2014 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

Last updated

2014 Mississippi State Bulldogs football
Mississippi State Bulldogs logo.svg
Orange Bowl, L 34–49 vs. Georgia Tech
Conference Southeastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 12
APNo. 11
Record10–3 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinators
Offensive scheme Spread option
Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins (4th season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Davis Wade Stadium
Seasons
  2013
2015  
2014 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 14 Missouri x  7 1   11 3  
No. 9 Georgia  6 2   10 3  
Florida  4 4   7 5  
Tennessee  3 5   7 6  
South Carolina  3 5   7 6  
Kentucky  2 6   5 7  
Vanderbilt  0 8   3 9  
Western Division
No. 4 Alabama x$^  7 1   12 2  
No. 11 Mississippi State  6 2   10 3  
No. 17 Ole Miss * 5 3   9 4  
No. 22 Auburn  4 4   8 5  
LSU * 4 4   8 5  
Texas A&M  3 5   8 5  
Arkansas  2 6   7 6  
Championship: Alabama 42, Missouri 13
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • * LSU and Ole Miss vacated all wins (except for Ole Miss' win over Presbyterian) due to NCAA violations.
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2014 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dan Mullen, who was in his sixth season with Mississippi State. The Bulldogs played their home games at the newly expanded and renovated Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Contents

The 2014 season was one of the most successful seasons in Mississippi State's 110-year football history. In mid-October, they shot to #1 in the polls for the first time in school history, and the highest that any FBS team in Mississippi had been ranked at that late date in the season in half a century. They ultimately finished 10–3, the third 10-win season in school history. They netted a berth in the Orange Bowl, the second major-bowl appearance in school history, where they were defeated by Georgia Tech.

Before the season

Departing players

Key losses for the Bulldogs included:

Preseason prognostication

The Bulldogs were picked to finish 5th in the SEC West by a vote of 229 media writers at the 2014 SEC Media Days, [2] while Athlon Sports [3] and NBC Sports [4] both picked the Bulldogs to come in sixth.

Roster and staff

2014 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 1 De'Runnya Wilson So
WR 4 Jameon Lewis Sr
WR 5 Fred Brown So
TE 6 Malcolm Johnson Sr
RB 7Nick GriffinSr
WR 8 Fred Ross So
QB 10Josiah Phillips Redshirt.svg  Fr
RB 10Brandon HollowaySo
QB 11Damian WilliamsSo
WR 12Robert JohnsonSr
RB 13 Josh Robinson Jr
QB 14Elijah Staley Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 15 Dak Prescott Jr
WR 16 Joe Morrow Jr
QB 17 Nick Fitzgerald Redshirt.svg  Fr
TE 18Brandon HillSr
ATH 19Zak Neary Redshirt.svg  Fr
TE 19Gus WalleySo
RB 27Aeris Williams Redshirt.svg  Fr
RB 32Ashton ShumpertSo
ATH 33Boderick OliverFr
RB 33Dontavian Lee Redshirt.svg  Fr
WR 35Gabe MylesFr
RB 37Bennie Braswell IIIFr
TE 53Hunter BradleySo
ATH 54Lawrence Brown Redshirt.svg  So
OL 56Nick ProbyJr
OL 58 Justin Senior So
OL 59Archie MunizSr
OL 60Jamaal ClaybornSo
OL 61Deion Calhoun Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 62Devon DesperSo
OL 63 Dillon Day Sr
OL 64Jocquell Johnson Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 66 Ben Beckwith Sr
OL 70Justin MaloneJr
OL 71Cole CarterSo
OL 73 Elgton Jenkins Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 74Kent FlowersFr
OL 75 Blaine Clausell Sr
OL 76Jake ThomasFr
OL 77Rufus WarrenJr
OL 78Damien Robinson  Injury icon 2.svg Redshirt.svg  Sr
OL 79Ronald Cochran Redshirt.svg  Fr
WR 80Shelby ChristyFr
WR 81Jamoral GrahamFr
WR 83Kareem Vance, Jr.Fr
TE 84Darrion HutchersonJr
TE 85Rashun DixonFr
WR 86Jesse Jackson Redshirt.svg  Fr
TE 87B.J. HammondFr
TE 88Aaron Hamaker Redshirt.svg  Fr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 2 Will Redmond Jr
DB 3 Jay Hughes Sr
LB 4 Gerri Green Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 5Jamerson LoveSr
DB 9 Justin Cox Sr
DB 11Kivon ComanSo
DB 13Cedric Jiles  Injury icon 2.svg So
LB 14Zach JacksonJr
DB 17Deontay EvansSo
DB 18Tyrell MillerJr
DB 20 Brandon Bryant Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 22 Matthew Wells Sr
DB 23 Taveze Calhoun Jr
DB 24Chris Rayford Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 25Jahmere Irvin-SillsFr
DB 26Kendrick MarketJr
LB 28DeAndre WardSo
LB 29Quadry AntoineSo
ATH 30Brandon WellsFr
DB 31Tolando ClevelandSo
DB 32Brandon DavisSo
DL 34Cory Thomas Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 39 Richie Brown So
LB 42Beniquez BrownSo
LB 44Christian HolmesSr
LB 45 J. T. Gray Fr
LB 46Dezmond HarrisFr
DL 47A.J. JeffersonSo
DL 48 Ryan Brown Jr
DL 49Torrey DaleSo
LB 50 Benardrick McKinney Jr
LB 51Kelan Chairs Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 57Will ColemanJr
DL 67Rodney LacySo
DL 88Nick JamesSo
DL 90Grant Harris Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 91 Preston Smith Sr
DL 92 Kaleb Eulls Sr
DL 93P.J. JonesSr
DL 94Nelson AdamsSo
DL 95 Braxton Hoyett Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 96 Chris Jones So
DL 98Curtis VirgesSr
DL 99John HarrisJr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 35Westin GravesFr
LS 38Winston ChapmanJr
K/P 40Devon BellJr
K 41Evan SobieskSo
K/P 43 Logan Cooke Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Billy Gonzales (Co-OC/Wide Receivers) – 2nd year
  • John Hevesy (Co-OC/Offensive Linemen) – 6th year
  • Brian Johnson (Quarterbacks) – 1st year
  • Greg Knox (Running backs) – 6th year
  • Scott Sallach (Tight ends) – 6th year
  • Geoff Collins (DC/Linebackers) – 4th year
  • Tony Hughes (Safeties) – 5th year
  • Deshea Townsend (Cornerbacks) – 2nd year
  • David Turner (Defensive Linemen) – 2nd year

