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....... | 1996 | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1998 | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1999 | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2000 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2001 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug |
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09/30/01
The #2 ranked Florida Gators, playing on all eight cylinders Saturday afternoon, defeated the number 21 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs 52-0, its worst loss ever under coach Jackie Sherrill. It was also only the second time a Mississippi State team coached by Jackie Sherrill was shutout. The other shutout came against Georgia in 1997 when MSU lost 47-0.
With obvious revenge on their mind after being embarrassed 47-35 by Mississippi State last year, the home-standing Florida Gators scored 35 points by halftime. With the score 45-0 and just 1:45 minutes on the clock in the 4th quarter, Florida continued their revenge by throwing a 23-yard touchdown strike to make the final score 52-0.
The Gators ended up with 640 total offensive yards while the Bulldogs, playing without starting running back Dicenzo Miller, ended up with 214 total yards.
Mississippi State will play at Auburn next Saturday night. Gametime is 6 p.m. and the game will be on ESPN2.
For more detailed writeups, please click below:
ESPN
CNNSI
[Sorry for the lack of quotes from players and coaches. The Florida Gators athletic media relations department does not give out media credentials to independent internet websites - Gene]
09/29/01 - How serious is Auburn about Hernando High School's linebacker Deljuan Robinson? Serious enough to have head coach Tommy Tuberville attend last night's Hernando football game. The last word I have on Robinson is he is a slight lean to MSU but continues to have Auburn as a school he is interested in. Stay tuned....
09/27/01 - MSU's practices have been very intense the past two days. Tuesday's hitting was extremely intense. It is obvious the team remembers how they played during the South Carolina game and don't want to play like that again.
09/26/01 - MSU football press conference.
JACKIE SHERRILL QUOTES:
On Florida.
"Florida is the number 2 team in the nation. They were number 3 when we played them last year. The difference in Florida this year is the timing and effectiveness of Rex Grossman and their receivers. Their receivers have improved, and they are very talented at going to get the football and making things happen after the catch. They will get their passes to their receivers. Their routes are excellent. You have to take the timing away from them. If they have to they will go to max protection where they will keep both backs in and even keep the tight end in. They have some fifth-year players. Lito Sheppard is very dangerous on defense and on kickoffs and punt returns. The speed they have on special teams is really impressive. They have the ability to put more speed at every position than anyone else. Looking all the way back to the 90's, they have thrown more touchdown passes than anyone in the country. They use both of their running backs very similar to the way we use Dontae (Walker) and Dicenzo (Miller). Robert Gillespie is more of their speed guy. He makes you miss him, and he has good hands. Their other running back (Earnest) Graham certainly has a lot of speed, but he is very physical as well. The difference is they will have both of theirs, and we will likely be without Dicenzo.
Will Dicenzo Miller's injury linger?
"No, the difference is it is a high ankle sprain. He can move his foot up and down, and he can run straight ahead. When you have a high ankle sprain there is no way to tape it. Because of that, everytime you turn and twist, then you get the pain. You can tape the ankle for stability, but you will still have the pain everytime you turn. An offensive lineman could possibly play with this kind of injury, but a back who turns and cuts like he does, then there's the possibility you can't play him."
Will you use the same receiver rotation that you have used the first two games?
"We are going to play the players that make the plays. Now it is time the players make the plays. If you make a play, you will play, if you don't, you won't play. I tell the players that you always will play like you practiced."
The play of middle linebackers T. J. Mawhinny and Kamau Jackson.
"They have made some plays but also didn't make some plays that they should have. They are good football players. They improved from the first game to the second game and they will improve more and more. I am very glad that we have both of them."
09/25/01 - Practice Update:
Other MSU football news:
The announcement marks the fourth year in a row the MSU-AU clash will be on the tube and the second-straight season it will have been featured on a national network (CBS in 2000).
The Auburn contest is the fifth Bulldog game to be slated for television this season, joining State's season-opening Labor Day win over Memphis (ESPN2), last Thursday's South Carolina game (ESPN), this weekend's game at Florida (CBS), and the Thanksgiving Day Mississippi game (ESPN) on that list.
