Addressing the Critics of MSU and Dillon Day

Sep 13, 2014; Mobile, AL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs tight end Malcolm Johnson (6) is congratulated by offensive lineman Dillon Day (63) and wide receiver Jameon Lewis (4) following a touchdown catch against the South Alabama Jaguars in the first quarter at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday September 20, 2014 will forever be remembered as one of the most memorable nights in the history of Mississippi State football. If the Bulldogs can capitalize on the momentum created from the win in Baton Rouge, it might be forever remembered as the night Mississippi State broke through and said it’s time to take the Bulldogs seriously. Dak Prescott was elevated on a national stage, Josh Robinson broke onto the scene as an elite running back and the Psycho Defense completely suffocated the offense of the Tigers all night long (right until they went into prevent mode). In the wake of that glorious night, what are Mississippi State fans constantly having to deal with? People ripping the program and fans for what Dillon Day did. And what do I have to say to the critics?

Take your self-righteous indignation somewhere else because I am fed up with it.

Did Dillon Day mean to step on the LSU players? I honestly don’t know on the first play where he leaped over Godchaux. If you can make a good argument either way, and I will probably buy it. The second time it isn’t even close. It was an accident and to think otherwise means you’re looking to stir up a controversy. The personal foul where he was called for a late hit was uncalled for, but Day is not the first nor will he be the last for doing something like that. Even if he did mean to step on Godchaux the first time, I’m done with these people like Stephen White and Trevor Matich using one of our players as a chance to make outlandish statements so they can bring attention to themselves. Stephen White spent Wednesday morning going off on Dan Mullen and Mississippi State on Twitter. Here are his thoughts:

Congrats former NFL and UT player, you got on Twitter and talked big and tough. Yes, I know you are trying to make a name for yourself as a blogger for SB Nation, but our program is not your trampoline. You have a problem with Mullen? Coach Mullen is the one who suspended him last year. Mullen has shown that if he truly believed Day was doing something purposeful, he would have taken action on it. The suspension Day got last year did not come from the SEC.

Now, on to Matich, who proceeded to go on Finebaum and call what Day did a crime and that he should be suspended for an entire year. No, Mr. Matich, it wasn’t a crime. The umpire was just off to the right of the play when it ended. He didn’t throw a flag. The side judge came in and marked the ball and was right there when the play stopped, and he didn’t throw a flag. If a terrible crime had been committed, why weren’t the people who were supposed to police the crime doing anything about it? And I am well aware that an unsportsmanlike play can happen without a flag being thrown. But two guys who are supposed to prevent this from happening didn’t seem to notice anything wrong, and a crime was committed right under their noses? Please.

A crime is what Ray Rice did to his fiance’. Ray Rice clocked his now wife and dragged her out of an elevator completely unconscious. That is a crime. What Day did was at worst exercise poor judgment in a spontaneous moment, and at best get mistaken for doing something intentional that couldn’t be further from the truth.

What these two gentlemen are doing is trying to use an incident in a nationally televised game to further their careers. They also know that Mississippi State is a small school without much of a national following and would be an easy target to pick on. The backlash from those fans would be minimal. I refuse to sit idly by and let people use my Alma Mater and school I love so much as a springboard.

And I can hear the critics reading this now, “So you’re okay with him doing this intentionally?”

No, I am not. I will be honest. I actually agree that Day probably should be suspended, but I don’t want the players for my team facing consequences for their actions that players from other schools don’t. If Day hadn’t had the incident at Auburn in 2013, he probably doesn’t get suspended for this incident against LSU. It does bother me that there have been numerous incidents that Mississippi State fans have brought up that were worse than what Day did where no suspension was issued by the SEC. If we are going to start suspending players, why are we choosing to do it right now?

And now to those criticizing our fans for supporting Dillon Day. I’m fed up with you too.

Going back to Ray Rice, did you see the number of WOMEN who showed up in Ray Rice jerseys and saying we love Ray after the video of Rice hitting his wife came out? There were a lot. So why are Mississippi State fans so much worse for supporting a player who we truly believe did something by accident? Not only did Day publicly explain the situation as an accident, but Dan Mullen did as well. Should we not believe the leader of our football program? It’s hard to argue with the fact that two game officials were right there and did nothing about the play. They didn’t see anything as unbiased officials in the flow of the game, so it’s easy for us to see that as something that has been grossly exaggerated.

As great as the Internet and Social Media have made covering and talking about sports, it also is nauseating how people try to take things like what happened in Baton Rouge and make themselves so morally superior than everyone else. I’m done with it. We’re moving on to Texas A&M, and excuse us if we just ignore your moral grandstanding.