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster
Last update: May 3, 2015

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 306:30 p.m. Southern Miss * SECN W 49–061,889
September 61:00 p.m. UAB *
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
SECRN W 47–3457,704
September 133:00 p.m.at South Alabama * ESPNews W 35–338,129
September 206:00 p.m.at No. 8 LSU ESPN W 34–29102,321
October 411:00 a.m.No. 6 Texas A&M No. 12
ESPNW 48–3161,133
October 112:30 p.m.No. 2 Auburn No. 3
CBS W 38–2362,945‡
October 252:30 p.m.at Kentucky No. 1CBSW 45–3164,791
November 16:15 p.m. Arkansas No. 1
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
ESPN2 W 17–1062,307
November 83:00 p.m. UT Martin *Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 1
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
SECNW 45–1661,421
November 152:30 p.m.at No. 5 Alabama No. 1CBSL 20–25101,821
November 226:30 p.m. Vanderbilt No. 4
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
SECNW 51–060,493
November 292:30 p.m.at No. 19 Ole Miss No. 4CBSL 17–3162,058
December 316:30 p.m.vs. No. 12 Georgia Tech *No. 7ESPNL 34–4958,211
Schedule Source: [5]

Game summaries

Southern Miss

Southern Miss at Mississippi State
Team1234Total
Golden Eagles00000
Bulldogs72114749
Source: [6]

*Mississippi State won the games on the field in 1975 and 1976, but were later forced to forfeit the games by the NCAA due to an NCAA rules violation in which offensive lineman Larry Gillard received a 33 percent discount at an Okolona, Mississippi clothing store. [7] [8] [9]

UAB

UAB at Mississippi State
Team1234Total
Blazers3177734
Bulldogs131321047
Source: [10]

South Alabama

Mississippi State at South Alabama
Team1234Total
Bulldogs7217035
Jaguars03003
  • Date: September 13
  • Location: Ladd–Peebles Stadium
    Mobile, AL
  • Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:13
  • Game attendance: 38,129
  • Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C), Partly cloudy, Winds NNE 7 mph
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • TV announcers (ESPNews): Mike Couzens (Play-by-play) & Rene Ingoglia (Color)
Source: [11]

LSU

Mississippi State at #8 LSU
Team1234Total
Bulldogs14314334
No. 8 Tigers0371929
Source: [12]

