Maroon and White Nation
Fansided

Mississippi State Football: I Hope the Zach Arnett Interview Tour Is Over

By Derrick Thomas

LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 10: Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett of the Mississippi State Bulldogs looks on during a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field on October 10, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 24-2. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 10: Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett of the Mississippi State Bulldogs looks on during a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field on October 10, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 24-2. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Mississippi State Football: I Hope the Zach Arnett Interview Tour Is Over

Mississippi State Football fans endured one tough season this year. The Bulldogs lost the Egg Bowl to Ole Miss, but we did win our bowl game. The roster endured transfers, opt-outs, and covid issues. The best thing about this season was defensive coordinator Zach Arnett.

After football season was over, every bulldog fan, including me, focused on recruiting and adding new Bulldogs to our roster for next season. Some new signees have even enrolled in classes to get ready for spring practice. Sounds like a decent start to the offseason, right?

The not so fun offseason for fans is the coaching carousel. Mississippi State fans have had to endure this part of football season in the past with unkind results. After Steve Sarkisian was named the head coach of Texas, rumors surfaced that one of the Defensive Coordinator candidates was none other than Zach Arnett.

Mississippi State fans will have to endure another offseason where one of their beloved coaches is entertaining possibly leaving Starkville for more money and a higher profile job. Our history of coaches flirting with other programs during the offseason is nothing new, especially, defensive coordinators. Manny Diaz left twice after short stays, and there is no need to outline Dan Mullen’s two-timing before the ugly divorce to Florida.

Mississippi State can breathe a sigh of relief for now as Arnett has not been offered any of the jobs he has interviewed for. Shane Beamer showed up in Starkville to meet with Arnett, but South Carolina hired Clayton White.

Arnett continued his interview tour this week as he interviewed with Oregon on Monday. Arnett is familiar with that part of the country from his time at San Diego St., and Oregon definitely has the money to pay him. If he were to become the defensive coordinator at Oregon, he would join former Mississippi State Head Coach Joe Moorhead on the Ducks Staff.

Arnett interviewed with LSU on Tuesday, and the Tigers did not offer Arnett the position. It would not be fun to have to face an Arnett run defense within the conference. I also expect LSU to go back to the 3-4 defense, so hiring Arnett would not be the right call.

The question to answer now is, will Arnett be a serious contender for the Texas job?

The Longhorns have been quiet on the interview front.  Whomever Texas hires as their defensive coordinator, as long as his name is not Zach Arnett, will keep Bulldog Fans happy. I surely hope, as I know many of you are as well, that the Zach Arnett Interview Tour is over, and we can get ready for signing day and spring practice.

Mississippi State Fans, what are your thoughts on the Zach Arnett Interview Tour?

Home/Mississippi State Football