{"id":67331,"date":"2022-09-06T04:10:56","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T04:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/why-mississippi-state-football-mike-leach-cant-afford-loss-at-arizona\/"},"modified":"2022-09-06T04:10:56","modified_gmt":"2022-09-06T04:10:56","slug":"why-mississippi-state-football-mike-leach-cant-afford-loss-at-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/why-mississippi-state-football-mike-leach-cant-afford-loss-at-arizona\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Mississippi State football, Mike Leach can&#8217;t afford loss at Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el\" aria-label=\"Video - Mississippi State football's Mike Leach pleased with College Football Playoff expansion\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">STARKVILLE \u2014 Mike Leach, famous for his viral rants almost as much as his Air Raid offense, is consistent with his takes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Candy corn?  shave<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">College Football Playoffs?  Expand it to 64.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Kickers?  Make your field goals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">So when the Mississippi State football coach was asked Monday to share wedding advice, Leach gave the usual tips to third-string quarterback Chance Lovetich, who proposed to his fianc\u00e9 after MSU&#8217;s win against Memphis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>BIG WIN:<\/strong>What Mississippi State proved even in its flaws vs.  Memphis<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>LATE NIGHT:<\/strong>How lightning delay prepared MSU for late game at Arizona<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cIt sounds like I&#8217;m too late,\u201d Leach started.  \u201c\u2026First advice, elope.  Just eliminate all the family input, aggravation, constant change of course that exists with planning weddings and the anxiety and pressure that almost drives people to divorce before they even start.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe second will be if you&#8217;re not going to elope, let&#8217;s get it done certainly by the off week.  You can honeymoon it up a little bit during the off week.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_tw\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadTwitter\" data-v-id=\"1566793869961863169\" aria-label=\"Twitter Embed\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Lovetich set the scene for his coach&#8217;s return to the Pac-12 perfectly, though that likely wasn&#8217;t in mind when asking the life-changing question.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Unlike his opinions, inconsistency has has hurt Leach&#8217;s reputation as a coach.  His enormous upsets, such as MSU&#8217;s win at Texas A &#038; M last season, are often met by great blunders, such as MSU&#8217;s loss at Memphis two weeks prior.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The 2017 season, when Leach first went viral for his wedding advice, is a fitting example.  His Washington State Cougars went 9-4 and were ranked in the AP poll every week.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Washington State took down a top-five USC team as part of a 6-0 start, but lost by 34 two weeks later against five-win Cal.  Leach also lost the Apple Cup to a solid Washington team that season \u2013 one of his seven losses in eight attempted against the rival.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">He can&#8217;t worry about trying to get his first Egg Bowl win yet, but he could take a step Saturday in securing no unnecessary losses in a brutal 2022 schedule.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">He already defeated Memphis is resounding fashion.  Now he has to back it up with a trip to Arizona, where FanDuel Sportsbook has Mississippi State as an 11\u00bd-point favorite.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThey&#8217;re much improved,\u201d Leach said.  \u201cQuarterback is the key position for them.  They have some skill guys that can hurt you.  They&#8217;re big on the offensive line and the defensive line.  They&#8217;ve had some key transfers that I think help them out.  It&#8217;s a little unpredictable what they&#8217;re going to do because their defensive staff hasn&#8217;t been together before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"gnt_em_gl_i\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/09\/04\/PJAM\/0890239b-955e-43ea-b4d5-53d901cbcd36-USATSI_18985824.jpg?resize=660%2C372&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/09\/04\/PJAM\/0890239b-955e-43ea-b4d5-53d901cbcd36-USATSI_18985824.jpg?crop=4897,2755,x0,y0&amp;width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"372\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The biggest transfer addition for the Wildcats is Jayden de Laura.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The former Washington State quarterback committed to play for Leach in 2019, three months before he left for MSU.  Leach complemented de Laura&#8217;s accuracy, efficiency in getting rid of the ball, feet and competitiveness.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It&#8217;s a greater challenge than expected when the Wildcats finished 1-11 last season, but the spread is where it is for a reason.  Mississippi State is an SEC school expecting a step forward from its seven-win season.  Arizona is a Pac-12 team hoping to reach bowl eligibility.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Fresh off a contract extension with one of the nation&#8217;s most experienced teams at his disposal, the excuses won&#8217;t be there.  He can&#8217;t be married to his reputation of inconsistency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger.  Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/skrajisnik3\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" target=\"_blank\">@skrajisnik3<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>STARKVILLE \u2014 Mike Leach, famous for his viral rants almost as much as his Air Raid offense, is consistent with his takes. Candy corn? shave College Football Playoffs? Expand it to 64. Kickers? Make your field goals. So when the Mississippi State football coach was asked Monday to share wedding advice, Leach gave the usual &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/why-mississippi-state-football-mike-leach-cant-afford-loss-at-arizona\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Why Mississippi State football, Mike Leach can&#8217;t afford loss at Arizona<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44197,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/2023-four-star-quarterback-chris-parson-details-mississippi-state-decision\/","url_meta":{"origin":67331,"position":0},"title":"2023 four-star quarterback Chris Parson details Mississippi State decision","date":"August 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\r \r \r Mississippi State's search for its top quarterback target in the Class of 2023 took a bit longer than normal. But on Friday afternoon, that search ended with the addition of 247Composite four-star quarterback Chris Parson.\r \r The Ravenwood (Tenn.) High School standout and Elite 11 finalists announced\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21865,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/10-things-im-absolutely-overreacting-to-after-sec-media-days\/","url_meta":{"origin":67331,"position":1},"title":"10 things I&#8217;m absolutely overreacting to after SEC Media Days","date":"July 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Talking season never disappoints.From Mike Leach's 7-word intro to Jimbo Fisher's 7-words-per-second stand-up act, SEC coaches and players again gave us great insight into their personality, style and world-class ability to filibuster.Here are 10 things I'm absolutely overreacting to after a week of Media Days in and around the SEC.10.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":66636,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/georgia-jumps-alabama-in-week-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":67331,"position":2},"title":"Georgia jumps Alabama in Week 1","date":"September 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The SEC ran the Saturday slate in Week 1 of the college football season, only to have LSU fall to Florida State in a Sunday night thriller. Most of these SEC wins were of the blowout variety, but based on strength of victory, we can reshape things a bit.1. Georgialast\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/09\/03\/NABH\/bdf2b2b9-ad95-4ada-ab6a-fc3e9c679a09-220903_OregonvsGeorgia_1663.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20012,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/2022-sec-media-days-takeaways-alabama-poised-for-revenge-tour-south-carolina-confident-in-spencer-rattler\/","url_meta":{"origin":67331,"position":3},"title":"2022 SEC Media Days takeaways: Alabama poised for revenge tour, South Carolina confident in Spencer Rattler","date":"July 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"ATLANTA \u2013 Day 2 of SEC Media Days on Tuesday was headlined by the defending SEC champions and national runner-up Alabama. Coach Nick Saban made the rounds with the media, along with star quarterback Bryce Young, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and defensive back Jordan Battle. The group addressed multiple\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/media\/2022\/08\/26\/USATODAY\/usatsports\/f8820dec20ac424aad440456827cd2b0.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67331"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67331"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67331\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}