Mississippi State University will kick off its 106th college football season tomorrow when the Bulldogs play host to the Murray (Ky.) State University Racers of the Ohio Valley Conference.
Mississippi State will seek to use the home opener as a springboard of sorts, reclaiming the home-field success the school saw from 1997-2000 against a Racers team that finished 7-4 last season.
In 2004, under the guidance of head coach Sylvester Croom, the Bulldogs began to channel some of the toughness and edge of the late 90s squads, finishing 3-3 at Davis Wade Stadium.
Saturday’s match up will mark just the second game all-time between the Bulldogs and Racers. The first meeting saw the Bulldogs triumph 69-0 in their 1946 Homecoming game.
Mississippi State has posted a 152-113-10 record all-time against non-SEC schools and tallied 14 wins in its last 22 contests against non-conference opponents.
The Bulldogs are 18-1-1 all-time against teams in the OVC, 16 of the wins coming against Samford, the 1946 Homecoming against the Racers and a 2002 victory over Jacksonville State.
The Bulldogs, winners of 21 out of their last 25 season openers, are anxiously anticipating Saturday’s contest-and with good reason-nearly 30 players will be donning the Maroon and White for the first time.
Coach Croom addressed the team’s relative inexperience after practice Tuesday.
“Right now, that’s a concern, but it’s good in that you have young players who can play, whereas last year we were looking for guys,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how much you practice-that first game, they’re going to have butterflies. Hopefully, when one of those Racers from Murray State hits them in the mouth, they’ll know how to react.”
The same hard-hitting Racers have posted a winning record in nine of the past 11 seasons. They are 3-2 in season openers under coach Joe Pannunzio, with the two losses coming against 1A schools-Ole Miss in 2001 and Memphis in 2002.
In the past two season openers, they have defeated Valparaiso (2003) and Glenville State (2004) by scores of 34-0 and 56-3.
The Racers are 2-15-1 all-time against 1A opponents. Since 1998, the team has gone winless against eight 1-A teams, including schools such as BYU, Wisconsin, Ole Miss and Kentucky. The Racers are 0-3 all-time against teams from the Southeastern Conference.
Murray State prides itself on defense and hopes to give the Bulldogs’ Jerious Norwood-led running game fits.
“They do a great job of stopping the running game,” said offensive line coach J.B. Grimes. “They play an eight man front with a lot of pressure. They have tremendous speed and will offer us a lot of challenges.”
The Racers feature senior Tony Ryan at linebacker, as well as transfer players from schools such as Missouri, Louisville and Texas Christian.
Grimes likened the Racers’ defensive style to what has made Virginia Tech so successful over the years and commented on the youth on the team.
“We’re dealing with so many young guys right now,” he said, “and when you’re dealing with young players, you throw them out there and don’t really know what you have until you put the tape on the next morning and just see.”
Coach Croom stressed his desire to see players lead themselves.
“We don’t just need senior leadership; we need leadership from everyone,” he said. “First of all, I’d like everyone to lead themselves. But we have guys like [Kevin] Dockery, [Chris] McNeil, [Clarence] MacDougal and Norwood. Those guys have done a good job of setting an example.”
The Bulldogs’ starting center Chris McNeil is also looking to start the season, but with the calmness and maturity a veteran senior leader should have.
“Going into this year, we’re more comfortable with what we’re doing,” McNeil said. “There’s more of a comfort level [compared to 2004], and everyone is used to each other. I’ve been pleased with the young guys. They’ve progressed, and we have a good backbone for the future.”
McNeil enters his senior season on the initial watch list for the 2005 Rimington Award, given annually to the nation’s top center. He also expressed his eagerness to start the season and is expecting many happy-and sad-moments this year, the last of his college career.
“I’m ready. I’m tired of hitting my own teammates,” he joked. “I’m excited. It’s time to find out where we stand. It’s going to be a good season.”
Coach Croom hinted that the young players will be seeing ample playing time against Murray State.
“The concentration is on the game-our players and their players,” he said after Wednesday’s practice. “We’re working hard. The attitude is very positive right now. We’re inexperienced, but that’s going to change fast. Those kids that haven’t played for the first time, they’ll play a lot Saturday night, and on Sunday morning, they won’t be inexperienced anymore.”