Meet Mississippi State head coach: Sylvester Croom.

When longtime NFL assistant coach Sylvester Croom was named head football coach at Mississippi State University in December 2003, he became the first African-American head coach in SEC history.

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An AFCA All-America offensive lineman at Alabama in 1974, Croom was an assistant at his alma mater for 11 seasons before spending 17 years in the professional ranks at Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, San Diego, Detroit, and Green Bay.

AFCA: What has been your toughest adjustment moving back into the college game after so many years in the NFL?

CROOM: The biggest thing is the rules in the areas of academics and recruiting. It's an on-going situation learning what you can and cannot do.

AFCA: How has the college game changed in the 17 years you've been away?

CROOM: The game is now much more similar to the NFL game than it was 17 years ago, especially in the passing game. That's a much bigger part of college offenses today than it was when I was playing and coaching in college. Back then, so many conferences were run-oriented, but very few are now. There were also a number of schools running the wishbone, but you rarely see it today.

AFCA: As the first African-American head coach in the SEC, do you see yourself as a trailblazer?

CROOM: I'm just a guy trying to do the best job he can. It just happens that the timing of my hiring puts me in that position. I don't see myself that way. If other people perceive that, so be it. I'm just trying to do the best I can here.

AFCA: What will your thoughts be when you take the field for your first game this year?

CROOM: I'm sure I'll be worried about having 11 guys on the field, making sure they are at the right end of the bench. Just the normal things you worry about.

AFCA: What advice would you offer to assistants who aspire to be head coaches?

CROOM: I just did the best job I could in whatever position I was in. For me that's it in a nutshell. I've been very fortunate, but the best way to move up is to do the best job you can wherever you coach.

AFCA: After so many years as an assistant, what were your feelings the day you accepted the job?

CROOM: The big thing was the realization that I would have a chance to do something you work towards for years professionally. I received a big reception from the people at Mississippi State. Looking at the challenges ahead and the enormity of the job at hand and the time frame to get it done. It was somewhat overwhelming at first.

AFCA: What sold you on Mississippi State?

CROOM: I was convinced there was a strong commitment from our president, Dr. (Charles) Lee and our athletic director, Larry Templeton. I felt a commitment to restoring a championship-type program in a first-class way. I also felt a sincere desire on their part to have me as a part of the program. The SEC is really the only place that I wanted to go if I came back to college football.

AFCA: What's the biggest difference between being an assistant and being a head coach? Is there anything that has surprised you?

CROOM: Mentally you know it, but until you get involved in it, you don't' realize how much you're involved in outside of football. There are so many other things to take care of every day. When you get to football, it's almost like recess.

AFCA: Were you surprised at the national attention your hiring received?

CROOM: I was surprised at the duration of it. I knew initially it would be significant but I was surprised at how long it went on, and to a certain extent, is still going on.

AFCA: When did you decide you wanted to be a football coach?

CROOM: Well, I started college with the intention of going into dentistry. About my sophomore or junior year in college, I came to the realization that football was almost over and coaching was a way for me to stay in the game. I also realized my hands were too big and clumsy to be a dentist.