Laurel Leader Call - Dan Mullen's tenure as the Mississippi State football coach was barely 24 hours old last December when he jabbed the first of many needles towar Ole Miss.

"All i know is the team up north as to come down here and there's going to be a lot of ringing going on in this stadium," Mullen said at his introductory press conference, held a day after he left Florida to take over Sylvester Croom at State. "So, I'm looking forward to next Thanksgiving."

When asked about the game's importance, Mullen said "I had an idea of it, but when you talk to the fans, you really see it," Mullen said. "It is important for us to embrace this game." But not the opposing school's name. Mullen hasn't said 'Ole Miss' in public since taking over the job. He uses "the school up north" or "the team up north."

Or, as in this week's press conference, no name at all. Mullen has jokingly explained that before as simply not wanted to use a curse word.

I just don't like referrin to them by name," Mullen said. "I think it adds more. You could call them 'Mississippi.' I heard that one a lot. But i think we represent the people of this state, the people's university, the state university, so I don't want to give them credit for that.


I mean really Mullen. The team up north?

Not giving us credit for what? Beating "the people's university" 45-0?

Does he really want to just give Nutt and the players more motivation than they need for this saturday.