Croom is out at MSU

It is finished. While the phrase has religious connotations, it’s couldn’t be any closer to the truth. Religion and football are two deep beliefs in the state. The ramifications following Thanksgiving was of epic proportions. After the Bulldogs 45-0 embarrassing loss to Mississippi, Mississippi State Director of Athletics Greg Byrne laid down the gavel. His direction was quite different than that of ousted head coach Sylvester Croom. He made the decision to part ways. We were not in the room. We have no idea what was said. What we do know is Byrne will earn his keep. If he doesn’t, he will be on the chopping block next. He looked a man in the eye and told him his services were no longer needed. While it was not stated just how the actions transpired, with Croom reaping the benefits of the buyout the writing was on the wall.

Before you reach for the Kleenex, don’t weep for the former coach. The Alabama native is set to receive in excess of $3 million. Not bad Especially for a man who will have no trouble landing on his feet either at another university or rejoining a staff as an assistant in the NFL.

Credit Mississippi State. Credit Greg Byrne. Both knew the Bulldog fans were mad. The red faced, don’t look at me type mad. Rather than wallow in the sorrow of the debilitating loss to its arch-rival, Byrne took the initiative. What better than silence the talk of the loss and begin talks of hiring a new head coach? A diversion if you will. Played to perfection, as if her were holding pocket aces. Now the decision to come. Byrne has made it perfectly clear, he will be the man making the call with input from a small support staff from within the university. Similar to the handling of the hiring of baseball coach John Cohen, Byrne will handle the hiring with an iron fist. What was former coach Ron Polk’s input? He didn’t listen to him. In fact, he hired Cohen without considering the recommendation of the Hall of Fame coach.

The situation this past week is eerily similar to that of last year. MSU defeated Ole Miss, Ole Miss fires coach. Ole Miss defeats MSU, MSU fires coach The circle continues. What carries no formidable similarities are the coaches themselves. The only glaring characteristic Ed Orgeron and Sylvester Croom encompass is they both lost more than they won. Honostly the only thing that matters.

This is big money. This is big business. This past Friday, it was evident by the look on the many faces in the crowd. The Ole Miss faithful were enthusiastic of the hiring of Houston Nutt and the previous firing of Ed Ogreron, following the return of the Golden Egg to Oxford. The Rebels are fresh off a winless record in the SEC last season and now await the possibility of a New Year’s Day bowl. A turnaround is a vast understatement as they now sit at 8-4.

Fresh off an 8-5 record and a Liberty Bowl win last year, this season has been a disaster, mired by an opening season loss to Louisiana Tech. I can only assume the glee of the Bulldog fans among hearing the news of the firing of head coach Sylvester Croom. The irony in all of these snafus? Houston Nutt and the yet to be named coach at MSU could be the next on the unemployment line. You say it will never happen? I’ll bet you $3 million dollars it can.