Today's second session was the hottest yet this week, but Mississippi State got through it in good shape. Hey, let's start with some audio and visual media.

• Here's some audio of the first minute or so of coach Dan Mullen's post-practice chat with reporters.

An excerpt: "Any time you can put pads on and bump into people a little bit more, that's the game of football. When you split the team in half like that, it's hard to hide. It weeds out the imposters pretty quick."

• I caught up with sophomore free safety Nickoe Whitley, and here's the video to prove it. Whitley, who's battling Wade Bonner for a starting job, had a couple of big hits today.

Early on in practice, tailback LaDarius Perkins went down and had to be carted off the field. A team spokesman said he was experiencing flu-like symptoms but will be OK. Also, tight end Malcolm Johnson did not practice today due to an undisclosed illness.

As for highlights, most of those came in the 11-on-11 work at the end. That drill began with each quarterback getting five plays at a time, and Dylan Favre looked much better than he did yesterday, even outshining Tyler Russell. Favre was 9 of 10, while Russell was 6 of 9, and it was pretty much all short passes.

Practice ended with a 50-second drill: Each offense had that much time to go 55 yards and score. Russell's group stalled at the 15-yard line, while Favre completed all four pass attempts when it was his turn, the last one going to Jameon Lewis for a 15-yard touchdown.

• MSU will practice tomorrow afternoon at the South Farm fields, and all practices are closed to the public from here on out.