Mississippi State seniors apologize to Hail State fans following Citrus Bowl loss to Iowa
In a season featuring several frustrating outcomes, Mississippi State’s latest campaign ended with one final disappointment. Without a doubt, Hail State fans are not happy with the way Joe Moorhead’s first season in Starkville has come to a conclusion.
The fans aren’t alone, however, as two of Mississippi State’s leaders issued their thoughts following the team’s 27-22 New Year’s Day loss to Iowa in the Outback Bowl. This wasn’t the ending Nick Fitzgerald or Jonathan Abram envisioned for their MSU careers but you can at least credit both players for reaching out to the fans soon after the final loss of the season.
While Fitzgerald did register 103 yards on the ground and a touchdown, the senior quarterback continued to struggle to pass the ball in Moorhead’s offense. He finished the game going 14 of 32 for 152 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
He offered his comment after the game:
This is not how it was supposed to end for this senior class… And for that I’ve always put the blame on myself and today is no different. But I have loved every minute in Starkville and thank everyone that has supported me through my career! #Hailstate
— Nick Fitzgerald (@nickfitz07) January 1, 2019
You can’t put the Outback Bowl loss on the shoulders of Mississippi State’s defense, as Iowa finished the game with negative 15 yards rushing and converting only one of 11 third down attempts, but that didn’t stop senior defensive back Johnathan Abram from apologizing after the game.
Abram registered a team-high six tackles, one and a half tackles for loss and half a sack against Iowa.
I just want to apologize to all the fans & supporters! This is not how it was suppose to end, so many plays I want back from today but I can promise the guys here will make it right next year! I’m beyond grateful for all support & love! Forever a bulldog 🐶
— Johnathan Abram 🐆 (@JohnathanAbram1) January 1, 2019
Considering all the talent Moorhead inherited from Dan Mullen, combined with his offseason talk of raising the bar upon his arrival in Starkville and setting a championship standard for MSU, 8-5 seasons aren’t going to cut it for long. With so many losses coming on the defensive side of the ball, if the offense doesn’t pick up the slack in Year 2 under Moorhead, 8-5 may not even be attainable next season.
Classy move by the players. Sorry, but I do have to take a shot at the coach though. How about those ring sizes? Only SEC West team to not win their bowl game.
That was a stupid comment on the coaches part.
Very. I think he has learned his lesson.
I agree. Regardless, I’m not ready to run the guy off just yet, even given the shortcomings we had this season. We’ll see how he does when he has his own recruits to run his system through. Congrats to your team on y’all’s win today by the way. The UCF madness is finally over.
I guess you would have preferred him get off the plane and say, “well, we’re Mississippi State. We’re just gonna suck. I out definitely made a mistake when you hired me. You should have worked hard rder to keep Mullen so he could lead you to a December bowl game”. Anytime a new coach is hired by any te; they come in Talkin about winnin championships. In moorhead’s defense, he never said THIS year. He talked about developing that standard, first
A classic example of “letting your mouth write a check that your butt can’t cash”
Don’t apologize for taking a shot at the coach. He deserves everything he gets after his performance (or lack of) today! No excuse for losing that game. Clearly out-coached by Ferentz.
Put this loss on Coach Moorhead. The defense was adequate except for a few mistakes. The offense failed. The offense needs to be fixed. It is time to change offensive coordinators or head coaches.
Moorhead 100%
Give him time to adjust to a new league. Once he can run “his” offense. This will be one of state’s best coaching hires
LOL. “None are so blind as those who refuse to see.” I suppose the decision to hire Moorhead can be excused on the premise that they didn’t look too closely before the hire, but the decision to keep him after seeing him in action……well that’s a different thing. Offensive guru my ass: run up the middle, ask a run-oriented team to pass, run up the middle again, then punt. When that fails, you reverse the order…..instead of taking advantage of the gifts of your players, you sacrifice these gifts to your own ignorance and ego. When, in a few years when even the most recalcitrant are forced see Croom II for what it is, the whole administration should go, for their ignorance will be on display for everyone to see. Actually, I fear I do Croom a disservice. At least Croom wasn’t overweight or ego-centric, he was just a nice guy who didn’t have head-coaching skills. Perhaps the overweight has something to do with the number of penalties; you know, lack of discipline? Think about it; count the number of overweight coaches; should that not tell you something? LOL. Next year promises to be hilarious. Remember the term Croomed? At some point, we will get a term such as Moorheaded, although someone will have to come up with something with more euphony. And people in Mississippi wonder why people elsewhere laugh at them?
ONE year, give him time to adjust to a new league. I guess you preferred those December bowls that the team went to under Mullen. Once he gets the offensive skill positions rebovated
I’ve been reading your crap all year. You are constantly dogging everybody involved with MsSt football. You hold Mullen so near and dear to your little withered, bitter heart. Go be a Gators fan. I’m tired of seeing it.
Move on…..get some more of those dum a-s cow bells, and move on. Iowa ? Really ?
Grow up.
It was the Outback Bowl… just sayin
Better than those December bowls to Dan Mullen loved in his time At Mississippi state