<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1T5THc_0w34ixcf00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1T5THc_0w34ixcf00" width="1146" height="600" >*Wednesday evening we provided the first of the SEC's pre-Georgia availability reports. As said the total seven names listed Out was a bit misleading, since <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/blake-shapen-46051801/">Blake Shapen</a> is done for the year with injury and two receivers are sitting the balance of the schedule. One of those, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/creed-whittemore-46110627/">Creed Whittemore</a>, is still with the team and serving as a scout receiver and maybe more.Without knowing the sophomore better, most anything said here is speculating and I'd rather not because, well, you never know. A redshirt with intent to stay at State or at least consideration to do so would be just fine here. Because whatever else may or may not be factors, he is playing the same position as <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/kevin-coleman-46058557/">Kevin Coleman</a>. Which do you want on the field more snaps? Now were this an air raid system with two true slots, yeah, both could be afield together but that's not the offense <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/jeff-lebby-1384/">Jeff Lebby</a> is installing. Emphasis on the present participle use of the word and yes I had to look that up as high school conjugation bored the heck outa me. Bless Mrs. Moore for trying…*The point being attempted is Lebby understands it will be a year-plus now getting his system installed (past simple tense). In fact, with what we expected at the time to be a one-season quarterback running the '24 show there would've been some re-rebuilding come second spring already. Now with Michael Van Buren in charge Lebby isn't starting over entirely for the true freshman.More like, he is revising the installation (noun-ish) to suit a new kid's learning curve. Based on five quarters' work MVB may, repeat may be able to pick it up and put it together faster than the usual rookie. But we mustn't count on it much less demand it. He's gonna throw that first pick soon enough. He's going to be harassed into an ugly stat line or two before this baptism of freshman fire is done.And, come out flame-hardened like a Louisville Slugger for it, one can expect. Still it's an offensive work in progress both at quarterback and everywhere else to install (transitive verb) everything Lebby wants to do.And we haven't even touched on the need for a real all-around running back and true dual-duty tight end. Save this for another column day*Oh, and back around to injuries. <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/keyvone-lee-46037843/">Keyvone Lee</a> is out as of now, but stay tuned for Saturday afternoon's final update. I do not expect to see Kalvin Dinkins' status change and if he plays at all the rest of this season consider it a bonus.*So it's on to Athens to begin the tougher (!) section of the schedule. Recording with our <a href="https://247sports.com/college/georgia/">Georgia</a> site counterparts this morning, they just had to go and ask my prediction. As if giving it weekly for our staff scoreboard weren't embarrassing enough…Bluntly, it will come down to just how badly Georgia wants to make a point. There's no shame in acknowledging superiority of lineup, roster, experience, confidence, all that. Georgia has it. Still I think that what, 33 or so point line is a bit long even if the home team goes all-out…and isn't trying to tune up for their trip to Texas.So for whatever it is worthless as a former boss use to say, I've a hunch State can keep it within four touchdowns at the end. Oh, big honking deal some out there will snarl? I understand. Truly.What I'm hoping to see and really kind of expecting to see is effort Saturday. Again OBHD to some? Well in today's college game we simply cannot take effort for granted. Not even 75% or so effort. It's a very different sports mindset everywhere, everyone and at heart guys know who should win and why.But.What I witnessed from the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/texas/">Texas</a> press box (a dump by the way, soon to change) is still clear in the Editorial mind. I saw a game Dog bunch give it all their effort all four quarters. Even after it was clearly out of reach, Lebby's guys kept at it just because, just because they wanted to. Because they like to play this game and like to play for each other, is the best way I can explain it.I know, I know. Y'all fans get so easily turned off and burned out on the dreaded 'C' word nowadays. But lemme tell you, Culture counts. Especially in getting a pained program off the proverbial platform. Whatever else this first season has shown so far there are two takeaways I'll stick with.Lebby is about attention to detail, and about giving what one has got to give. Sound so simple but it really isn't. And if <a href="https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/">Mississippi State</a> has stumbled to a stage where we comment approvingly on those two factors? So be it. A still-new coach must start somewhere and those look to be Lebby's first building blocks.So yes, while taking care of the standard game coverage demands Saturday I'll also be judging the effort, emotion, and energy Dogs show. If there's any slacking, we'll say so, too.*As most know by now a re-shuffling of staff responsibilities means we have a new tag-team for basketball coverage. Jacob Bain has come aboard and will take the lead with the Ladydogs and is already off to a strong start just in time for the season. He's also tracking recruiting for Sam Purcell, and lending a hand with men's recruiting coverage as well.Game coverage for the Bulldogs falls to myself, after many seasons of supporting reporting. This necessitates some fast catching up on the current club and likely lineup, and yes I do wish there was a way to observe this Saturday's closed scrimmage with <a href="https://247sports.com/college/western-kentucky/">Western Kentucky</a>. The doors to the Hump are officially shut and I will be in Athens anyway.But on my route back from football I'll pass the 280 exit which come Tuesday morning I'm taking to cover SEC Media Day for hoops for the first time since…honestly I can't recall. It's been that long. After 8:00am check in (and I do hope coffee is good and plenty at the Grand Bohemian Hotel) <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/chris-jans-2302/">Chris Jans</a>, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/josh-hubbard-46117031/">Josh Hubbard</a>, and Cam Matthews take the podium around 9:40.I have my own questions in mind for coach and crew. But it's worth asking, what is y'all fans would like to hear them discuss? Or cuss even? Submit queries on the basketball board for our common consideration.*By the way, did you notice nine SEC teams are pre-season ranked by ESPN and none are named Mississippi State? I did not expect to make many if any top-25s up to now but…seeing some of the teams that are ranked rankles a bit. Because I'm confident the Bulldogs will be better than a couple of those.Now that stated, the pre-conference schedule is a grind and may have something to do with lower outside expectations. This, and State's first-round NCAA exits. Does it really matter here in October, though?Because if when Jans' third team hits January, if they have taken care of non-conference business to any strong degree there will be a number in front of the name. Deservedly so.*By the way, basketball early (i.e. main) signing day is November 13 and lasts one week. As of now two commits are listed, small forward <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/cameren-paul-46117646/">Cameren Paul</a> out of DeSoto, Texas; and shooting guard from Faith Academy in the Dallas area also of Texas. I may have to do some real researching for the last time if ever a State coach inked two players out of Lone Star State high schools.And in our always-accurate CBS/247 rankings, these two commits give Jans the 20th-ranked class in the country both overall and composite. This, while top Mississippi prospect <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jamarion-davis-fleming-46141478/">Jamarion Davis-Fleming</a> remains in recruiting play per Jacob's interview posted yesterday.</div></body>

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From the Dawghouse: on the Georgia road to restart football, while Bulldog basketball tunes up for tipoff

*Wednesday evening we provided the first of the SEC's pre-Georgia availability reports. As said the total seven names listed Out was a bit misleading, since Blake Shapen is done for the year with injury and two receivers are sitting the balance of the schedule. One of those, Creed Whittemore, is still with the team and serving as a scout receiver and maybe more.

From the Dawghouse: on the Georgia road to restart football, while Bulldog basketball tunes up for tipoff

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