1997: Probably the most frustrating season for a MSU fan as a 7-4 team with wins over Alabama and Auburn were excluded from a bowl game. While everyone can point to the Mississippi game, performances like losing 47-0 to Georgia are really what cost this team at the end. But maybe just maybe this season was not all bad. After all 1997 only meant that 1998 was here.

1998: The greatest MSU season in the modern era: 1998. No MSU team since the 1940's have won anything as significant as this squad did: a SEC Division title. And while you can argue how "weak" the division was, MSU was still the best team out of 6 teams I mentioned earlier. Let me just say looking back, this season truly is bizzare in the SEC West race. State starts out the season 5-3 and Arkansas started out the season 8-0. If there were odds back then, there would most likely be an 80+% chance Arkansas wins the West. Instead Arkansas trips up against a tough Tennessee team in Knoxville, and Mississippi State gets their 3rd straight victory over Alabama(the most in row since 1912-1914). Which setup a defacto SEC West Title game vs Arkansas in Starkville: LINK. With the field goal, and with the win over Ole Miss in Oxford, State wins their only division title and gets a chance to knock off #1 Tennessee, in which they ultimately blow a double digit 4q lead... State would end the season vs Texas in the Cotton Bowl and that is all that is needed to be said about that game.

1999: Many MSU fans regard this season as being better overall than 1998, which I disagree with and I will come up with that in a second. MSU started off 8-0, had the #1 defense, and Jackie finally got his first victory over LSU since his first season. This setup a game vs #11 Alabama on the road. Before I go any further I think it is important to note that MSU had not defeated any ranked team up to this point, however this wasn't a 2012 situation as I will show you shortly.

Anyways this 1999 Alabama game ultimately defined the 1999 MSU season. Mississippi State loses on a BS called Punt return that cost MSU not only their undefeated season, but back to back trips to Atlanta. State would then lose at #22 Arkansas. 2 games vs ranked opponents, 2 losses. What would this MSU teams legacy be?

The Tip, the Kick. and the Pick

LINK

Need I say anymore? That is just a glorious win period. And a win over a ranked Ole Miss team that ultimately gave State a much needed signature win.

State would get their first Bowl win in the SHerrill era with a win over Clemson which would give State their first 10 win season since 1940.

2000: The last great year of the Sherrill era. And boy is it absoloutely heartbreaking. State lost a disappointing game to SOuth Carolina for their first loss, and they would not beat SC again until 2016 as State would stop playing SC yearly in 2002. State hosts #3 Florida and #15 Auburn in back to back weeks and ultimately gets the Kang his last two big signature wins. Both iconic and legendary in their own ways, State was in the drivers seat for not only the division, but the SEC Title. State would then go on the road to play LSU, a team coached by first year head coach Nick Saban. State would lose in OT on a BS non TD that would be defining as State wouldn't even get close to beating them there for 14 years. Still, even with 2 SEC losses, State with their 4th win over Alabama in 5 years still controlled their own destiny for the SEC. All they needed to do was beat Arkansas at home and Mississippi on the road. Just like 1998. Well.... State would lost their 2nd OT game when they lost to Arkansas, and they would fall to Mississippi 45-30. State was once again at 7-4, and had ended their season exactly like 1997. But this time, State gets a bowl invite to the Independence Bowl. Here is the kicker, State is set to play Texas A&M. Sherrills old team coached by his former assistant. A&M actually ended their season similarly to State, they too controlled their Big 12 destiny, but fell in their last 2 games. The Snow Bowl is arguably the most Iconic game in MSU history and that led MSU to their last great win in the Sherill era.

I plan to go on at some point to the endings of this. And I hope maybe to even make a video. Sherrill holds a special place in my heart as well as many State fans I am sure. As brutal as the end was(which is partly the NCAA's fault), the great times cannot be ignored. Which is why Sherrill was truly the first coach to show that MSU can win and win big with the right pieces.