Texas A&M

#6 Texas A&M at #12 Mississippi State
Team1234Total
No. 6 Aggies7371431
No. 12 Bulldogs141413748
Source: [13]

Auburn

#2 Auburn at #3 Mississippi State
Team1234Total
No. 2 Tigers0137323
No. 3 Bulldogs21701038
Source: [14]

Kentucky

#1 Mississippi State at Kentucky
Team1234Total
No. 1 Bulldogs107141445
Wildcats7314731
Source: [15]

Arkansas

Arkansas at #1 Mississippi State
Team1234Total
Razorbacks370010
No. 1 Bulldogs073717
Source: [16]

Tennessee–Martin

Tennessee–Martin at #1 Mississippi State
Team1234Total
Skyhawks3001316
No. 1 Bulldogs71714745
Source: [17]

Alabama

#1 Mississippi State at #5 Alabama
Team1234Total
No. 1 Bulldogs0331420
No. 5 Crimson Tide5140625
Source: [18]

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt at #4 Mississippi State
Team1234Total
Commodores00000
No. 4 Bulldogs13247751
Source: [19]

Mississippi

#4 Mississippi State at #18 Ole Miss
Team1234Total
No. 4 Bulldogs037717
No. 18 Rebels7017731
Source:

Georgia Tech (Orange Bowl)

#8 Mississippi State vs. #10 Georgia Tech
(Orange Bowl)
Team1234Total
No. 8 Bulldogs02001434
No. 10 Yellow Jackets14721749
Source:

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP RVRVRVRV14123 (2)1 (45)1 (43)1 (46)1 (45)1 (48)4410811
Coaches RVRVRVRV161461 (26)1 (36)1 (41)1 (40)1 (41)4410812
CFP Not released11144107Not released

Following MSU's win over Auburn, the team was ranked Number 1 in the AP Poll for the first time in the program's history. That also marked "the fastest [rise to the top] in AP Top 25 history." [20] The previous mark was six weeks by Ohio State in 1954. [21] The Bulldogs also became the first ever team to be ranked number 1 in the newly created College Football Playoff Poll when the initial poll was released on October 28, 2014. [22]

References

  1. Stevens, Matthew (August 21, 2013). "ONE LAST RUN: Autry looks to lead Bulldogs' defensive effort". The Dispatch. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  2. Casagrande, Michael (July 17, 2014). "SEC preseason media poll picks Alabama over Auburn to win league title". AL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  3. Lassan, Steven (January 16, 2014). "Early SEC Football Predictions for 2014". Athlon. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  4. Taylor, John (August 18, 2014). "CFT 2014 Preseason Preview: SEC Predictions". Athlon. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  5. "2014 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  6. "Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Mississippi State Bulldogs (August 30, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. August 30, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  7. NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION and Walter Byers v. Larry J. GILLARD, by and through Bob Tyler, as next friend, and Mississippi State University. Supreme Court of Mississippi. December 7, 1977.
  8. "NCAA Orders Mississippi State to Forfeit 19 Football Games". Lakeland Ledger . May 24, 1978. Retrieved January 1, 2015 via Google News.
  9. Mississippi State vs Southern Mississippi @ Winsipedia
  10. "UAB Blazers at Mississippi State Bulldogs (September 6, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  11. "Mississippi State Bulldogs at South Alabama Jaguars (September 13, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. September 13, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  12. "Mississippi State Bulldogs at LSU Tigers (September 20, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. September 20, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  13. "Texas A&M Aggies at Mississippi State Bulldogs (October 4, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. October 4, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  14. "Auburn Tigers at Mississippi State Bulldogs (October 11, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  15. "Mississippi State Bulldogs at Kentucky Wildcats (October 25, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  16. "Arkansas Razorbacks at Mississippi State Bulldogs (November 1, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. November 1, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  17. "Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks at Mississippi State Bulldogs (November 8, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. November 8, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  18. "Mississippi State Bulldogs at Alabama Crimson Tide (November 14, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. November 14, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  19. "Vanderbilt Commodores at Mississippi State Bulldogs (November 22, 2014)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. November 22, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  20. Vander Voort, Eric (October 12, 2014). "Mississippi State Completes Fastest Ascent to No. 1 in AP Top 25 History". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  21. "Mississippi State No. 1 in AP poll". ESPN.com . Associated Press. October 12, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  22. Tracy, Marc (October 28, 2014). "Mississippi State Leads College Football Playoff Committee's First Rankings". The New York Times . Retrieved October 29, 2014.