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If Dan Mullen is so good, how come he can’t beat Alabama football?

By Ronald Evans

STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 5: Head coach Dan Mullen of the Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrates with fans after the end of an NCAA college football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. Mississippi State beat the Texas A
STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 5: Head coach Dan Mullen of the Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrates with fans after the end of an NCAA college football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. Mississippi State beat the Texas A /
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Every season for several years, with any Power Five vacancy, Dan Mullen is mentioned and every season he loses a game against Alabama football. What’s the deal?

By all accounts, Dan Mullen is a good guy. He is also renown for being a ‘Quarterback Whisperer.’ He makes almost $5 million per year and yet he cannot beat an Alabama football team. His total failure leading Mississippi State teams in battle against Alabama goes almost unnoticed.

Mississippi State fans don’t seem to mind. Even Mullen seems reconciled to the annual rite of losing to Nick Saban. Other fan-bases and athletic directors seeking a coaching savior ignore his record against Alabama football.

There is an old truism about hiring football head coaches. It says simply, “hire a winner.” Based on that premise why would a Tennessee for example, a team that has not beaten Alabama for 11 seasons, have any interest in Dan Mullen? The same question applies to Florida or TAMU or Arkansas. Why hire a head coach who has never beaten Alabama football or Nick Saban?

Mullen the ‘Quarterback Whisperer’

The only plausible reason is that Dan Mullen is so exceptionally talented at developing quarterbacks. His track record with Alex Smith, Chris Leak, Tim Tebow and Dak Prescott is strong proof of Mullen’s ‘Quarterback Whisperer’ talents. Even so, Tebow and Prescott were such extraordinarily gifted athletes and team leaders, it can be argued Mullen managed rather than molded them.

Barring a major upset, on Saturday night in Starkville, Dan Mullen’s team will lose a 10th straight game to the Crimson Tide. Nine of those losses will be with Dan Mullen as head coach of the Bulldogs.

In fairness to Mullen, he was the Offensive Coordinator for two Florida wins against Alabama in 2006 and 2008. He was also the Gators OC when Mike Shula’s 2005 team destroyed Florida. So against Alabama football, Dan Mullen is 2-10 with zero wins as a head coach.

Based on Mullen’s career record against Alabama football, we chose him for our WOAT list (Worst Coaches of All-Time) – check out our full list of 10 WOATS.

Perhaps we are being a tad unfair to Mullen. With a roster of top talent, Dan might become the wizard coach many already define him to be. Until then, Mullen cannot escape his record. Going into this season, Dan Mullen’s record against Top 25 teams was six wins and 30 losses. Again, in fairness to Dan, eight of those 30 losses have been inflicted by the Tide.

Next: Check out the Bama Hammer staff Game Predictions

Ring those cowbells Bulldogs. Make enough noise and maybe the Bulldogs can hold on against the Tide until the 4th quarter when Dan Mullen loses again.

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