Head coach Dan Mullen
Mullen Previews Senior Night Vs. Arkansas; Egg Bowl Set For 2:30 PM
November 14, 2016 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – One of the winningest senior classes in Mississippi State football history will be honored Saturday night when the Bulldogs host Arkansas in Davis Wade Stadium. Head coach Dan Mullen discussed the senior class and previewed his team's home finale at his weekly press conference on Monday.
Kickoff for the Bulldogs and Razorbacks is 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU. In addition, the Southeastern Conference announced that the Nov. 26 Egg Bowl matchup versus Ole Miss is set for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on SEC Network in Oxford.
Below are quotes from Mullen:
Head Coach Dan Mullen
Opening Statement:
"Big home game for us this week. It will be senior night. A lot of our guys here have put a lot into this program and have had a lot of success here. They have done a lot for the University and for the program and for everyone here. Arkansas is a tough team. Bret (Bielema) does a great job. They are very sound on defense. Their guys play physical and very hard every single snap offensively. They are one of the best schematic offenses in the league. They do a great job of mixing and matching power running with a great play action and drop back passing game. They have great receivers that create miss matching. They try to create mismatches for their receivers and tight ends. They have a very accurate quarterback who might be one of the best quarterbacks we have played all year. When you look at what he brings to the table, it's how he throws the ball and leads the team and his accuracy from the pocket. It is always a tough challenge. We have to be ready to play for four quarters. Every year this game comes down to the last play of the game against this team. Here we have had an interception on the last play of the game to win (2014). We had an interception in overtime over in Arkansas (2013). We lost in double overtime here (2010). We blocked a field goal to win the game (2015). It has kind of gone back and forth on the last play of the game pretty much my whole time here. It will be a tough battle for us for those four quarters."
On how he trains the team to get past Saturday's loss…
"We are way past Saturday. We are into Arkansas."
On how he gets the team motivated to play the next two games…
"For us to be in this position, you could blink an eye and we could be 7-3 right now. We should be motivated, though, for the senior class to be able to go to their fourth straight bowl game, which is pretty special. I am motivated and I would certainly hope that every single person who walks through that door is very motivated, too."
On similarities between Brandon Allen and Austin Allen...
"They are very similar. I see their different personalities on the field and fiery on the field, but when you watch the game tapes and how they play, from time the ball is snapped to the end of the play, I think they are very similar. He has a very strong arm and can throw the ball all over the field at every part of the field. He has great anticipation. He throws with great accuracy. He is very tough. He gets hit and pops right up. He is willing to stand in the pocket and take some hits. I see a lot of similarities. In fact, watching the film, I don't see much of a difference between the two. I know one threw for 500 on us last year so we have to play a little better pass defense this year."
On winning the final two games of 2013 to become bowl eligible…
"There are a lot of similarities. Both teams were very young we suffered a lot of injuries that year. We had some tough games and there we are with two games left having to go battle and fight. One thing I remember, though, is the leaders on that team jumped up and kind of willed us to win. That type of senior leadership was good. One thing I remember more than anything was Nickoe Whitley playing on a torn ACL instead of having surgery. He decided to sacrifice everything for the team and essentially winning both of those games. And making winning plays in both games. That type of leadership helped will us to win those games."
On his thoughts on the 3-4 defense…
"I think we are about the same as last year so our scheme really has not changed much. If you look at the number of snaps when we are in 3-4 and the number in 4-3 from last year and this year are similar. What we have done, I think we have a lot of young players being out there in the situation going out and making plays. There will be calls that we have drawn up and it is the absolute perfect call made and the guy goes the wrong way or has the wrong coverage and doesn't fit properly. That is the biggest thing."
On defending Arkansas tight ends Hunter Henry and Jeremy Sprinkle the last several years…
"You have to be sound. He is a tough matchup. He makes plays so we have to. If we are out there executing and making plays, we are playing really well. If we are not, we are not playing very well."
On the benefit of extra practices when you become bowl eligible…
"It is huge for a young team. The last time we were in this situation, we had a very young team. We made it to the postseason and took advantage of it. It helped us grow for the next two years. I think we set a school record in that two-year span with that group of guys getting those extra practices in. So, it will be huge for us to get those extra practices so the young guys can get that experience and get the opportunity to go to a bowl game."
On running back Aeris Williams…
"He started playing more. We knew he had the talent, but I think it was other things he was using as protection. When Brandon Holloway got hurt, it gave him more opportunities to be out there on the field. Like any time in life you're given an opportunity, what are you going to do with it? He was given that opportunity and certainly made the most of it. I think a lot of guys would look at that situation and be like just give me the ball and I will show you I can run it. It wasn't that for him. It was, I'm getting pass protection and route my running in every aspect of the game."
On how the SEC West in the past compares to how it is now…
"Over the last couple of years, the West is pretty good. I think you see that in a lot of teams are just kind of devouring themselves right now in the West. I think Alabama has done a great job of separating themselves a little bit, but I think when you watch every other game, I don't know if there is a result with any two teams that would shock anyone within the SEC West. In this league, you are battling pretty much every weekend for four quarters. The physicality and the wear and tear it takes on these guys, you have to have depth and as guys get banged up, if the next guy isn't ready to go, you will be in a rough situation."
On his message to the team for senior week…
"Our message this week is our back is to the wall. We have a home game this week. We have to win at home. Senior week doesn't have much to do with it as much. We just have our backs in a corner and we have to find a way to win."
On his message to the team trying to become bowl eligible…
"As coaches we have been in this situation before. Here is the plan to follow what we are doing. There are very few guys that were here during that situation or were participating during that situation. Guys need to step up. You have to go step up and be the Nickoe Whitley and go make a play and will the team to win. The older guys have seen someone do it, so it is there opportunity to go do that now."
