MSU’s Dan Mullen talks Mississippi’s state flag
HOOVER, Ala. – – The debate regarding Mississippi’s state flag reached SEC Media Days Tuesday.
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen addressed the issue but didn’t definitively share his opinion on whether the state should change it, since it contains the Confederate flag. Mississippi is the only state remaining on the NCAA’s postseason ban because the Confederate flag flies on state capitol grounds.
“That’s a lot for people in Jackson and for the people in Mississippi. I know I don’t see it very often. We don’t have it on our campus up,” Mullen said. “I do know we’re the most diverse campus in the Southeastern Conference. I know the university embraces that diversity.
“We’re so diverse, they have a Yankee as a head football coach in the Southeastern Conference.”
The sentiments backed a statement released by MSU president Mark Keenum last week regarding diversity. Keenum’s statement also referred to Mississippi State’s vote to change the flag in 2001.
“In 2001, the Mississippi State University Faculty Senate voted overwhelmingly in support of changing the state flag of Mississippi prior to the failed statewide voter referendum on that question,” the statement read. “I have seen no indication that attitudes have changed on that question on our campus.”
The NCAA lifted its ban on South Carolina after Gov. Nikki Haley signed legislation to remove the flag from the Capitol Grounds.
“I applaud our Governor for setting the initiative to remove the flag, and obviously it was received very well by just about everyone in our state and around the country,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said. “Obviously, all of us in college sports, we know the importance of equality, race relations, everybody getting along.
"So certainly, I think all the coaches all over – I know all over South Carolina was very happy and glad to see the flag come down."
Last week, Mississippi State spokesperson Bill Martin told The Clarion-Ledger that all of its coaches support Keenum’s statement. MSU athletic director Scott Stricklin also referred to the statement when asked to comment.
“I think it’s something that on a national level is getting an awful lot of attention right now,” Mullen said. “People are really looking into how we can make things better in the state of Mississippi. I hope as a university we’re out on the forefront trying to help make things better with the type of school that we have and the diversity we have in our school.”
Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.