Rodent Regatta

As of today Mississippi State is listing eight members of the new coaching staff for football.

It isn’t yet clear exactly what role each of these folks will play, but we’ve got an offensive coordinator and a defensive coordinator.

The nucleus is operating!

I graduated from Mississippi State University. I’ve been a loyal supporter of the university for many years.

With that information solidly on the table, I have a few questions. Why can we investigate, arrest, conduct a trial, convict, sentence and begin a criminal’s imprisonment in less time than we can do similarly in the area of recruiting violations? Here’s what’s got me confused:

Mississippi State has been cooperating with the NCAA and assisting with the investigation for the past 2 1/2 years, the university said in a release.

There were no allegations of academic misconduct or of lack of institutional control, the most serious charge that could be brought by the NCAA.

In March, Mississippi State received a preliminary letter of inquiry from the NCAA which said it was looking into the possibility of those types of violations.

ESPN news story
December 8, 2003

Please understand, I’m not suggesting for a moment that I have any clue as to whether the school, alumni, coaches or anyone else did anything wrong. What fries me is how long it takes the NCAA to do anything. Remember this one?

The other annoyance in all of this is that the penalties, whatever they turn out to be, will be imposed on a new coach and team members who were not at the school during most of the violations alleged.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who was deeply moved by the way Sylvester Croom handled his introductory press conference at Mississippi State University. ESPN continues to cover the story. In a world of big money sports, fierce competition on every front and repeated scandals, this is a guy you want in charge. He seems to have the perspective that he’s got five years (or less) to influence some 17-and 18-year olds for good. I hope he can retire from Mississippi State in 20 or 30 years a happy man.

I met someone today. I didn’t get to shake his hand. I didn’t get to see him face to face; but, I felt as though I got to know a bit about him and how he thinks.

He was on the spot. He was being tested. He was being broadcast around the world. Yet, he said, ”it’s not about me.” Too infrequently do we encounter people who honestly say, ”it’s not about me!”

It’s a tough business coaching college football. It’s not the steadiest of career ladders one can climb. Yet, in a few, brief comments, I felt as though we met a winner who could be with us for a long time to come!

If you’ve got time, click on the 30-minute video of Sylvester Croom’s press conference at Mississippi State University.

Mississippi State University has planned a press conference for tomorrow to announce and welcome Sylvester Croom as the head football coach.

Frank Solich is out at Nebraska. Tommy Tuberville is staying where he is (apparently) not wanted.

There are many changes in the coaching ranks as the 2003 season winds down.