By Angie Ledbetter

Mississippi State University held its annual Media day Tuesday at the Bryan Athletic building where fourth year head coach Dan Mullen spoke to the media before one-on-one interviews with selected players.

“We’re excited to be back out practicing and getting ready for the season,” Mullen said. “We have such limited time with these guys with just 29 practices. With how the calendar works these next two weeks are the only time of the year that we’re playing football with nothing else to worry about like school.

“I’m excited about our fan base,” Mullen continued. “Hopefully we’ll continue our sell out streak this year. Looks like we’ve sold out of season tickets and now it’s just all of the return tickets from the opposing teams but I’m sure we’ll sell those out.”

As far as how the team measures against other powerhouses of the SEC with depth, Mullen, who has taken his team to back-to-back bowl games, said he thinks the team is getting closer.

“We’re getting there,” he assured the media. “Obviously with … guys leaving early for the first round of the NFL draft, so that’s a good thing, that shows the direction the program is headed and the talent or recruiting here in Mississippi. The players know they can come play for us and have great things happen to them. But that’s one thing that always sets you back a little bit depth wise. We’re deeper than we’ve been since I’ve been head coach.”

Mullen spoke about former South Panola standout Kendrick Market who was redshirted last year.
“I’m really excited about him as a player,” Mullen said. “I’ve said when we go to schools, we’re looking for a guy that does everything for their team and the coach looks at and says ‘This is our guy.’

“At key moments Market is going to be the guy with the ball in his hand whether it’s quarterback, running back, receiver or safety,” Mullen added. “He’s a guy we want around the ball.”

Market said wherever the team needs him, he’ll play.

“I’ll play wherever the coaches need me but I like playing safety because I like to hit people,” Market said. “I’ve been working really hard and the summer went really good.”

Mullen spoke about the program at South Panola.

“You look at South Panola as your national championship team, a great coach and when you went to that team when Market was a senior, Market was the guy,” said Mullen. “When they needed him, he was the guy they depended on. I see that in him here and he’s a good football player. Market is always going to put himself in the position to be the guy and make the play.”

As far as this summer Mullen said Market had a good one.

“He’s doing great in school and great academically,” Mullen said. “As a young player we wanted player development and he comes in and gets redshirted which shows to me a program is getting closer to where we want it to be with depth. We’re not just depending on all freshmen to come in and play.

“Market has had the opportunity to learn behind some guys and see how they do things,” Mullen continued. “ He got to watch Wade Bonner and Charles Mitchell that got drafted this year. He watched how these guys prepared and improved himself into that. I see him making a contribution this year on special teams as well on defense.”

Market said he learned a lot from being redshirted.

“I would’ve rather be redshirted than go out there and play early,” Market said. “I learned a lot from watching both Bonner and Mitchell play. Bonner is with the Philadelphia Eagles and Mitchell is with the Atlanta Falcons. They were both older and had a lot of experience.”

Market said he is very excited about the season starting.

“I have high expectations and think we can win the SEC championship,” he added,

North Panola former standout Templeton Hardy will see his last year when the season kicks off on September 1 with Jackson State. The senior offensive lineman has not seen a lot of playing time but has enjoyed it.

“It hasn’t bothered me at all that I haven’t gotten a lot of playing time,” he said. “Coach Mullen tells us that everybody on the team has a role and I just play my part for the team and do what’s best for the team for us to win.

“It’s been a blessing to be here.,” he said. “I came across a group of guys that came in here and ready to work hard. The coaches were eager to get everything done also.”

Since being on the team Hardy said there is one important thing he has gotten out of it.

“Life’s lessons,” he said succintly. “They teach you how to pursue your dreams with everything you do. Once you learn to compete and do everything at a high level, you should be successful with anything you do in life.”

Hardy wants players at his former school to know anything is possible.

“Put you mind to it, work hard every day and maybe one day they’ll have a chance to play in the SEC.”