STARKVILLE —
Mississippi State”s week-long efforts to get fans to adhere to the cowbell compromise brought the results athletic director Scott Stricklin was looking to achieve.
On Monday, news broke of MSU”s failure to comply with the the SEC”s new artificial noisemaker policy, which allows fans to ring cowbells during pre-game, post-game, halftime and after scores.
MSU has fines stemming from both of its games against Auburn and Georgia.
The fate of cowbells at Davis Wade Stadium — the amended policy is a one-year trial — was placed solely in fans” hands as the league will evaluate the DWS atmosphere over the team”s two remaining games.
Stricklin and head coach Dan Mullen spoke to students mid-week at Newell-Grissom Gymnasium, and Mullen spoke to fans inside Davis Wade Stadium prior to kickoff about the importance of preserving MSU”s sporting tradition.
The extra education and stressed urgency over the Bulldogs” last two home games provided the exact opposite of MSU”s first two league home games.
“I don”t hear a cowbell on the field ever, so I think they did a fabulous job respecting that, cheering on the team for four quarters,” Mullen said after the game. “Hope we complied with that deal, can”t see how we didn”t.”
Stricklin, who tweeted his approval during the game, said he didn”t speak to the SEC representative present at DWS but said his game-day staff felt like the vibe was positive once the game ended.
“I think if we do that every time, I don”t think anyone can have an issue with the way we manage it,” Stricklin said. “For our fans that were concerned that we”d lose that atmosphere, we didn”t. It was still a great atmosphere, it was still loud — we just did it with our voices instead of our bells. I think it showed a lot of unity among our fan base. It”s pretty cool to see.
“I”m looking forward to calling the (SEC) commissioner (Mike Slive) Monday and tell him that I thought our fans did their part.”
MSU has one remaining home SEC game against Arkansas on Nov. 20.
”Dogs find success downfield; consistency still lacking
MSU”s offense was deemed conservative at Florida and off-target in the passing game against UAB.
Against Kentucky on Saturday, the Bulldogs took their shots down the field early with success.
On State”s first offensive play, quarterback Chris Relf took a deep shot but was just long of wideout Arceto Clark.
Later on the drive, the Bulldogs were faced with third-and-5 before Relf hit Brandon Heavens for 33 yards up the sideline.
Even backup Tyler Russell, who played the third series of the first half, took a deep shot.
Relf later found gold through the vertical passing game, finding Clark on a brilliantly executed play-action pass for 21 yards and a touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, after going three-and-out with three straight runs from their own 40, MSU went back to the air through Relf, who found Chad Bumphis over the middle for 35 yards. That completion was critical, as it moved the Bulldogs deep into Kentucky territory. Relf later walked into the end zone from 5 yards out to give the Bulldogs a 24-17 lead in the fourth quarter.
Relf finished the game 7 of 16 for 111 yards. It was his third straight game
“I don”t want to change the 214 yards a game running, but I want it to be over 200 yards per game passing as well,” Mullen said. “We were a little lethargic today.”
Saturday”s game marked the third straight week Relf has finished with a completion percentage below 50 percent.
Mullen said he hoped to play Russell more against the Wildcats, stating his desire to polish the freshman”s skills.
“We probably should have played Tyler a little bit more, and that”s my fault,” Mullen said. “I want to keep him going. He can really throw the football.”
McCardell makes impact at DE
Sophomore defensive end Shane McCardell hadn”t seen much playing time up until the last couple of weeks, but injuries at the position and the coaches” desire to keep players fresh meant he would get his opportunity.
McCardell entered the game with two tackles and one sack in just three games. Saturday, the Texas-native, registered a sack and a quarterback hit to force a pair of fourth downs in the first half. He finished the game with three quarterback hurries.
“They [Kentucky] threw the ball 32 times, and Shane has the speed as a pass rusher to create some plays off the edge,” Mullen said. “(Defensive line coach) Chris (Wilson) is doing a good job developing those guys. I always want to see us be a better team from week to week.”
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