Perhaps the most shocking move during the coaching cycle, and definitely the latest.
After only two years as head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Joe Moorhead is out in Starkville. Posting a 14-12 record, Moorhead has been under fire for much of the past season, from fans especially. Moorhead had been saved from firing during the Egg Bowl, but a poor showing in the Music City Bowl sealed his fate.
Now, conventional wisdom says you should never fire a coach before year three, but that is not what this is about. Instead of lamenting Moorhead’s brief HC career, we are going to look at potential candidates to replace the departed coach.
The roster is by no means bare, including star true freshman QB Garrett Shrader. Ultimately, the issues with Moorhead were mostly off-field issues. He was never really a cultural fit, and managed to alienate most of the fan base with post Egg Bowl comments. He still had his supporters going into the bowl game, but after that disaster, he had few remaining (basically just me).
Billy Napier, HC, Louisiana
Napier is generally considered the favorite among MSU fans. He checks off most of the boxes State fans want: HC experience, respected recruiter, and experience in the south. The major qualm with Moorhead was his lack of experience below the Mason-Dixon line. Napier has worked on both Clemson and Alabama’s staffs, in addition to being a OC at Arizona State. Napier has been linked to the job since November, and if he is the guy, things could move quick after Louisianas bowl game Monday.
Joe Judge, ST Coach, Patriots
A surprising candidate, until you realize he played at Mississippi State. In addition to playing there, he also was a GA for the Bulldogs for three seasons. Judge is considered one of the best special teams coaches in the NFL, and is interviewing for HC jobs in that league as well. Per Bruce Feldman, he really wants the job, and has the support of several people in the athletic department. At only 38 years old, Judge would need to surround himself with talented recruiters and experienced coordinators. Bulldog fans may not love the hire, but it would be hard to hate a coach who was an understudy of the greatest coach ever.
Willie Fritz, HC, Tulane
My personal favorite choice. Fritz has won everywhere he has been. At Tulane, he has taken the team to back to back bowl games, at a school that is notoriously hard to win at. Fritz won a championship at Sam Houston State and coached at Georgia Southern before coming to Tulane. Unfourtanely, MSU fans are unlikely to see past both his age (59) and his record at Tulane, making this hire seem fairly far fetched. One thing that may work in his favor, in addition to know the south, is his OC. Will Hall, in his first season, helped transform the Green Wave offense. If he came with Fritz, his Mississippi ties would help sell the hire. Hall is the son of legendary MS high school football coach Bobby Hall.
Bill Clark, HC, UAB
Another favorite of MSU fans. Clark has masterminded the revival of UAB as a program, winning at least eight games every year since the program returned. Clark is viewed as a program builder and has had obvious success in the south. However, Clark has yet to either (a.) be offered an SEC job or (b.) take one. So maybe he is waiting for something bigger, or schools don’t view him the same way media and fans do. Also, you have to wonder what getting blown out by a Lane Kiffin FAU multiple times would do for him given Kiffin’s Ole Miss hiring.
The Mississippi State job is by no means a bad job. The fans want more than six win seasons now (take that whatever way you want). The roster is extremely talented, and young. If you can keep it together, there is a nationally ranked recruiting class. Someone talented will take this job, as they should. If the new coach plays their cards right, they can springboard this into something bigger down the road.
