There is still hope for those MSU fans to prove those naysayers wrong.<\/p>\n
The tragedy of Head Coach Mike Leach\u2019s sudden and heartbreaking death last year might have been a catalyst of determination for the fans, and the state, but more importantly for the coaches and players.<\/p>\n
But, a new spark seemed to emerge following their bowl win over Illinois. Especially in the way they did it. This was new head coach Zach Arnett<\/a>\u2019s first game after being thrust into the position by the direst of occurrences.<\/p>\n There are many elements to that spark to give the Maroon-Faithful gleeful anticipation for the coming season.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll take a look at some of those positive elements that have brought about a lot of change to the program. There will be subsequent articles going more in-depth about each of these elements, so consider this a teaser for things to come.<\/p>\n Arnett was arguably in one of the toughest positions a coach could be in. One minute he\u2019s defensive coordinator to one of the best coaches in the country and the next he\u2019s asked to be head coach following Leach\u2019s death. All eyes from the fan base were now on him. What\u2019s a coach to do?<\/p>\n Arnett stepped up, rallied his team, and won their New Year\u2019s Day bowl game against Illinois,<\/a> in a suck-it-up, win-one-for-the-Gipper fashion. For those wondering, State came from behind in the 4th<\/sup> quarter, and scored 16 points to win 19-10. It was right out of a movie.<\/p>\n But after the last cowbell rang that night, Arnett was left with the daunting job of getting ready for the 2023 season. That means all the many things that come with being the head coach of a Power 5 football team.<\/p>\n Arnett takes it from a simple point of view, \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve got to do what I believe in,\u201d Arnett said on SiriusXM. \u201cYou try to be someone else; it\u2019s obviously going to come through as inauthentic and the players are going to read through that right away. But I got a chance to spend 3 years under, what in my opinion, is a first-ballot Hall of Fame coach. I mean the guy\u2019s won every year he\u2019s been.\u201d<\/p>\n Given that frame of mind Arnett set out to make his own mark, but keeping some of the values he learned from the former head coach, Mike Leach.<\/p>\n Arnett and his Bulldogs had an impressive showing at their bowl game, showing a lot of character in their come-from-behind victory over Illinois.<\/p>\n But, Arnett was working with an offense and a team that was the design of Leach. This is next season we’re talking about, when some of last year’s players will be gone, and new ones arrive. Also, the coaching staff has shuffled due to a couple of key exits.<\/p>\n The answer is that everything is new, from the athletic director, Zac (with no H) Salmon<\/a>, Arnett as head coach, and the other new kid on the block, offensive coordinator, Kevin Barbay.<\/p>\n Barbay brings in a new, more balanced attack with an emphasis on hard running combined with long passes. We saw a good example of what to expect in the Spring Game with Will Rogers<\/a> returning. He threw the long TD completions to Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin<\/a>, along with hard-nosed running from Jo’quavious “Woody” Marks<\/a>.<\/p>\n It would seem that Air Raid is a thing of the past, at least at Mississippi State.<\/p>\n The Bulldogs have a lot going for them as they approach the new season. One advantage they have is the schedule for 2023.<\/p>\n State has eight home games and only four on the road. By means of this schedule, they play the heavyweights Alabama and LSU at home. Davis-Wade Stadium is even the site of The Egg Bowl this year. They\u2019re on the road for South Carolina, Arkansas, Auburn, and Texas A&M. As a side note, Alabama has sometimes had problems when playing in Starkville. Maybe it\u2019s the cowbells.<\/p>\n There is a veteran crew returning on offense including the record-setting Rogers in his fourth season. Returning up front is a veteran group along with exemplary skills guys like Griffin.<\/p>\n On the other hand, the defense is another story. The secondary was decimated. Four of the five starters are gone. Emmanuel Forbes<\/a> went in the first round of the draft. Up front, the defensive line is still intact with five of their six players returning. Arnett should be able to shore that up considering he\u2019s the one who put in the schemes 3 years ago.<\/p>\nMeet the New Boss, Not the Same as the Old Boss<\/h3>\n
Replacing Air Raid<\/h3>\n
Mississippi State 2023; A Promising Season to Come for the Dawgs<\/h3>\n
![\"Mississippi](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/USATSI_19713459_168400536_lowres-300x200.jpg\")
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