COACHING
AP/ R. Solis
Head Coach: Sylvestor Croom
(Career Rec: 0-0)
Offensive Coordinator: Woody McCorvey
Defensive Coordinator: Ellis Johnson
2003 Record: 2-10 overall (1-7 SEC)
2003 NCAA STATS RANKINGS
Total Offense: 99th (320.7)
Rushing Offense: 94th (118.7)
Passing Offense: 76th (202.0)
Scoring Offense: 101st (18.8)
Total Defense:113th (473.5)
Rushing Defense: 90th (190.2)
Pass Defense: 115th (283.2)
Scoring Defense: 117th (39.2)
STARTERS RETURNING
Offense (7):
LT Richard Burch (6-5, 319, Jr.)
LG Will Rogers (6-4, 326, Sr.)
RG Otis Riddley (6-1, 340, So.)
RT David Stewart (6-6, 302, Sr.)
FL Ray Ray Bivines (5-11, 176, Sr.)
*TB Jerious Norwood (6-0, 192, Jr.)
FB Darnell Jones (5-11, 240, Sr.)
Defense (7):
DT Ronald Fields (6-2, 296, Sr.)
*RE Willie Evans (6-2, 263, Jr.)
*WLB Marvin Byrdsong (6-2, 240, Jr.)
FS Kevin Dockery (5-10, 181, Jr.)
SS Jeramie Johnson (6-0, 197, So.)
SS Darren Williams (6-2, 204, Jr.)
RCB Quinton Culberson (6-0, 216, So.)
* All-Star Candidates
Roster
TEAM STRENGTHS
Defensive secondary, offensive line.
TEAM QUESTION MARKS
Quarterback, receiver, depth.
KEY GAME
Sept 4, Tulane. Mississippi State needs to start off the Sylvestor Croom era with a win.
HEAD COACH'S COMMENTS
"Happy to come back to the conference after 17 years in the pros. Always considered this the best college football conference in the country, when evaluating from being in the pros, look at the players in the NFL, caliber of players in this conference, honor me to be part of it."
"I look forward to long tenure at Mississippi State. People of our university have welcomed myself and staff with open arms, look forward to great things in the future, hope one day down the road, take a while, we can get to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game."
"Our players have embraced our concepts, embraced attitude work ethic we want, still long way to go, how good will be this year, no real idea. Have to get a better picture of where our talent level is, but I do know we will be competitive, players have worked hard over the summer, hopefully we will not beat ourselves, play tough and physical, finish every play and have character and strength to finish out in the fourth quarter and pull some out in the end."
VandyMania Projection
2004 SCHEDULE AND GAME PREDICTIONS
Sept. 4 TULANE, L 31-24
Sept. 11 AUBURN, L 35-21
Sept. 18 MAINE, W 17-10
Sept. 25 at LSU, L 38-7
Oct. 2 at Vanderbilt, L 30-27
Oct. 9 UAB, L 16-13
Oct. 23 FLORIDA, L 28-20
Oct. 30 KENTUCKY, L 10-6
Nov. 6 at Alabama, L 27-7
Nov. 20 ARKANSAS, L 20-13
Nov. 27 at Ole Miss, L 28-27
VandyMania's 2004 Mississippi State prediction: 1-10, (0-8 SEC)