18 games into the Mike Leach tenure...

[MSUDC11]

I really hope we don't shape our perception of this season based on Thanksgiving night, because I really don't think Thanksgiving night will be pretty. If we beat Kentucky and/or Arkansas, this will be a successful season. Period.

I totally agree with you, and at the same time think our fans will view 6-6 as a disappointing year if it includes an Egg Bowl loss to a 9 to 11 win Ole Miss team.

 

[NOATLDAWG]

I disagree with this sentiment. A lot of people have watched Leach for years and seen/heard him 'refuse to change/adjust his plan'. Well, I do not know anyone that thought his plan would work in the SEC without any changes. I saw a LOT of people say: "If we can do xyz" or "if we can establish a running game" or whatever... That isn't him. That has never been him. So, if you thought he would be successful with an 'IF', you were wrong. And the ones of us who had watched him knew that he would NEVER do that.

So, hard headed does not work in the SEC. If Alabama and Nick Saban can change from the Ingram/Henry power running team to an insanely pass happy offense, you should know that no one wins here without adjusting/adapting. Leach has 20+ years of running the same napkin of plays... So, that isn't part of his plan. never was.

 

[johnson86-1]

The part about his record that you left out is that in 18 years as a head coach, he's got a grand total of two division co-championships. He's never even so much as played for a conference title.

So you're basically saying he's a better coach than Mullen because he won two division co-championships and Mullen has only won his division once? And better than Mark Stoops, who has yet to do better than T2nd? And I guess Petrino is better than them since he managed to win CUSA once, the Big East once, and a co-division title once. And then you've got Saban and Malzahn, Kirby Smart, etc. Which one of the coaches that have won their division more than twice did you want us to poach?

I mean, I don't think Leach is the best coach in the world, but it's pretty damn impressive to win at WSU and Texas Tech the way he did. Those programs are not quite the bottom feeders they are made out to be at times, but they are definitely at a disadvantage compared to their peers, and at a bigger disadvantage than MSU is (or has been since the SECTV deal; NIL may make our disadvantage just as big or bigger going forward).

 

[JackShephard]

I really don’t understand the Leach hate. Some of y’all really detest the guy and nothing that we do will make you happy. Is it because he’s kind of weird? You don’t think he takes football seriously enough? He has apparently taken it seriously enough to be a two-time national coach of the year and have a .600 winning percentage in two places where it’s hard to win. I really would like to know why some people hate Leach so much.

I don't hate him, but I didn't like the hire, and I still don't. Here are my thoughts.

Yes, he will win some games here. You can already see that it's getting better. He'll have some 8, 9, maybe even 10 win seasons. That will be great.

However, he has never won anything of consequence, and likely never will. I'm talking about division championships and beyond. His track record demonstrates this, and we've already seen why. His system is good for winning games you shouldn't, but also good for losing games you shouldn't. So, that's one reason.

But my main reason is the aftermath of his tenure. Think about it. This is likely the best OL he will ever have at MSU. 4 and 5 star OL will never want to play in his scheme, bc it has zero translation to the NFL. It's made Cross look bad at times. It sets them up for failure.

We're going to recruit pretty poorly under Mike Leach, and we're already seeing that. He will recruit well at WR and QB. We have no TEs. OL will be reduced to 2 stars and 3 stars with no other good offers over time. When he leaves, our offense will need a major overhaul. It will be a massive rebuild.

So far, Arnett has done a great job with the defense, so recruiting that side of the ball isn't hurting. What if he leaves? What if we turn into the Leach teams of old, trying to win games 62 - 60? Will our defensive recruiting suffer as well? I just think that whenever he retires or is fired, or whatever, we're going to pay for this era for a lot of years. That is my main issue with Leach. I like him fine, and I think we'll have some fun seasons under him. But it feels like we're trading away an awful lot for maybe a few decent years along the way. If I thought he could win an SEC Championship or better, then I would be fine with the trade. I just don't think he can.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

this is his biggest game to date as coach of Mississippi State. A win and I think a lot of fans who are on the fence start believing. A loss in my opinion doesn't really hurt him but a win - it's huge. I've said this since the bye week - Kentucky is a game I think we should win.

It's rare to me where - versus Kentucky - a loss is less detrimental than a win being monumental but this is the case.

Kentucky has improved as a team and program. Stoops has built something there over time. This will be a test for us because they typically have a decent defensive plan for us and if we don't make a plan to help our tackles one on one like the bama game, stoops will dial it up on us. We have to practice that all week and help tackles on the twist we let ourselves get beat on that too much. Will can't hold on to the ball. Either 3 sec pass or get Mobile like dak does to make a throw down field

 

[Crazy Cotton]

 

[Drebin]

Dan Mullen was about the smarmiest guy to ever walk the sidelines at State, so I hope you had the same feelings for him. I’m sure Washington State was glad Leach was their problem when he led them to a 55-47 record in his eight years there (43-22 record his final five years) when in the eight years prior to Leach arriving they were 29-66.

Dan Mullen was smarmy as hell and might well have been one of the least likeable coaches in our history. He was out for himself and cost us games while shopping jobs seemingly every November.

That said, Dan Mullen tailored his offense to fit his personnel. Guys were successful because he put them in position to be successful. If he were a decent enough human to get a commitment long term from a defensive coordinator, and was committed to us for the long haul, he may have seen some real success here.

 

[patdog]

I'd like to know how much we'd have improved as a team and a program if we played in the SEC East. I still don't think they're that good.

 

[PartTimeGenius]

While you have some valid points and I don't totally disagree, Why should anyone be concerned about the aftermath of Leach's tenure right now? What matters IS right now and what happens while he's here. If he flops, then yeah maybe start to think that way. But gracious, if he's winning 8, 9, 10 games a year some years, I think the last thing we should be worried about is the "After Leach" scenario. Enjoy the ride

 

[Ralph Cramden]

Not sure if we would be a better team if we were in the east but our record would look like we were a better team. I say that, but we still woulda lost to Memphis and it would be Georgia instead of Bama.

 

[Ralph Cramden]

I disagree with your OL point. It definitely does translate to the NFL and I bet he signs at least one 4* OL this year. Besides that how many 4 and 5* OL have we signed in the last 10 years ? 4 or 5 ? Maybe ? One 5 star. One 4 that I can name right away but I doubt many more. Edit to add Cross 5* Dolla Bill 4* Martinas Rankin 4*.

 

[paindonthurt_]

I don’t give a **** if I like him or not.

Just win.

And judge him by the same criteria you judged Jackie and Mullen.

 

[Cooterpoot]

I'm going to predict things are about to take a turn for the good. We win this week and that snowballs into some big things.

 

[vandaldawg]

Nah. I like winning. I like winning more than being right. He wins, and I’m wrong, then 17 me. I’d love to be wrong. And anyway, anybody that pre-hated Leach, and is so vindictive they can’t enjoy his winning, then 17 them too. So, it comes down to what it comes down to for all coaches. Winning.

 

[dawgstudent]

I love being right.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

IDGAF what the public thinks. There is a reason why most people who gamble lose money and the casinos keep getting bigger. Joe from Massachusetts sees even money in a game where a 6-1 top 15 team is going against a 4-3 team that just got blown out by Alabama, and he thinks it’s a steal. These are the games where books make a killing.

Computers say this game is a toss up. Vegas says it is a toss up. It is a toss up.

Just before the game I looked and most bets were still on Kentucky BUT MSU had more total money bet on the Dawgs. Kinda backs you up.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

I think you were onto something here