Dan Mullen: 10 Reasons Why He's Right To Stay At Mississippi State
Dan Mullen seemed like the obvious fit to replace Urban Meyer as the next head coach at Florida.
The Mississippi State coach came out and said he doesn't plan to go anywhere, adding he and his wife are happy in Starkville. For now, the Bulldogs and their fans can breath easy, but what about in the future?
Mullen seems like a great fit for the Bulldogs, and continues to add to his credentials. The Bulldogs have been a doormat in the Southeastern Conference in past years, but finished 8-4 this season and will face Michigan (7-5) in the Gator Bowl. A win over the Wolverines would cap off a year that saw Mississippi State almost knock off Auburn and Arkansas, both ranked in the top 10 and playing in BCS bowls.
Could Mississippi State experience more success next year? Maybe.
That's one of many reasons why Mullen may have been wise to stay put. Let's look at 10 reasons why he made the right decision:
10. Personal Happiness
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Mullen said he and his wife are happy at Mississippi State. Being a college football coach is stressful enough, especially in the Southeastern Conference, and you have to respect a man who said he's content and happy where he's at.
9. Better Division
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Yes, the Gators have incredible rivalries with Tennessee and Georgia, but in the SEC West, the Bulldogs can't slack off and take on giants like Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Arkansas. Throw in your instate rival, and how could you not love that competition?
8. Remember The Saying
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Everyone's heard it, "You don't want to be the man to follow the man."
You only add more pressure on when you follow a legend. Urban Meyer attained that status at Florida with his two national titles. No need to get pressured into returning to "the family" and wind up tanking. Plus, just look at what happened to those who followed other coaching legends throughout time.
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7. Comparisons Wouldn't End
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Even if Dan Mullen decided to head to Florida, he would never escape the shadow of Urban Meyer and Steve Spurrier and every decision and game would be compared to his predecessors.
6. Even Playing Field
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Let's think for a second: Does Dan Mullen have a better chance at recruiting in Mississippi against Ole Miss, or would he rather endure the intensity you'd find in other states like Texas, Alabama or Florida?
Florida is one of college football's top programs, but they also have to compete with Miami and Florida State for many of the same recruits in state. Add to it the competition of being able to handpick recruits from around the nation, and the pressure only grows.
5. Upgrade Not Required
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Look throughout college football, and you'll find that much smaller schools are finding ways to succeed with the powerhouses. Others who have built strong programs include Texas Tech, Cincinnati, Boise State and TCU.
4. Mission Accomplished?
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Until you've done everything you can possibly do at your current program, then stick with it and see what you can build. Just like society, college football is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world but put a strong foundation in place and success can quickly follow.
3. Less Scrutiny
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Go to Florida, and you'd be expected to be in the top 10, contend for the SEC Championship yearly and be in the mix for the national championship on a consistent basis. Expectations are enormous, but the heat isn't quite as intense at Mississippi State.
2. Only One Direction
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Mississippi State has been at the bottom, and can't go anywhere but up. With what he's done already, Dan Mullen has this program in line for continued success.
1. Chance Of a Lifetime
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Win big at Mississippi State, and Dan Mullen could create his own legendary status at the school, and be remembered long after he's retired.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
