"I didn't want it to happen, especially with it being my first year and getting back in the groove. I was like, dang, you know? But it is what it is. We've just got to stay prepared, because from what they were telling us, we're going to eventually play."

"They're on the rise. Anybody blind can see that. I want to win a ring. I didn't get one in high school, so I'm going to get one in college, I'll make sure of that. They're attacking upfield, they're in your face. State, they're playing really great defense, Mullen's got that spread going, and (QB Chris) Relf's playing real good. I think we'll have a shot to win a championship, I really do."

5. Mississippi State: If you’re looking for a program with a lot of momentum, look no further than Mississippi State. The Bulldogs will bring back the nucleus of the team that hammered Michigan in the bowl game. Quarterback Chris Relf has improved tremendously, and coach Dan Mullen has this bunch believing. Chris Wilson takes over the defense with Manny Diaz making the move to Texas.

And UM was turned off by Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen's big ego, with one trustee saying he acts like he invented the game.

September 9: On my way to the Auburn at Mississippi State game I pass through Tupelo, Mississippi. I’m disappointed that I don’t have the time to visit the birthplace of Elvis Presley. At the game I encountered the loudest venue I’ve ever been to (college or pro) at Mississippi State. They have a great tradition of using cow bells to generate a constant buzz before and throughout the game.

"The only administrator I’ve talked to at any university about coaching football is Scott Stricklin. Right now we’re working on what we hope can be a deal that will suit everybody and get our program going in the right direction — the direction it’s going right now for us — in the long term. There are a lot of great things I think we can get done here at Mississippi State that I want to accomplish here at Mississippi State. I plan on being the head coach here for a long time."

"Without getting into any minute detail, for people to assume there was no follow-up for information (by the SEC office) would be wrong," Slive said. "There was timely follow-up from our office between January and July. As Mississippi State indicated, these requests were not fulfilled. We followed up in a timely way. Given the need for people to have a month or more to do that, we asked again. In six years, we've never had a problem with that."

Basically, they run the ball better and better each week and play terrific defense, the two most important things you have to do to succeed in the SEC, and that's what makes us believe Mullen's team has a chance to break through even in a division crowded by the likes of Alabama, Auburn, and LSU.

It was Dan Mullen's Mis­sissippi State offense that UAB head coach Neil Calla­way was watching on Mon­day morning. But he couldn't help but think back to Emory Bellard's days as the MSU head coach.

"I'm sitting over there watching film this morning and reminiscing. It's kind of like running the wishbone out of the shotgun," Calla­way said.

Mississippi is known as the Magnolia State, but I beg to differ. I think you guys should be known as the Mongolia State because you burn and pillage Florida like Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan and turn the Gators into little stir-fried pieces of Mongolian barbecue.