Wounded Bulldogs refuse to go away quietly

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Nov. 18, 2003
STARKVILLE Mississippi State University head coach Jackie Sherrill and the rest of the Bulldogs are not willing to quit as they draw closer to the end of another disappointing season.
After giving up 52 straight points to Tennessee last Saturday', MSU tallied two touchdowns in the game's final four minutes of a 59-21 loss.
Bulldogs quarterback Kyle York, who replaced starter Kevin Fant late in the third quarter, tallied a one-yard touchdown run with 28 ticks left on the clock against Tennessee.
Volunteers head coach Phil Fulmer, who will replace Sherrill as the dean of Southeast Conference coaches next season, took exception to the Bulldogs' last touchdown and onside kick in the final seconds of the blowout.
Fulmer told reporters after the victory that he thought Sherrill should have just let the game go, and that when the Vols had the ball, they were just trying to end the contest.
Sherrill, who announced he would not return to MSU for a 14th season on Oct. 17, told reporters during his Monday morning teleconference he didn't understand Fulmer's comments.
MSU has been in a tailspin over the last three seasons. The Bulldogs won just three games in 2001 and 2002, and they are currently sporting a dismal 2-8 overall mark and 1-5 SEC.
MSU has been outscored 184-51 since Sherrill announced his retirement, and the Bulldogs haven't posted a win since beating Memphis 35-27 on Oct. 11.
Despite the continuation of hard times for the program, Sherrill pointed out that the team is still playing hard and some individuals are performing very well this season.
Sophomore running back/return man Nick Turner provided a little bit of sunshine in MSU's latest blowout at the hands of a conference foe.
The 182-pound back set a school record for all-purpose yards gaining 344 against Tennessee. He notched 266 yards on punt and kick off returns for the Bulldogs.
Turner's performance earned him SEC special teams player of the week honors, and praise from his coach.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to kick off against the Arkansas Razorbacks at 1 p.m. Saturday for Sherrill's last trip into the Natural State.
Sherrill has faced the Razorbacks 18 times as a head coach, posting a 3-4 record against Arkansas while at Texas A&M and a 3-7-1 record at MSU.
The Razorbacks have not been kind to Sherrill's teams when he has taken squads into Arkansas.
Sherrill has never posted a win over the Razorbacks in either Fayetteville or Little Rock.