I can't stand the Dan Mullen slurping in the media and across this site these days. Is he a solid coach? Yes. Is he elite? No...at least not yet. He still has a lot to prove. Mullen's MSU teams have been average SEC teams since he arrived, only winning against other average SEC teams and weak non-conference opponents while almost always losing against any ranked SEC teams. This year, he finally gets a stud QB (Dak split time last year and was hurt a lot) and starts 13 Seniors/6 Juniors and he becomes the greatest coach ever? I guess Chizik was a great coach too b/c he had Cam. Look below. Before this year Mullen was 1-22 versus teams that finished the year ranked in the top 25. MSU was terrible before Mullen arrived and could make a HUGE splash this year, but does one year make a coach elite? If so, Larry Coker says Hi. Now if Mullen sustains it, then he can join the conversation with the others out there, but not until then.
2013: 7-6
Wins against Alcorn St, Troy, Bowling Green, Kentucky, Arkansas (OT), Ole Miss (OT) and Rice.
Losses against #13 Oklahoma St (finished #17), #10 LSU (finished #14), #14 South Carolina (finished #4), #11 Texas A&M (finished #18), #1 Alabama (finished #7)
2012: 8-5
Wins against Jackson St, Auburn (who were 3-9 this year with wins against UL Monroe, New Mexico St and Alabama A&M), Troy, South Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee (5-7 this year), Middle Tennesse, and Arkansas
Losses against #1 Alabama, #16 Texas A&M (finished #5), #9 LSU (finished #14), Ole Miss and #17 Northwestern
2011: 7-6
Wins against Memphis, Louisiana Tech, UAB, Kentucky, UT Martin, Ole Miss and Wake Forest,
Losses against Auburn, #3 LSU (finished #2), Georgia (finished #19), #15 South Carolina (finished #9), #4 Alabama (finished #1), and #6 Arkansas (finished #5)
2010: 9-4
Wins against Memphis, Georgia, Alcorn St, Houston, #22 Florida (finished unranked), UAB, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Michigan
Losses against #21 Auburn (finished #1), #15 LSU (finished #8), #11 Alabama (finished #10), #13 Arkansas (finished #12)
2009: 5-7
Wins against Jackson St, Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee, Kentucky, #20 Ole Miss (finished #20)
Losses against Auburn, #7 LSU (finished #17), #25 Georgia Tech (finished #13), Houston, #2 Florida (finished #3), #3 Alabama (finished #1), Arkansas
2008: 4-8
2007: 8-5
2006: 3-9
2005: 3-9
2004: 3-8