Bulldogs Bite Back
Mississippi State Ends 23-Game SEC Road Losing Skid With Win at Alabama
Mississippi State's Gabe O'Neal, left, and Jamar Chaney, right, smother Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson.
(By Butch Dill -- Associated Press)
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No coach enjoyed a more satisfying victory yesterday than Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom , whose Bulldogs beat Croom's alma mater, Alabama, in Tuscaloosa.
Three years ago, Croom interviewed for the head coaching position at Alabama but was passed over for Mike Shula, the current Crimson Tide coach. In December 2003, Croom became the first black head football coach in the SEC when he succeeded Jackie Sherrill, who retired.
"I feel so thankful," Croom said after the 24-16 victory. "I feel blessed, having grown up in this town, having played at the University of Alabama and having coached the Mississippi State football team to this win."
It has been anything but a smooth ride. Croom has had to deal with NCAA sanctions because of violations that occurred between 1998 and 2002. Croom also has had an uphill climb on the field in Starkville.
Yesterday's victory improved Croom's record to 9-23 with the Bulldogs (3-7, 1-5 SEC), who ended a 23-game SEC road losing streak and handed the Crimson Tide (6-4, 2-4) its first home loss of the season
The victory also was Mississippi State's first against an SEC West Division opponent in 19 games. For the second consecutive year, Alabama didn't score an offensive touchdown against the Bulldogs. Last year, Alabama's defense scored both touchdowns in a 17-10 win.
It was also a happy homecoming for Bulldogs quarterback Michael Henig, a native of Montgomery.
"There's nothing better than this for me," said Henig, who threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns. "I've got a lot of friends who go here. It's a 360-type game. It turns our whole season around. If I could have picked one game to win this year this would have been it."
The memory of Croom's late father, Rev. Sylvester Croom Sr., was on his mind following yesterday's victory.
"He would have that big ol' smile on his face," Croom said. "I know he is smiling away."
