Mississippi State Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 SEC) Week 1 Game Notes • vs. Memphis (0-0, 0-0 C-USA) September 4, 2010 • 6:00 p.m. • ESPNU • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (55,082) Mississippi State Schedule & Results WEEKLY NEWS AND NOTES STATISTICAL COMPARISON Date Opponent W-L Score/Time Mississippi State vs. Memphis Sept. 4 MEMPHIS 6 p.m. BULLDOGS KICK OFF SEASON AGAINST FAMILIAR REGIONAL FOE (2009 per-game averages) Sept. 9 * AUBURN (Thurs.) 6:30 p.m. Mississippi State welcomes Memphis to campus on Saturday for the lidlifter Sept. 18 * at LSU 6 p.m. of the 2010 campaign. The game is slated for a 6 p.m. kickoff, and will be Mississippi State Memphis Sept. 25 * GEORGIA TBA televised by ESPNU. The Bulldogs and the Tigers have not played since 2003, but prior to the recent hiatus the two schools faced off each year Overall Record . 5-7 . 2-10 Oct. 2 ALCORN STATE TBA for 30 consecutive seasons. State has won 31 of the 42 all-time meetings Conference Record . 3-5 . 1-7 Oct. 9 at Houston 7 p.m. between the teams, including an active streak of 10 straight wins dating Points Scored . .25.6 . 21.8 Oct. 16 at Florida TBA back to 1994. Points Allowed . 26.8 . 34.8 Oct. 23 * UAB (HC) TBA Total Offense . .371.9 . 373.1 Oct. 30 * KENTUCKY TBA MULLEN HOPES FOR YEAR TWO SUCCESS Rushing Yards . 227.6 . 158.2 Nov. 13 * at Alabama TBA Head coach Dan Mullen had coached two or more seasons at six schools Passing Yards . 144.3 . 214.8 Nov. 20 * ARKANSAS TBA prior to taking the top spot at Mississippi State, and at nearly every stop Yards Allowed . 366.0 . 457.5 Nov. 27 * at Ole Miss TBA along the way year two has seen marked improvement from the prior Rushing Yards Allowed . 146.0 . 174.1 All times Central season. Wagner college went 6-5 in 1994 and 8-2 in 1995; Notre Dame improved from 5-7 in 1999 to 9-3 in 2000; Bowling Green went 8-3 in Passing Yards Allowed . .220.0 . 283.4 2001 and 9-3 in 2002; Utah jumped from 10-2 in 2003 to 12-0 in 2004; and The Series Florida improved from 8-3 in 2005 to 13-1 and national champions in 2006. INDIVIDUAL COMPARISON Overall Record . Mississippi State leads 31-11 Mississippi State vs. Memphis in Starkville . .Mississippi State leads 14-4 DIAZ, WILSON TAKE OVER DEFENSIVE REIGNS (2009 per-game averages; returning players only) Last meeting: . .Mississippi State 35-27, 2003 in Starkville Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and co-defensive coordinator Chris Last meeting in Starkville: . .Same Wilson have joined the Bulldog coaching staff with hopes of improving Mississippi State Memphis Last 10 meetings: . .Mississippi State leads 10-0 a defensive unit that finished 10th in the Southeastern Conference in Rushing Yards-per-Game Current Series Win Streak: . Mississippi State 10 games total defense a year ago. State finished the year ranked 104th nationally in sacks per game and 89th in tackles for loss. Diaz’ defense at Middle Chris Relf . 50.0 . 45.0 . Tyler Bass Tennessee finished second in tackles for loss and tied for sixth in sacks. Robert Elliott . 18.4 . 4.0 . Gregory Ray Quick Facts - Mississippi State Wilson’s defensive line at Oklahoma helped the Sooners finish ninth in Passing Yards-per-Game Record . 0-0, 0-0 SEC tackles for loss and sixth in sacks. Chris Relf . 28.3 . 168.2 . Tyler Bass Ranking (AP/Coaches') . .NR / RV Receiving Yards-per-Game Head Coach . .Dan Mullen RUSHING ATTACK WAS AMONG NATION’S BEST IN 2009; Chad Bumphis . 31.2 . 20.1 . Marcus Rucker Career Record . 5-7 / Second Season AND FOUR OFFENSIVE LINE STARTERS RETURN Marcus Green . 25.5 . 13.5 . Cam Baker MSU Record . same Mississippi State rushed for 2,731 yards on the season, an average of Total Tackles 227.6 per game. The average ranked ninth nationally and led the SEC. The K.J. Wright . 82 . 87 . Jamon Hughes Quick Links offensive line that paved the way for the rushing attack returns four players Chris White . 75 . 58 . .Winston Bowens News that started all 12 games, and the group has an astounding 84 career starts among returning players. Interceptions Roster Corey Broomfield . 6 . 2 . Two tied Team Stats BULLDOG NAMES ABOUND ON PRESEASON WATCH LISTS Individual Stats Through the summer, preseason watchlists for college football awards MSU STREAKS & 2009 RECORDS NCAA Stats have been announced and Mississippi State players have been mentioned Overall Streak 2009 SEC Stats on quite a few of them. Senior defensive end Pernell McPhee was named Overall . W1 . 5-7 Mississippi State Media Guide & Record Book to both the Bednarik and Lombardi lists, while offensive lineman Derek Home . W1 . 