Croom Out At Miss State

Surprising no one, really, after the 45-0 shut out in the Egg Bowl yesterday Miss State Head Coach Sylvester Croom has resigned his post after five years with a 21-38 record. The 45-point loss was the most lopsided in 37 years in the series.

A lot was made of Croom being the SEC's first black head coach, but his tenure in the conference as a solid assistant and brain helped in getting the gig. Last season, the Bulldogs went 8-5 and made an appearance in the Liberty Bowl. Croom took over the program while it was under NCAA sanctions and made the defense the team's calling card.

The offense, however, was another story. In Croom's five years the team was never better than 103rd in the NCAA in scoring. The team finished 4-8 this year and the loss to Louisiana Tech did him no immediate favors.

"Five years ago, Mississippi State gave me the unprecedented opportunity to be a head football coach in the Southeastern Conference and to build a program based upon a strong foundation," Croom said in a statement.

"We have tried to build a program the right way that can compete for conference championships. I believe the foundation has been set for those goals to be reached under the leadership of someone else, and it was my decision to resign."

AD Greg Byrne is set to make an appearance to 'splain himself later Saturday.
We return you to happier times in Starkville...
((HT: Lincoln Financial Sports/SEC))