Mullen Previews Season Opener In Weekly Press Conference
August 28, 2017 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Game week preparations are underway for Mississippi State football, which hosts Charleston Southern in the 2017 season-opener at 3 p.m. Saturday in Davis Wade Stadium.
Ninth-year head coach Dan Mullen met with members of the media on Monday at his first weekly press conference. This week, Mullen ties College Football Hall of Famer Allyn McKeen as the second-longest tenured coach in Bulldog history. He stands just four victories away from tying McKeen for second place in school all-time wins.
In addition, junior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald spoke to media members. Fitzgerald begins his second year as the starter and is one of only three FBS returning quarterbacks to rush for over 1,000 yards and throw for over 2,000 yards last season, joining Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and USF's Quinton Flowers.
The Bulldogs and Bucs meet for the first time Saturday on SEC Network. CSU has won back-to-back Big South Conference championships and returns 16 starters.
For complete gameday and stadium information, visit HailState.com/gameday. Tickets are available at HailState.com/tickets, by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.
Head Coach Dan Mullen
August 28, 2017
Opening Statement…
"First, obviously I know we have such a huge alumni base and family in the Texas area. Our prayers are with everybody down in Houston and all throughout southeast Texas and heading all the way into Louisiana with everything that is going on there. You know, when that stuff happens it puts football into reality. Our prayers are with all those people that are suffering through the storm right now. For us here, we are getting ready for game week. It's exciting, you know it's a big transition for our guys. You go through spring practice, you go through training camp practices, you're constantly going against each other and now you've got to make that transition in playing against an opponent, a different team. Come to face a different offense than we've been facing in a long time, different defense than we've faced in a long time, different kicking game, different personnel, so our guys have got to do a great job transitioning into that. I'm pretty excited though. I thought training camp went well. I've said I think the extra time that we had allotted for training camp really cut down on injuries and really was a big help for player safety issues for us. So, tough challenge with the team we have coming in. First year head coach, new staff, so there's nothing to watch. You can watch a little bit of it trying to piece together what they might do, especially a team as talented as they are, and you look at a quarterback that's one of the top players in FCS. A very productive player with a go-to wide receiver out there on the perimeter and a veteran offensive line; they execute their offense very well. They are a challenge being a very option-oriented offense. They throw the ball very well out of that option-oriented offense. Then you go over to the other side of the ball where they have, a lot of people say, the No. 1 player in the FCS. Coming off the edge, a defensive end, they have linebackers that are some veteran players. A very experienced group that is used to winning, winning two-straight conference titles and looking for a third in a row. A playoff level team, top 15 team actually. It's a huge challenge for us to come out and play with some young guys going to have their first opportunities to play in the stadium, playing against a quality team like Charleston Southern. We're going to have our hands full, especially with some of the new things we expect them to throw at us. We're ready to go kick it off. Injury report hasn't changed from last week. In talking to our training staff, Landon Guidry is going to be out for the year. Malik (Dear) won't be ready for this game, but we'll know down the road. Harry Parker is back out there today for us, but we're not sure what his availability will be for us this weekend."
On the possibility of true freshmen having playing time on Saturday…
"I want to see how they handle this week at practice. I know Willie Gay is in the rotation for us. Tucker Day is competing to go play. There are a couple of guys who are going to have that opportunity and need to go play right away. This is a first time for them, so I need to see how they respond now to picking up a game plan and asking, 'Are they ready to get on the field on game day?'"
On if the 2016 season-opening loss to South Alabama affects this opener …
"No, I don't think so. Different team, different everything. They were a good football team. I don't know that we played exceptionally well last year. That's on the coaches, making sure we transition and put everyone in the right position to make plays. I haven't really thought much of even discussing that."
On first year as head coach for Charleston Southern…
"Well it's hard because in house, on offense and the rest, everybody else on the staff is new. Very few people were retained on the staff. Nobody on the defensive side of the ball. I think only one or two offensive coaches [were retained], so majority new coaching staff. That's what always makes it a challenge, when you're trying to see what they're going to do and how they're going to adjust to their personnel. With new guys coming in, new coaches, they're going to want to add their philosophy and they have to adjust it to the personnel they have. We're going to have to do a good job of making in-game adjustments."
On the possibility of redshirting true freshman Keytaon Thompson …
"No, because you can't do that, obviously. It would have to be an injury. So the redshirt rule is, if you play in one of the games, you have to have a season-ending injury to redshirt once you've played. It's not just a freelance game. He will get a lot of reps at practice. It's finding whether or not we want to play him. Right now, he's our second string quarterback. Now, whether or not he plays is a different question. If our starting quarterback got injured, he would probably play a lot. If our starting quarterback didn't get injured, then that would be where the decision comes of whether or not he steps on the field for a game."
