Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen has vehemently denied a WAPT-TV report that he is close to a deal to be the next head coach of the Penn St. Nittany Lions, according to USA Today.

"Yeah I heard about the TV report," Mullen said Tuesday night at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson. "It's the most irresponsible reporting that I've ever heard of."

Mullen even went one step further, claiming that the rumor might have been part of a rivalry agenda.

"I blame it on rival institutions trying to ruin our recruiting which we have dominated in this state over the past three years," Mullen said.

Mullen said he has not even been contacted Penn State "or any other school." Mississippi State athletic director Scott Sticklin also denied the WAPT report.

For more on Mississippi State football, visit For Whom The Cowbell Tolls. For more on Penn State, visit Black Shoe Diaries.