Kickoff for the Bulldogs and Razorbacks is 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU. In addition, the Southeastern Conference announced that the Nov. 26 Egg Bowl matchup versus Ole Miss is set for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on SEC Network in Oxford.
Below are quotes from Mullen:
Head Coach Dan Mullen
Opening Statement:
"Big home game for us this week. It will be senior night. A lot of our guys here have put a lot into this program and have had a lot of success here. They have done a lot for the University and for the program and for everyone here. Arkansas is a tough team. Bret (Bielema) does a great job. They are very sound on defense. Their guys play physical and very hard every single snap offensively. They are one of the best schematic offenses in the league. They do a great job of mixing and matching power running with a great play action and drop back passing game. They have great receivers that create miss matching. They try to create mismatches for their receivers and tight ends. They have a very accurate quarterback who might be one of the best quarterbacks we have played all year. When you look at what he brings to the table, it's how he throws the ball and leads the team and his accuracy from the pocket. It is always a tough challenge. We have to be ready to play for four quarters. Every year this game comes down to the last play of the game against this team. Here we have had an interception on the last play of the game to win (2014). We had an interception in overtime over in Arkansas (2013). We lost in double overtime here (2010). We blocked a field goal to win the game (2015). It has kind of gone back and forth on the last play of the game pretty much my whole time here. It will be a tough battle for us for those four quarters."
On how he trains the team to get past Saturday's loss…
"We are way past Saturday. We are into Arkansas."
On how he gets the team motivated to play the next two games…
"For us to be in this position, you could blink an eye and we could be 7-3 right now. We should be motivated, though, for the senior class to be able to go to their fourth straight bowl game, which is pretty special. I am motivated and I would certainly hope that every single person who walks through that door is very motivated, too."
On similarities between Brandon Allen and Austin Allen...
"They are very similar. I see their different personalities on the field and fiery on the field, but when you watch the game tapes and how they play, from time the ball is snapped to the end of the play, I think they are very similar. He has a very strong arm and can throw the ball all over the field at every part of the field. He has great anticipation. He throws with great accuracy. He is very tough. He gets hit and pops right up. He is willing to stand in the pocket and take some hits. I see a lot of similarities. In fact, watching the film, I don't see much of a difference between the two. I know one threw for 500 on us last year so we have to play a little better pass defense this year."
On winning the final two games of 2013 to become bowl eligible…
"There are a lot of similarities. Both teams were very young we suffered a lot of injuries that year. We had some tough games and there we are with two games left having to go battle and fight. One thing I remember, though, is the leaders on that team jumped up and kind of willed us to win. That type of senior leadership was good. One thing I remember more than anything was Nickoe Whitley playing on a torn ACL instead of having surgery. He decided to sacrifice everything for the team and essentially winning both of those games. And making winning plays in both games. That type of leadership helped will us to win those games."
On his thoughts on the 3-4 defense…
"I think we are about the same as last year so our scheme really has not changed much. If you look at the number of snaps when we are in 3-4 and the number in 4-3 from last year and this year are similar. What we have done, I think we have a lot of young players being out there in the situation going out and making plays. There will be calls that we have drawn up and it is the absolute perfect call made and the guy goes the wrong way or has the wrong coverage and doesn't fit properly. That is the biggest thing."
On defending Arkansas tight ends Hunter Henry and Jeremy Sprinkle the last several years…
"You have to be sound. He is a tough matchup. He makes plays so we have to. If we are out there executing and making plays, we are playing really well. If we are not, we are not playing very well."
On the benefit of extra practices when you become bowl eligible…
"It is huge for a young team. The last time we were in this situation, we had a very young team. We made it to the postseason and took advantage of it. It helped us grow for the next two years. I think we set a school record in that two-year span with that group of guys getting those extra practices in. So, it will be huge for us to get those extra practices so the young guys can get that experience and get the opportunity to go to a bowl game."
On running back Aeris Williams…
"He started playing more. We knew he had the talent, but I think it was other things he was using as protection. When Brandon Holloway got hurt, it gave him more opportunities to be out there on the field. Like any time in life you're given an opportunity, what are you going to do with it? He was given that opportunity and certainly made the most of it. I think a lot of guys would look at that situation and be like just give me the ball and I will show you I can run it. It wasn't that for him. It was, I'm getting pass protection and route my running in every aspect of the game."
On how the SEC West in the past compares to how it is now…
"Over the last couple of years, the West is pretty good. I think you see that in a lot of teams are just kind of devouring themselves right now in the West. I think Alabama has done a great job of separating themselves a little bit, but I think when you watch every other game, I don't know if there is a result with any two teams that would shock anyone within the SEC West. In this league, you are battling pretty much every weekend for four quarters. The physicality and the wear and tear it takes on these guys, you have to have depth and as guys get banged up, if the next guy isn't ready to go, you will be in a rough situation."
On his message to the team for senior week…
"Our message this week is our back is to the wall. We have a home game this week. We have to win at home. Senior week doesn't have much to do with it as much. We just have our backs in a corner and we have to find a way to win."
On his message to the team trying to become bowl eligible…
"As coaches we have been in this situation before. Here is the plan to follow what we are doing. There are very few guys that were here during that situation or were participating during that situation. Guys need to step up. You have to go step up and be the Nickoe Whitley and go make a play and will the team to win. The older guys have seen someone do it, so it is there opportunity to go do that now."
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballFOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Thursday, April 16
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Kamario Taylor
Saturday, April 11
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Kelley Jones
Saturday, April 11
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Saturday, April 11