On Charleston Southern's offense …
"They are an option-based offense. You have to be very gap-sound against the option and defend every phase of it; the dive, the quarterback and the pitch. To me, what makes them a little different is that they throw the ball. They are not your prototypical wishbone team. You're not just committing everybody to stop the run and try to defend the one or two play actions per game. They can throw the ball pretty efficiently. You have to be well balanced in what you do."
On how junior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald has developed mentally…
"One, he knows what to expect, how to prepare for game week and what it's going to entail, coming in, getting ready for the game, his routine, his preparation for the game, all of those different things. That's a big advantage to have over last year being a first time guy getting ready to go, of adjusting to what game planning is like, how to really study and prepare for the game and get yourself out there on the field ready to go play at a high level."
On the placekicker position battle…
"I haven't decided any of that yet. That will be decided at the end of the week. It might not be decided this Saturday at warmups. I want to see how everything goes this week with those guys and see how they handle the adjustment. They're a bunch of placekickers, but none of them have played in a game at our level. We have a bunch of different guys competing so we'll see how they transition. It's a different week now. Now we're getting serious, and then it gets really serious on Saturday. We'll see how they all handle it."
On what defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has brought to the defense…
"One of the things [that's improved] is the level of how hard our guys play, which is one of the most important things to me; the strain that they give. And then also, how we're fitting everything. The guys, the overall understanding of everybody within the scheme, of what they're doing, what the expectations are -- I've been really pleased with those things."
On senior wide receiver Donald Gray's attitude and leadership…
"I think that he's really changed his attitude, stepped up as a leader. He's a guy that's always had a good work ethic. Coming into his final season the desperateness that he shows you, how hard he works, the detail he puts in to doing things the right every single day. He really tries to set the standard high for the receivers. I think he's done a great job of that."
On Chauncey Rivers' status…
"We're appealing with a waiver with the NCAA so we're waiting to hear. Hopefully we should know something this week whether or not that appeal goes through."
Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald
On coming into the season being the leader on the depth chart…
"Training camp was a lot different. It was more about me coming in and focusing on what I needed to work on and not having to worry about what other quarterbacks on the roster are doing. There is a big difference going through an entire offseason, spring and summer as the  guy that will be leading the offense. Working on my relationships with my teammates is important and has been easier because they know I'm going to be their quarterback. We've been really working on building our chemistry and I've been working on myself as a leader, overall."
On relationship with quarterbacks coach Brett Elliot and what he brings to the fold…
"Coach Elliot was the first guy to work out with me when I first came to campus. He was a guy that really pushed me and worked with me when I came to camps here in high school. I think he's a guy that really wanted me to come to school here. When Coach (Brian) Johnson left I went to Coach Mullen and talked to him about trying to get Coach Elliot back because he was a guy that I knew well and had worked well with in the past. We have a great relationship and have been working on some small things like tweaking with my throwing motion and a few mechanical things."
On depth behind Aeris Williams at running back…
"The running backs have really been working hard. Every single one of those guys run very well and they all have the ability to score each time they touch the ball. They also have all improved mentally as far as protections and being able to pick up their guy in blocking situations. I would expect us to rotate a lot of guys at running back. If Coach Mullen says that Aeris is the guy, then I would expect Aeris to be the guy, but I could see us rotating up to three or four guys behind him."
On thoughts on the offensive line and the new guys there…
"I think they are doing a good job. They are picking up new things well and are also communicating well with each other. There is always a learning curve with new guys, but they did well in camp. They have protected me well and it seems like Coach Hevesy has them rolling well."
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On last season's opening loss and the mindset going into week one…
"That was a wake-up call for us last season. We can't look back at that anymore and certainly can't look past any games. We are taking this game as serious as any other game and will prepare for this game just like we would any other game. We won't let that happen again, hopefully."
On facing Coach Grantham's defense in training camp…
"They come out and confuse you because initially every look is the same. I would think I was getting one thing and then the next thing I would see would be four guys coming off the edge. They do a very good job of disguising things. The secondary does a good job of starting one way and then at the snap rotating another way. Overall, they are really sound and are good at disguising what they are coming with."
On perception of the wide receiver group…
"I think they have done well. We have some young guys who have stepped up and played well. Donald (Gray) does a great job leading those guys. He's an amazing leader and is a hard worker who is extremely talented. Look for him to do big things this season. Watch for young guys to step in and put up big numbers, but also the guys who have been here and are now finally healthy, like Jesse Jackson, have looked good in camp."
