Encore, Encore, Encore
August 31, 2024 | Football, Joel Coleman
Showtime at State couldn’t be off to a better start.
STARKVILLE – It was a frigid November evening about nine months ago. Jeff Lebby had just been named the head coach at Mississippi State and stood in front of the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex to deliver his first remarks as the new leader of the Bulldogs.
"It will be a show," Lebby said of his coaching plans to the throng of State fans gathered. "And it'll be a show that a lot of people are going to want to see, and it'll be a show that a lot of people are going to want to be a part of."
If that wasn't the beginning of what's been dubbed "Showtime at State", well then NOW, consider the show officially started. And if the following episodes are anything resembling the opening act, hold on tight to your cowbells. This is going to be something.
State pounded Eastern Kentucky 56-7 on Saturday night in the season opener in front of a rocking crowd at Davis Wade Stadium to raise the curtain on the Lebby era.
Yes, the tests get harder from here as a grueling slate is on the horizon. But that's all in the future. For now, one game in, the pilot of Lebby's showtime series certainly looks like a must-see event worth tuning in for time and time and time again.
"I think there was a whole lot of good," Lebby said postgame. "Proud of our guys for their energy and competitive spirit and the toughness they played with."
Things weren't perfect. There's obviously much room for the Bulldogs to learn and grow. But folks, this was indeed a show throughout on Saturday.
The best shows seem to have a common thread. They're unpredictable. You never know what to expect.
That sure seems to be the case with this one and director Lebby certainly isn't going to be one to put forth a script that's mundane for those in Maroon.
Like full-throttle action? There was plenty of that on Saturday – with both Jordan Mosley and Mario Craver catching 50-plus yard touchdown passes from quarterback Blake Shapen. Shapen also hit Kevin Coleman on a 23-yard scoring toss. Not to even mention Davon Booth punching one in the end zone on the ground.
Is it a thriller with twists and turns you seek? Shapen came through for you in that regard on a touchdown run in which he improvised and zigged and zagged and found his way to the end zone from four yards out.
Maybe you like a magic show. Lebby's guys can do that to, as illustrated by when they pulled off a little trickeration with a jet sweep/reverse play that resulted in a 41-yard touchdown run from Creed Whittemore.
To steal and adapt a line from one of the greatest shows/films of all time, Forrest Gump, it appears this offense is like a box of chocolates. You just never know what you might get.
"It is everything in our offense," Shapen said. "Our offense can be very explosive. We have to do the little things right to make it more explosive, but we can do a little of everything running the football and throwing the football. There's creativity and different ways you can do it."
State racked up 450 yards of total offense on Saturday. Nearly 300 of that came before halftime as the Dawgs poured it on early and often.
MSU led 35-7 at the break, then in the second half, State let it be known its offense isn't the only show in town.
Special teams shined. JP Purvis blocked a punt that Craver scooped up and took for a score.
Freshman Elijah Cannon put an exclamation point on the win with his 51-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter.
With so many names making so many plays, looks like this show will have an ensemble cast.
"It's a player's game," Lebby said. "Players have to make the plays."
Make the plays they did on Saturday night.
Last November, Lebby called his shot. He proved in the opener he's a man of his word.
There's work to be done, sure. But man, what a start.
"Being able to get out there and lead our guys down the ramp and lead them through the Dawg Walk and have the ability to go get our first win together, I don't take it for granted," Lebby said. "It'll be the first of many. Could not be more excited about where we are today, but I'm a heck of a lot more excited about where we're going."
