Jackson Free Press

I have repeatedly criticized your coaching abilities since you became head football coach at Mississippi State University. Your teams were absolutely horrible. Due to that undeniable conclusion, I publicly questioned whether you were capable of performing the job you were hired to do. And I wasn't really sure if you were. Honestly, after witnessing painful season after painful season, I no longer cared to know. Watching MSU football broke my spirit.

Until today.

Thanks to you and your coaching ability, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are 6-4 after having defeated 22th ranked, and the hated Alabama Crimson Tide.

Signed, Crow Eater.

(Post promoted from SportsForum.)

Previous Commentsshow

people keep forgetting that coach croom inherited a team on probation. as soon as they're off, he's got it going. and, he's keeping MS talent in MS. all he needed was time.

eyerah

Nov 11 2007

Well, to play devil's advocate, the probation terms that we received were awfully light. The worst part about them was that we actually received them - the NCAA didn't find one single thing that was remotely major in their investigation, they spent over a year conducting it (while their investigator was rumored to be sleeping with some umiss whore in Ridgeland) and then, to save face, they slapped us with penalties. I think that we maybe lost 3 scholly's a year? If that much. That's not exactly a death sentence. And, I fully believe that we could've had a winning season his first year here if not for some mind blowing coaching performances. We definitely should've gone bowling LAST year... losing 4 games by a FG comes down to coaching. Croom was most certainly a work in progress as a head football coach when he was hired. All this said, Croom is most certainly seeing his plan through. He recruits players that want to be there and doesn't cow tow to the guys that get all of the accolades in high school, though he has landed quite a few of them. It's hard to believe that his offense is still not stable after 4 years... but, it has improved. Our line is as good as it's been since 2000 and that's the most important piece. We're getting to the point again where we should expect to beat everybody that we play at home and not to roll over and play dead on the road. That's a far cry from where Jackal left us. Seeing Croom succeed is beneficial to college football and American sports, in general. The way that he's building this program is simply amazing and I wasn't completely sure that it could work. Jackie would sign classes full of 4- and 5-star recruits that would never pan out. Croom signs classes of 2- and 3-star guys that produce. If you can evaluate players and then coach them to their potential, stars mean very little. I always thought that if Croom were to pan out, State would be set for many years to come. We were talking with Spurrier about coming to town. While that has some "sex" appeal, Spurrier is not in any job for the long haul. Croom is. 4 years ago, it would've been unfathomable to think that hiring Sylvester Croom would be a better decision than hiring Steve Spurrier. But, looking at the direction that both teams seem to be going (AND, in the same amount of time at the position), I think that this is the case. Go DAWGS!

millhouse

Nov 11 2007

Go Dawgs, indeed. I'm having flashbacks to that wonderful game in the early '80s when we beat Bama (and the Bear) 6-3 here in Jackson. At the end we were going crazy, and a sea of red on the other side didn't move because they were so stunned. It was amazing. Back in Starkville on Sunday night, there was an impromptu pep rally outside the meat dorm; a bunch of us got so excited that we piled into a car and drove to Tuscaloosa with our cowbells -- where we promptly got kicked out of town by the police and had to drive all the way home, but it was so worth it. I also remember that so many people were riding on the hood of my Ford Granada for the parade/pep rally on campus that it had permanent dents. And I remember one of the football players coming out and dancing on the lawn to "Another One Bites the Dust." Back then, of course, the SEC was Bama, and we spoiled the Bear's chance then at his big three No.1 records. It was oh-so-fab. Go, Croom. You make us proud.

DonnaLadd

Nov 12 2007

I was at the game. The noise that erupted in the stadium during the last 40 seconds lasted for a full five minutes after they called the game. It really was just cool being there to see the crowd!

Lori G

Nov 12 2007

I was at the 6-3 game, but not the one this past Saturday. I'm more than a bit jealous of Lori, but am very glad I did watch the game on TV.

Ex

Nov 12 2007

BTW, here's a link to a great video of the interception return from the east side stands. I highly recommend turning down your computer's volume.

Ex

Nov 12 2007

Anthony Johnson catching that INT was absolutely huge. Without that play Alabama would've scored a TD and State would've been in huge trouble, staring down at a 16-3. I thought State would be 5-7 at best, but they surprised me. That said, GO HOGS this Saturday!!

golden eagle

Nov 12 2007

AJ's INT should win the Pontiac Gamechanging Performance of the week... guess we'll find out Thursday. BTW, golden... nice win...errr.... tough loss against Memphis. They have a solid tea....err....they really suck.

millhouse

Nov 12 2007

I listened to part of the game when they were up 26-14. I assumed that they would win the game so I didn't listen anymore. Much to my chagrin when I saw the scoreboard during the Florida-South Carolina game. My mouth almost dropped to the floor! USM has lost to some very crappy teams this year. AJ's interception would earn a Pontiac Game-Changing Performance nomination in my book.

golden eagle

Nov 12 2007

Beating BAMA truly made the difference in "to fire or not to fire." It will be interesting to see what happens next. I know that Croom feels good after this win. Congratulations Bull Dogs and to all fans!

justjess

Nov 13 2007

I'm personally very glad to see the positive comments regarding Coach Croom. Alabama passed him over for coach. Mississippi State recognized him as a worthy individual and gave him a chance. We often forget that any program in shambles needs time to cure. Sometimes, the cure never comes. And in a state such as Mississippi with so many colleges and universities, it is likely that no school will ever have a national champion. But the point is that Coach Croom is a winner. Matter of fact, he was a winner before achieving a winning record this year. What he has done to influence the lives of many young men will never be inscribed on a trophy. But his character and love will be carried off the field and into the "game of life" by so many of these players. Thank you, Coach Croom. You stood by your game plan, did not seek to appease the popularity crowd, and for that, you are indeed a winner -- both on and off the field.

Larry Nesbit

Nov 14 2007

See, Larry Nesbit and I agree on something. Go, Dawgs!

DonnaLadd

Nov 14 2007

AJ's interception would earn a Pontiac Game-Changing Performance nomination in my book. Not only did it get a nomination, but it won the Game-Changing Performance award.

golden eagle

Nov 16 2007