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Croom leaves MSU program with a strong foundation |
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Monday, 01 December 2008 |
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By Don Foster Starville Daily News
Mississippi State enters a crucial lame duck session before bringing aboard a new head football coach following the surprise resignation of Sylvester Croom.
No doubt, the SEC’s first black head football coach brought a number of positive aspects to the program in Starkville, but he must have felt it was time to step aside.
It didn’t take the five-year Mississippi State coach long to reach a decision once a disappointing 2008 season was in the record books. In fact, in less that 24 hours after the Bulldogs (4-8) had been dismantled in the annual Egg Bowl, the embattled Croom said he would resign.
It’s not the first time a college football coach has decided to walk away from a job, and it won’t be the last. Even in Croom’s haste, he maintains he’s leaving a solid foundation for Mississippi State to build on in the future in pursuit of its championship goals.
Just a year ago last December, Croom led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 winning season and a Liberty Bowl triumph, but how quickly things can turn.
It’s true, he didn’t win an SEC title in the toughest conference in the country, but he’s won everybody’s respect.
First-year Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, now in the market to fill another major coaching vacancy, says a national search will begin immediately. A short list to succeed the 2007 SEC Coach of the Year is already in the works.
Mississippi State legendary baseball coach Ron Polk finished up a brilliant career at the end of the ‘08 campaign and was his succeeded by John Cohen, a former Mississippi State Diamond Dog standout and Kentucky coach who was brought aboard during the off-season.
This is a busy time of the year for college football with conference championship games on the menu, the BCS, recruiting, evaluations, etc. It’s even more important for Mississippi State in the wake of the transition.
It’s critical to keep an open line with all the recruits and especially the young men who have already indicated their intentions to join the Bulldogs before the latest developments.
The Mississippi State staff, including interim head coach Rockey Felker, is still under contract. There’s still plenty of work to be done until a new coach is aboard.
There in lies countless hours that have gone into recruiting, part of the framework for the foundation that Croom promised to put into place when he was lured away from the NFL’s Green Bay Packers.
A number of highly-regarded prep players have said they will be signing with Mississippi State on National Signing Day. Keeping the recruits in the fold is a key component of a successful transition.
It’s sad to see Croom step down, yet he may elect to continue working with the program in some capacity in the future. That would be a tremendous upside for both parties if something could be worked out.
Mississippi State incoming President Mark Keenum and Byrne have both said they hold Croom in the highest regard, which speaks volumes about the man who took his job seriously. He promised to build a strong foundation from the ground up, and there is evidence all around that he’s done that.
Don’t forget Mississippi State was under NCAA sanctions when Croom was hired to resurrect the program. It made for a near impossible task, but the former Paul “Bear” Bryant disciple accepted the assignment with full knowledge of the challenge.
Not only did Croom help develop NFL greats the likes of Detroit’s Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, San Diego’s Natrone Means and Green Bay’s Ahman Green, but he gained the respect of countless other pro vets.
Brought aboard in December of 2003 by former Director of Athletics Larry Templeton to rebuild the Mississippi State program, Croom had a lot of work to do and has given it his undivided attention by all accounts.
Mississippi State found a way to upset the nationally-ranked Florida Gators in 2004 before posting back-to-back wins over Alabama while also knocking off Auburn, Kentucky and Ole Miss. But it wasn’t enough for the diehards.
One thing that can be said, in addition to the integrity that he’s instilled, is there’s no NCAA cloud hanging over the Bulldogs despite it often being used against them.
Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the son of a minister and his mother a teacher, Croom worked diligently to restore discipline at State, and to that end, has had a tremendous impact throughout the program.
A man of deep convictions, honor and character, an All-American at Alabama, and a 17-year NFL assistant, Croom has been the face of the Mississippi State program for the last five years, and although he’s decided to step aside, he’s still been a positive influence.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 December 2008 )
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