Jackson Free Press

Mississippi State began the Dan Mullen era by trouncing Jackson State, 45-7, in Saturday's historic SEC-SWAC game in Starkville. Chris Relf delighted one of the largest crowds in Scott Field history by throwing for three touchdowns and running for another.

The good news for JSU: The Tigers were paid more than $300,000 for their trouble. The bad news: If JSU's defense hadn't played well (really), the result could have been much worse. Unlike his former boss at Florida, Mullen didn't seem interested in running up the score, especially against an in-state school (not named Ole Miss).

Previous Comments

ID

151618

Comment

If 45 points is all State could put up on JSU then it gonna be another suckie year for the Dawgs. Even Ark. State scored 61 points on Valley.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2009-09-06T06:37:35-06:00

ID

151619

Comment

Wait a minute.."all" they could put up? is that implying that JSU was not a formidable opponent. JSU has never been a "pushover" and yesterday several 1st half mistakes could have been capitalized on by the Tigers. They are no ALcorn and no Valley by a long shot. alma matter aside

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2009-09-06T11:06:56-06:00

ID

151620

Comment

The Tigers did make a valiant effort defensively in the first half, though things did start to come apart for them in the second half. I predicted that JSU would given the Bulldogs a game in the first half, but that MSU would pull away in the second. Alcorn, OTOH, were thrashed by USM 52-0.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2009-09-06T11:30:51-06:00

ID

151622

Comment

Kaze- no implying,JSU is not a formidable opponent for a SEC team, score should have been 100-0 if State had any kinda team.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2009-09-06T15:33:48-06:00

ID

151623

Comment

Way to go, DAWGS!

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2009-09-06T16:40:33-06:00

ID

151624

Comment

Good job to the Bulldogs. I'll cheer for them every game but one. October 31, they're going DOWN. :D

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2009-09-06T20:06:56-06:00

ID

151627

Comment

Bubba T. clearly you have no knowledge of JSU's history, its past programs and their contributions to the NFL. The #2 leading rusher of all time and the #1 receiver of all time in darn near every category is from the SWAC. Im sure Maine or Appalachian State didnt subscribe to your way of thinking either thankfully. on any given Sunday Bubba (or in this case Saturday) so now im sure your argument will be that maine and appalachian state are superior programs to JSU too huh?

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2009-09-07T12:44:37-06:00

ID

151628

Comment

Kaze- Not saying JSU isn't a good Div I AA school,they are,and I do know their history, but that's what they are a Div I AA school. They shouldn't be a problem for any Div I A school, they should lose every time if the Div I A school, is any good. Kinda like a HS playing a JrH team if you get what I mean. Sure a Div I AA school like Maine,Appalachia State and even JSU will beat a Div I AA school every once in a while but that says more on how bad the Div I A school is rather than how good the lower division school is. I think it a waste time for a Div I A school to play the lower level school, it does nothing to improve their program,there are plenty of Div I A schools they could schedule and beat cause that's all their doing is scheduling Div I AA schools trying to get an easy win.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2009-09-07T13:42:08-06:00

ID

151629

Comment

Point taken..to a degree. But you have schools like Appalachian State who regularly whoop D-1 schools. you even had Marshall who made a living out of doing it before they went D-1. I think if the proper talent is amassed and the planets line up right it can happen more often than ya think. Remember those D-1, D-1AA tags are given out to schools based on enrollment not talent. and youre a only playing 11 on 11 at any given time.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2009-09-07T13:49:02-06:00

ID

151630

Comment

Bubba, here's the deal: You are right, to some degree, that what division a school is in usually indicates their sports' depths and abilities. Bottom line, they have less money for recruting and for their programs. But I resist stereotyping a school by their division. It smells a tad like that BCS elitism, which irks me and I thrill when a Boise or a non-BCS team steps in that line up and roughs up the big boys. And, I won't be surprised if a lot more of that isn't going to happen in the future. Now, BubbaT, I was at the Rock Saturday and we exceeded school attendance records as we played Alcorn. That means more money for USM and Alcorn. The pre-game ceremony honoring McNair was touching. That, and the entire day's interactions were positive, personally and monetarily. I think all of our schools within the state playing each other fosters good will and brings in crowds. People can get to the games and want to come and support their respective schools. It can be an economic plus for the state and the schools. I can't agree with you that scheduling any team is about an easy win. I don't think any of our athletic programs are that vain or hold the crystal ball at such an angle that they can fortell the future. And by your using the score to measure the teams, USM isn't cutting it this year, but I was sure glad that Fedora sidelined Fletcher and Davis and other varsity 3rd qtr to get secondary time on the field and to protect them from unnecessarily getting hurt. Don't you think the Dawgs might have done the same?

