The End is Nigh

Well, I originally sat down to write up my weekly “Good, Bad & Unknown” but the entire article would have quite literally been one giant “Bad” section, so I opted to write this instead. Spoiler alert: this isn’t going to be much more positive than the original article would’ve been.

Mississippi State is currently sitting at a 2-3 record at the halfway point of the college football season and I could not feel worse about it. There isn’t a position group that gives me a single shred of optimism for the rest of the season after that abysmal performance on Saturday from all three phases of the game. The man I thought had the potential to be a bright spot on the squad, Fred Ross, would’ve barely had any stats to post if it wasn’t for the garbage time TD that closed the gap to a mere 21 points. Between his numerous dropped passes and muffed punts, I hope Ross has already buried this game deep into his subconscious.

In his Monday presser following a game in which his QB completed an even 50% of passes, Dan Mullen stated that he believes Nick Fitzgerald is a better passer than Dak Prescott was at the same point in his career.

I have no words.

Mississippi State has seven games remaining in the 2016 season. Three are at home, two are non-conference games, the last four opponents are all currently ranked and one is a West Coast night game coming off a short week.

Find me four more wins.

Realistically, I think we get three. BYU will be a rough one but I think we pull it out because #SEC I guess, make Samford win number 4, and Kentucky is still Kentucky but that’s about it for as far as my optimism goes. There’s absolutely no way we beat Alabama or A&M, so that leaves Arkansas and Ole Miss for us to try to rob a W from.

I’m not saying it’s impossible. Hell, we did it just three years ago in 2013. Granted, it was with the help of the best player in MSU history, but it still happened. After Week 5 the Dawgs were 2-3 with wins against Alcorn St and Troy, but they ended up going 4-3 in their last seven with OT wins at Arkansas and in the Egg Bowl. It’s doable, just not likely.

Sorry if this was a little too doom and gloom for you or if this doesn’t perpetuate the “Family” mantra of Mississippi State, but I’m angry. I’m angry because I know the team is better than what we saw Saturday. I’m angry because I know Dan Mullen is a better coach than what he has shown us this season. I’m angry because I don’t think MSU will make a bowl game this year. I’m angry because there are fans telling me that I shouldn’t be upset with a down year because this is Mississippi State and I should just be grateful for what we have.

I refuse to accept this inferiority complex we constantly place ourselves in as Mississippi State fans, we’re better than this. Mullen is the reason we now have expectations for Mississippi State every year. It’s up to him to become the man that breathed life into this program 8 years ago and right this ship, because right now, I don’t see it.

If Mullen can’t live up to the expectations he has created for himself, it’s time to find someone who can.