Dan Mullen had some serious explaining to do after his team blew a 17-point halftime lead to South Alabama to open the season. Coming off a 5-7 season, the Sun Belt’s Jaguars strolled right into Davis Wade Stadium and beat Mississippi State by a score of 21-20.
Entering the game, Mississippi State had a 97.7 percent win probability according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. The Bulldogs ultimately lost the game after junior kicker Westin Graves missed this chip-shot field goal:
Look on the bright side, Mississppi State fans: You set a new world record for simultaneous Surrender Cobras:
?????https://t.co/1S6DRvvFYc— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) September 3, 2016
Here’s some of what Mullen had to say after MSU’s second half collapse:
Mullen "We had opportunities and didn't take advantage of them. They made plays when they had to make plays."
— David H Murray (@DawgsBiteMag) September 3, 2016
Mullen: I give them a lot of credit… They made plays when they needed to make plays
— Joel Coleman (@JoelTColeman) September 3, 2016
Mullen on the second half offense: Didn’t execute well at times. Made critical errors.
— Joel Coleman (@JoelTColeman) September 3, 2016
Mullen was also asked about his quarterback rotation. While Nick Fitzgerald earned the start, Damian Williams was clearly the more effective quarterback against South Alabama:
Mullen said Fitzgerald graded higher, so that’s why he got the start.
— Ben Wait (@bcwait) September 3, 2016
Mullen said the QB plan was to have 2 series each. Williams did the best so he let Williams keep going.
— Joel Coleman (@JoelTColeman) September 3, 2016
Mullen: "Damian was moving the offense, so we decided to go with him … I didn't want to mess up our rhythm."
— Bob Carskadon (@bobcarskadon) September 3, 2016
Mullen said he thought about giving Fitz another shot in the second half but Dam was moving it and USA scored.
— Michael Bonner (@michaelbbonner) September 3, 2016
After scoring only three points in the second half, none in the fourth quarter, how Mullen handles the offense – and most specifically the quarterbacks – will be something to watch moving forward. Mullen stated during the offseason the team could rotate quarterbacks all season long. Will the embarrassing home loss to South Alabama change those plans?
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
