By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Oct. 3, 2003
STARKVILLE Mississippi State University will try to end its longest losing steak in 15 years entering this weekend's contest.
The Bulldogs have dropped their first four games of the season by a combined score of 156-103, and they have not won a game since Oct. 19, 2002, against Memphis.
MSU (0-4, 0-1 SEC) will also be trying to win its first Southeastern Conference game since defeating Ole Miss 36-28 on Nov. 22, 2001, in the Egg Bowl.
The Bulldogs will be facing the one team that has been almost as dismal as they have been over the last few years.
MSU hosts Vanderbilt (1-4, 0-2 SEC) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.
The Commodores have not won a conference game in three years, a 24-20 win over Kentucky on Nov. 11, 2000.
Vanderbilt has posted a 5-23 record over the past two seasons, including its first five games this year, and MSU has produced a mark of 6-20 over the same time period. The Bulldogs have only played four games so far this season.
Despite the Commodores' equal ineptness to win games, Sherrill said the weekend contest will be challenging for his squad.
Vanderbilt brings a balanced offensive attack into Davis Wade, averaging 148.4 rushing yards per game and 222.4 passing.
Commodores quarterback Jay Cutler has thrown for 990 yards, and running backs Norval McKenzie and Kwane Doster have combined to rush for 435 yards.
Vanderbilt is coming off a close 24-17 loss in overtime to Georgia Tech last week, which is in sharp contrast to MSU's 41-6 drumming at the hands of LSU.
Johnson said his team has to be prepared for a MSU squad that is averaging 397.8 yards of total offense and 25.8 points per game, as it attempts to rebound from last weekend's close game.