Dan Mullen Penn State Rumors: Mullen Upset over "Irresponsible Reporting"

Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen is not too happy about a report from WAPT-TV in Jackson, Miss. that said “sources close to Mississippi State University’s program have said that football coach Dan Mullen is close to signing a deal to replace Joe Paterno at Penn State.”

Mullen told The Clarion-Ledger, “It’s the most irresponsible reporting that I’ve ever heard of,” and chalked up the report to a rival school (obviously Ole Miss) trying to gain a recruiting edge.

While the Mississippi TV station has reversed its position on the rumor, the report isn’t exactly out of left field, though, since there have been rumors over the last few days that Mullen could be at the top of Penn State’s coaching wish list, but Mullen has vehemently denied he has even so much as had contact with any officials from Penn State.

The 39-year-old coach is one of the youngest head coaches in college football, but it’s easy to see why he would be a top target for a school like Penn State.

Mullen is one of the most innovative offensive minds in the country, and his spread system worked wonders at Florida, where he helped to mold former Gator quarterback Tim Tebow into a legend.

The young head coach has found moderate success in Starkville. In three years, the Bulldogs are only 20-17, but they have shown signs of progress, especially after last year’s 9-4 campaign.

Mullen knows he’s fighting an uphill battle in the SEC West, though, and it’s going to take him a few more years before he can even begin competing with the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn and LSU.

Making the move to Penn State, even during these uncertain times in Happy Valley, may not be the worst decision, given the current competitive climate down in the SEC West.

Mullen was thought to be one of the top candidates for the Florida job last year, but he showed he’s committed to the task at hand at Mississippi State, and he ultimately stayed put.

We knew his name would inevitably once again get attached to a few jobs this offseason, but it’s starting early with these Penn State rumors.

Mullen was born in Pennsylvania, and his father is a Penn State alum, but until we get some type of official report instead of a wild, unsubstantiated rumor, we'll have to let this idea sit until the offseason.

Still, you have to admit, the thought of seeing Urban Meyer and Dan Mullen battle it out for bragging rights in the Big Ten Leaders Division every year certainly sounds enticing.