Mississippi State is doing what it can to keep coach Dan Mullen around as long as possible as he continues to establish himself as one of the best coaches to come through the program.
Those efforts come at an interesting time, however.
The university announced on Monday that it had extended Mullen for four more years through the 2021 season -- just a few months after the program suffered its first losing season in seven years. However, Mullen was connected to the Oregon opening before the Ducks hired Willie Taggart from South Florida.