STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill said Tuesday his young Bulldog team is excited to be headed to the West Coast for Saturday's season opener with No. 15 Oregon. <br>
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``It is the exciting time of the year, getting ready to start the season,'' said Sherrill, entering his 12th season as Mississippi State's head coach. ``Everybody in the country at this time is the same, with expectations, unknowns, wishes, wants and desires.'' <br>
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The Bulldogs, coming off a 3-8 record last season, return 14 starters. Sherrill said about 20 redshirt/true freshman will make the trek to Eugene, Ore., for their first taste of college football. <br>
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``We will carry 19 freshman, redshirt and true, to Oregon and probably play 17 of them,'' he said. ``Does that concern me, and the answer could be yes and no. Yes to the fact that they are inexperienced and no because these are not ordinary players. <br>
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``They (freshman) will make us a better team, especially the skill players on offense. And this atmosphere will prepare them for the rest of our schedule.'' <br>
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Oregon is coming off back-to-back league titles with a 11-1 mark. The Pac 10 champs finished second in the final Associated Press college football poll. <br>
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Despite losing quarterback Joey Harrington to the NFL, the Ducks return 13 starters, including two offensive standouts in tailback Onterrio Smith and receiver Keenan Howry. <br>
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``We're playing a very good team, especially offensively and with their skill players,'' Sherrill said. ``Onterrio Smith is an outstanding player, a big back who can get the ball 20 to 30 times a game. Their three receivers are excellent. <br>
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``Oregon is also the most difficult place in the Pac 10 to play with the high noise level and the people being right on top of you.'' <br>
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Game time is set for 5 p.m. central time at Autzen Stadium. It will be televised nationally by Fox Sports Network. <br>
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The story contributed on-cycle by the Starkville Daily News.
