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OK, MSU football fans: Give thanks for these
Remember: Basketball is right around the corner
STARKVILLE
By Don Hammack
Imade a conscious effort this week, I really did.
At least I tried to.
Mississippi State is obviously going through a miserable football season. They've lost five straight and things don't look promising in the near future with explosive Florida visiting Scott Field in two weeks.
If there's ever a time for gallows humor, this is it folks.
Bulldog Nation has to take its lumps this year as first-year coach Sylvester Croom tries to turn around a moribund program. Arguments are already flying about whether he's the man for the job.
These things happen after you lose to Division I-AA Maine and perennial Southeastern Conference doormat Vanderbilt.
The conscious decision was to try to write stuff other than postmortems and obituaries. There aren't going to be many bright spots for the Bulldogs this season, but it oughta be time for folks to laugh their way through the pain.
In that vein, here are the Top 10 Things State Football Fans Can Be Thankful For:
1. Less than half to go - Believe it or not, you're more than halfway through the season. State is now 1-5 and, thanks to the intricacies of the NCAA scheduling rules and the calendar, there are only 11 games this season.
2. There's always UK - State's schedule isn't a walk in the park with Florida and Arkansas on it. Kentucky looks terrible, though, and Alabama has struggled (except at UK on Saturday) since losing Brodie Croyle. The Egg Bowl looks more daunting now that Ole Miss won at Columbia. So, at least the Wildcats give the Bulldogs another shot at avoiding a Tulane-and-Gulp season to add to Tech-and-10.
3. There are only 25 days until hoops - State hasn't released its basketball schedule, but the first exhibition game is expected to be played Nov. 4. The Bulldogs will have high expectations with the return of All-American Lawrence Roberts, even though Branden Vincent and Harrison Central's Timmy Roberts are gone. If you can't beat 'em on the gridiron, whip 'em on the hardwood.
4. Conner almost back - At times Saturday, it was painful to watch Kyle York trying to get balls to open receivers. Omarr Conner, who started the first four games before being sidelined by a sprained knee, might have been ready for a game next weekend, so he should be that much closer to 100 percent following the bye week. With just a couple of completions against UAB, State's offense would have scored points in droves.
5. There are only six days until hoops practice starts - See No. 3 for the reasons why next Saturday is significant.
6. The other guys are doing badly, too - Well, before Saturday, Ole Miss hadn't exactly found life without Eli to be a walk in the park, and that's a tonic for some State fans. Bulldog fans run the gamut from those who think themselves above the fray and only care about State to those who hope the Rebels go 0-13 in an 11-game schedule.
7. The Egg Bowl, baby - That's the only game that matters, right? Of course, that's easier to say when your team is 1-5.
8. Look to the future -- As the Monty Python guys sang in "Life of Brian," always look on the bright side of life. There's only so much misery you should have to endure, right?
9. Uh... um. Did I say 10 reasons?
How did I ever think I was going to get to 10?
It's going to continue to be a rough one, State fans. Just try to keep things in perspective.
Basketball is just around the corner.
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OK, MSU football fans: Give thanks for these
