STARKVILLE — For the second time this week, Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen is denying having any contact with officials at Penn State University.
The Bulldogs’ third-year coach released a statement Friday afternoon following a report from Blue &White Illustrated, the Rivals.com affiliate for Penn State, that he would interview Monday for the Nittany Lions’ football vacancy.
“Neither I, my agent, nor the administration at Mississippi State University have been contacted by anybody at Penn State University,” Mullen said in a statement through the university. “I’m very happy with the direction the Mississippi State program is headed right now.”
Mullen and MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin are scheduled to be in New York City this weekend to attend the National Football Foundation Awards Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
Penn State Acting Athletic Director Dave Joyner announced Monday the formation of a six-member search committee that includes trustee Ira Lubert, the head of private investment management firms, and longtime Penn State women’s volleyball coach Russ Rose. Also on the committee are Linda Caldwell, the faculty athletics representative; emeritus communications professor John Nichols, chair of the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics; and Associate Athletic Director Charmelle Green.
Mullen, who is 20-17 at MSU, was born in Drexel Hill, Pa., and his father is a graduate of Penn State. He declined to comment Tuesday about the speculation regarding the Penn State job, and stated Friday he won’t discuss the matter.
“I will not comment further in regards to any speculation about job openings,” Mullen stated.
Penn State fired Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno in his 46th season after child sex abuse charges were filed against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Paterno, 84, holds the Division I record with 409 career victories. He testified before a grand jury investigating the abuse allegations that a graduate assistant told him in 2002 that he witnessed an incident in the shower in the team locker room. Prosecutors have said Paterno passed the information on to his superior, Athletic Director Tim Curley.
Tom Bradley, who replaced Paterno as coach for the final three games of the regular season, will coach the Nittany Lions (9-3) in their upcoming bowl game.
“As we go out to search for a head football coach, one of the first and foremost criteria is how that person would fit into the value system of Penn State, which clearly has to be honesty, integrity and commitment to excellence in academics,” Penn State President Rod Erickson said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.
Less than 48 hours before the 2011 Gator Bowl, MSU officials and Mullen agreed on a four-year contract worth $10.6 million. It includes a $1.4 million buyout.
“I think it’s great for the program,” Mullen said Tuesday about the rumors. “I would imagine there’s two rumors about you, either rumors you’re going somewhere or rumors you’re getting fired, so I’ll take the going somewhere rumor than the getting fired rumor.”
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