Cover Story: Defining The Championship Standard

by Caleb Garner, Graduate Assistant/Communications

The following feature story can be found in the Sept. 1 Mississippi State Football Game Program, which can be purchased for $5 in and around Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday.

Since being named Mississippi State's 33rd head football coach on Nov. 29, 2017, Joe Moorhead has consistently expressed the desire for his program to perform at a "Championship Standard."

The question, however, is this: What does that standard look like? How is it defined? That answer, Moorhead says, lies not just on the field, but also in the classroom and in the community. It includes not just student-athletes and coaches, but also with all support staff associated with the Bulldog football program.

"To me, what the standard means is that every single player, coach and support staff member who plays a role in the success of our football program operates at their highest level," Moorhead said. "For the players—on the field, in the classroom and in the community—they are to do the things that are necessary for us to be the best team in the state, the best team in the conference and the best team in the country."

Football has many quantifiable standards—completion percentage, touchdown-to-interception ratio and yards allowed per game, just to name a few. Moorhead, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, notes that while there are some measurable features about the Championship Standard, it is more difficult to attach an exact number to the process of achieving such a goal. In the classroom is where much of the measurables

"I don't necessarily think it's quantifiable in the process," Moorhead said. "The end goal is relative to our team goals of being the best team in the state, conference and country. In the classroom, it's making sure we graduate 100 percent of our guys with a meaningful degree and preparing them with the tools to become productive and responsible citizens. Lastly, in the community, it's making sure we impact Mississippi State, the city of Starkville and the state of Mississippi in a positive manner."

Whether it be as an assistant coach or as the man in charge, Moorhead has seen success at nearly every stop on his coaching journey, with that standard being at the forefront. That success began with his first full-time Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) gig at Akron.

Moorhead helped the Zips to their only Mid-American Conference title in the program's 120-year history in 2005. By doing so, Akron made its first-ever appearance in a bowl game. In 2008, his final year at Akron, the Zips were the most improved team in the nation in total offense, while also ranking third in the MAC in points per game and turnover margin.

After three years in Akron, Moorhead moved further north to Storrs, Connecticut, to run the UConn Huskies' offensive unit in 2009 and 2010. There, he led a unit that ranked second in the BIG EAST Conference in scoring and rushing offense in 2010, helping the Huskies win the conference crown and making an appearance in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Moorhead's first head coaching opportunity came prior to the 2012 season at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York, where he inherited a program that went 1-10 in the previous season. He steadily built the Rams into a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) powerhouse, leading them to their best season in program history in 2013 followed by a Patriot League title in 2014. Under his guidance, his alma mater reached the FCS playoffs in three straight seasons.

Then, his home state called, and Moorhead answered. He joined James Franklin's staff at Penn State as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. There, his Championship Standard was evident on the offensive side, as the Nittany Lions scored at least 30 points in 21 of the 26 games he coached, averaging 39.4 points per game.

In just his first season in Happy Valley, Moorhead ushered one of the most astounding offensive turnarounds in recent memory. Prior to his arrival, Penn State finished No. 100 nationally in scoring and No. 105 in total offense. In just one year, the Nittany Lions leaped 79 spots to No. 21 in scoring offense.

To go along with his "Championship Standard" mantra, there is another phrase that can be heard all over the Leo Seal, Jr. Football Complex.

"The phrase that goes along with 'Championship Standard is 'One at a time,'" Moorhead said. "On the football field, it's one drill, one period, one practice, one day, one week at a time. The same goes for the stuff we do in the classroom and the community. We never want to look too far ahead, and we want to be somewhat myopic in our approach. I think a lot of it goes in line with making sure we are paying attention to the smallest details and doing the little things right, and I think that's part of addressing what we want our culture to be."

As part of that culture, five tenets are stressed in Moorhead's program: discipline, accountability, work ethic, attention-to-detail and selflessness. He believes that culture is the most important in building a championship program in addition to talent and coaching.

With fall camp officially in the books, expectations are high for the Bulldogs, who enter the season with their highest preseason ranking since 1981. Part of that is due to the stable of talent Moorhead and Co. have inherited from the previous staff, but also because that talent has bought in to the "Championship Standard" mentality.

"Obviously, there was already a solid foundation here but part of the challenge and part of why I know our kids are buying in to our program is our desire, willingness and capability to elevate the program from good to great. We want to be the coaching staff, team and program that brings the first SEC championship to Mississippi State. I think, when you frame it and see it through that lens, the kids understand that we've done a lot of good things here in the past, but we have big goals, big dreams and big aspirations."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Cover Story: Defining The Championship Standard

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