Moorhead sets lofty goals for Miss. State
Mississippi State’s been a pretty good program for most of the past decade, rising from a doormat in the Southeastern Conference to earn a streak of eight consecutive bowl appearances.
New Bulldogs coach Joe Moorhead doesn’t believe that is enough.
“Our goal here is not to just maintain this program,” Moorhead said Thursday at his news conference to officially announce his hiring. “It’s not to insult these guys or this school or this state with low expectations. We’re going to do everything we can to bring an SEC championship home and be a program that competes for a national championship on a yearly basis.”
That statement drew hearty cheers from the several hundred fans who gathered on campus for Moorhead’s introduction. Moorhead, 44, replaces Dan Mullen, who left Mississippi State after nine seasons to become the Florida Gators new head coach. Moorhead has been at Penn State the last two seasons, calling plays for one of the best offenses in the country.
The new coach was quick to praise Mullen, saying the “foundation is laid” for football success at the school. The 24th-ranked Bulldogs have an 8-4 record this season and should return most of their starters for next season.
Charles Huff, running backs coach and specialteams coordinator at Penn State, might be leaving for a job at Mississippi State. Huff reportedly will join Moorhead as co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach.
Florida State
Coach Jimbo Fisher reiterated Thursday that he expects to be on the sideline Saturday for the regular-season finale against Louisiana-Monroe. Many are anticipating it will be his final game with the Seminoles.
Fisher reportedly will leave Florida State for Texas A&M and that the school has started the process of vetting potential candidates. Neither Texas A&M nor Florida State has publicly discussed details of the Aggies coaching search.
While Florida State was holding its final practice, Texas A&M’s Board of Regents was meeting to discuss the hiring of a new coach. Athletic director Scott Woodward and chancellor John Sharp were also in the meeting when the board went to executive session.
Fisher was seen talking to someone on his phone right before addressing the media.
When asked what he expects the atmosphere to be like Saturday, Fisher said “hopefully, great. Cheer loud, guys will play well and we’ll get a bowl game.”
The Seminoles (5-6) need a win Saturday to become bowl eligible for a 36th consecutive season.
They were ranked third in the AP preseason poll but lost quarterback Deondre Francois in the opener against Alabama and were 3-6 at one point before winning their last two. Florida State also needs a win on Saturday and in a bowl game to avoid its first losing season since 1976.
If the speculation about Fisher’s future has rattled any of the players, they aren’t saying much. Redshirt sophomore safety Derwin James said rumors about Fisher have happened every season since he’s been there and that it can’t affect the team.
Penn State
Running back Saquon Barkley, who will find out Monday whether he’s a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, was dominant in the Big Ten Conference awards handed out. Barkley was named the conference’s offensive player of the year, running back of the year and return specialist of the year.
This is the second year in a row he’s been honored as the Big Ten’s top offensive player, a feat previously managed only by quarterbacks Drew Brees of Purdue and Braxton Miller of Ohio State.
N.C. State
The school announced that it has agreed to a new contract with coach Dave Doeren. Reportedly the fiveyear deal came after Doeren talked with Tennessee officials about their coaching vacancy. Neither Tennessee nor N.C. State publicly has discussed details of the Volunteers’ coaching search. Financial terms of the deal weren’t immediately available and it is unclear if Doeren was formally offered the Tennessee job to replace fired coach Butch Jones.