No surprise for Bulldogs: Norwood expected to carry the load at Kentucky

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Posted 9:23PM on Tuesday, October 25, 2005

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom surely can't hide his star running back now not after his recent record-breaking performance. ``It's no secret that we are going to try to get Jerious Norwood the ball,'' Croom said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. Norwood set the school's single-game rushing record with 257 yards in last week's 28-16 loss to Houston, breaking the mark of 237 yards set against Alabama in 1998 by James Johnson. ``He was able to do that because our offensive run blocking has vastly improved,'' Croom said. ``The wide receivers also did a good job of blocking downfield. That is the encouraging part for us but it is also very obvious that we missed opportunities, in particular in the first half to win that game.'' Norwood ran 66 yards for the Bulldogs' lone touchdown against the Cougars. But aside from that, the team's inability to get into the end zone was costly. Mississippi State (2-5, 0-4 Southeastern Conference) managed just three field goals the rest of the way in losing its fourth straight game. ``Many of the players were disappointed and were hurt by the loss, and that is how you are supposed to feel,'' Croom said. ``The only way you can cure that sick feeling is to go win a football game.'' Croom also said kicker Keith Andrews probably won't play at Kentucky (1-5, 0-3) after he injured his leg on the second-half kickoff. Adam Carlson relieved him and kicked a 20-yard field goal in the third quarter. ``He has gotten a lot of work in practice, but just has not gotten the game experience,'' Croom said of Carlson. ``He is going to get a lot this weekend. I have confidence in Adam to get the job done.'' Kickoff is 6 p.m. Central time. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)