Bulldogs will divide on Saturday for the noon Maroon and White game, a mainstay of Super Bulldog Weekend. While the intra-squad game is a concrete tradition for Bulldog fans, the Mississippi State University line-up will be anything but solidly founded.
Head coach Jackie Sherrill cited many injuries on the offensive line as well as an abdominal injury to 2002 starting quarterback Kevin Fant as setbacks.
“We are really hurting on the line with injuries to left tackles Richard Burch (leg) and James Redmond (knee) and right tackle David Stewart (knee),” Sherrill said.
“We wouldn’t have Kevin (Fant) for about three more weeks, but even when we get him back, there is no guarantee that he will start,” Sherrill continued. “Starters from last year may not start this year.”
Fant, a rising senior from Moss Point, Miss., has not attended practice since MSU’s first scrimmage on March 29.
In his absence, sophomore Kyle York and redshirt freshmen Aries Nelson and Justin Tyler played in last Saturday’s scrimmage.
York passed for 374 yards, four touchdowns and one interception on 18-27 attempts, Nelson threw for 131 yards and one touchdown on 9-14, and Tyler passed for 19 yards on 2-5 attempts.
“York has an excellent throwing motion, Nelson has a lot of talent in the play action, and Tyler ran the option in high school,” Sherrill said. “We are trying to get him to better fit our offense.”
“If I could look into a crystal ball and say who the quarterback in the fall will be, I wouldn’t be coaching. Everyone wants to play and there is nothing to keep anyone from playing next fall.”
Bulldog faithful who don’t own crystal balls can expect a four-quarter, running clock format in which the Dawgs will call 60-80 offensive plays and kick field goals of various lengths during halftime.
The conclusion to football’s spring practice session will throw a bone to gridiron hungry fans while allowing the public’s first glimpse at five new coaches.
For more information on those coaches, see page 4B.
Kickoff: Noon.
Where: Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field