http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=281481&pub=1&div=Sports
The faith it must take to be a Mississippi State football player right now. Those guys truly believe things will get better.
“The spirit of this team, we have our ups and downs, bad things happen, but we always seem to find a way to have faith in God and believe in each other and come out each week and fight,” cornerback Jasper O’Quinn said after Saturday’s 14-13 home loss to an injury-depleted Kentucky squad.
Maybe O’Quinn and his teammates will be proved right. But not this year.
Because on what basis could one possibly argue that MSU will win any of its last three games? Alabama is No. 1, Arkansas just beat Tulsa, the team with the nation’s No. 1 offense – State ranks 107th in total offense, by the way – and Ole Miss has made more strides in one season under new coach Houston Nutt than the Bulldogs have made in five years under Sylvester Croom.
Yeah, last year is looking more and more like a fluke. But I guess that is from whence players are drawing faith. Because nothing that’s happened in 2008 gives reason for hope.
Here is the current combined record of the teams MSU (3-6, 1-4 SEC) has lost to: 30-22. OK, but three of those teams are currently at .500 or below.
Even less impressive, the combined mark of the teams State has defeated is 11-14, and two of those wins came against Southeastern Louisiana (Division I-AA) and Middle Tennessee State (formerly of Division I-AA).
Oh, but the Bulldogs beat then-No. 13 Vanderbilt. That win looks less impressive by the week.
northeast mississippi daily journal
11/4/08
