May 04, 2010, 6:01AM
Head coach Dan Mullen observes his team in action during Mississippi State's spring college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday April 17, 2010. Maroon Team won 26-13. I spent an hour with the future of college football the other night. He left me with my eyes wide open and shaking my head with admiration and respect.
He's got some
Urban Meyer in him. A little bit of
Nick Saban. Perhaps a dash of
Steve Spurrier. And if you don't blink, you might even catch a nanosecond of
Lane Kiffin.
He is
Dan Mullen of
Mississippi State. A year ago, he was known as
Tim Tebow's quarterback coach and Meyer's play-caller/offensive guru at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida. Today, he is known as the man who has quickly turned around a desperate situation at Mississippi State and for the first time in awhile has fans in Starkville upbeat and optimistic.
Mullen has everything from youth (age 38) to a beautiful wife (who was a television sportscaster at The Golf Channel) and an attitude that is downright infectious.