Author

J.T.

Date

2009-09-07T14:03:46-06:00

ID

151631

Comment

It smells a tad like that BCS elitism, which irks me and I thrill when a Boise or a non-BCS team steps in that line up and roughs up the big boys. And, I won't be surprised if a lot more of that isn't going to happen in the future. It's happening more every year. In fact, just the other night, BYU beat #3 Oklahoma. This comes on the heels Utah beating Alabama in last season's Sugar Bowl.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2009-09-07T16:07:49-06:00

ID

151632

Comment

J.T. - it's not BCS eltism, I felt the same way before there ever was a BCS. You're right Div.I schools have more money and should be able to recruit the best players because of that. I just don't think it's worth it for a Div I school to play a Div I AA school. What does it do to improve their program, you don't get better by playing schools that are not your level. BYU is one of the big boys. They are former national champs. They are a BCS school and so is Utah.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2009-09-07T18:13:02-06:00

ID

151633

Comment

Bubba, you and I both know college football is no longer "just" about winning. Its about $$. And you'll see a lot of D-1 schools doing it especially when they know school like JSU will vastly improve their bottom line. The final tally was around 54,000 in Starkville, the 3rd largest crowd in that stadium's history. JSU fans travela and show up and the other 2 of the big 3 hopefully learned real fast that we bring in the bucks. If they're smart we'll get a crack at them soon too.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2009-09-07T20:47:04-06:00

ID

151634

Comment

It's definitly about the money now, it a shame too. But doesn't it bother you as JSU fan that they are doing it for the money?

Author

BubbaT

Date

2009-09-07T21:05:40-06:00

ID

151635

Comment

Does it bother you, Bubba, that you go to work every day for money? Is that shameful to you? Probably not, for you probably work for BOTH money and fulfilment. It is NOT either or. It is both. For me, it was watching two in-state teams take the field with enthusiasm and cross the field at the outset in 2 long lines and shake hands and then line up and play good hard football. It was watching their bands perform two half-time precision shows worth the price of admission. It was tailgating with family and friends and running into people wonderful to see. It was the fall weather and the energy in the stadium and playing football. Money, you bet: equipment and venues cost money. Shame. Not no but NO!!!!!! Bubba, I detect you are doing a bit of gnawing on our bud K. about JSU, period, money or no money, though I could be wrong. Hurrah for Football!!!!

Author

J.T.

Date

2009-09-08T07:02:37-06:00

ID

151636

Comment

JSU fans travela and show up and the other 2 of the big 3 hopefully learned real fast that we bring in the bucks. If they're smart we'll get a crack at them soon too. Alcorn played at USM Saturday and had a record crowd of just over 36K. USM also record crowds against JSU too, so you're right about bringing in those big bucks.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2009-09-08T07:32:33-06:00

ID

151638

Comment

J.T.- working and getting paid to get the crap kicked out of you in a football game aren't anywhere near the same thing. I'm retire, If I do anything now its for the MONEY. :-) I would be disappointed in State for playing JSU for the money,if the divisions were reversed and God forbid, I was a State fan. I just don't see getting excited about a game, where going in you know your gonna lose(99.9% of the time)and knowing they did it for the money. Not gnawing on Kaze about JSU,not really about JSU/State that just the game the article was about, just talking about college football in general.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2009-09-08T07:46:24-06:00

ID

151639

Comment

Like I said earlier, JSU did give MSU a game in the first half on defense. It just came unglued in the second. I felt like the game would go that way: a tight first half with MSU pulling away in the second half. I will say this: JSU needs to do something about the offense. It came up with a couple of big plays, but nothing else about it was anything to write home about.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2009-09-08T08:37:08-06:00

ID

151643

Comment

Bubba, my Golden Eagles play Kansas and Univ of VA this year; I want to win, but, regardless, the television exposure to our program and school and the growth in the program we get from those games are important to it, to the school, to the self-confidence of the players, to building the fan base. It's not "only" for money. Like anything else that we do that gets us out of our limited pocket, it stretches us in unexpected ways. I'll go for the stretch. There is an old saying that unless we are going forward, we are shrinking. Playing teams outside our comfort zone helps us to see what we need to do to go forward. It gives us a new measuring stick to gauge where we are. Go all the Mississippi football teams in all divisions!! And, particularly, Go Eagles!

Author

J.T.

