STARKVILLE - For all the challenges facing Dan Mullen this spring, the biggest will be himself.

As Mullen heads into his first spring practice with Mississippi State - the first of 15 sessions starts at 3:30 p.m. today - he must try something that doesn't come naturally to him: Stay calm.

"I think there is going to be a learning curve for our players, so I'll try to keep myself somewhat calm through spring so I don't go too nuts," Mullen said last week.

Mullen is not the kind who moves slowly or blinks often, but patience will be his biggest virtue as he tries to kickstart an offense that's been stuck in the granny lane for several years. The spread attack he's brought from Florida is being embraced by the players, but now they've got to master it.

"We have an installation schedule set. I know we're going to try to stick to it the best we can," Mullen said. "If we need to pull back a little bit, we will. I've always been a big fan of just pushing forward."

The 36-year-old has been tolerant during offseason workouts. He said several players were "really, really out of shape" when he arrived, but strength coach Matt Balis has been pushing them hard.

For example, Anthony Dixon, a two-year starter at tailback, went from 255 pounds to 235.

"Usually when they see him at first, they think he's a little nuts," Mullen said of Balis, "but they do buy in and believe what he's doing because they see progress."

Mullen hopes the players buy into what he's doing, too.

"A lot of guys kind of understand he knows what he's talking about and he's going to lead us in the right direction," quarterback Tyson Lee said. "Guys are beginning to realize, buy in and give all you have, and we have a chance to be successful."

What Mullen has learned is that the Bulldogs want to win. "What we've got to do is teach them how to."

Inextricably tied to that psychological undertaking is putting a competitive lineup on the field. That's where the patience comes in.

With a strong 2009 signing class that includes several highly rated junior college prospects, plus some returning starters who have to prove all over again they're first-string material, Mullen and company have quite the puzzle to assemble.

The piecing together starts today.