August 4th is now a faded memory. It was the start of preseason or Fall training camp. It gets us to where we are today, week one, and business as usual for the Bulldogs. Last week was a dress rehearsal for a normal game week, but this week was the real deal.
Up to this point, the team went through practices in triple-digit heat. It was definitely Dawg Days’ football practice in the deep south.
Head coach Zach Arnett decided to go old-school on the team taking them to South Farm for the first six days. This is 1,100 acres of farmland near campus but far from the comforts of the Seal Football Complex. This was the most physical part of training camp to “separate the men from the boys”, as Arnett put it. It can be compared to the Bear Bryant-style hard-nosed boot camp ala The Junction Boys. The team hasn’t been to South Farm for six years, since Dan Mullen. Perhaps Arnett and his coaches felt it was time to get back to basics.
But now the routine is getting established. The Bulldogs are preparing to meet Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. It is the season kickoff to a long-anticipated season, by fans, the media, and definitely the team.
Tribute to a Pirate
The anticipation is so thick in Starkville, that you can cut it with a knife. As you might imagine, there will be a lot going on to channel some of that energy.
One of the most poignant plans will be throughout the game Saturday. That will be a tribute to the late head coach Mike Leach.
Although the 34th head coach at State was the leader for only three seasons, Leach’s influence is still felt on and off campus. Arnett addressed this at SEC Media Days, “There’s a lot of slogans and words said in our building over the last three years: ‘Don’t listen to the noise;’ ‘Play the next play;’ all things that were kind of the DNA of Mike Leach’s program that we still say to this day.” Arnett said. “There is a lot that I have taken from Mike Leach and will continue to be an influence on our program moving forward.“
Saturday will be the first game at Davis Wade Stadium since Leach’s death. Throughout the game, Leach will be remembered in various ways. A presentation to his family will take place at the end of the first quarter.
Oh Captain, My Captain
For the last six years, Mississippi State abandoned a football tradition, the election of captains and co-captains. Arnett decided to reinstate it with the election of permanent captains and then rotating co-captains weekly. Arnett brought it back in an innovative way.
He implemented an electoral college type of voting system. Depending on your tenure with the team, a player gets a number of votes. A freshman gets one vote, a sophomore two, a junior three, and so on. Arnett said, “I had to give a great speech on the electoral college and all that to the team,” Arnett said. “Civics I know is going down a little bit in education, so that gave a good opportunity for us.”
Permanent captains will be senior quarterback Will Rogers and six-year linebacker Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson. There is no word yet on who the co-captains will be this Saturday.
The Starters
Along with captains, the starting lineup and depth charts were released this week. That alone signifies the start of the season and anticipation ensues.
The Bulldogs probably have more returning veterans than any team in the SEC. Still, the SEC media and others picked them to finish last in the SEC West. I tell you, the Dawgs don’t get no respect.
There were few surprises in terms of who the starters are. But there were some pleasant ones as some newcomers were standouts during training camp.
Offense
Rogers will start at quarterback on Saturday. However, offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay has a lot of wrinkles in his new offense. Vandy transfer Mike Wright will make an impact as a running quarterback in a wildcat-type play. Rogers, by the way, is a wideout in that particular one. This should get interesting.
Returning as running back is Jo’quavious “Woody” Marks. But making an impression is true freshman Seth Davis. Despite his stature, 5’ 7”, he’s been hard to keep off the field. Barbay thinks his size is an advantage to not being seen, hiding behind his larger blockers. Davis will be a solid number two to Marks and someone to watch for Saturday.
At the H-Wide Receiver position Lideatrick Griffin, Sr. gets the nod after a stellar spring game and evidently an impressive training camp. He also retains his position returning kicks. Backing him up as number two WR is true freshman Creed Whittemore. He has been equally impressive in training camp. The Z-wide receiver position goes to sophomore Zavion Thomas. There’s no surprise there.
Ryland Goede transferred in from Georgia and won out the lead tight end position. Geor’Quarius Spivey, a TCU transfer will be the other tight end or sub for Goede.
The offensive line is pretty much intact from last season with Cole Smith starting at center, full-time this year. Kwatrivous Johnson won out the left tackle position and Nick Jones the left guard. To the right of Smith is Steven Losoya at guard and right tackle Kameron Jones rounds out the line.
Defense
The biggest question mark here was the secondary. Well, the battle for three starting safety positions has been won. Shawn Preston, Jr., Hunter Washington, and Marcus Banks will start, and the question answered.
At cornerback, there are two starting positions. Decamerion Richardson won the position and will play alongside Esaias Furdge.
There was no surprise at linebacker as the two 2022 SEC leaders in tackles return. Jett Johnson comes back at WILL or weak-side position. Nathaniel Watson comes back in the MIKE, or middle linebacker position. The SAM, or strong-side linebacker was another story. That position was expected to go to either John Lewis or J.P. Purvis. However, when the dust settled, it was senior DeShawn Page who got the lead.
On the line is another set of returning vets. De’Monte Russell, Sr., will be back at defensive end. The nose guard will be Nathan Pickering, Sr., while the defensive tackle position goes to Jaden Crumedy, a fellow with hefty NFL draft stock.
Arnett believes in competition before, during, and after training camp. As he put it, “I kind of like the competition to play out all through the season,” Arnett said. “You want a hungry football team. You want hungry football players.
Then, There’s the Game
Arnett isn’t underestimating any opponent this season. Southeastern Louisiana is no exception.
The Lions won the Southland Conference championship last year and Arnett sees them as the Bulldogs’ first real test. Some say they have an FCS roster with FBS capability. The Dawgs have played SLU only once before and lead the series 1-0.
On offense, they had a breakout season last year averaging 35.5 points per game and scoring 59 touchdowns.
Their transfer quarterback, Zach Clement has already been named to the preseason All-Southland Conference first team. He had an impressive 2022 with 3,713 yards passing, and 25 touchdowns, but 18 interceptions at Northwestern State. But then MSU’s Richardson led cornerbacks in interceptions last year, so there is that. Rogers has a comparable record. He ended the season with 3,974 yards, and 35 touchdowns, but only eight interceptions.
SLU features two returning All-SLC first-teamers. That would be defensive end Arlen Williams and linebacker Donte Daniels.
Their offensive linemen John Allen, Jhy Orgeron, and Jalen Bell were also first-team All-SLC and they’ll be back.
The key for the Dawgs in this game is the defense. The front four plus a veteran linebacking core should tame the Lions on Saturday
It’s Just a Routine
Since August 4th, the Bulldogs have lived and breathed football. That changed a little when classes started on August 16th. But Saturday they leave it all on the field and launch a much-anticipated Mississippi State team.
For Arnett, the routine has been established. Sure, there will be tweaks and changes every week probably, but it seems the foundation is there. He will definitely want to add winning to the concept of business as usual for the Bulldogs.
A week ago, Arnett projected what one aspect of a game weekend might be like. He said, “We’ll go to the hotel next weekend on Friday night. You try to get essentially a dress rehearsal of what it’s actually going to really be. That way, if there are any kinks, you work them out beforehand instead of having to deal with the distractions and issues on your game week.”
