Mississippi State fired head coach Joe Moorhead after just two seasons in Starkville, according to college football insider Brett McMurphy.
The last month has been a whirlwind for Moorhead and the MSU program. After defeating Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, Moorhead temporarily saved his job; however, just four days after losing to Louisville in the Music City Bowl, MSU had seen enough to know that Moorhead couldn’t get it done.
McMurphy’s report cited discipline issues within the team and the late-season swoon as reasons for his firing.
Obviously, not many coaches are fired in January, and this one is certainly the exception. Moorhead seemed to never be a great fit at MSU, and he finished just 14-12 overall, including 7-9 in the SEC. It was tough following the program that Dan Mullen built.
Below is how the media reacted to MSU’s decision to fire Moorhead:
Source: #MississippiState is firing coach Joe Moorhead after two seasons. Stadium first reported Moorhead's dismissal. Tumultuous situation before and after the bowl loss contributed to the decision.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 3, 2020
Wow. #HailState https://t.co/dVEql9Bcwo
— Matt Hayes (@MattHayesCFB) January 3, 2020
So it appears to be done. I never thought this would happen two years ago. He had the resume of a rising coaching star. https://t.co/scGjgkwKbM
— Justin M. Strawn (@JustinMStrawn) January 3, 2020
If two bowls in two seasons doesn't buy an incoming Mississippi State coach a third year, the bar there has moved. Moorhead's 4th- and 5th-place SECW finishes are exactly where Mullen lived, but the consistency of 8 straight bowls was supposed to be Mullen's crowning achievement.
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) January 3, 2020
Miss St firing Joe Moorhead is more of them trying to counter the Ole Miss hire of Lane Kiffin from my perspective. I bet if Ole Miss keeps Matt Luke, then Moorhead stays put.
— Tim Givens (@TGGivens) January 3, 2020
Wow, Joe Moorhead fired at Mississippi State. Some program is going to get a really, really good, proven quarterback coach/offensive mind. Good time to have a vacancy on your staff in that area.
— Bruce Hooley (@BHOOLZ) January 3, 2020
I genuinely hope the best for Joe Moorhead. I think he’s a nice guy and probably had the right attitude.
Just not a good fit for an SEC West program.
— Kirby Cox (@kirbxtaylor) January 3, 2020
Joe Moorhead would have been the perfect fit at Boston College. ?
— D (@suckatsports) January 3, 2020
So the player pantomiming peeing like a dog on the field saved Joe Moorhead’s job for a month.
Extremely normal sport.
— Richard??Johnson (human) (@RJ_cfb) January 3, 2020
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
