Both teams visited the All Children's Hospital in St. Pete on Thursday afternoon.
St. Petersburg Bowl Day 2: Bulldogs Resume Practice, Visit Children's Hospital
December 22, 2016 | Football
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s greeted Mississippi State football Thursday as the Bulldogs returned to the practice field in preparation for a Dec. 26 matchup against Miami (Ohio) in the 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl.
MSU worked out for less than two hours at Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, representing the squad's first practice since arriving in St. Petersburg on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs then split into two groups in the afternoon with a portion of the team visiting patients at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, including head coach Dan Mullen. The remainder of the squad joined players from Miami (Ohio) at the "Fill The Bowl" challenge. The two teams bagged food for under privileged children in the area this holiday season.
Mullen said he liked the focus of his team since its arrival in St. Pete as it attempts to win its third bowl game in the past four seasons.
"I was really pleased with the enthusiasm and energy we had in practice today," he said. "Generally speaking, the first practice is always the dangerous one after your first night in a new town. I liked the focus and energy the guys had out here. I think bowl games are one of the great experiences for players. The message for our guys was, we didn't have our best season but because of our academics and how we have taken care of things in the classroom they got rewarded with a bowl game."
Mullen also discussed the team's health heading into the bowl. Senior defensive end A.J. Jefferson and offensive linemen Deion Calhoun, Michael Story and Daryl Williams will all miss the game due to injury. Calhoun, Story and Williams did not play in the season finale, a 55-20 victory over rival Ole Miss.
Jefferson underwent shoulder surgery the week after the Egg Bowl. It closes a brilliant career for the Summit, Miss, native who finishes tied for third all-time in MSU tackles for loss with 35. That tally matches Glen Collins (1978-81) and Johnie Cooks (1977-81).
Jefferson, a team captain, collected 135 tackles and 13.5 sacks in his four seasons. He ranks 11th all-time in MSU sacks. He made the trip to St. Petersburg and will be rooting his teammates on from the sideline.
Friday's schedule calls for another morning practice followed by a trip to Busch Gardens.
For behind-the-scenes content throughout St. Petersburg Bowl week, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Below are quotes from Mullen and quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, the Southeastern Conference leader in total offense, at today's media session:
Head Coach Dan Mullen
On the team's experience in St. Petersburg…
"I was really pleased with the enthusiasm and energy we had in practice today. Generally speaking, the first practice is always the dangerous one after your first night in a new town. I liked the focus and energy the guys had out here. I think bowl games are one of the great experiences for players. The message for our guys was, we didn't have our best season but because of our academics and how we have taken care of things in the classroom they got rewarded with a bowl game. Bowl games are a reward, because you have all of these guys who have maybe never been to St. Petersburg before and may never have another opportunity to come. There are opportunities to go to the beach, stay in a really nice hotel, and just to experience and see different things in life is an unbelievable part of their education."
On staying focused during bowl prep…
"That has to be your focus. The older guys have to help the younger guys. We fortunately have been to a lot of bowl games now. There is plenty of time off and there is plenty of time to have fun, but when it is time for football that is priority No. 1. We are here to try to win a football game, and nothing can interfere with that."
On what Ashton Shumpert has meant to the program…
"He has done an amazing job playing a lot of different roles. He is a guy that comes out every day and works his tail off. He is going to have a great future at the next level because of his versatility. He is willing to block as a fullback, run as a tailback, catch the ball out of the back field, starts on all four special teams and he is just a complete all-in team guy. He is going to be a big loss for us because he does so many little things for the team."
On recapturing the enthusiasm from the Egg Bowl win…
"A lot of times you can finish on such a high note, that guys are still enthused from that game and are ready to get out and play again. That was such a great feeling, and they want to go do that again. We have been a little bipolar this year as a team, but I liked the energy out here today."
On the momentum built from victories in bowl games…
"It is huge. I don't want to be miserable for nine months. We do not play again until September. You want to finish on a win. When you show back up in January, you are excited to get going again. That can really energize you."
On what that momentum can do for a young football team…
"We have a young football team, and hopefully we get the opportunity to see that enthusiasm carry us into the offseason. We have a lot of good young players and a lot of good young talent. I am excited about our future."
On Tampa native Brandon Holloway's career with MSU…
"He has done a great job. He is a guy that came in, and we knew he was special with the ball in his hands. He has been able to play a bunch of different positions, and he is a dangerous weapon because anytime the ball is in his hands something electric can happen. He has had a great career."
On Fred Ross' work ethic throughout his career…
"The work he put in, you could see his commitment to excellence. Not just in practice and his talent on the field, but his constant work ethic throughout the offseason. He is always trying to better himself."
QB Nick Fitzgerald
On the first day of practice in St. Petersburg…
"It felt good to be back. We are really excited we get to go to a bowl. We stress academics at Mississippi State a lot, and it was good to show that."
On preparing for a bowl game…
"The early bowl practices are similar to a mini fall camp for a few days. There is a lot of individual work, and there is time to focus on the little things you want to improve on. It gives a lot of younger guys who are here that will be trying to fight for a spot next year a chance to show what they can do."
