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I don't have a lot extra for you this morning to go with your News and Notes. I apologize for that, I'm just not that chatty today. It's Tuesday and I am ready for Thanksgiving and well TURKEY. Here are your News and Notes for today, y'all:
Tweet of the day (sorry I forgot it yesterday):
I had a turtle once, too, Big Ten. You'll forget to feed it, just like I did.
— sir broosk (@celebrityhottub) November 19, 2012
- Congrats to Tyler Russell, who yesterday was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week after his 274 yard, 4 touchdown performance in State's 45-14 win over Arkansas Saturday. Russell broke an additional 3 school records in the process of piling up yardage Saturday, as he now owns the school records for completions in a season (201), yards (2,523), and 200 yard passing games (seven). State will need a big week from him again to have a chance to win on Saturday.
- As has been the case all season long, Monday was Dan Mullen press conference day. Mullen talked about this week's game and its importance, LaDarius Perkins' play last weekend, the Egg Bowl's impact on recruiting, and more:
- If you're more of a reader, here's the transcript of his chat, via HailState.com:
Opening Statement:
"Obviously this is the biggest game of the year for us. It always is every year. The final game of the year-the rivalry game, means a lot to these kids. A lot of these kids played each other while growing up. We have a lot of kids from Mississippi on our team that know how important this rivalry is and they grow up with it. It is not an intrastate rivalry like some rivalries are. It's a neighbor-to-neighbor to rivalry which makes it an even bigger game, and our guys know how much of a big deal that it is and we always put a huge emphasis on it. A win from this game would be a great way to finish off the season. There is nothing new on the injury report. Ferlando Bohanna should be good to go back in the lineup this week. He will be day to day with it because it is a muscle pull, but he should be good to go this weekend."
On LaDarius Perkins' play in the backfield:
"A lot of that is determined through matchups of how we read that the defense is going to play. If they give it to him, then you expect him to have that type of game. If not, then they don't. The great thing that Tyler (Russell) does is that he does not lock in on one guy. I can just see that statistically from what he has done all year. If we come in and say that we are going to try to create this particular matchup, if we don't have it he doesn't force it. He just goes on to his next read and makes the play. That's what he has done a good job of. If they give us those good matchups with Perkins, then I am sure that Tyler will take advantage of it."
On the Egg Bowl's effects on recruiting:
"If this game had everything to do with recruiting, then we would have gotten every kid in the last three years. And I guess they would have gotten every kid the year before I got here. I think that a lot of guys know what they are looking for in a school. Knowing what type of values are instilled in the football program, how they want to be developed, how the program runs, what the community and the town is like-all of that just has to fit who they are. So, I don't know that the outcome of this game always determines that. It will definitely give them bragging rights, but it just is what it is."
- For more breakdown and analysis on Mullen's presser, check out blog entries from Marcello and Locke.
- In addition to Mullen's presser, the media was also able to talk with both the assistant coaches and players on Monday. Here's the coaches interview video:
- And here's the video for the player interviews:
- Big congrats to Johnthan Banks, who yesterday was named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. The Thorpe award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football. Banks became just the second Bulldog to ever be a finalist for the award, joining Fred Smoot, who was a finalist in 2000. Johnthan is joined by Dee Milliner of Alabama and Phillip Thomas of Fresno State as a finalist for the award. Congrats, Johnthan!
- A rough night for MSU basketball, as the extremely shorthanded Bulldogs dropped a 95-49 contest to the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Maui Invitational last night. State was outmanned from the start, but the team never quit, so kudos to them for that. The Bulldogs did debut some new digs, but that was about the only highlight from the entire night. Roquez Johnson led MSU in scoring with 12 points.
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Mississippi State University | HailState.com
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Mississippi State University | HailState.com
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Mississippi State University | HailState.com
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Mississippi State University | HailState.com
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Mississippi State University | HailState.com
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Mississippi State University | HailState.com
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Mississippi State University | HailState.com
- Sounds like Ole Miss fans have gotten a hold of Tyler Russell's cell phone number and are putting it to use this week. They're not alone, as State fans have been calling Bo Wallace this week as well. I've even seen what is supposedly Bo's number floating around twitter. I hate to tell those who are calling either quarterback, but my gosh people, can you be more dumb? Calling a 21 year old and cursing him, yelling at him, whatever, is flat creepy. So stop it.
- Again, we love you so much, LSUFreek:
That's it for today's News and Notes folks. Have a great Tuesday, and GTHOM!