Both names will stand out for years to come on the MSU campus because of their respective achievements on the gridiron and hardwood. Both set numerous school records and were fan-favorites among the Bulldog faithful.
However, when it comes to which one will be easier to replace, the answer is clear. There is no replacing Jarvis Varnado.
Head basketball coach Rick Stansbury may bring in big guys who are more athletic, bigger or stronger than Varnado, but his defensive instincts will not be matched by any big-time recruit. Simply having Varnado in the paint completely altered opposing team’s offensive game plans.
With Elgin Bailey out for the season due to injury, and Renardo Sidney spending the year on the bench in street clothes waiting to hear from the NCAA, Varnado easily became the one player that State could not lose to injury.
Even if Bailey had been healthy, and Sidney eligible, Varnado still would have been left on the floor for close to the 31.7 minutes he averaged in 2009-10.
There is no one on the MSU bench that could have come in for Varnado and impacted the game the way he did.
Blocked shots have the ability to create huge momentum swings in basketball, and MSU’s basketball teams benefited hundreds of times from the lift provided by Varnado blocks in his four years in Starkville.
The one area Varnado is replaceable is on the offensive side of the court. Over his four years he averaged 9.9 points per game, including a 13.9 average his senior season. Depending on what kind of shape he is in come next December, Sidney may be able to replace Varnado’s offensive production.
While my brother is on the other side of the page explaining why Anthony Dixon will be harder to replace, I will explain why MSU football will go on as normal after A.D.
Yes, Dixon did set numerous school records and was by far the most, um, charismatic athlete on the MSU campus. However, when Dan Mullen and his spread offense came to town, it was no longer necessary to have a big, bruising tailback like Dixon.
If State was still playing “Croom-ball,” losing Dixon would have a huge impact on the 2010 season. Even though Mullen was able to find a prominent role for Dixon, it will not be a huge loss to his offensive schemes when he is not in the lineup next fall. A star quarterback is twice as valuable as a star running back in the spread offense.
The most “irreplaceable” aspect of Dixon is his interviews. He was always the best quote on the team, and his interview after the Kentucky game is a YouTube favorite among MSU fans. Talking to A.D. was always a “Fun, fun, fun” experience.
While his interviews were unique experiences, there are star running backs in every recruiting class. Just looking at Mississippi State football teams from the years just before Dixon shows that players like that do come around on a regular basis. Running back Jerious Norwood appeared to be an “irreplaceable” player, but four years later he is overshadowed by Dixon.
A running back can be replaced, but a shot-blocker like Jarvis Varnado does not come around very often. Looking at Dixon, comparisons of former MSU athletes immediately come to mind, but there is no hoops doppelganger for Varnado.
Because these two are in different sports, this is like comparing apples to oranges. Both have left their mark on Mississippi State and will go on to play at the professional level. But to answer the question of who is the hardest to replace, it has to be Jarvis. No one else who puts on the maroon and white will dominate the paint the way Varnado did. Nobody.
Oh, and did I mention he blocked more shots than anyone who ever played the game of college basketball?