By Angie Ledbetter

 Sylvester Croom, head football coach for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, told the media Thursday that he’s excited about his experienced team that includes 21 returning seniors.

“Overall we go into this season with a more talented football team,” said Croom. “As you all know, a lot of things go into being able to win, particularly being able to have a chance to compete for a championship.

“We need to play well as a team, be physically and mentally tough, which we think we’ve established in the past. We have to have great team chemistry, and excellent leadership.”

Croom is hoping to start the season off a lot stronger and faster than in the past. That was one of the main things the team has been working on during two-a-days.

“If we have the intangible qualities that our team did last year with the talent we have, then we have a chance at some point to be a good football team during the course of the season.”

Educating the players on making the right decisions is also very important to Croom.

“They’re going to make mistakes but we want to try and keep them from making a mistake that they’re going to have to live with for the rest of their lives. We talk to our players constantly.”

Derek Pegues, a South Panola product, is a senior defensive back on the team. He was voted to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference for the second year in a row.

Pegues said summer practices and workouts are going well.

“A lot of the younger guys have come out and made some plays,” Pegues said.  “I think they’re going to be able to help us. We’ve got a lot of veteran leadership on the team.”

Mississippi State will start the season August 30 by traveling to Ruston, La. to play Louisiana Tech.