What Mike Leach said following the first shutout loss of his coaching career
By Keith Farner
Published:
Mississippi State’s vaunted Air Raid offense was grounded on Saturday in a 41-0 loss to Alabama.
Coach Mike Leach was shut out for the first time in his career as MSU was held to less than 280 yards passing for the third straight game. The Bulldogs have lost four games in a row in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-05.
Leach went with Will Rogers at quarterback after K.J. Costello absorbed a big hit.
The Bulldogs return to action next week against Vanderbilt.
Here is a sampling of what Leach shared with the media after the game:
Leach: “I thought we played hard. I thought we played sloppy and dumb at times.
Alabama is a team that has been put together over a decade…We’re a program trying to get there.”
— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) November 1, 2020
Leach said K.J. Costello is still being checked out.
“He’s an important part of our team and we’re going to look after him the best we can.”
— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) November 1, 2020
Mike Leach: “In the end, I think the reps and experience are going to pay off.”
Leach says he’s proud of the way Mississippi State competed.
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) November 1, 2020
Leach notes catching onto the air raid has been “slow and tedious,” but has been encouraged by a number of the young guys on this squad.
— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) November 1, 2020
Leach on the inordinate amount of interceptions MSU has had in the end zone:
“If we don’t lead the nation in this I don’t know if anyone else could.”
“It’s one of the most unbelievable things I’ve ever seen.”
— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) November 1, 2020
Leach was impressed with DeVonta Smith tonight.
Said, “He’s a pretty good example for anybody on our entire team.”
— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) November 1, 2020
Leach on the effort tonight:
“This would not be the standard, but as far as battling, I was happy with that. But certainly we have miles to go.”
— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) November 1, 2020
Mike Leach said Will Rogers has played very well for a kid who “should have just gone to his senior prom.”
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) November 1, 2020
Mike Leach: “We’re 100% healthy around here. Not even an ankle sprain. So that’s the good thing.”
Ha. Haha. Hahaha.
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) November 1, 2020
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
