Dan Mullen’s Press Conference ahead of clash with Mississippi State
By Shannon Seal
Dan Mullen met with the media in his weekly press conference on Monday. Mullen elaborated on the victory against Tennessee, and then quickly moved on and answered questions about this week’s trip to a familiar place. Make no mistake about it — Mullen can try all he wants to not make this game against Mississippi State about him, but the team that he built will be ready.
Mullen and his new team will embark on the journey to Starkville not even one full calendar year later from accepting the job at UF.
An interesting tidbit to add to this is that — this the first time, that I know of, that a coach has left a program and then returned as the opposing coach in the following season. Mullen echoed my thoughts in his press conference.
Mullen spoke on living in Starkville and how he and his family were treated during his nine-year tenure:
"“The people of Starkville were great to me and my family. The people in town were fabulous people. It’s a great place to have kids. Both my kids were born there. It’s a great community to live in. The fans are unbelievable.”"
Mullen’s response on how he believes he will be treated when he is on the opposite sideline this time around:
"“I think there will be a lot of passion on Saturday night with people there… When I think of the fans and I think of the former players and the people of the town of Starkville, I think for the most part they were appreciate of what we were able to accomplish in the nine years that we were there. Now I don’t know that that will be shown on Saturday night.”"
Mullen knows about the culture he created in Starkville, and the environment that he will enter as the coach on the other sideline. A raucous crowd full of ringing cowbells.
"“I spent nine years creating the atmosphere. So, I get to see what it’s like. I get to go back and see what it’s like on the other sideline.”"
Mullen also spoke on the outreach to the fan base from day one of becoming the coach at Mississippi State:
"“It was a place I went to and told them I need you to show up and sell out the stadium, and if you do that we can build a program here. And you know what, the fans believed in that. The fans bought into that. Heck with selling out the stadium, my first year there, we went 2-5 at home and they sold out. You couldn’t get a seat for games.”"
The Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Florida Gators will square off at 6pm on Saturday night in Starkville at Davis Wade Stadium.
Below is Mullen’s full press conference:
(FLGatorsAthletics. “Florida Football: Dan Mullen Press Conference 9-24-18.” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Sept. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWFBxPURMmA.)