Joe Moorhead is out at Mississippi State after two seasons.
In the moments after the Bulldogs’ victory in the Egg Bowl, Moorhead told reporters “you’ll have to drag my yankee a** out of here” as it appeared his job was safe, but just four days after the Bulldogs’ 38-28 loss to Louisville in the Music City Bowl, Moorhead has been fired.
The news was first reported by Brett McMurphy and confirmed by SportsTalk Mississippi’s Brian Hadad.
Sources have confirmed to me that @Brett_McMurphy‘s report is indeed correct, Joe Moorhead is no longer the head coach at Mississippi State.
— Brian Hadad (@brianhadad) January 3, 2020
Moorhead’s job status seemed to be in question for a majority of the 2019 season, and while he seemed safe after the regular-season finale, a fight between LB Willie Gay and QB Garrett Shrader during bowl game prep that sidelined the true freshman with an injury weighed heavily in the university’s decision to move on from Moorhead.
Once the game kicked off, Mississippi State jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but lacked any punch as Louisville seized control of the game with 31 unanswered points.
Moorhead ends his tenure at Mississippi State with a 14-12 overall record and an 0-2 record in bowl games.
In his first season, the Bulldogs finished 8-5 as they boasted one of the nation’s best defenses, but it was Moorhead’s offense that held the team back. In 2019, a revolving door at the QB position and suspensions stemming from NCAA sanctions were a few of the main factors in the team’s 6-7 finish.
Ever since Moorhead arrived after a brief stint as the OC at Penn State, many fans questioned his fit in Starkville, and McMurphy’s report quotes a source as saying that “he wasn’t a great fit” for the program.
While it may be later in the process, Mississippi State now becomes the 4th job to come open in the SEC. Ole Miss has hired Lane Kiffin, Arkansas hired Sam Pittman and Missouri landed Eli Drinkwitz.
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