Loss ‘probably needed’ as wake-up call for Bulldogs
STARKVILLE,Miss.— As a Jugs machine fired footballs to Donald Gray for more than 30 minutes after Mississippi State’s practice Tuesday, a handful of younger wide receivers joined him.
At the same time, within the football facility, Fred Ross and Deion Calhoun expressed the embarrassment and anger they felt after losing the season opener to South Alabama last weekend.
Each vowed a better performance Saturday against South Carolina to begin Southeastern Conference play.
“When I was looking through my social media on Saturday, I saw fans that were upset with us,” Calhoun said. “And I can understand their pain, so we really have to come out against South Carolina and prove everybody wrong.”
After a stunning 21-20 loss to South Alabama, a four-touchdown underdog, Mississippi State returned to practice Monday. Coach Dan Mullen apologized to his team for the loss.
“He can’t go out and play for us,” Gray said. “But for him to say that and accept that, that says volumes about coach and I love who coach is.”
The apology raised the intensity of the first two days of practice this week. It also led Gray to stay after practice and Ross and Calhoun to acknowledge an increased leadership role was necessary.
“In order for us to understand what Mullen was trying to explain to us, I feel like we had to go through that,” Gray said. “I hate that it had to be the first game of the season. I’m not happy about the loss at all, but I feel like for a young team we probably needed this.”
Mississippi State hasn’t lost consecutive games since November 2013. It hasn’t started a season 0-2 under Mullen.
The game against South Carolina should shed more light on whether last week’s loss is a learning experience or a new era.
“It’s redemption week, that’s all I can say,” Gray said. “It’s going to be a different team come Saturday.”
DEVELOPMENTS
Alabama player cleared: Alabama freshman defensive tackle Raekwon Davis is eligible to play against Western Kentucky.
Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said the NCAA cleared Davis Wednesday. The 6-foot-7, 325-pound lineman missed the opening game against USC.
Saban was not certain Davis will be ready to go in the home opener Saturday, but he said Davis had practiced while waiting for clearance.
LSU mascot sidelined: Diagnosed with cancer, LSU’s live tiger mascot, Mike VI, won’t take the field during home football games this season but will remain in his habitat instead.
In a news release, the university said that in light of Mike’s recent cancer diagnosis, no attempt will be made to load him into his trailer. Instead, officials say he will be let out into his yard early on game day so fans can see him throughout the day.
In June, Mike received treatment for spindle cell sarcoma, a lemon-sized swelling that had nearly closed one of his eyes. Since then, officials say the tumor has shrunk and his attitude, weight and appetite are normal. Still, they say Mike remains terminally ill, with perhaps up to two years to live.
Briefly: DeShone Kizer will start at quarterback for No. 18 Notre Dame against Nevada on Saturday. Kizer said coach Brian Kelly met with him Wednesday and told him he won the job . ... The NCAA has ruled East Carolina receiver Trevon Brown ineligible to play this season. The junior, who was a projected starter after preseason camp, sat out of the opener against Western Carolina, with the school saying it was to “ensure he meets full eligibility standards.” East Carolina announced Brown’s status Wednesday and didn’t specify why he was ineligible. It said Brown would remain on the roster and be allowed to practice as long as he is enrolled at the school full time . ... Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez has signed a contract extension to stay at the school until Jan. 31, 2021. The 69-year-old Alvarez has been athletic director since 2004, following 16 seasons as the Badgers’ football coach.