While I don’t know exactly what he will do I know that this will be Scott Stricklin’s most difficult and gut-wrenching decision. Stricklin’s current salary of $500,000 would be nearly $1 million higher if published reports are accurate. That’s life-changing money. It would also be at a school that spends twice as much on sports as Mississippi State. Stricklin, on the other hand has the job he wanted at the place that he loves the most. Stricklin worked briefly at Tulane and Baylor before returning home to State. Scott shared with me what he said to me in May 2010, the day before his 40th Birthday, when he was hired as State A.D. Stricklin said, “Everything that I learned and picked up at all those places, I always looked at it through the prism how can I one-day go back to Mississippi State? He has made good use of it all. He has been a huge success at Mississippi State. Look at the facilities. Take a look at the successes on the courts and the fields. It is no surprise that Florida would want to court Scott. Scott, who was 18 years old, is someone I’ve known since he was a freshman at Jackson Prep. He was a student assistant in Mississippi State’s sports information office. Bob Hartley, the late great Bob Hartley, was recently retired, but he is still a fixture at MSU’s athletic offices. Hartley and me were talking when Stricklin came by smiling like always and said hello. Hartley stated that Stricklin was a “very good player” after Hartley spoke up. He’s heading for bigger and more important things.” As is often the case, Mr. Bob was right-on. So, I don’t know exactly what Scott will do. I am certain that he will always do what is best for his wife and their two daughters. He is a deeply religious man and will pray about it. He will make the right choice, as evidenced by his track record. I found the column that I wrote on the day Stricklin was appointed as the State’s 15th athletic director. It stated that Stricklin’s hiring by Mark Keenum makes sense for many reasons. He’s a State man, an all-round maroon. He loves this place. He is smart and a people person. He is always in the right place at just the right moment. He is perfectly prepared to replace Greg Byrne who brought him back from State two years ago as his right-hand person. Scott is well-versed in the internal workings of collegiate athletics and State. I know that he is torn between his passion for Mississippi State and Florida’s unique opportunities. He wins, I know that. Mississippi Today’s Sports Columnist is Rick Cleveland. Check out his columns in the past and his Sports Daily blog.
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