Mississippi State search focuses on Packers assistant (The First Black Head Coach in the SEC?)

Miami Hearld ^ | 11\29\03 | Associated Press

[WKB]

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State appears to have focused its search for a new coach on Green Bay Packers assistant Sylvester Croom.

Athletic director Larry Templeton declined comment Saturday night when asked if he offered Croom the job and was now waiting for the 49-year-old coach to decide if he wanted to take it.

"I'm comfortable with where we are in the process," said Templeton, who has said almost nothing publicly about the search.

Templeton and university president Charles Lee flew to Green Bay on Friday, according to flight records reported by The Clarion-Ledger newspaper in Jackson on Saturday.

Croom told ESPN.com on Saturday that he would inform Mississippi State of his decision by early next week.

"It's my own personal decision. It's just me deciding what I want to do in my career," Croom said. "I've got to think through some things. State's people have been more than good. I appreciate their interest."

Phone messages left at Croom's home and office Saturday by the Associated Press were not returned.

Mississippi State spokesman Mike Nemeth told the AP on Saturday that no announcements were planned for Sunday.

If Croom becomes the Bulldogs coach, he will be the first black head football coach in Southeastern Conference history.

Croom was an All-American center for Bear Bryant at Alabama in the early 1970s. He was an assistant for the Crimson Tide from 1977-86 and nearly landed the Alabama job when it became open last May after Mike Price was abruptly dismissed.

The Crimson Tide were criticized by some, including The Rev. Jesse Jackson, for picking Mike Shula, who is white, over Croom, who is older and has more experience.

Croom has been an NFL assistant since 1987. He has been the running backs coach with the Packers since 2001.

The SEC is the only high-profile conference to have never had a black head football coach.

Mississippi State is looking for a replacement for Jackie Sherrill, who retired after 13 seasons with the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State is 8-27 over the past three seasons with just three SEC wins. The Bulldogs are also awaiting the results of an NCAA investigation into possible rules violations by the football program from 1998-2002.

[MississippiMan]

UNCONFIRMED RUMOR is that Croom has just told State "thanks, but no thanks." Again, unconfirmed as of now.

MM

[flying Elvis]

Probably a wise move. The quandry MSU faces is finding a smart successful coach who is dumb enough to take the job. lol