Dan Mullen completely broke the mold of what was expected from Mississippi State football during his nine seasons coaching the Bulldogs. This was a program mired in mediocrity – at best – not possessing a seat at the proverbial “big boy” table of college football.
Not only did Mullen give them a seat, he took them to the top.
Mullen famously, and unprecedentedly, led the Bulldogs to a No. 1 ranking, saw ESPN’s “College Gameday” come to Starkville, and breathed life into a program rendered almost lifeless under athletic director Larry Templeton and head coach Sylvester Croom.