Dan Mullen fires the latest shot in a war of words between Miss State and La. Tech

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen was probably enjoying his summer, doing some recruiting, watching some game film when Jackson Clarion-Ledger beat writer Brandon Marcello called him up and told him Sonny Dykes had some choice words about last year's game between the Bulldogs and the Bulldogs.

"Last year we played Mississippi State, and I swear to you there was no difference in our players and theirs," Dykes told the Monroe News-Star. "I was shocked. There was no difference. They might've had a little more depth, but across the board our players were about as good as theirs."

Mississippi State won the game 26-20 in overtime after the game went back and forth as Louisiana Tech matched Mississippi State score-for-score. Louisiana Tech quarterback Nick Isham threw an interception late in the game (when La. Tech could have kicked a field goal for the win) that ultimately forced overtime and he threw another one on Louisiana Tech's overtime possession, which cost the red and blue Bulldogs the game. However, La. Tech did outgain Mississippi State 359 to 340.

Mullen wasn't exactly thrilled to hear about Dykes' perceived verbal job, so in SEC fashion, he threw right-handed cross of his own (and then made sure to qualify it with a compliment).

"I guess if the players are equal we must have better coaches here at Mississippi State since we won," Mullen told the Clarion-Ledger in jest. "But they are a very good football team. Sonny does a great job with their program."

Since these two teams don't play each other this year — Louisiana Tech paid $300,000 to buy out of the game and schedule Virginia — I think the two coaches should have a coach-off. One play from the 20-yard line for the right to claim he's the better coach. Or perhaps a potato sack race.

If that doesn't happen, we'll all have to wait until Sept. 12, 2015 for these teams to meet again in another 2-for-1 and who knows whether either of these coaches will be with these programs when that rolls around.

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