Michael Henig stands back in the shotgun. His feet dig into the 20-yard line, ready to take the snap from center. He’s standing in the moment of the biggest conference game of his career, and only seven seconds remain in the game; his team needs a touchdown to get the win and secure a conference title.
No pressure, right?
That’s the scenario Mississippi State quarterback Michael Henig often faced when he suited up for games in the backyard. Every pass hinged on his team’s success.
“That’s the way my dad set up every game when I was a kid,” Henig said. “It was always the last play of a SEC game.”
For Henig, some things never change. He continues to have to respond in pressure situations.
This season, the junior signal caller will have to deal with the pressure of fan expectations, as well as satisfy the internal pressure that drives him to succeed.
Last season, Henig felt he was primed to lead the Bulldogs to their first winning season since 2000, but injuries kept the starting quarterback’s dream on hold for another season.
Henig, who suffered from a broken collarbone in the season opener against South Carolina last season and reaggravated the injury in the last home game against Arkansas, says he’s ready to leave what happened behind him and focus on the now.
“That’s something that happened and it’s over now,” Henig said.
The now starts Thursday when the Bulldogs face the No. 2 team in the country in the Tigers of LSU in a nationally televised game on ESPN.
“We’re ready,” Henig said with strong conviction. “It’s the first game of the season, and all the students will be here. It’s going to be an exciting time, and we’re ready.”
Being the quarterback that leads the football program back to a winning season is something Henig said he thinks about often.
“It’s something I dream about at night,” he said. “I know we have all the pieces, but we’ve just got to put it together.”
This season, the Bulldog offense might have all the pieces it needs to finally be productive and improve on an offense that ranked 11th in the league a year ago.
State returns every starter from the offensive line and has upgraded the wide receiver position to give Henig bigger, taller targets to throw to.
Wide receiver Tony Burks returns for his senior season, and sophomore Brandon McRae has emerged as a reliable threat for the MSU offense.
Junior Jamayel Smith and junior college transfer CoEric Riley are also in the mix at wide receiver.
“Right now, we’ve got five or six guys who can make plays for this team,” Henig said. “We’ve got some weapons out there. They’re all go-getters and I’m not afraid to throw the ball to any of them.”
This will be Henig’s fourth year in head coach Sylvester Croom’s offense, and the Bulldog’s head man says Henig is right were he should be.
“Mike is right were I envisioned he would be,” Croom said. “He’s improved his footwork and he’s become a smarter quarterback.”
Croom also said that he feels that the injuries that plagued Henig last season shouldn’t be a concern this year, due in large part to a metal plate that was inserted over his collarbone.
With every season that passes, fan expectations continue to rise, and Henig says that the pressure fans put on this team to win comes with the territory.
“There is a lot of fan pressure on me and the guys,” Henig said. “But like I tell them in the huddle, this is what we’re here for. If we don’t get it done, they’ll find someone who will.”
Henig says the offense will determine this season.
“Last year we depended on our defense. This season, the offense should be better,” he said.
“We have the playmakers who aren’t afraid to go across the middle. The offense will determine how good this team will be. I feel we’re ready to take on the challenge.