Entering this weekend's game with Florida, MSU has posted a 24-10 record in regular-season, network-televised games during the past four-plus years. Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Sports Media Relations Department
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Sports Media Relations Department
09/20/01 - USC VS MSU game notes and quotes:
| USC | MSU | |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST DOWNS | 15 | 23 |
| Rushing | 13 | 6 |
| Passing | 2 | 17 |
| Penalty | 0 | 0 |
| Rushing Attempts | 46 | 34 |
| Yards Gained Rushing | 258 | 137 |
| Yards Lost Rushing | 20 | 18 |
| NET YARDS RUSHING | 238 | 119 |
| NET YARDS PASSING | 60 | 261 |
| Passes Attempted | 16 | 46 |
| Passes Completed | 7 | 27 |
| Had Intercepted | 0 | 1 |
| TOTAL OFFENSIVE PLAYS | 62 | 80 |
| TOTAL NET YARDS | 298 | 380 |
| Average Gain Per Play | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Fumbles: Number-Lost | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| Penalties: Number-Yards | 7-50 | 7-57 |
| Number of Punts-Yards | 6-253 | 4-142 |
| Average Per Punt | 42.2 | 35.5 |
| Punt Returns: Number-Yards | 1-0 | 2-21 |
| Kickoff Returns: Number-Yards | 3-52 | 4-88 |
| Interceptions: Number-Yards | 1-13 | 0-0 |
| Fumble Returns: Number-Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Possession Time | 29:18 | 30:42 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 6 of 15 | 9 of 18 |
| Fourth-Down Conversions | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Sacks By: Number-Yards | 1-10 | 1-4 |
OTHER GAME NOTES:
On making adjustments to their game-plan:
"We did not make some adjustments to a couple of their formations and they did a great job. We were able to move the ball up and down the field but didn't make the plays to win the game. There was no question that they did a good job of game-planning, especially doing some things offensively to offset some of the things that we do defensively. Offensively, we had a chance if we make three catches -- more than three -- we still had plenty of opportunities to do some things."
On no player stepping up as a playmaker:
"I told our players afterwards, from all the way down, we didn't have anybody step up and make the plays that it took to win the game."
The difference in the game:
"Five plays were the difference. The two turnovers, the 1st and 30, the third and short (didn't name the fifth play)."
The kicking game:
"I think we will find out some things about our kicking game. We didn't perform very well in our punt-blocking team or our punt return turn. It was Ray Ray's first time out there. I think we will do something there."
Dicenzo's Injury:
"Dicenzo has a high ankle sprain. He got it early in the game but played the whole game with it. Sometimes those last a long time."
On his players staying in the game until the end:
"The good thing about our players was they stayed in the game and kept plugging away and tried to win the game somehow."
On executing:
"When you don't catch the ball, that is poor execution. Or when you put the ball on the ground. Their were certain adjustments that we didn't well defensively."
Wayne's performance:
"There were quite a few times that we didn't execute at that position. There were a few times early in the game where he threw the ball downfield when he should have run with it."
The first two drives by the MSU offense:
"In the first drive we took it down there and scored. In the second drive, instead of making first downs, we threw the ball deep instead of pulling it down and making first downs or throwing it out in the flat."
On the 35-yard touchdown run by USC's Andrew Pinnock:
"They ran a play we were not prepared for. We didn't do a very good job with it."
Sophomore DT Quenavin Merriweather, Fayette County HS, 6-7, 310, 5.4, Bench 295, Squat 450.
Senior LB/TE Jerome Franks, Fayette County HS, 6-0, 210, 4.9, Bench 285.
Senior OL Dustin Nichols, Fayette County HS, 6-1.5, 340, 5.5, Bench 425, Squat 605, Leg Press 1,400.
Senior OL Jay Kirkland, New Albany HS.
09/19/01 - Portions of a premium site interview with MSU AD Larry Templeton.
With the upcoming MSU-USC game this Thursday night being the first college game since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., what security measures are in place?
Larry Templeton: "Our fans and supporters can feel comfortable that they are coming to a secure facility. They need to come early and they need to be patient with us. We have several law enforcement groups involved. We are not allowing any vehicles to be parked within 50 yards of the stadium. And that means we are going to have to move back some parking lots. It means we are going to move some RVs. It means we are not going to have use of the scoreboard parking lot. We are not allowing any back packs, large bags or any thing other than ladies purses brought into the stadium. No artificial noisemakers will be allowed through the gates. Officials are going to enforce that policy very stringently. Law enforcement officials are going to be at the gates and they have a job to do. I can promise you that law enforcement officials are on a high alert. We have additional law enforcement officials that will be in our stadium who have never been in our stadium before. There will be some outside the stadium and inside the stadium. There will even be undercover law enforcement officials in the stadium. I am not going to discuss the procedures. When people go into that stadium, we are going to make sure, to the best of our ability, that our facility is safe and secure.
"We want people to have fun. We are going to pass out (30,000) American flags. We need everybody to be in their seats by 6:30 p.m. because the pre-game show, the entire seven minute tribute, will be televised live on ESPN. [The show will include both teams, along with the ROTC, unraveling the big American flag MSU uses for its yearly patriotic show.]
"The SEC conference and each of the 12 institutions committed $1,000,000 to the disaster relief fund. We have arranged with the American Red Cross and the fire departments of West Point, Columbus and Starkville to collect donations from our fans inside the stadium after they enter the gates. Do not donate any money to anyone unless they are in a Red Cross or fireman's uniform. If they aren't in one of those uniforms, they are not soliciting on our behalf."