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Ninth-year head coach Dan Mullen met with members of the media on Monday at his first weekly press conference. This week, Mullen ties College Football Hall of Famer Allyn McKeen as the second-longest tenured coach in Bulldog history. He stands just four victories away from tying McKeen for second place in school all-time wins.
In addition, junior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald spoke to media members. Fitzgerald begins his second year as the starter and is one of only three FBS returning quarterbacks to rush for over 1,000 yards and throw for over 2,000 yards last season, joining Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and USF's Quinton Flowers.
The Bulldogs and Bucs meet for the first time Saturday on SEC Network. CSU has won back-to-back Big South Conference championships and returns 16 starters.
For complete gameday and stadium information, visit HailState.com/gameday. Tickets are available at HailState.com/tickets, by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.
Head Coach Dan Mullen
August 28, 2017
Opening Statement…
"First, obviously I know we have such a huge alumni base and family in the Texas area. Our prayers are with everybody down in Houston and all throughout southeast Texas and heading all the way into Louisiana with everything that is going on there. You know, when that stuff happens it puts football into reality. Our prayers are with all those people that are suffering through the storm right now. For us here, we are getting ready for game week. It's exciting, you know it's a big transition for our guys. You go through spring practice, you go through training camp practices, you're constantly going against each other and now you've got to make that transition in playing against an opponent, a different team. Come to face a different offense than we've been facing in a long time, different defense than we've faced in a long time, different kicking game, different personnel, so our guys have got to do a great job transitioning into that. I'm pretty excited though. I thought training camp went well. I've said I think the extra time that we had allotted for training camp really cut down on injuries and really was a big help for player safety issues for us. So, tough challenge with the team we have coming in. First year head coach, new staff, so there's nothing to watch. You can watch a little bit of it trying to piece together what they might do, especially a team as talented as they are, and you look at a quarterback that's one of the top players in FCS. A very productive player with a go-to wide receiver out there on the perimeter and a veteran offensive line; they execute their offense very well. They are a challenge being a very option-oriented offense. They throw the ball very well out of that option-oriented offense. Then you go over to the other side of the ball where they have, a lot of people say, the No. 1 player in the FCS. Coming off the edge, a defensive end, they have linebackers that are some veteran players. A very experienced group that is used to winning, winning two-straight conference titles and looking for a third in a row. A playoff level team, top 15 team actually. It's a huge challenge for us to come out and play with some young guys going to have their first opportunities to play in the stadium, playing against a quality team like Charleston Southern. We're going to have our hands full, especially with some of the new things we expect them to throw at us. We're ready to go kick it off. Injury report hasn't changed from last week. In talking to our training staff, Landon Guidry is going to be out for the year. Malik (Dear) won't be ready for this game, but we'll know down the road. Harry Parker is back out there today for us, but we're not sure what his availability will be for us this weekend."
On the possibility of true freshmen having playing time on Saturday…
"I want to see how they handle this week at practice. I know Willie Gay is in the rotation for us. Tucker Day is competing to go play. There are a couple of guys who are going to have that opportunity and need to go play right away. This is a first time for them, so I need to see how they respond now to picking up a game plan and asking, 'Are they ready to get on the field on game day?'"
On if the 2016 season-opening loss to South Alabama affects this opener …
"No, I don't think so. Different team, different everything. They were a good football team. I don't know that we played exceptionally well last year. That's on the coaches, making sure we transition and put everyone in the right position to make plays. I haven't really thought much of even discussing that."
On first year as head coach for Charleston Southern…
"Well it's hard because in house, on offense and the rest, everybody else on the staff is new. Very few people were retained on the staff. Nobody on the defensive side of the ball. I think only one or two offensive coaches [were retained], so majority new coaching staff. That's what always makes it a challenge, when you're trying to see what they're going to do and how they're going to adjust to their personnel. With new guys coming in, new coaches, they're going to want to add their philosophy and they have to adjust it to the personnel they have. We're going to have to do a good job of making in-game adjustments."
On the possibility of redshirting true freshman Keytaon Thompson …
"No, because you can't do that, obviously. It would have to be an injury. So the redshirt rule is, if you play in one of the games, you have to have a season-ending injury to redshirt once you've played. It's not just a freelance game. He will get a lot of reps at practice. It's finding whether or not we want to play him. Right now, he's our second string quarterback. Now, whether or not he plays is a different question. If our starting quarterback got injured, he would probably play a lot. If our starting quarterback didn't get injured, then that would be where the decision comes of whether or not he steps on the field for a game."