Date

2009-09-08T09:59:55-06:00

ID

151644

Comment

J.T.- you just proved my point, USM is playing teams that are the same div. but are considered better schools(I think ya'll have a chance to beat either one) in an effort to improve their team and overall program, not playing a team from a higher division to be cannon fodder just for the money.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2009-09-08T10:08:33-06:00

ID

151898

Comment

When is he Doctor going to feature the Pittsburg Steelers who are poised to win it all again? We will win it all again, no matter the bogus rape charges against Ben Roughburger, our quarterback, or the intentional efforts to sideline Pala-Mall-Him, the greatest safety in the game today. Dallas and the Saints suck! Neither will be around in the end, as usual. My nephew redshirted at Ole Miss so I'm free to hate Ole Miss another year with no regrets. The New York Giants sucks too. I was pulling for the Washington Redskins with Jason Campbell, a real Mississippi boy, at quarterback.I'm gonna pray for JSU and Mississippi State.

Author

Walt

Date

2009-09-14T16:44:04-06:00

ID

151904

Comment

I think that the point has been severely missed here. Jackson State and Alcorn continue to line the financial pockets of MS State and USM. The money JSU and ASU brought back was just a drop in the bucket in comparision to what USM and MS State made. Another BIG consideration is the money made by the cities. This is all tax based revenue and the City of Jackson could use this income. My simple point is, let's continue to play these schools but, let's be fair. If we play in Hattiesburg this year, next year, the game will be in Jackson, proper. Let our Jackson businesses,i.e., hotels, restaurants, make some of this money. The stadium here seats 60,000. We have much history of packing the stadium. There would be 30,000 more fans who would attend the game. What's up with the unfair distribution of tickets given to both Alcorn and JSU? Ain't nothing wrong, but, something Ain't right.

Author

justjess

Date

2009-09-15T09:06:33-06:00

ID

151908

Comment

JustJess- I heard that JSU returned a lot of tickets, so they were obviously given too many. In the SEC, the stadium is often filled with fans from the home team. There's no our side and your side like high school football. Have you ever watched an LSU or Alabama game? I've neer been, but the camera views of the stadiums are amazing. As for either team playing a SWAC school on the road... don't hold your breath! It's not necessarily a matter of race or prejudice. It's a matter of economics! Why would they want to give up the $$$ when they don't have to?

Author

News Junkie

Date

2009-09-15T09:26:09-06:00

ID

151928

Comment

News Junkie said, "Why would they want to give up the $$$ when they don't have to?" This is perhaps the most arrogant comment I have ever heard regarding these games. I won't hold my breath because I know that MS State nor USM will travel to a SWAC school to play on SWAC turf. There was something I noticed on the stadium grounds as USM played Alcorn State and MS State played JSU: The only difference in the teams was the color of their uniforms. TRANSLATION: ALL OF THE TEAMS WERE BLACK! ps. It is a matter of both race and prejudice. This is the germ of the school's existance. Your team will not journey to Alcorn or JSU; however, your coaches/scouts will and they have absolutely no problem making sure that they recruit the brightest and the best. You have the money and the resources to do this. CASE OPENED

Author

justjess

Date

2009-09-15T13:57:49-06:00

ID

151932

Comment

Justless- it might be arrogant but it's the truth. Would you travel to make less money, if you could pay a team to play you at home and make more? College football games are about money. That's why Ole Miss and State don't play in Jackson they can play Oxford and Starkpatch and make a whole lot more money than playing here.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2009-09-15T14:14:54-06:00

ID

151933

Comment

No, BubbaT. I would not travel to make less money: I would travel in the spirit of good sportsmanship and race relations.

Author

justjess

Date

2009-09-15T14:19:50-06:00

ID

151936

Comment

Being an All-State football player, I can tell you that SWAC schools simply can not compete with these larger schools these days for the talent. These kids bring those schools big bucks and they will do whatever it takes to keep them coming. Oddly, there was a time when these smaller Black colleges could compete, but it was because the larger institutions would not accept Black students/athletes. These larger school can suck up talent just so other schools wont get them. I do not see anything that would change that dynamic in the future.

Author

Goldenae

Date

2009-09-15T14:29:38-06:00

ID

151937

Comment

Goldenae- did you play any college football?

Author

BubbaT

Date

2009-09-15T14:55:27-06:00

ID

151938

Comment

Naw, I play highschool ball on a dare because I was known as the "Sandlot" King. I just wanted to prove to people that I could play. I played with MSU greats Kelvin Knight and Herman Carroll. We also had Steven Sessions who when to Tennessee on that team. I took an academic scholarship over athletic because I really did not enjoy practicing to the point that would be needed to be a college athlete.

Author

Goldenae

Date

2009-09-15T15:04:04-06:00

ID

151939

Comment

Me either, I went the academic route too, I turned down a couple of JrCo offers, I was sick of football by the time I was a senior, after eating,breathing and sleeping football from the 4th grade on it just got old.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2009-09-15T15:24:25-06:00