Ole Miss, Mississippi State prepare for spring football games

Footballs will fly for the final time until August at Mississippi and Mississippi State, as both teams wrap up spring practices with intrasquad scrimmages Saturday.<br> <br> Ole Miss is getting used to the high intensity, rapid pace and over-the-top enthusiasm of new coach Ed Orgeron. For Mississippi State, the rebuilding continues in Sylvester Croom&#39;s second year as coach.<br> <br> And the nation will be watching Starkville the Bulldogs&#39; scrimmage will be televised nationally by ESPN2.<br> <br> This spring, Mississippi State wanted quarterback Omarr Conner and running back Jerious Norwood to build off their strong 2004 seasons, the Bulldogs&#39; young defense to continue its maturation and the entire team to develop mental toughness.<br> <br> Croom said he wants his offense to show more spunk in front of the cameras than it did during practices when the defense dominated.<br> <br> ``We just don&#39;t have enough nasty people on offense,&#39;&#39; Croom told reporters. ``We&#39;ve got to get tougher, a little more competitive. I don&#39;t care if its tiddlywinks or pitching pennies, we&#39;ve got to have guys who are competitive. And I don&#39;t see that right now from our offense.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> One of Orgeron&#39;s top goals for his first spring in Oxford was to teach the Rebels how to practice his way. After four weeks of workouts, the new coach said he thinks his message has been received.<br> <br> ``For a first-year team, we are on an accelerated pace,&#39;&#39; Orgeron told reporters earlier this week. ``The players have learned how to compete the way we want them to and we are just looking forward to wrapping it all up with the Red-Blue Game&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Another of Orgeron&#39;s goals establishing a starting quarterback probably won&#39;t be met. Micheal Spurlock, Ethan Flatt and Robert Lane each have been solid, but coaches say none has yet to outdistance himself from the pack.<br> <br> Mississippi State&#39;s spring game begins at 1 p.m. at Scott Field as part of Super Bulldog Weekend, which also includes a baseball series against Auburn at Dudy Noble Field and the dedication of the Shira Athletic Complex expansion.<br> <br> The Rebels&#39; Grove Bowl between Blue and Red teams is at 1 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

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