On Charleston Southern's offense …
"They are an option-based offense. You have to be very gap-sound against the option and defend every phase of it; the dive, the quarterback and the pitch. To me, what makes them a little different is that they throw the ball. They are not your prototypical wishbone team. You're not just committing everybody to stop the run and try to defend the one or two play actions per game. They can throw the ball pretty efficiently. You have to be well balanced in what you do."
On how junior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald has developed mentally…
"One, he knows what to expect, how to prepare for game week and what it's going to entail, coming in, getting ready for the game, his routine, his preparation for the game, all of those different things. That's a big advantage to have over last year being a first time guy getting ready to go, of adjusting to what game planning is like, how to really study and prepare for the game and get yourself out there on the field ready to go play at a high level."
On the placekicker position battle…
"I haven't decided any of that yet. That will be decided at the end of the week. It might not be decided this Saturday at warmups. I want to see how everything goes this week with those guys and see how they handle the adjustment. They're a bunch of placekickers, but none of them have played in a game at our level. We have a bunch of different guys competing so we'll see how they transition. It's a different week now. Now we're getting serious, and then it gets really serious on Saturday. We'll see how they all handle it."
On what defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has brought to the defense…
"One of the things [that's improved] is the level of how hard our guys play, which is one of the most important things to me; the strain that they give. And then also, how we're fitting everything. The guys, the overall understanding of everybody within the scheme, of what they're doing, what the expectations are -- I've been really pleased with those things."
On senior wide receiver Donald Gray's attitude and leadership…
"I think that he's really changed his attitude, stepped up as a leader. He's a guy that's always had a good work ethic. Coming into his final season the desperateness that he shows you, how hard he works, the detail he puts in to doing things the right every single day. He really tries to set the standard high for the receivers. I think he's done a great job of that."
On Chauncey Rivers' status…
"We're appealing with a waiver with the NCAA so we're waiting to hear. Hopefully we should know something this week whether or not that appeal goes through."
Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald
On coming into the season being the leader on the depth chart…
"Training camp was a lot different. It was more about me coming in and focusing on what I needed to work on and not having to worry about what other quarterbacks on the roster are doing. There is a big difference going through an entire offseason, spring and summer as the  guy that will be leading the offense. Working on my relationships with my teammates is important and has been easier because they know I'm going to be their quarterback. We've been really working on building our chemistry and I've been working on myself as a leader, overall."
On relationship with quarterbacks coach Brett Elliot and what he brings to the fold…
"Coach Elliot was the first guy to work out with me when I first came to campus. He was a guy that really pushed me and worked with me when I came to camps here in high school. I think he's a guy that really wanted me to come to school here. When Coach (Brian) Johnson left I went to Coach Mullen and talked to him about trying to get Coach Elliot back because he was a guy that I knew well and had worked well with in the past. We have a great relationship and have been working on some small things like tweaking with my throwing motion and a few mechanical things."
On depth behind Aeris Williams at running back…
"The running backs have really been working hard. Every single one of those guys run very well and they all have the ability to score each time they touch the ball. They also have all improved mentally as far as protections and being able to pick up their guy in blocking situations. I would expect us to rotate a lot of guys at running back. If Coach Mullen says that Aeris is the guy, then I would expect Aeris to be the guy, but I could see us rotating up to three or four guys behind him."
On thoughts on the offensive line and the new guys there…
"I think they are doing a good job. They are picking up new things well and are also communicating well with each other. There is always a learning curve with new guys, but they did well in camp. They have protected me well and it seems like Coach Hevesy has them rolling well."
Â
On last season's opening loss and the mindset going into week one…
"That was a wake-up call for us last season. We can't look back at that anymore and certainly can't look past any games. We are taking this game as serious as any other game and will prepare for this game just like we would any other game. We won't let that happen again, hopefully."
On facing Coach Grantham's defense in training camp…
"They come out and confuse you because initially every look is the same. I would think I was getting one thing and then the next thing I would see would be four guys coming off the edge. They do a very good job of disguising things. The secondary does a good job of starting one way and then at the snap rotating another way. Overall, they are really sound and are good at disguising what they are coming with."
On perception of the wide receiver group…
"I think they have done well. We have some young guys who have stepped up and played well. Donald (Gray) does a great job leading those guys. He's an amazing leader and is a hard worker who is extremely talented. Look for him to do big things this season. Watch for young guys to step in and put up big numbers, but also the guys who have been here and are now finally healthy, like Jesse Jackson, have looked good in camp."
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