Here's the deal folks: Dan Mullen has raised expectations for Mississippi State Football. Trips to 4 Straight Bowl games, 4/5 against the Rebears, and talk of next year being the "Perfect Storm" for Bulldog football. However, the past week has seen the departure of Les Koenning (I say don't let the door hit ya!), and now talks of FSU looking at Geoff Collins as a replacement for Defensive Coordinator. Here is where things get real: What will MSU do to keep Collins?

If you've noticed, the Athletic Department doesn't exactly drop very much cash on coaches salaries.Check this out:

SEC Head Coaching Salaries

• Alabama’s Nick Saban – $4,833,333
• LSU’s Les Miles – $3,856,417
• Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino – $3,638,000
• Auburn’s Gene Chizik – $3,500,000
• Florida’s Will Muschamp – $3,221,000
• Georgia’s Mark Richt – $2,939,800
• South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier – $2,828,000
• Ole Miss’ Houston Nutt – $2,771,750
• Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen – $2,500,000
• Tennessee’s Derek Dooley – $2,330,591
• Kentucky’s Joker Phillips – $1,702,489
• Vanderbilt’s James Franklin – N/A

SEC Coaching Staff Salary Totals(includes HC)

• Alabama -- $8.5 million
• Auburn -- $7.6 million
• LSU -- $7.6 million
• Florida -- $6.3 million
• Arkansas -- $5.9 million
• Georgia -- $5.6 million
• Tennessee -- $5.5 million
• Ole Miss -- $5.2 million
• South Carolina -- $5.2 million
• Mississippi State -- $4.5 million
• Kentucky -- $3.9 million
• Vanderbilt -- N/A

(Credit: Chris Low, ESPN.com)

Vanderbilt doesn't release it's salary figures. So we can go ahead and assume they pay more than the $3.9 million that Kentucky is shelling out. I would wager to say more than MSU's $4.5 million. So that puts State SECOND TO LAST in coaching salaries in the SEC. I know myself, as well as every other MSU fan, would LOVE to see the Bulldogs compete for an SEC Championship, but you have to start asking yourself if this is realistic without paying some money to keep some QUALITY assistant coaches. I would LOVE to see State shell out some cash to keep Collins around for the next few years. DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!