  Mississippi State players celebrate their Egg Bowl victory
over rival Ole Miss on Nov. 27, 2010, in Oxford, Miss. (The
Associated Press)  Dan Mullen should write a thank-you note to
Britton Banowsky and every other member of the NCAA Committee on
Infractions.  The Mississippi State coach should send them
flowers and chocolates, too.  After all, the committee, instead
of hitting State upside the head or slapping the Bulldogs on the
wrist, held hands with them.  Maybe the Bullies should just
throw the committee a party.  Recruiting violations are supposed
to be among the most significant in the NCAA's lawbook, and
Mississippi State committed some major ones. A booster provided
a prospect all kinds of extra benefits. An assistant coach knew
about the benefits. The prospect signed with State.  So the
cheating worked.  How did the committee punish State and send a
message to other schools that rogue boosters and their
recruiting tricks won't be tolerated?  By reducing initial
scholarships from 25 to 23 for one y