Jackson Free Press

Saturday's Jackson State-Mississippi State game is the most intriguing so far this season, even if it's a huge mismatch. Mississippi State is making history by becoming the first SEC team to play a SWAC school in football. It's also the first time in the modern era that the Bulldogs have played a Mississippi team besides Ole Miss or Southern Miss.

Athletic director Greg Byrne told The Clarion-Ledger that Jackson State matched several criteria he had for the Bulldogs' first game under head coach Dan Mullen.

"To be honest, we weren't thinking of it in terms of a historical perspective," Byrne said. "… We felt it made more sense to play, if possible, a regional (I-AA) team or someone in our own state. It also made sense to find a team that has a history of its fans traveling well. …

"Now we're excited about bringing their band, their team, their fans to our campus. The historical part? We're honored to be a part of that."

JSU will earn $315,000, which is reportedly the biggest game check in school history. It's just the third time the Tigers have played a I-A team. Southern Miss defeated JSU in Hattiesburg in 1987 and 2002.

Every one expects the Bulldogs to win easily on Saturday. But Tigers coach Rick Comegy told The Clarion-Ledger he hopes JSU can play David to MSU's Goliath.

"The opportunity to compete is there for us," Comegy said. "We may not ever play an SEC school again."

One of the more interesting aspects of Saturday's game is the quarterbacks. JSU's Trae Rutland transferred from MSU to JSU two years ago. He has never lived up to expectations at JSU. Rutland entered preseason practice as the starter, but he has apparently been beaten out by redshirt freshman Dedric McDonald.

(UPDATE: After the JFP went to press, Comegy announced that Rutland will start against MSU on Saturday. Comegy loves to play mind games when it comes to Tigers quarterbacks.)

Mullen has refused to name his starting quarterback: Tyson Lee or Chris Relf. He has insisted the race to decide who will run the Bulldogs' new spread offense is even.

"I don't know what we're going to run on the first play of the game yet, but that will probably determine who the starter is," Mullen told The Associated Press.

Lee, a senior, is a gutsy leader who excels at throwing the ball. Relf, a redshirt freshman, can make plays with his arm and legs. Mullen says they will both play.

"We'll play more than one quarterback in the first half of the first game," Mullen told ESPN.com. "Until you know who it is, why not? Even if there was enough separation, I'd go ahead and do that, because you have to have your number two ready to go in a game situation."

Left tackle Derek Sherrod has seen both quarterbacks in action up close.

"Tyson Lee, he's obviously one of the greatest leaders on the team," Sherrod told The Associated Press. "You know he demands everything on the field and has a very good presence about him. "And Chris Relf, he's coming in strong, he's learning this offense very well and he's an ideal type of quarterback for this offense."

If Mullen plans to play highly touted freshman Tyler Russell, he's keeping it to himself. Many consider Russell to be the Bulldogs' starter-in-waiting. Mullen says he won't use Russell until he's ready.

"If we feel (Russell) can play significant meaningful snaps and is ready to go, then we're going to do that," Mullen told ESPN.com. "We're not going to play him just to be playing him."

Mullen was hired to bring excitement to an MSU program whose fans had grown disenchanted after a decade of mostly losing and plodding offense. He has brought youthful enthusiasm and a big reputation based on leading Florida's championship-winning offense. The big question is, can he turn MSU into an exciting, winning program?

"We've done nothing but emphasize winning," Mullen told The Memphis Commercial Appeal. "Everything we've done in the offseason, we've had a winner or loser so our guys heard the word 'competition' from day one. When things get tough, they have to buck up a little tighter, compete a little bit more."

Uniform Update
Mississippi State: In the football preview, Doctor S neglected to mention that the Bulldogs are planning to wear black socks and black shoes. Has anybody ever seen a college football team wear black socks before? If State wins big, everybody will do it.

Belhaven: The Blazers came out in their opener wearing great-looking all-green uniforms with green helmets. Doctor S doesn't recall seeing Belhaven in green helmets before. The Blazers' performance, however, was downright ugly.

This Week's Winners
These college teams will have a reason to celebrate when their games are over: Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Mississippi College and Ole Miss.