HOOVER, Ala. – Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen hopes to finish the upcoming season the way the Bulldogs started in 2012 by transforming adversity into growth.
The Bulldogs ended the season on a 1-5 skid after winning their first seven games. Head coach Dan Mullen said he believes his players need experiences like this in order to transform Mississippi State into an elite SEC program.
“At some point you are going to have to handle the adversity,” Mullen said. “I think it was a great learning point for the guys on our team, and they took a lot out of it.
If the Bulldogs are going to bounce back in 2013, they are going to have to do it with a relatively young roster containing just 10 seniors, according to Mullen.
Mullen said only have to rely on a few veterans will also lead to success for the Bulldogs in the long-run.
“A lot of opportunities for young guys to step up, not just as play-makers on the field, but young guys need to step into leadership roles for us this year,” Mullen said. “I think that is going to be a real defining factor of our season, how fast these young guys… take over for that big senior class that we had last year.”
One of these veterans returning to Mississippi State will be seniors quarterback Tyler Russell and running back LaDarius Perkins.
The two combined produced almost 79 percent of the Bulldogs’ total offense were responsible for 32 of their 46 touchdowns in 2012.
Russell claimed responsibility for Mississippi State’s struggle to finish last season.
‘”I’m ready to get back on the field,” Russell said. “… Partly, I put it all on my shoulders. I feel like If I would have played the last two games like I am capable of playing, we would have one those last two games.”