Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom staked out his place in Southeastern Conference football history Dec. 1, 2003. Croom broke through the then 71-year history of the SEC by becoming its first black head football coach. “The issue of opportunities for minority coaches to become head football coaches is an issue for everybody,” SEC commissioner Mike Slive told the Associated Press on Dec. 3, 2003. “The fact that the SEC has now provided that opportunity makes it an historic day for the conference and for Mississippi State.” Despite his successful bid to become a part of history, Croom has yet to field a winning team at Mississippi State. His first two years as the Bulldogs’ coach yielded back-to-back 3-8 records including consecutive 1-7 SEC marks. “I talked to people who had been through similar situations, and I knew I was looking at a minimum of three years is what I was told,” Croom said of rebuilding the Bulldogs’ program. But three years after he took the job, Croom is still working against NCAA sanctions. The Bulldogs are in the final year of scholarship probation after former coach Jackie Sherrill and his coaching staff were charged with violating recruiting regulations between 1998 and 2002. The NCAA required Mississippi State to offer four less scholarships to football players in 2005 and 2006 and were given 11 fewer expense-paid recruiting trips during the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years. “We basically started all over,” Croom said. “I knew it would take some time. It’s not any fun when you’re rebuilding a program, but I made a commitment to do that.” Faced with a monumental rebuilding task, Croom said seniors like quarterback/wide receiver Omarr Conner and linebacker Quinton Culberson remaining at Mississippi State was crucial. “They are the ones who chose to stay and adapt to a different way of thinking and doing things,” Croom said. “They have…made probably as many sacrifices as anyone in the program.” Conner said he decided to remain a Bulldog after talking to people familiar with Croom and his coaching philosophy. “I decided to stay at Mississippi State for one thing – Coach Croom,” Conner said. “I talked to a lot of guys who know Coach Croom personally, and everybody said [Croom] is a great coach.” LSU coach Les Miles said the progress the Bulldogs have made is apparent both on and off the field. “He’s recruiting good players,” Miles said. “There are some guys on that team that we recruited hard. He’s making it hard to recruit those kids.” When LSU and Mississippi State are not playing in a game, Miles said he enjoys seeing Croom succeed in the league. “We root for Mississippi State when they’re not playing LSU,” Miles said. “I like Coach Croom. He’s doing a good job there.” Mississippi State has begun the 2006 season with a 1-3 record, its second such start during Croom’s tenure. Conner said the players feel responsible for Croom’s job and future as the Bulldogs’ coach. “I think a lot of things come down to the players,” Conner said. “Coaches only make you ready for the game. They can’t play the game for you.”
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