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3 Reasons Dan Mullen Will be the Mississippi State Coach in 2017

By John Richardson

Sep 10, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen participates in Dawg Walk before the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen participates in Dawg Walk before the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 29, 2014; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen (L) talks to Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Rebels won 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2014; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen (L) talks to Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Rebels won 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /

3. We’ve Been Here Before

Following an 8-5 (4-4) 2012 football season, Mississippi State football fans had high expectations for 2013.  Bulldogs felt like a win against Oklahoma State was likely and Mississippi State football would emerge as a national power.

That simply didn’t happen.

Mississippi State fell to Oklahoma State, leading to an alleged apology from then Athletic Director Scott Strickland.  It wasn’t so much that the Bulldogs lost; the primary point of concern was the seeming lack of effort as the Bulldogs fell 21-3.  We appear to be at that point of concern again in 2016, and I said as much in a prior article.

The 2013 Mississippi State football season got worse before getting better.  The Bulldogs lost to Auburn and Texas A&M with blowout losses to LSU and South Carolina in between.

Wins against Alcorn State, Troy, Bowling Green (21-20) and Kentucky allowed Mullen and Co. to at least get to 4 wins.  Fans were ready to leave Mullen if he could somehow beat SEC powerhouse Alabama.  The Bulldogs did indeed fight against Alabama and only lost by 14.  Fans were infuriated by play calling, though, and more were ready to move on.

The administration would have had to seriously considered letting Mullen go if he would have lost to Arkansas or Ole Miss in the next two weeks.  Instead, though, Mullen’s Bulldogs responded with back to back overtime victories against the Razorbacks and Rebels.

Mississippi State fans have to be thankful Mullen saved his job in 2013.  Instead of pulling a Les Miles with his job on the line, Mullen led the Bulldogs to a 9-0 start with key victories against Arkansas, Auburn, LSU and Texas A&M in 2014.  While losses to Alabama and Ole Miss knocked Mississippi State off their #1 perch and from the driver’s seat of the SEC West, it still goes down as the greatest season in Mississippi State football history.

After seeing Mullen and his team respond so well to adversity in the past, there’s no doubt the Mississippi State administration will be hesitant to get rid of the football coach with the best winning percentage in their history.

While fans have enjoyed Dan Mullens’ accomplishments, they’re also part of what is keeping him as their coach currently.

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