Cowbell Corner

Everything Jeff Lebby Said During his Introductory Press Conference

The new Mississippi State head football coach touched on everything from play-calling to his former boss-turned rival Lane Kiffin.

Colin James

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Mississippi State football introduced new head coach Jeff Lebby to fans during a special ceremony Monday night, and then to media with a press conference. Here's everything he said:

During the ceremony you kept using the word "show." What did you mean by the repeated use it in regards to college football?

"Excitement, you know fun energy, passion, touchdowns, behind the defense people are playing with a ton of passion and a ton of toughness and that's what I want our people to see on Saturday."

When do you plan to reach out on commitments and the recruiting class?

"Yeah, that's gonna actually started this morning, and will be nonstop for me tomorrow obviously, wanted to do that, to have an opportunity to meet with the team last night. Had a bunch of player meetings today but its going to be immediate, [it will] be a full day tomorrow. Try to reach out to every one of those guys that are committed by the end of the day tomorrow so looking forward to connecting with them, connecting with their families, and talking about [Mississippi State] and direction."

About Lebby's experiences at Southeastern as offensive coordinator and how it helped him rise through the coaching ranks in terms of being a play caller:

"I think what it did for me is it just, I don't think brought me back down but it gave me the opportunity to see that the purest level, those were young men and they were playing for one reason and one reason only, it's because they love it and it was an incredible reminder for me that it's about like, you know, it's about the locker room. It's about those guys, again, like I talked about outside having this incredible college experience and it looks a lot of different ways and a lot of different places, but I love the fact that those young men were incredibly prideful and thankful for their opportunity, and that's probably the thing I saw there in the six months that I was in Polk County."

On Lebby's confidence in transitioning and adapting from a offensive coordinator to a head coach:

"I think the biggest thing is actually when I mentioned this outside but it's not just about me. It's about the people that we bring in the building. We've got incredible leadership of people that I can lean on as we move through this thing to be able to go put together an elite staff, and as we were planning on putting together a staff that has incredible experience and knows exactly what its supposed to look like in all three phases, and when we're going to be able to get the right people in the building is you know, the timeline standpoint will be a little different depending on how a couple of things shake out, but very, very confident in the people that are going to be here and obviously very confident in my approach and leadership ability to get these guys to go where we want them to go."

On Lebby's return to coaching in the Egg Bowl after previously being on Ole Miss' coaching staff:

"Obviously, I'm looking forward to continuing ion the chat that I'm in. I do know the importance of that game after living it for two years, but incredibly excited. I understand how prideful [Mississippi State] is. I love the fact that our fanbase, once that game is, you know more than any one of them and you know, I think you can tell how passionate [Mississippi State president Mark Keenum] is when he talks about being state champs so again, sit in his chair, I don't take it lightly. It's going to be a lot of fun. People in this state are gonna have a lot of fun with that game and I'm one of them."

On Lebby's defensive staff and what he is looking for on the defensive side of the ball:

"I think it's incredibly important to have a guy come in here that has great experience and again, I'll continue to talk about when to hire guys and know what its supposed to look like inside this league. That's important. I do think this league is different than any others, and I want a guy that has has success and had a lot of different experiences being able to go put it together on that side of the ball."

On Lebby's approach to NIL as it grows and evolves:

"That's the biggest thing is just understanding that that's part of the game and that's part of the game that we're coaching it, and that we're playing and so making sure that we're doing everything that we can, you know, on both sides of it, to put ourselves in position to success on Saturday, you know, whether it be in Iowa and whether it be the portal, both those things are in play, and so making sure we're doing a great job of adapting to both of those things, to create a roster that's going to give us chances to go win and that to me that's my job, that's our job, is to build a roster that's got great competitive depth, great toughness, and through those two things that's going to be part of."

On if Lebby plans to continue calling plays as a head coach:

"I will continue to call it up, and that's important for me as we get started in this day, having one voice as we move forward. As we're putting together the staff still having the ability to hire an offensive coordinator from title standpoint to be able to take some of the day to day and be able to go have total control of some of the organizational things that go on with, whether it be practice or game planning so that I have the ability to be a head coach. So you'll be an incredible extension to me and one that I trust that understands the system and has lived in it for sure."

On what Lebby thinks the expectation should be at Mississippi State in his first year:

"I don't know if I should talk about what the expectation should be outside of the building. I know what the exceptions are going to be for myself and the players in the locker room, and that's to be as good as we can possibly be.l We're truly going to be in a race against ourselves to see how good we can get before the first time we've walked out into that stadium on a Saturday afternoon and what that looks like, you know, we're more determined how much success we have through the season, but that to me is what it's all about is you know, as simple as it may sound, finding ways to get better every single day to give us a chance to be as good as we can possibly do week one is going to be our focus and it ill be process driven over and over and over. As you get into it and you're into practice, if you don't like the result of how practice is going, it's probably because our process is right so guys understanding that sooner than later, that's going to be important."