How is the football upper deck work going? Are you still hopeful that it will be open for the Ole Miss game?
Larry Templeton: "Actually, we are ahead of schedule but it will be November 1st before we will have use of it. It will be ready for the Ole Miss game. In time, we will announce the ticket procedure for selling tickets to the upper deck."
09/18/01 (9:00 p.m.) - JACKIE SHERRILL QUOTES AND COMMENTS:
[Comments about South Carolina]
"We are playing a very good football team, a very old football team. Anytime you have 12 seniors and 8 juniors starting, a lot of them red-shirts, you have players who have been around and have played a lot of football. Their quarterback is a red-shirt senior who has played a lot of football. I remember years ago when he came off the bench as a red-shirt freshman to play against us."
[Talking about MSU fans bringing cowbells to the game]
"Due to the metal detectors and the searches that they will do, we are going to have to use our voices instead of the cowbells."
[Talking about the pre-game ceremonies that will honor the victims of the terrorist attacks]
"At 6:30 they are going to unravel the American flag. Both teams will do that with the ROTC. While they are unraveling the flag, they will be singing God Bless America. After that, they will have the American Anthem. That will take between 8 and 10 minutes."
09/18/01 - WR/PR Ray Ray Bivines will play this Thursday night againt USC.
The announcement marks the second year in a row CBS will have carried the MSU-UF clash as the network also broadcast last year's game, which State won 47-35 in Starkville.
The Florida contest is the fourth Bulldog game to be slated for television this season, joining State's season-opening Labor Day win over Memphis (ESPN2), this Thursday's South Carolina game and the Thanksgiving Day Mississippi game (both ESPN) on that list.
Entering this week's game with South Carolina, which will be aired around the country on ESPN, MSU has posted a 24-9 record in regular-season, network-televised games during the past four-plus years.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Media Relations Department
09/16/01 - Although this isn't directly related to MSU football, I thought you guys would enjoy knowing that, according to my sources, Starkville will be getting two new hotels/inns in the very near future. One will be on the east side of Starkville, while the other one is planned for the west side somewhere near Wal-Mart Super Center. Sorry, I have to keep the names under wraps for now.
BTW, there are many, many other companies showing interest in Starkville. As I hear more solid info (not just rumors), I will post it here. From what I was told (by a very reliable source), Starkville appears to one of the cities in Mississippi that businesses are very interested in because it's population is growing at such a fast rate, because of the by-pass that is to be in place and because of Mississippi State University. I was also told that MSU president Dr. Portera has been a great help to the government and business folks of Starkville because he is very understanding of the business world and the way it works.
09/13/01 - Football facts:
09/12/01 - Football info:
An interview with both MSU kickers, place-kicker John Michael Marlin and punter Jared Cook.
Jared Cook:
Talk about punting in your first game.
Jared Cook: "Nothing was really going through my mind other than to get a good kick off because I was in the back of the end zone. You can't really think about too much at one time. You come in, the play goes off and you run off the field. It is that fast."
Did you notice the rush? This wasn't Maroon and White rushing you this time. It was an opposing team.
Jared Cook: "You have to have confidence in your line, which I do. I have confidence in the punt team and snapper. Because of that, I don't worry about a rush."
How do you think you did in your first game?
Jared Cook: "I did fair. There is always room for improvement. We have to get out here and work hard and improve."
You and Robert Wallis really competed hard for the punting job. How much did having such great competition during the camp help you?
Jared Cook: "Tons, tons. Robert and I talk about how each one of us did. If we are over here practicing without Coach Sherrill, and one of us does something wrong, the other one is the first to step up and show what went wrong."
What have you been working on since the Memphis game?
Jared Cook: "I have been working on getting the ball off a little quicker and working on my hang time. You can never hit the ball high enough. They said my distance was ok so I'm working on hang time."
John Michael Marlin:
Talk about your game overall? One thing I was impressed with was you kicking so many of your kickoffs into the end zone.
John Michael Marlin: "I think I did alright. I know I could have done better by making that 52-yarder. I won't miss that next time. I just got under it a little too much. I don't know how I missed the extra point. I was looking to kick all of (my kickoffs) into the end zone, not just four of them."
Going back to your kicking so many of your kickoffs into the end zone. Last year you didn't kick a lot of your kickoffs into the end zone. What have you done to increase your distance?
John Michael Marlin: "It's all mental. I did it in high school It is only five yards difference between high school and college. I was kicking balls through the uprights in high school, so I know that I can do it. My goal is to kick through the uprights this year."
09/11/01 - Football info:
09/07/01 - There was an Roy Anderson, Corp. article in The Clarion-Ledger a couple of days ago. It was hinted in the article that the upper deck portion of the project would be completed by the Kentucky game. According to a reliable Roy Anderson, Corp. source, that is not correct, because they still project the completion date to be no sooner than the Ole Miss game.