http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=825704
<div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 4px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; PADDING-TOP: 4px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f6f6f8"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: 900; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Building the Bulldogs</span>
I'd like to know your thoughts on <font color="#0A4EA3">Mississippi State</font>. After an 8-5 campaign in 2007, coach <font color="#0A4EA3">Sylvester Croom</font> is quietly building a solid foundation in Starkville. If you take a look at his early commitments for '09 and listen to the reactions of the recruits he speaks with, I think you'll see Coach Croom is putting together something special in the Magnolia State.</p>
- Todd in Mississippi
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle"><font size="1">Sylvester Croom now appears to have Mississippi State headed in the right direction.</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>At this time last year, I wrote that I doubted Mississippi State would fare much better than it had in the first three seasons under Croom. That was no knock on Sly, but I just didn't think he had enough talent - especially on offense.
I'll happily admit when I'm wrong, particularly when my error was in underestimating Croom and his program. That won't happen again.</p>
While I do not see Mississippi State as a championship contender in the SEC, I do think another bowl appearance is in the Bulldogs' future. The defense will be strong again. The offense should be better with quarterback <font color="#0A4EA3">Wesley Carroll</font> having experience and <font color="#0A4EA3">Anthony Dixon</font> behind him in the backfield. But the offensive line is inexperienced and the receivers are suspect.</p>
However, Croom is well on the way to addressing those issues. His 2008 class included three offensive linemen that were either three- or four-star prospects. He already has 10 commitments for the 2009 class, including four-star wide receiver <font color="#0A4EA3">Chris Smith</font> of Meridian, Miss.</p>
If an in-state program could consistently attract the top prospects in Mississippi, it could become a national power. In 2008, Croom signed eight of Mississippi's top 25. That's not too bad.</p>
Still, with <font color="#0A4EA3">Houston Nutt</font> now at <font color="#0A4EA3">Ole Miss</font> and <font color="#0A4EA3">Larry Fedora</font> at <font color="#0A4EA3">Southern Miss</font>, the in-state recruiting competition is going to be fiercer. The three Mississippi schools finished in the top 25 in 1999, and it might not be too long before that happens again.</p> </div>
<div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 4px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; PADDING-TOP: 4px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f6f6f8"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: 900; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Building the Bulldogs</span>
I'd like to know your thoughts on <font color="#0A4EA3">Mississippi State</font>. After an 8-5 campaign in 2007, coach <font color="#0A4EA3">Sylvester Croom</font> is quietly building a solid foundation in Starkville. If you take a look at his early commitments for '09 and listen to the reactions of the recruits he speaks with, I think you'll see Coach Croom is putting together something special in the Magnolia State.</p>
- Todd in Mississippi
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</p>
</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="258" align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="252">
I'll happily admit when I'm wrong, particularly when my error was in underestimating Croom and his program. That won't happen again.</p>
While I do not see Mississippi State as a championship contender in the SEC, I do think another bowl appearance is in the Bulldogs' future. The defense will be strong again. The offense should be better with quarterback <font color="#0A4EA3">Wesley Carroll</font> having experience and <font color="#0A4EA3">Anthony Dixon</font> behind him in the backfield. But the offensive line is inexperienced and the receivers are suspect.</p>
However, Croom is well on the way to addressing those issues. His 2008 class included three offensive linemen that were either three- or four-star prospects. He already has 10 commitments for the 2009 class, including four-star wide receiver <font color="#0A4EA3">Chris Smith</font> of Meridian, Miss.</p>
If an in-state program could consistently attract the top prospects in Mississippi, it could become a national power. In 2008, Croom signed eight of Mississippi's top 25. That's not too bad.</p>
Still, with <font color="#0A4EA3">Houston Nutt</font> now at <font color="#0A4EA3">Ole Miss</font> and <font color="#0A4EA3">Larry Fedora</font> at <font color="#0A4EA3">Southern Miss</font>, the in-state recruiting competition is going to be fiercer. The three Mississippi schools finished in the top 25 in 1999, and it might not be too long before that happens again.</p> </div>