On what currently stand out to Lebby on the current roster:

"I think we have some pieces in place. These next three days will be really important from a knowledge standpoint of where our roster is at. Watching personnel cut ups of every position group, that will happen over the next few days. Seeing where we stand with these recruits, and meeting with every single player on the team. They are about connection, not football, what the vision of the program is, how weā€™ll operate, them knowing they have a head coach thatā€™s going to support them."

What have you been able to take from the mentors youā€™ve worked with before?

"Take a little bit from everywhere Iā€™ve been. Thatā€™s important. Success for me has been on the offensive side of the ball. Been around some incredible offensive coaches. But itā€™s truly all about the players. Itā€™s a reminder to be thankful to the ones who go out and do it. Being back at my alma mater the last two years was important and special, but sitting here today is humbling."

What has this welcome been like for you?

"Itā€™s been humbling. The support and energy, the fan base has been on fire. Zac gave me some great advice last night: just take it all in, enjoy it. Never ever again will I have the opportunity to be a first-time head coach, much less at a place like State.

Zac, what did you tell Coach Lebby about Starkville?

"Itā€™s easy to share all the great things that happen here. It starts with a great place to raise a family. Passionate fans. Great student-athletes. We have a world-class staff. Great food. Great people. Once you start talking about Starkville, you donā€™t have to sell it. It is what it is. The facts speak for themselves. Great place to live. And a great place to coach. Iā€™m overjoyed to work here every day."

Do you have any ideas on the style of quarterback you want?

"Weā€™ll be able to get the guy we need. Weā€™ll address that position through the portal. Weā€™ve also got a couple of guys on campus Iā€™m excited about. We want guys who can do both. Keep people honest with their feet. And be able to throw it all over the yard."

Where are you from a staffing standpoint?

"[I] feel good about where we are. There will be some guys who get added to it over the next couple of days. Iā€™ve been excited with how many people of great quality want to part of our staff. They understand what the work environment will be about, what the leadership will be, and understand that weā€™ll put players first. Weā€™ll be able to put together an elite staff."

Why do you think this a program that can be involved in the expanded College Football Playoff?

"One, how weā€™re going to play offense. Being able to score the way weā€™ll be able to score. And there is history of great players here. You can get great players here, and itā€™s happened before. Dr. Keenum talked about being in the SEC Championship Game. For me, itā€™s real. Building it the right way, creating great competitive depth, find the right pieces from a staffing standpoint."

Why was this such a good fit for both of you?

Selmon: "I had an understanding a trust in Coach Lebby and what he can do. Iā€™ve observed it. For both of us, itā€™s a great fit because of Mississippi State. It doesnā€™t work everywhere. As you look for a new leader, it just so happens that youā€™ve worked with. Itā€™s not about Jeff and I, itā€™s what kind of environment we have at Mississippi State that makes it a great fit."

Lebby: "I loved all the positives. The conference. Great proximity to players. Great tradition and support. I get to go to work for someone I care about and trust. I was in an incredible situation, but this was a no-brainer because of the leadership."

What's the key to implementing a new system?

"It all depends on the roster. Having guys go through spring ball that will play in the fall is a huge deal. Those 15 practices and installing the offense to get ready for the fall. I hope a huge part of our roster in September is here in January. If we can get that accomplished, weā€™ll get off on the right foot. I feel good about how we are going to attack the roster."

Did you see the trolling messages already from Lane Kiffin? Any thoughts on it?

"Iā€™ve seen it through text messages. Havenā€™t actually seen it on Twitter. Iā€™m not incredibly surprised. I have a feeling it wonā€™t be the last. Itā€™s going to be fun. That one is going to be a lot of fun. These guys (his players) have been through a lot. A calm hand is going to be a lot of fun us as a staff. Theyā€™ll know they can come to us at any time and share their experiences and understand that weā€™ve got their back."

Your honest thoughts about cowbells:

"Iā€™m a big fan of the cowbell. Iā€™m a big fan of Mississippi State. I canā€™t wait to lead these guys. Weā€™re doing this together."

What have you learned about these guys still on the roster and what theyā€™ve gone through?

"It speaks to who they are. The older guys in the locker room, the way they played the last two weeks of the season with even more change happening. Weā€™ve got good people in that locker room. Weā€™ve got guys who are serious about being really good. That excites me, to take them someplace they canā€™t get by themselves. Thatā€™s why they call us coach."

Mississippi State's Jeff Lebby Reveals Top Priority for New Team

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Colin James
COLIN JAMES

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