Mississippi St. To Play In Bowl Game Despite Mike Leach's Death
Mississippi St. Playing In Bowl Game Vs. Illinois ... Despite Mike Leach's Death
Mississippi State will not pull out of its bowl game against Illinois despite Mike Leach's death ... the school's interim AD just said the Bulldogs will play in the postseason contest -- because, "We all know that's what Coach Leach would want."
Bracky Brett, who took over MSU's AD reins in October, told ESPN on Tuesday the football team's players are "100%" ready to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2 ... and do "what Coach Leach would expect them to do."
"It's what we should do," Brett added.
Leach, MSU's head coach since 2020, tragically passed away on Monday night after suffering a medical emergency on Sunday. He was 61 years old.
The school announced following Leach's initial hospitalization that defensive coordinator Zach Arnett would fill in for the legend ... and Brett said Tuesday that plan will continue against the Fighting Illini after Leach's death.
"Coach Arnett has made it clear that we're going to finish what we started," Brett said, "and honor Coach Leach."
The game will go down in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium ... where, of course, Leach (nicknamed The Pirate) would have felt right at home -- something not lost on Brett.
"It's only fitting that we play this game," he said, "and honor Coach Leach in a stadium that has a pirate ship."
