TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Sylvester Croom knows his deep Alabama ties will be a subplot for years to come, and that's OK with him.
After all, he figures, there are few better programs to use as a model for rebuilding Mississippi State.
"As long as I'm at Mississippi State and we play Alabama, it's never going to be behind me," said Croom, whose Bulldogs lost 30-14 Saturday night in his homecoming against his alma mater.
"I don't want it to be behind me. I want Mississippi State to be where Alabama is. I want kids to come to Mississippi State to wear championship rings just like they do at Alabama, and it's going to happen."
If this game was any indication, Croom and the Tide's Mike Shula have their programs headed in the right direction. The Bulldogs (3-6, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) were still in contention for their third straight win until midway through the fourth quarter to a team that beat them 38-0 last season.
Croom, who grew up in Tuscaloosa, played and coached at Alabama and was a finalist for the top job in May 2003.
It was a big win for the Tide (6-3, 3-3) for far more than just beating Croom's team. Alabama secured a winning record and almost certainly its first bowl bid in three seasons amid NCAA sanctions.
"We all know that six wins makes you bowl eligible and that's big for this group," Shula said. "We want to have this be the start of a nice long streak.
"It means we're taking steps in the right direction," he said. "We're not there yet. We all know that."
The Tide closes the season at LSU and at home against Auburn, two teams that beat Alabama last year.
"Every game here just makes it a better bowl for us," safety Roman Harper said. "That's how we've got to look at it."
Or, as linebacker Demeco Ryans put it, "Six wins just got our foot in the door."
Officials from the Peach, Houston, Independence and Outback bowls were on hand for the game, scouting the Tide.
They saw what's becoming a typical performance for Alabama: stifling defense mixed with the running of Ken Darby. Darby ran 36 times for 200 yards, both career highs.
Spencer Pennington was 9-of-15 passing for 119 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice.
The Bulldogs had opportunities to get back into the game. They pulled to within 17-14 on Omarr Conner's 28-yard touchdown pass to Tee Milons five minutes into the second half.
But the Tide responded with the second of three Brian Bostick field goals and tacked on 10 fourth-quarter points.
"I thought we were right back in the game," Croom said. "But again Alabama answered, and that's where they are right now, and that's where we're not."
Mississippi State gained just 81 second-half yards, 54 coming on its only scoring drive of the second half.
Still, the Bulldogs made something of a statement by scoring on Jerious Norwood's 50-yard run on the game's opening drive and hanging in there with a deeper, more talented team.
Much of Croom's family still lives in Tuscaloosa, and savored his return.
"For him, anytime you're coming back home, you want to do well," said brother Kelvin, also an Alabama graduate. "It's an opportunity for him to bring his players here to see the tradition. They fought to the very end. They have no place to go but up."
The Crooms still pull for the Tide - most of the time.
"We pull against them once a year," Kelvin Croom said, adding, "It wasn't about him. It was about his players."
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