STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Dan Mullen is meticulously studying defensive game film of three teams he isn't facing any time soon. His laser pointer highlights some guys he'll never see and formations that probably won't quite look the same in the coming weeks.
Instead of watching South Alabama, South Carolina and LSU -- Mississippi State's first three opponents this season -- a frustrated Mullen sees Eastern Illinois, Auburn and Wisconsin. The connection? All the defensive coordinators from the latter schools are now at the former.
Then, Mullen shows his own personal anguish by highlighting offensive players as his own.