Sherrill will meet Dunn on gridiron

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Oct. 7, 2003
STARKVILLE Mississippi State University head football coach Jackie Sherrill will be matching wits with longtime acquaintance Joe Lee Dunn on Saturday.
The Bulldogs' game with the University of Memphis Tigers (3-2, 0-2 Conference USA) this weekend will be Dunn's first trip back to Scott Field since he was fired at the end of last season.
Dunn, who was defensive coordinator at MSU from 1995-2002, guided the Bulldogs' defense to a No. 13 national ranking in 2000 and his 1999 MSU defensive unit led the country in both rushing and total defense.
Sherrill downplayed matching up against his former defensive coordinator, who is working in the same capacity at Memphis.
One thing the 13-year MSU head coach didn't downplay was the importance of his team's win against Vanderbilt.
The Bulldogs (1-4, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) ended a nine-game slide with their 30-21 win over the Commodores at Scott Field last Saturday.
MSU tallied 418 offensive yards, and the team got a big boost from its running game, with Jerious Norwood racking up 113 yards on 22 carries and Nick Turner running for 90 yards on 12 rushes.
The Bulldogs limited the Commodores to 95 rushing yards, and the defense forced five turnovers, including two turnovers on downs, two fumbles and one interception.
The Bulldogs did struggle with composure in their first victory of the season. MSU racked up 112 yards in penalties, including four personal fouls for 57 yards.
The squad's penalties follows a recent pattern for the Bulldogs. MSU led the SEC in penalty yards from 1999-2001.
Along with working on the fine line between aggressive and illegal play, the Bulldogs will be reshuffling their offensive line.
MSU freshman right guard Otis Riddley suffered a season-ending knee injury two-and-a-half minutes into last Saturday's win.
Sherrill said offensive guard Johnny Wadley is practicing this week, and Chris McNeil will work at the center and right guard spots. Freshman offensive lineman Donovan Davis, who entered the game after Riddley was injured, will start against Memphis.
The Bulldogs are set to kick off their Homecoming game against the Tigers at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.