Sherrill stands by prediction

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Sept. 30, 2003
STARKVILLE Mississippi State University head coach Jackie Sherrill is standing by the proclamation he made two months ago.
The embattled Bulldogs coach told reporters at the Southeastern Conference media days on July 30-31 that his team was on the up swing entering the 2003 campaign.
Apparently the bottom was father down than the Dean of SEC coaches thought, MSU fell to 0-4 (0-1 SEC) for the season after a 41-6 loss to LSU on Saturday.
The Bulldogs are ranked 113th in pass defense (304.8 yards per game), and they have surrendered 39 points per game.
MSU is being outscored in 56-0 in the opening quarter and 87-26 in the first half, and the team has turned the ball over 16 times.
Despite the atrocious start to the season, Sherrill stood by his preseason statement on Monday during his teleconference.
MSU held the lead in only one game this year. The Bulldogs had a 21-14 advantage after three quarters over Tulane on Sept. 13 before they fell 31-28, giving up 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Sherrill's squad almost took an early lead over LSU at Davis Wade Stadium.
The Bulldogs drove to the Tigers' 14-yard line on their first offense series of the game, but running back Nick Turner fumbled on the 17-yard line.
Many of the teams struggles can be contributed to the number of first-year players starting for MSU.
The Bulldogs have three freshmen in the starting line up, and they have 28 first-year players on the roster.
The offense has tried to make up for the team's mistakes and struggling defense.
Quarterback Kevin Fant ranks second in the SEC in passing yards per game (270.5) and total offense (263), and wide receiver Justin Jenkins is leading the SEC and is fifth nationally in receiving yards per game (114.5).
Sherrill said even though his team is off to the worst start in his tenure with the program, the players are still working hard to salvage something from the season.