New Magnolia State coaches prepare for challenging debuts
FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, file photo, Lane Kiffin speaks to Mississippi fans after being announced as the new head football coach during a introductory press conference in Oxford, Miss. In attendance were his children, daughters Presley Kiffin, 13, left, Landry Kiffin, 15, second from left, and son Knox Kiffin, 10. Mississippi State's Mike Leach and Mississippi's Lane Kiffin brought big names and offensive pedigrees to the Magnolia State. But they drew huge challenges for their debuts, with the Bulldogs visiting defending national champion and No. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
New Magnolia State coaches prepare for challenging debuts
Mississippi State's Mike Leach and Mississippi's Lane Kiffin brought big names and offensive pedigrees to the Magnolia State. Mike Leach expected to start his first season at Mississippi State versus New Mexico. Instead, both coaches โ and their respective offenses โ will encounter stiffer challenges in their Magnolia State debuts. 5 Florida and ex-Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen as two-touchdown underdogs. Before Deion Sanders made a prime-time splash when he was hired by Jackson State on Monday; Leach and Kiffin were splashy hires in the state.
No. 5 Florida settles into normal routine, braces for chaos
GAINESVILLE, Fla. โ Florida coach Dan Mullen is finally settling into a somewhat normal routine. Nonetheless, Mullen is still wary of what lies ahead as Florida prepares to open the season at Ole Miss on Saturday. โObviously, all the COVID stuff makes you anxious,โ Mullen said. Thatโs something Coach Mullen emphasizes at practice: everybody being ready. For now, though, the Gators are just happy to be getting ready to play.