2-5 Sherrod joined him on the Lombardi watch list. Junior tight end Marcus Away . L1 . 3-2 Broadcast Information Green was recognized by the Mackey Award and senior center J.C. Neutral . W1 . — Television . ESPNU Brignone caught the attention of Rimington Trophy. Senior linebackers K.J. Wright and Chris White were both on the initial Butkus Award list, while SEC Games . W1 . 3-5 Announcers . Clay Matvick and Herm Edwards Leon Berry was among the watch list for the Hornung Award, given to the Non-Conference Games . W1 . 2-2 Radio . Mississippi State Radio Network nation’s most versatile player. Day Games . W1 . 3-3 Announcers . Jack Cristil, Jim Ellis, John Correro Night Games . L1 . 2-4 XM Radio Network . Channel 198 DEFENSE, OFFENSIVE LINE RETURN MOST FROM YEAR AGO August . L5 . — Sirius Radio Network . Channel 217 With 84 combined starts among offensive linemen returning, the Bulldog September . L1 . 2-2 in Starkville . 107.9, WFCA offensive front is the most experienced unit on the team. Derek Sherrod, October . W1 . 2-3 J.C. Brignone and Quentin Saulsberry have each started the last two sea- sons, while Addison Lawrence started all 12 games a year ago. November . W1 . 1-2 December . W1 . — MISSISSIPPI STATE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT CONTACTS On defense, Mississippi State returns 16 players that earned at least one start in 2009, and eight that were considered starters at their position. vs. Top 10 Teams (AP) . L19 . 0-3 MEDIA RELATIONS - 662-325-2703 vs. Top 25 Teams (AP) . W1 . 1-4 Joe Galbraith - 662-418-3970 TWO DOGS HAVE EARNED ALL-SEC HONORS, When MSU Scores First . L1 . 4-3 Jay Middleton - 662-418-9139 SIX RECOGNIZED AS FRESHMEN When Opponent Scores First . W1 . 1-4 MISSISSIPPI STATE RADIO NETWORK - 662-325-4171 Pernell McPhee and Derek Sherrod each were named to All-Southeastern When MSU Leads at Halftime . W2 . 4-1 Don Williams - 662-312-2564 Conference teams following the 2009 campaign. State tied for the league When Tied at Halftime . W2 . — TELEVISION CENTER - 662-325-1332 lead with four players named to the freshman team, as Johnthan Banks, When Opp. Leads at Halftime . L2 . 1-6 Bennie Ashford - 662-418-2165 Corey Broomfield, Chad Bumphis and Fletcher Cox were each honored by the league’s coaches. Quentin Saulsberry and Charles Mitchell both earned When MSU Leads After 3rd . W19 . 5-0 When Tied After 3rd . L1 . 0-1 FTP INFORMATION freshman team recognition in 2008. When Opp. Leads After 3rd . L14 . 0-6 Located on XOS Digital Xchange C-USA FOES COMMON FOR BULLDOGS When MSU Scores 25+ points . W3 . 4-2 Contact Bennie Ashford in Television Center for login information Schools that currently comprise Conference USA have been the most com- When Opp. Scores 25+ points . W1 . 1-7 mon non-conference foe for the Mississippi State football program. Tulane When MSU Rushes for 100+ yards . W1 . 5-6 has been the most consistent opponent with 58 meetings and Memphis is When Opp. Rushes for 100+ yards . L1 . 1-5 second with 42. State has an 84-62-3 all-time record in 149 meetings with When MSU Rushes for <100 yards . L7 . 0-1 C-USA schools, and have three on the schedule this season (Memphis, When Opp. Rushes for <100 yards . W1 . 4-2 Houston and UAB). Monday 30 Tuesday 31 Wednesday 1 Thursday 2 Friday 3 Saturday 4 Sunday 5 1 p.m. Afternoon 11:30 a.m. Afternoon No Media Availability 6:00 p.m. 12 noon Press Conference Practice - Closed Coach Mullen on SEC Practice - Closed Kickoff vs. Memphis Teleconference (Bryan Building) Teleconference 6:00 p.m. 7 p.m. Postgame Players available following Coach Mullen, players avail- Afternoon Coach Mullen Radio Show Coach Mullen and selected able post-practice Practice - Closed (Harvey’s) players available following Afternoon game. Practice - Closed Please contact Joe Galbraith or Jay Middleton in the Mississippi State Athletic Media Relations office if you have any questions or need any assistance. 2010 MISSISSIPPI STATE FOOTBALL DEPTH CHART (MEMPHIS) OFFENSE DEFENSE WR 9 LEON BERRY 6-0 205 SR. DE 90 PERNELL MCPHEE 6-4 285 SR. 8 Chris Smith 6-2 210 So. 57 Johnathan McKenzie 6-6 265 RFr. WR 19 ARCETO CLARK 5-10 180 SO. DT 97 JOSH BOYD 6-3 295 SO. 11 Ricco Sanders 5-11 195 RFr. 95 James Carmon 6-7 345 Jr. WR 1 CHAD BUMPHIS 5-10 195 SO. DT 94 FLETCHER COX 6-4 300 SO. -OR- 3 BRANDON HEAVENS 5-10 175 SO. 60 Devin Jones 6-0 270 So. LT 79 DEREK SHERROD 6-6 305 SR. DE 99 SEAN FERGUSON 6-3 255 JR. 75 Blaine Clausell 6-7 305 Fr. -OR- 36 NICK BELL 6-3 265 SO.