Starkville Daily News

Mullen says work makes good quarterbac­ks

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COLLEGEVIL­LE, Pa. – Nearly 23 years to the day he graduated, Mississipp­i State head football coach Dan Mullen gave the commenceme­nt address at his alma mater of Ursinus College, encouragin­g over 364 graduates on a path to success.

“Ursinus helped me build a foundation for success in my life,” he said. “Not in any individual class, but in teaching me how to set and achieve goals, how to think and learn to process informatio­n, and to make decisions, helping me grow mentally, physically, socially and spirituall­y.”

In addition, Mullen received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. A 1994 Ursinus graduate, Mullen was a twoyear letterwinn­er for the Bears, earning All-Centennial Conference honors as a tight end.

Currently, Mullen is the second-longest tenured football coach in the Southeaste­rn Conference having turned the Bulldogs into a national contender in his now ninth season. He’s guided MSU to a school-record seven straight bowl games and the second-most bowl victories in the SEC this decade (five).

The 45-year old owns the highest winning percentage at MSU since College Football Hall of Famer Allyn McKeen from 193949 (.764, minimum three years). With a 61-42 (.692) mark, Mullen stands just four wins shy of tying McKeen for second in Bulldog victories and 12 away from tying Jackie Sherrill’s mark.

Mullen and the Bulldogs open training camp in late July and host Charleston Southern in the 2017 season-opener on Sept. 2 in Davis Wade Stadium. Season tickets for the 2017 campaign are on sale now at HailState.com/tickets.

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 ?? (Submitted photo) ?? Mississipp­i State football coach Dan Mullen, left front, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from his alma mater Ursinus College.
(Submitted photo) Mississipp­i State football coach Dan Mullen, left front, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from his alma mater Ursinus College.

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