The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

Mississippi confidential

Some of the first words West Virginia Coach Rich Rodriguez used this week in describing Saturday’s opponent, Mississippi State, were interesting ones, to say the least.

“Defensively, they look a lot like South Florida as far as their speed goes.”

You know what that means — no, not bad snaps, six turnovers, 3.9 yards per carry and a season-wrecking loss. Rather, it’s fast defensive ends, mobile defensive tackles and linebackers and safeties who can run to the ball, both vertically and horizontally, and make a tackle.

Rodriguez wasn’t alone in his assessment, either.

“I think South Florida may have found the answer,” said MSU coach Sylvester Croom, who laughed when asked if his staff has spent a lot of time this week looking at the South Florida game tapes. “It’s interesting. … I’m not going to tell you anything about that [sic] we’ve seen, but it is interesting.”