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Croom meets with team for final time, Chaney stands firm on return in 2009 |
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008 |
By AARON SEIDLITZ
Starkville Daily News
In a team meeting that one Mississippi State official said lasted less than a half hour, Sylvester Croom made some final comments to his football team from 2008.
The former head coach returned to the MSU campus on Monday and he spoke to the team during a meeting that took place at 2 p.m. at the Holliman Center.
Croom then left, as the players and assistant coaches filed back across to the Bryan Building.
“Coach Croom said a few words, wasn’t in there very long but said a few words, and, you know, wanted to look at the players and talk to them for a few minutes,” interim coach Rocky Felker said. “Then we had a few other people talk in terms of academics and compliance, and I shared with them.”
In addressing the team, Felker said that Croom was not too emotional, and the mood as a whole wasn’t too emotional either. Even though it was a goodbye of sorts, the team and the coaching staff didn’t delve too deeply into the feelings regarding the current situation.
“It wasn’t as emotional as you’d (think). I didn’t see necessarily anybody being emotional. I’m sure a lot of the players were disappointed, and coach Croom was very professional, you know, in terms of dealing with the players and what he said and how he did it,” Felker said.
The players, who weren’t allowed media contact but were quoted in a press release that was put forth by the university, expressed disappointment in the their coach’s resignation, but they also appeared to be ready to move on.
One player in particular reemphasized his commitment to Mississippi State and that was Jamar Chaney. The linebacker earlier said that he was returning for his senior season after breaking his leg in the opening game against Louisiana Tech this past season.
At that point in time, Chaney had the option of either entering the NFL draft or applying for a medical redshirt to do his senior season over at MSU.
He appears to have still chosen the latter, even after the Croom resignation and a new coaching staff imminent.
“It doesn’t affect my plans. I want to have my senior year. I want to go through senior day and have a chance to play. I think for me, coming back next year will give me a better chance at the NFL,” Chaney said.
But he also, along with the other players who were quoted, reacted with sadness when asked about Croom’s departure.
“I am pretty down about the situation,” Chaney said. “Coach Croom recruited me and helped get me into Mississippi State. It is time to move on though.
“He is a fine man and he will do what he has to do. We have to do the same and just wait for the new coach.”
Felker, when he was reached for comment after the meeting, also drew upon his own experience as a coach when he left his post at Mississippi State when his five-year stretch as the Bulldogs head coach came to an end.
“I kind of relayed from back in my days when I played for two different head coaches here – (Charley) Shira and (Bob Tyler) – and that, you know, it’s a process that happens and very few guys have the opportunity to play for the same coach all four or five years,” Felker said. “I relayed that, and, of course, I can still remember talking to the team for the final time after the 1990 season.”
A bit about Neinas
Sports Services
The firm that Mississippi State Director of Athletics Greg Byrne said the university hired to aid in the search and hiring of the new coach is led by Chuck Neinas – a former Big Eight Conference Commissioner and executive director of the College Football Association.
Byrne, on Monday, clarified what the firm’s role will be in the university’s search for a new head football coach.
He did so on the mstateathletics.com Web site, on a special post in his Thursday’s with Greg Byrne section.
“Neinas’ background includes several high-profile national coaching searches, and his experience will undoubtedly help us in this important task,” Byrne said on the Web site.
He clarified that the Neinas group would not do the hiring, but it would be there during the process for assistance in conducting “background work.”
To that end, Byrne wrote that the firm can give Mississippi State information that the general public might not have.
McRae’s prognosis
Brandon McRae had a follow up surgery on his broken leg Monday because cleaning needed to be done.
The result was a successful one for the Bulldogs leading wide receiver from a year ago.
The injury came during the Egg Bowl, when McRae suffered a compound fracture of his tibia during a simple route he was running.
He was motionless on the turf at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for a good bit of time while quarterback Wesley Carroll and others came to his assistance.
McRae was brought back to Columbus that day and was due to undergo his first surgery right after the game ended.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 December 2008 )
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