Maroon & White Game To Be Televised Live on ESPNU April 16
March 23, 2016 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State's Maroon and White Spring Game on Saturday, April 16 will be televised live at 11 a.m. CT on ESPNU from Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, the network announced Wednesday.
The free admission contest is part of Super Bulldog Weekend presented by Regions Bank. Live streaming video of the game will also be available on WatchESPN.com or the Watch ESPN app.
The Bulldogs returned to the practice field Tuesday after a week-long hiatus for spring break. MSU practiced in shorts and helmets Tuesday and will go through back-to-back full pads' practices for the first time this spring on Thursday and Friday afternoon.
New defensive line coach Brian Baker addressed the media after his second practice. Baker, who makes his return to the college game, has 19 years of NFL coaching experience to his credit, including the 2014 season with the Washington Redskins.
“I think, as a coach, our responsibility is to earn the right to coach,” Baker said. “You do that by showing players you can help them win. I think being very detailed in what we're doing. A question was asked today about why I don't do a certain drill that these guys are used to doing. I said, because I don't see the application to football for that particular drill. If I don't see the application to football, I don't do it. Everything I want these guys to do needs to relate to winning on Saturdays. That's all we talk about.”
Baker takes over a solid defensive line led by returning starting defensive ends A.J. Jefferson and Jonathan Calvin. Jefferson enters his senior year after producing at least one tackle for loss in nine of 13 games a year ago.
“I feel like this should be the best spring since we've been here,” Jefferson said. “It's exciting to have Coach Baker here, especially with all of the years he's coached in the league.”
Baker and defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon's unit is taking on a multiple look this spring from 3-4 to unique blitzes. The Bulldogs will scrimmage twice (April 2 and 9) before culminating the month with the Maroon and White Spring Game on April 16.
