-2 against three non-conference teams and one of the most brutal SEC schedules is on the way.
After Florida comes to town, State plays Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Ole Miss on the road with Missouri and Texas A&M at home. The early returns suggest it’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.
