Former Bulldog Nick Fitzgerald shares his take on the Mississippi State program

Mississippi State football has not had the year anyone wanted. The Bulldogs are just 2-7, winless in the SEC, in their first season under Jeff Lebby. It's a low point for a program that had just recently had its best stretch ever.

One of the best quarterbacks to wear the Maroon and White weighed in on the good and the bad of Mississippi State football at the moment.

Former Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald gives his take on the state of Bulldog football

Nick Fitzgerald has become a full-fledged fan since his playing days ended in Starkville, and like the rest of the fanbase, watching a 2-7 football team has him asking questions about what's wrong with the Bulldogs. The SEC's all-time leading rusher at quarterback took to "X" (Twitter) on Wednesday to gauge the Mississippi State fanbase for their opinions about the program.

Fitzgerald was asked to give his own take on the situation, as who better to hear from than someone who knows firsthand what a successful Mississippi State program is supposed to look like. And while he prefaced his take by saying he likes to stay positive, he still pointed out things that he believes must improve.

"I think offense will be fine with Lebby, I like him. Defense is abysmal, unacceptable, and embarrassing. We need NIL money but I think the university should be finding it somewhere, not fans."

- Nick Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald believes that under Jeff Lebby, State will find success on the offensive side of the ball. But he didn't hold back in saying that the current play of the defense is horrendous. He also points out that more NIL support is needed but that it shouldn't be on the fanbase to make that happen.

Nick Fitzgerald's thoughts are in line with the majority of Bulldog fans

You'd be hard-pressed to find a State fan that isn't in near total agreement with Nick Fitzgerald's assessment of Bulldog football. While State is having a poor year under Jeff Lebby, the offense has shown enough to give you hope that they can be successful there. No, they aren't lighting up scoreboards. But they've been a solid unit for several weeks now, and you can see the potential with just a few more pieces on the roster.

However, no one can watch the State defense and come away with anything but disappointment. Whether you think that it's a product of coaching, a lack of talent, or a combination of the two, the 2024 defense wouldn't be acceptable at any school, much less at a program with the defensive tradition of Mississippi State. And somehow, some way, changes must be made there.

Fitzgerald's point on NIL is an interesting one, but again, something fans would agree with. There's no doubt MSU could be in a better place in terms of NIL, though everyone close to the program has been consistent in saying they're in a good enough spot to be competitive. But his stance that NIL should be universtiy-funded rather than NIL-funded resonates.

It's absurd that fanbases, who already give plenty to the school, are the ones tasked with literally buying players for their team. Why is it their responsibility when the school is the one bringing in millions of dollars? Fortunately, it seems things are trending in the right direction with revenue sharing on the way.

It's cool to see Nick Fitzgerald's perspective, as he's got the firsthand experience from inside the program. It's reassuring that he's got similar conclusions as the rest of the fanbase.