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Mississippi State football to honor Mike Leach vs. Southeastern Louisiana

By Ethan Lee

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 02: Will Rogers III #2 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs waves a Mike flag in memory of Mike Leach after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini 19-10 in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 02, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 02: Will Rogers III #2 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs waves a Mike flag in memory of Mike Leach after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini 19-10 in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 02, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Former Mississippi State football coach (and overall college football coaching legend) Mike Leach will be honored during the Bulldogs’ season opener.

As the 2023 Mississippi State football season begins, the Bulldogs will be honoring a college football icon. Former Mississippi State football head coach Mike Leach’s memory will be honored during the MSU Bulldogs’ season opener against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions.

The Mississippi State athletics department announced plans to pay tribute to Leach and to his family during the season opener.

As the MSU Bulldogs face off against the Lions MSU has plans to have “notable remembrances” that will be present during the games, according to Mississippi State’s press release. The Bulldogs also announced that a presentation with Leach’s family will take place following the end of the first quarter of the game.

Mississippi State football to pay tribute to Mike Leach during MSU Bulldogs’ season opener vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Leach was only in Starkville for three seasons, but he certainly left his mark on Starkville. Leach’s Air Raid took the SEC by storm. Though it had its ups and downs, multiple records were set (including in an explosive start against the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge back in 2020).

Leach also helped get the Bulldogs to three bowl games during his time in Starkville. And though he was only here for three years, Leach beat seven AP Top 25 foes. As the MSU press release point out, that’s good for third-most by a head coach in Mississippi State’s history.

Not bad for a three year stretch of coaching.

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Now, Will Rogers has the opportunity to continue shattering records thanks in large part to the Air Raid and to Leach’s coaching. Should everything go right, Rogers will have a very real chance at ending the season as the SEC’s all time leader in career passing yards.

That’s a product of Leach’s coaching.

Mississippi State’s quarterback history hasn’t always been all that productive, but Leach turned Rogers into one of the most productive quarterbacks the SEC has ever seen.

And on top of all of that, he helped assemble a coaching staff that would lead the way for Zach Arnett to become a head coach. Now, though Arnett overhauled the coaching staff a bit, he is still able to continue on with leading the Bulldogs because of Leach’s guidance. And that should be celebrated.

It’s good to see the Bulldogs honor Leach.

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