TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It has been a season full of record-breaking moments for Fred Ross.
The Mississippi State wide receiver has seen records fall to the wayside after returning to school for his senior year.
On Saturday, Ross broke Chad Bumphis’ record for career yards in a 51-3 loss to No. 1 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
“Fred to me is what our program’s all about,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “He’s a very talented guy. I don’t know if you’re going to find a harder worker than Fred Ross. He comes and he constantly works every single day to be the best he can be. He’s a great example to the young guys that if you come here and work your tail off, great things are going to happen to you.”
Ross had three catches for 23 yards, giving him 2,275 yards in his four-year career. Bumphis had 2,270 yards from 2009-12.
Junior wide receiver Donald Gray, who transferred to MSU from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, said he watched Ross’ film from high school and knew he wanted to play with him.
“It’s an honor and privilege,” Gray said. “You just have to take a lot from a guy like that. He has a great attitude, always ready to come in and work, and always trying to find a way to get open and get better. You take a lot from a guy like that. I love playing with him.”
With 107 yards against Samford on Oct. 29, Ross set the school record with nine 100-yard games. David Smith (1968-70) had eight. Ross also broke Smith’s record for career receptions with five catches against Kentucky on Oct. 22. Smith had 162 catches. Ross now has 184 receptions.
Ross broke Bumphis’ record of consecutive games with a catch against Samford. He has caught a pass in 33-straight games.
Ross has 19 touchdowns, four shy of Bumphis’ record of 24.
“He’s had a heck of a career here, and hopefully he gets three more games to go finish it and add to all of his records,” Mullen said.
Risky Business
After Westin Graves missed a 47-yard attempt in the first quarter, Mullen decided to stick with Graves. Instead of yelling at Graves, Mullen quoted the movie “Risky Business.”
Joel Goodson, played by Tom Cruise, is talking to Miles Dalby, played by Curtis Armstrong. They are talking about dating girls and Dalby gives Goodson some advice saying, “Sometimes you’ve just got to say what the —-.” After asking if Graves wanted to attempt another field goal and he said yes, Mullen quoted the movie.
Graves made a 47-yard field goal on MSU’s first drive in the second half.
“He said, ‘You know what was in my head right before I tried that 47-yard field goal and I missed a bunch?’ He looked and he said, ‘You know, what the —-.’ ” Mullen said.
Graves had missed five of his last six field goals prior to making the 47-yarder.
Junior punter Logan Cooke (knee) was held out and freshman Kody Schexnayder replaced him. He had seven punts for an average of 30 yards, with a long of 40.
Alabama punted three times and J.K. Scott averaged 51.3 a kick, with a long of 62 yards.
“That’s a tough situation for him to be thrown into,” Mullen said of Schexnayder. “They won the punting game, for sure. They have the best punter.”
O feensive lineman out
Reserve redshirt freshmen offensive linemen Michael Story (knee) and Darryl Williams (neck) didn’t play.
Mullen announced Story is out for the season after undergoing surgery on his right knee to prepare a meniscus injury. Mullen said it was swelling up and they wanted to get it corrected and have him for the offseason.
Williams missed his third-straight game after suffering a neck/lower spine injury against Kentucky. He was taken to the hospital in Kentucky, but Mullen said he it wasn’t a serious injury and he should recover.
Mullen doesn’t know when Williams will return.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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