BULLDOGS:Croom goes to the replay, sparks upset
STARKVILLE – A step back in time led to a step forward for Mississippi State.
During MSU’s off week, coach Sylvester Croom showed his players 10 film clips from last year’s Liberty Bowl win against Central Florida. He wanted to show his defense how it used to attack the ball, hoping he could inspire them to do so Saturday against No. 13-ranked Vanderbilt.
Croom’s ploy worked. MSU put the Vandy offense in a box and kept it there, earning a 17-14 victory in front of 43,619 at Davis Wade Stadium.
“This is a visual generation. No matter how much you talk about it, they have to see it,” Croom said. “And when they saw that, they changed during the off week.”
MSU’s win, its first against a ranked opponent since beating No. 3 Florida in 2000, came about thanks to the kind of offensive and defensive symmetry it’s not had all season.
djournal.com
10/12/08
Magnolia Tribune
