Felker gives a glimpse into State's program

By By Carver Rayburn / staff writer
May 7, 2003
QUITMAN Close to 150 Mississippi State alumni and fans made there way to Clarke County State Park on Tuesday evening for a banquet dinner with representatives from the college 110 miles up Highway 45.
Highlighting the guest speakers in attendance was former MSU quarterback and head football coach Rockey Felker. Felker is currently the Coordinator of Football Operations at Mississippi State.
After a meal furnished by the Clarke County Alumni Chapter, Felker began a 15-minute speech that touched on many aspects of the Bulldogs' football program, which has been on the decline the past two seasons posting records of 3-8 and 3-9.
After a second disappointing season in a row, the coaching staff at Mississippi State under went drastic changes. Essentially, the only coach left at the end of the gutting was the Dean of SEC coaches Jackie Sherrill.
A dismal flaw in the Bulldogs' game plan last season was the offensive line. Felker said that he believes new offensive line coach Steve Campbell, who guided Delta State Univeristy to the Division II National Championship in 2000, has provided a solution to this problem depth.
Another duty of the Coordinator of Football Operations is that of organizing the recruiting runs of the football coaches. This past February, Mississippi State showed that hard work and dedication does pay off as they signed a plethora of talent from around the South.
According to Felker, of the 28 signees MSU obtained, 16 are from Mississippi, five are from Georgia, three form Alabama and two are from Florida.
The new recruits will be learning a new style of Bulldogs' defense come this fall.
Felker said Cooper's style of defense will be a little different from what MSU fans have become accustomed too.
A step back zone may be just what the Bulldogs need going into this fall against a tough non-conference and SEC schedule. MSU opens its season against the University of Oregon in Starkville on Aug. 30.