October 18, 2003

Sherrill to Retire After Season

Jackie Sherrill today announced that he would retire from coaching at the end of the season. In an email, Sherrill writes:

Two years ago, we started a downhill slide and I have deep regret about that. However, I have made sure we now have the players in place to regain the respect and bring the excitement back to Scott Field. We are on the road back and this young team will win a lot of football games in the upcoming years.

Dr. J. Charles Lee said this in a statement regarding Sherrill's departure:

Under Coach Jackie Sherrill's direction, Mississippi State teams and fans became accustomed to winning. When he came to Mississippi State in 1991, Coach Sherrill inherited a football program that had had one winning season in nine years. His great contribution to our university was to raise expectations, and that legacy will serve the institution well as we look to the future.

Of course, everyone is nothing but positive about Sherrill in these comments, but as many have pointed out previously, Sherrill is about due for a farewell. Bulldogs faithful can hope that a new coach brings new life to a struggling program.

Posted by Pete Holiday

 

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Comments & Trackbacks

1. Randy H. says:

   posted on October 18, 2003 03:01 PM — link

   We'll miss Jackie for sure, but it is time for new blood. Let's hope for a coach with a demonstrated track record of winning in a smaller program. That's the formula that has seemed to work in college football over the past few years.

2. Mhill says:

   posted on October 21, 2003 07:59 PM — link

   Sure Sherrill gave life to a struggline program, but look at his overall record. He will go down in the books with a losing SEC record, and potentially a 75-75-2 record overall. Although this is an improvement to their history, I don't think State fans should worry too much about a coaching change. They were really only competitive in the SEC 4-5 years out of 13. Not really something to be super proud of. Sherrill will also leave them on probation, as he has done before. Retirement is long overdue.

3. Randy H. says:

   posted on October 21, 2003 08:43 PM — link

   Although retirement is appropriate at this point, Jackie Sherrill led a program with no track record of real success to the highest level of competition in NCAA football, and did it in the toughest conference in the nation. Also, Jackie made the program competitive within his first couple of years. Most important, he will go out with a winning record against Mississippi, whereas the record before his tenure was dismal against the Rebels.

   He also elevated the program tremedously in terms of recruitment. Recruiting kids to come to Starkville that could otherwise go to Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and Florida is a daunting task. I think that measuring his record only in wins and losses really fails to capture what he has meant to the program. Having said all of this, I do agree that State fans should not worry. Jackie has left the program in a good enough shape that it will once again me in the top tier of the SEC West.

4. Jeff says:

   posted on October 21, 2003 10:15 PM — link

   I have had heard that there has been discussion of hiring a minority coach to replace Sherrill after the end of the season. Would this put Charlie Strong of Florida at the top of the list?

5. Kevin says:

   posted on October 22, 2003 07:34 AM — link

   I always think that hiring the best man available is the way to go. I'm not sure if that means Strong, per se, but he should definitely be considered. I think a BCS school should be inclined to go out and get someone with a successful track record as head coach.

6. Derek says:

   posted on October 22, 2003 11:08 AM — link

   I'm just waiting for Sherrill's forthcoming book. In the meantime, he has some advice for his former rival, Joe Paterno: "My only advice to him is that when he makes the decision it's time to get out of coaching, that he accepts it really is time."

7. Pete Holiday says:

   posted on October 22, 2003 11:14 AM — link

   "there has been discussion of hiring a minority coach to replace Sherrill after the end of the season."

   I hated this sort of discussion when 'Bama was looking for a new coach, and it's no more appetizing now. Don't hire a coach to make Jesse Jackson happy... hire the best coach you can. If he happens to be a minority, that's great. If he doesn't, that's fine too.

   This business of turning every coach hiring into a racial tinderbox is annoying and distracting. Hire the best man for the job, period.