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The Florida tour of Starkville marked a return to the country for the Gators head coach Dan Mullen, the head coach of the SSM from 2008 to 17. He led the program to unprecedented success, including a record in 69-46, a brief ranking No. 1 and eight consecutive bowls. He has since been replaced by Joe Moorhead.
On Mullen's return, his Gators defeated the Bulldogs 13-6. And in their locker room celebration, you can hear a cowbell – made infamous by Mississippi fans like the noisemaker of their choice – ringing out all the time.
CJ Henderson at Davis Wade Stadium: "I was not impressed by all the hype, the cow bells. I think the swamp is stronger. "
– Nick de la Torre (@NickdelaTorreGC) September 30, 2018
There was a reason why Bulldog fans did not welcome him with open arms.
We had already seen coaches and programs split amicably, as when Scott Frost left UCF for his alma mater. But holding a position in the same conference is a different story, even though Mullen already had roots in Gainesville.
For example:
Dan Mullen had the habit of ordering the same off-menu creation every time he visited the takeaway service in Starkville's ice cream sauce, called Bop's: vanilla concrete, topped with chocolate syrup, caramel , chocolate chips and M & M.
Bop's named it The Mullen.
It is now called lateral movement. pic.twitter.com/2hulLDSLWL
– Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) September 26, 2018
The story: After the 2014 season, Mullen lost MSU's defensive coordinator, Geoff Collins, to Florida. He called it "lateral movement". The people of the state of Mississippi are now using this quote against Mullen, since he made the same transition.
There was also this sign in a Starkville café, with a reference to Mullen's use of "The North School" to describe the main rival Ole Miss while he was in the state of Mississippi. If Mullen does not have much to say about MSU now, it means that MSU is Florida's rival now, right? I'm just following the logic.
So yes, Mullen should not have expected a friendly reception of the fans, although he is probably the best coach in the history of the school.
"I think there will be a lot of passion Saturday night," Mullen said. "But I think the majority of people and all the people I knew in this fanbase, when I think of the fans and the old players and the inhabitants of the city of Starkville, I think that they mostly enjoyed we have been able to accomplish in the nine years of our presence, and I do not know if it will happen on Saturday night. "
Mullen on the Starkville community: "Being a Yankee and everyone, they have me very well from the start." #Gators
– Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) September 24, 2018
His former players may, however, disagree with this reaction.
Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald stands here for Mullen, referring to a button using their resemblance:
The recruitment and development of quarterbacks – such as Fitzgerald and the former QB Dak Prescott of the state of Mississippi – are Mullen's specialties.
After Fitzgerald scored for three touchdowns and ran for 258 yards and two touchdowns against Ole Miss in 2016, Mullen was asked who else recruited Fitzgerald. His answer was quite memorable:
"He brings so many different things to the table," Mullen said of his former QB. "You have a big guy who can throw the ball on the field, but who can run with you and crush you just as easily. It's a big challenge when you have a guy who has it all in one package. "
Thank you to coach Mullen for incorporating this program into what it is today. But a program is bigger than a person! We are proud of our ability to make consistent efforts and I am very happy to be able to take this team to a new level next season! #HaiIState
– Nick Fitzgerald (@ nickfitz07) November 26, 2017
"He somehow hugged me and said," Hey, it'll be okay. Fitzgerald said that when Mullen had announced to the team that he was leaving, via IF. "Be strong and be the leader, that's all that has been said since."
Every time the coach returns to face his former team, it's unique.
Especially when it's less than a year. Mullen said it would be cool to go to Starkville and get a win:
After being Florida's offensive coordinator with Urban Meyer for four seasons, contributing to the 2006 and 2008 National Championship Nationals, Mullen returned to Gainesville with the Mississippi State in 2010 and led the Bulldogs to a 10- 7.
"I hope to keep this track alive when we go back. I am sure I will receive a very kind welcome. They'll all be standing and ringing their bells, "he laughs. "… it's a challenge, the only thing that's always difficult is relationships, you have a very strong connection and a connection with all those players, sometimes I feel almost bad, we've chosen twice Timmy in Starkville (in 2009, a 29 to 19 win in Florida), which may have cost him the Heisman, but I knew somehow the weaknesses, and so I can use that against him, but I can not. hope to know some of the weaknesses of all Mississippi guys to use some of that against them. "
Then his Gators went to do it.
* MSU fans will remind you which coach has the best winning percentage in MSU history.
It was Florida RB coach Greg Knox who took over for MSU's victory at the TaxSlayer Bowl after Mullen's exit.
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