No. 17 Mississippi State looks to spring the upset at home against No. 2 Alabama. Chris Low discusses the keys for each team.
It was as if Mississippi State had suddenly forgotten what it was.
The chip on the Bulldogs' shoulder disappeared inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Their juice was gone. Instead of playing as if there was nothing to lose, they were playing not to lose.
Looking back a year later, coach Dan Mullen said he saw a team that was “almost trying to be too perfect” against Alabama.
They felt the long shadow of history and froze.