Consistency and execution-similar in meaning and imperative in output. According to Mississippi State head coach Sylvester Croom, it is what the game of football essentially boils down to.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said “In our game last week we missed great opportunities in the first half to draw even with LSU going into the halftime. We’re still making too may mistakes, especially on things we have been doing for a long, long time. We just aren’t executing the plays we should be.”
Mississippi State (2-3, 0-3) ventures into the deadly confines of The Swamp this weekend and faces Florida (4-1, 2-1), its third straight nationally-ranked team in the same amount of weeks.
To make the heat of this game even more intense for the visiting Bulldogs, it will be Florida’s homecoming contest.
Saturday afternoon will mark the 52nd meeting between the two cross divisional opponents. UF controls a commanding all-time lead in the series at 31-18-2, and an 18-7-1 record in Gainesville, Fla.
If MSU hopes to fare well in this weekend’s gridiron battle, there will be some numbers to keep in mind. Currently State ranks 11th in the SEC in total offense, averaging 279 yards per contest. MSU must strike the scoreboard every time the chance is available, as the Bulldogs are 5-1 under Croom when reaching 21 points.
However, when the opposing offense is averaging 28 points per game, more points will need to be equated. Coming into the weekend, the MSU defense is ranked 35th nationally.
“Florida has a great offense. It isn’t that much more different than last year though,” junior corner back David Heard said. “We just have to go out and execute and play the way we play and everything will take care of itself.”
If there are any positives to be taken into this weekend, they must come straight from the face of negative past impacts.
Last year before MSU took on the Gators, one of the Bulldogs’ key players, signal-caller Omarr Conner, was injured. Pushed into duty possibly a week early, the then sophomore quarterback had one of his best games of the season.
This year going into the game, MSU must look for the same type of game from arguably its best offensive player, senior tailback Jerious Norwood.
Last weekend against LSU, Norwood was dealt a neck sprain and mild concussion from the Tiger defense. But he will still start this weekend.
“Man, I got a lot more left,” said Norwood, who was recruited by Florida coming out of high school. “I’m just trying to get myself well so I can go Saturday.”
Family Reunion
Florida running backs coach Stan Drayton was a member of Croom’s original staff in Starkville last season.
Players Go Home
Six Mississippi State players hail from the state of Florida. Freshman wide receiver Adron Chambers, classmate linebacker Jamar Chaney, senior defensive back Jamal Johnson, redshirt freshman lineback Anthony Littlejohn, redshirt freshman offensive lineman Dio Herrera and junior defensive lineman Andrew Powell all hail from the Sunshine State.