Q&A With Maroon and White Nation about Texas A&M Football vs MSU

Gig ‘Em Gazette: Would you say that Arnett is on the hot seat? How would a win or loss against Texas A&M football affect that?

Ertel: He is absolutely on the hot seat and he knows it. His contract was written in a way that does not tie him to Mississippi State long-term unless the school wants him there. In terms of coaching salaries in the SEC, he is not leading that category and it would not be an awful financial burden to buy him out. I honestly do not think his job is safe, even if he was to win out this season. While that would be quite the feat at this point, I just don’t see him as a coach with a vision for what the program can be, and the program desperately needs that.

Gig ‘Em Gazette: If you could make one schematic or coaching change to this team, what would it be?

Ertel: I’m not a huge X’s and O’s guy, but I would say bringing some more traditional Air Raid concepts back since you still have guys who played in that system and know how to make it work. Route concepts that get multiple guys into open space and allow the QB to see the field is an offense that the roster has seen over the last few years with Leach, and I think that could do a lot for QB confidence and allow your athletes to be athletes in open space.

Thanks again to Evan Ertel for indulging us with this Q&A—it’s always valuable for Texas A&M football fans to be able to check the mood of other fanbases and get a peek behind the curtain ahead of these matchups. Hopefully both teams have fun but one team has more fun than the other one. I won’t say which, but I will say this: the team in question wears maroon. Take that as you will………..