STARKVILLE - The Southeastern Conference is close to ridding itself of an unwanted label: The only big-time college football conference to have never had a black head football coach.
Mississippi State wants Green Bay assistant coach Sylvester Croom to be the first.
Croom, a longtime NFL assistant, was offered the Mississippi State job Sunday by Bulldogs athletic director Larry Templeton.
"I think this is it," an optimistic and upbeat Templeton said moments after Croom boarded a university plane back to Wisconsin on Sunday.
Croom visited the campus and met with Templeton for about five hours Sunday, two days after Templeton and university president Charles Lee went to Green Bay to meet with him.
Templeton spoke to reporters at Bryan Field.
Templeton said he expected to get a final decision from Croom by Sunday night or Monday morning. He would not say when an official announcement would come.
"I think we answered all the questions that he has," Templeton said. "We're certainly comfortable in having all our questions answered."
Croom did not speak to reporters before boarding the plane. Phone messages left at Croom's home and office in Green Bay were not immediately returned.
Mississippi State is looking for a replacement for Jackie Sherrill, who retired after the season.
The Bulldogs completed a 2-10 season, their third straight last-place finish in the SEC West, by losing to Mississippi 31-0 on Thursday. They are 8-27 over the last three seasons with just three SEC victories.
Croom, like Sherrill, played for Bear Bryant at Alabama. He was an All-American center in the early 1970s and worked as an assistant for the Crimson Tide from 1977-86.
He has never been a head coach at any level, but came close to landing the Alabama job earlier this year after Mike Price was abruptly dismissed in May.
The Crimson Tide were criticized by some, including civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, for hiring Mike Shula, who is white, over Croom, who has more experience.
Every other BCS conference has had at least one black head coach, but the shortcoming is not exclusive to the SEC. There were only four black head football coaches among 117 Division I-A football schools this season.
The SEC has been trying to help its members be more inclusive in the hiring process by providing lists of potential minority candidates to its athletic directors.
"We went after the best football coach and he just happened to be a minority," Templeton said. "When y'all start talking to the people that this guy coached, and the people that this guy coached with, there's not going to be any question; We got the right guy."
Croom, 49, has been an assistant coach with five NFL teams since 1986. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native has been running backs coach for the Packers since 2001.
"Everybody I talked to in the football circles talks about what a great X and O coach that he is," Templeton said.
Croom has family in Tuscaloosa and a daughter and granddaughter living in Mobile, Ala.
"That might be the best selling point we have," Templeton said.
Templeton said he was impressed with Croom's knowledge of Mississippi State football, including the current personnel.
"We talked about the future more than where we are today," Templeton said.
Mississippi State is waiting for the results of an NCAA investigation into possible rules violations by the football program from 1998-2002.
Templeton said he had discussed the NCAA issues with Croom in one of their previous conversations.
"To the best of our abilities, we've been very forthright and very open with him," Templeton said.
There has been no specific contract offer made to Croom, Templeton said.
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