STARKVILLE — It has become a common occurrence for Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen to be linked to numerous job openings after every season.
Mullen was one of two finalists for the Oregon opening, according to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, but the job went to South Florida’s Willie Taggart. Mullen said Wednesday he was working on a contract extension with MSU, but he said Friday he hasn’t talked to MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen about it. He confirmed work is being done on a deal for him.
Mullen liked the attention he received early in his MSU stint, but he said the speculation and mentions of his name to other jobs has lost its shine.
“It’s really nothing now. I guess at first it was flattering, but then it got annoying,” Mullen said Friday after MSU (5-7) completed its first practice to face Miami University (6-6) in the St. Petersburg Bowl at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 26 (ESPN), at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
MSU will hold an open practice from 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. today at the practice fields behind the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex.
Mullen reportedly interviewed for the Miami opening last offseason, but former Georgia coach Mark Richt was hired by his alma mater.
Mullen took over the MSU program in 2009 after spending four seasons as the offensive coordinator at Florida under Urban Meyer, who is now at Ohio State. When he took over the program, he wanted to build a winner. With a record of 60-42, Mullen has guided the Bulldogs to a school-record seven-straight bowl games. His seven bowl appearances are the most by any MSU coach. He is 4-2 in bowl games.
As much as Mullen likes what he has accomplished at MSU with a No. 1 ranking for five-straight weeks in 2014 and facility upgrades, including the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex and a renovation at Davis Wade Stadium that bowled in the north end zone and added 8,815 seats, his family likes Starkville.
“My kids were born here. That’s all they know,” Mullen said. “We love living here. Our coaches love being here.”
Mullen has been on the road recruiting since MSU beat Ole Miss 55-20 in the Battle for the Golden Egg on Nov. 26 in Oxford. Mullen said he has had to sit in traffic in several cities, which is something he doesn’t experience often in Starkville or anywhere in Mississippi. He said he has “really got accustomed to Mississippi living.”
Senior linebacker Richie Brown said it isn’t surprising Mullen’s name is mentioned in connection with job openings because he’s a good coach, but he said he has come to realize he doesn’t have to worry about Mullen leaving.
“We kind of know he’s going to be here,” Brown said. “We talk to him and we know he’s going to stay and hang out with us.”
Mullen said he knows there are some in the fan base who want him gone and some who want him to stay. Rumors or no rumors, Mullen likes his job.
“I love being here,” Mullen said.
Defensive competition
During the season, MSU first-year defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon wasn’t able to go over the fundamentals as much as he wanted to.
He was busy implementing a game plan and getting his defense ready for the offense they were going to face that week. But Mullen has allotted five days of bowl practice to be spent on working on fundamentals and getting the younger players some extra reps.
Sirmon is going to use those practices as tryouts.
“We told these guys, ‘You’re competing for your spring spot and ultimately how it’s going to shake out next fall,’ ” Sirmon said. “It’s important for them to treat this not as a competition as who’s going to be playing, but as something this is the coaches are evaluating.”
The Bulldogs ranked 13th in the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense (33.1 points per game) and tied for 12th with Ole Miss in total defense (461.3 yards).
Sirmon, who also coaches the linebackers, is happy as anyone to have a few extra days to work with his players.
“It’s a good opportunity for young guys to get out of scout team mode and get back into the fundamental mode,” Sirmon said. “It’s a good opportunity for me to see how the guys have progressed from the last time we really saw them do a lot of work at the end of training camp.”
Williams traveling
Junior quarterback Damian Williams plans to transfer, but he will travel with the Bulldogs to the bowl game and serve as the backup to Nick Fitzgerald, according to Mullen.
Williams, who is 31 of 46 for 272 yards and two touchdowns in four games, posted a picture on Instagram before the Egg Bowl saying it would be his “final game in maroon and white.”
Williams graduated Friday and Mullen said he won’t be at practices this weekend. Starting quarterback Nick Fitzgerald said Williams was taking an official visit this weekend.
Redshirt freshman Nick Tiano announced earlier this week he will transfer to Chattanooga. Mullen said Tiano won’t go through practices or travel with the team to the bowl site.
Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Anfernee Mullins announced his decision to transfer as well, but like Williams, he will travel with the team to the bowl game.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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