Adams: Mullen doesn't need Tebow for excitement

HOOVER, Ala. - Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen was the most excited person in the room Wednesday. And it was a large room.

I feel comfortable in that assessment because the first-year head coach used the word "excited" or a derivative thereof at least 14 times in his opening comments at SEC football media days.

I say "at least" because I stopped counting. For the record, another media-type said "17."

Mullen's professed excitement might have gone unnoticed on a more exciting day. But the first-day itinerary included players and coaches from Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Kentucky.

Where is Tennessee's Lane Kiffin when you need him?

Answer: The SEC is saving the league's hottest quote for Friday's closing act.

The media won't need him today. It will hear from Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida and Tim Tebow.

It already has heard about Tebow, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who has helped Florida win two national championships. Every coach on the dais Wednesday was asked about his vote on the All-SEC preseason team, whose selection has turned the media corps into amateur detectives.

What one villainous coach didn't vote Tebow first team?

All four said they voted for Tebow. Mullen didn't have to say. As Florida's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, he coached Tebow the last three years. Without Tebow, he probably wouldn't have two national championship rings or an SEC head-coaching job.

"What is it going to be like this year staring across from him on the other sideline?" Mullen was asked.

"You know what, it's going to be a real neat experience," he said. "When you spend three years of your life - when you spend more time with Tim Tebow than you do with your wife, which I did - you get that close relationship. You know what, it's going to be a unique part of our relationship this year when we get to go against each other."

Right then, I realized why Mississippi State hired Mullen as its head coach. It was more about optimism than offense.

A coach who actually can look forward to going against Tebow and Florida also can get excited about being the head coach at Mississippi State.

I can't imagine a worse time to be the head coach at Mississippi State. In-state rival Ole Miss has emerged as a popular top-10 pick in preseason; Kentucky has gone to three consecutive bowl games and won them all; and Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson, buoyed by a bowl victory last season, is saying things like "The sky's the limit for Vanderbilt, to tell you the truth," and "We expect to compete for championships."

So who's Mississippi State supposed to beat in the SEC?

Nonetheless, Mullen is so excited, you would think Tulane is still in the conference - and that's his opening opponent.

Never mind that Darrell Royal in 1955 was the last Mississippi State coach to leave town with a winning record, or that Mullen's predecessor (Sylvester Croom) won 10 SEC games in five years, or that his returning quarterback might not come up to Tebow's chin. Mullen is excited.

He is excited about the youth of his athletic director and his university president. He is excited about Mississippi's family values. He is excited that Bulldogs fans are excited. If 31,000 of them would turn out for the spring game, imagine how many will show up when the defending national champion Gators - and coach Urban Meyer, Mullen's longtime boss and mentor - come to town Oct. 24.

You can guess how Mullen feels about matching wits with Meyer.

"It will be a real neat deal," he said. "I'm gonna have fun doing it, you know."

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.