The Mississippi State Bulldogs played groundhogs Saturday, failing to see their shadows and ensuring a quick spring. They beat the Ole Miss Rebels 35-14. Now, there are plenty of positives to build a sound future on.
The win ended a seven-game losing streak and gave the Bulldogs some decided momentum going into the spring signing period, which head coach Sylvester Croom called, “our next big game.”
The win Saturday has changed much within the fledgling program. The momentum has begun moving forward.
It has not been evident this season that this team really believes it belongs on the same field as others in the Southeastern Conference. They were coming off of an obliteration at Arkansas and had only won three SEC games in almost four seasons.
“They easily could have thrown in the towel after last week,” Croom said. “But they didn’t, and that shows the kind of character we have on this team.”
Even in this campaign, the team lost at Kentucky, a traditional bottom-feeder in the SEC East, and at home to Conference USA opponent, Houston. They were decimated against LSU and Auburn and allowed Georgia to pull away late. Winning has not been something the team or the campus has been used to handling.
But for the last two seasons, Croom has been trying to change the culture. Losing may be tolerated in the short-term but not forever. He is trying to build a winner.
In a few games this season, the Bulldogs were knocking on the door of becoming that winning team. In the Swamp, they gave the Florida Gators a run for their money. At home against Alabama, the team played an undefeated Tide squad evenly for an entire game, save two plays in the early part of the third quarter.
But still, none of the efforts had resulted in tangible success. There were no wins for players to hang their hats on.
“Our players have worked hard, and they have never quit,” said Croom, who started the recruiting trail Sunday morning. “But at some point you want to see some kind of reward for all the work you do.”
Now there is a reward. Beating the Rebels for the first time in four seasons is incredibly satisfying. For the seniors it has been a long, strange journey from high school to the present, and a notable exception from all angles was a win over an archrival.
This group entered school immediately following one of the most successful stints in school history. Since their arrival the program has dropped off the scope of national relevance. “I know I’ve been on them for most of the year, but when you change coaches it’s difficult to stay behind,” Croom said. “The fact that they stayed when they didn’t have to says a lot for them.”
There will be many holes to fill in the roster before the team lines up to play again in August. But winning the game on Saturday should help lessen the blow of their departure.
“This program is one the rise,” Conner said. “We’ve got a great coach; a great West Coast system. If this don’t make you believe, then you’re in the wrong place.”