On St. Petersburg…
"I do not think you can think of a better bowl destination than Florida in the middle of December. It is 70 degrees outside. Bowl games are a great time, but like Coach Mullen says there is always one team that really puts the emphasis on winning the game and not just on the fun things that are set up for us. They take care of us really well here and we have really enjoyed it."
MSU worked out for less than two hours at Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, representing the squad's first practice since arriving in St. Petersburg on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs then split into two groups in the afternoon with a portion of the team visiting patients at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, including head coach Dan Mullen. The remainder of the squad joined players from Miami (Ohio) at the "Fill The Bowl" challenge. The two teams bagged food for under privileged children in the area this holiday season.
Mullen said he liked the focus of his team since its arrival in St. Pete as it attempts to win its third bowl game in the past four seasons.
"I was really pleased with the enthusiasm and energy we had in practice today," he said. "Generally speaking, the first practice is always the dangerous one after your first night in a new town. I liked the focus and energy the guys had out here. I think bowl games are one of the great experiences for players. The message for our guys was, we didn't have our best season but because of our academics and how we have taken care of things in the classroom they got rewarded with a bowl game."
Mullen also discussed the team's health heading into the bowl. Senior defensive end A.J. Jefferson and offensive linemen Deion Calhoun, Michael Story and Daryl Williams will all miss the game due to injury. Calhoun, Story and Williams did not play in the season finale, a 55-20 victory over rival Ole Miss.
Jefferson underwent shoulder surgery the week after the Egg Bowl. It closes a brilliant career for the Summit, Miss, native who finishes tied for third all-time in MSU tackles for loss with 35. That tally matches Glen Collins (1978-81) and Johnie Cooks (1977-81).
Jefferson, a team captain, collected 135 tackles and 13.5 sacks in his four seasons. He ranks 11th all-time in MSU sacks. He made the trip to St. Petersburg and will be rooting his teammates on from the sideline.
Friday's schedule calls for another morning practice followed by a trip to Busch Gardens.
For behind-the-scenes content throughout St. Petersburg Bowl week, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Below are quotes from Mullen and quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, the Southeastern Conference leader in total offense, at today's media session:
Head Coach Dan Mullen
On the team's experience in St. Petersburg…
"I was really pleased with the enthusiasm and energy we had in practice today. Generally speaking, the first practice is always the dangerous one after your first night in a new town. I liked the focus and energy the guys had out here. I think bowl games are one of the great experiences for players. The message for our guys was, we didn't have our best season but because of our academics and how we have taken care of things in the classroom they got rewarded with a bowl game. Bowl games are a reward, because you have all of these guys who have maybe never been to St. Petersburg before and may never have another opportunity to come. There are opportunities to go to the beach, stay in a really nice hotel, and just to experience and see different things in life is an unbelievable part of their education."
On staying focused during bowl prep…
"That has to be your focus. The older guys have to help the younger guys. We fortunately have been to a lot of bowl games now. There is plenty of time off and there is plenty of time to have fun, but when it is time for football that is priority No. 1. We are here to try to win a football game, and nothing can interfere with that."
On what Ashton Shumpert has meant to the program…
"He has done an amazing job playing a lot of different roles. He is a guy that comes out every day and works his tail off. He is going to have a great future at the next level because of his versatility. He is willing to block as a fullback, run as a tailback, catch the ball out of the back field, starts on all four special teams and he is just a complete all-in team guy. He is going to be a big loss for us because he does so many little things for the team."
On recapturing the enthusiasm from the Egg Bowl win…
"A lot of times you can finish on such a high note, that guys are still enthused from that game and are ready to get out and play again. That was such a great feeling, and they want to go do that again. We have been a little bipolar this year as a team, but I liked the energy out here today."
On the momentum built from victories in bowl games…
"It is huge. I don't want to be miserable for nine months. We do not play again until September. You want to finish on a win. When you show back up in January, you are excited to get going again. That can really energize you."
On what that momentum can do for a young football team…
"We have a young football team, and hopefully we get the opportunity to see that enthusiasm carry us into the offseason. We have a lot of good young players and a lot of good young talent. I am excited about our future."
On Tampa native Brandon Holloway's career with MSU…
"He has done a great job. He is a guy that came in, and we knew he was special with the ball in his hands. He has been able to play a bunch of different positions, and he is a dangerous weapon because anytime the ball is in his hands something electric can happen. He has had a great career."
On Fred Ross' work ethic throughout his career…
"The work he put in, you could see his commitment to excellence. Not just in practice and his talent on the field, but his constant work ethic throughout the offseason. He is always trying to better himself."
QB Nick Fitzgerald
On the first day of practice in St. Petersburg…
"It felt good to be back. We are really excited we get to go to a bowl. We stress academics at Mississippi State a lot, and it was good to show that."
On preparing for a bowl game…
"The early bowl practices are similar to a mini fall camp for a few days. There is a lot of individual work, and there is time to focus on the little things you want to improve on. It gives a lot of younger guys who are here that will be trying to fight for a spot next year a chance to show what they can do."
On St. Petersburg…
"I do not think you can think of a better bowl destination than Florida in the middle of December. It is 70 degrees outside. Bowl games are a great time, but like Coach Mullen says there is always one team that really puts the emphasis on winning the game and not just on the fun things that are set up for us. They take care of us really well here and we have really enjoyed it."
Players Mentioned
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