MEMPHIS — For six long years, Brett Morgan has served in the shadows of Mississippi State’s football program.

He’s been a backup quarterback. A special teamer. A holder, a student assistant coach and a graduate assistant. He’s always doing the grunt work, rarely receiving recognition from anyone but those in the know. As he celebrated Saturday’s victory over Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl, Morgan quietly took pride in a job well done.

After six seasons of dismal football, Mississippi State mattered again. Saturday’s win gave the Bulldogs an 8-5 record — their first winning season since 2000 — and with all but a few starters back next year seem poised to take another big step in 2008.

“It’s been a struggle. People don’t know how far we’ve come. Even my senior year we had come a long way but it wasn’t showing on the field. We’re not there yet, though,” Morgan said. “It’s great. It’s just amazing to see how far we’ve come. We expect to win now.”

Morgan has been a Bulldog in some shape or form his entire life. His father, Robert, went to school there. His two older brothers, Rob and Josh, played football in Starkville. So did Brett, who starred at quarterback for his father at Warren Central.

Unlike his two older brothers, though, Brett’s career rarely had a lot of moments in the spotlight. Rob Morgan was a quarterback for the Bulldogs from 1995 to 1999 and saw plenty of playing time. Josh Morgan was an All-Southeastern Conference safety in 2001.

Brett, meanwhile, signed with State as a quarterback but was quickly moved to the secondary. He eventually found a home on special teams, as a holder and on the kick coverage teams. He accepted his role with grace and earned the respect of his teammates. For his senior season in 2005, he was designated a captain.

Brett’s coaching career so far has followed a similar path. He served as a student assistant last season and a graduate assistant this year. Like his playing days, he’s done a lot of the grunt work that has helped Mississippi State’s coaches turn the program around.

As a GA serving under State’s offensive coordinator Woody McCorvey, Morgan’s duties have included breaking down game film, preparing a practice schedule, helping to organize the offensive gameplan each week, and even some recruiting. It makes for long days that Morgan gladly puts in as preparation for a future in coaching.

“It’s really all the dirty work. It’s like paying your dues, as far as becoming a college coach. Everybody’s done it at some point,” Morgan, a two-time Academic All-SEC player, said of his GA duties.

And just as Morgan followed his father and brothers to Mississippi State, he plans to follow them into a coaching career. Robert Morgan served as Warren Central’s head coach from 1985-2003 and is now in semi-retirement as an assistant. Josh Morgan is an assistant coach at WC, and Rob is an assistant at Starkville High School.

Brett will spend one more season as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State, then embark on his own coaching career. Whether it’s in high school or college, he’s not sure yet.

“I’m going to be a coach somewhere. Whatever door the good Lord opens for me,” he said.

Brett Morgan added that his family had definitely influenced his career choice.

“It’s a huge influence. My dad and mom, in part, laid the foundation for the family,” he said, including his supportive mother Cathy in the family’s coaching lineage. “I can’t put into words everything they’ve done for us. A lot of people don’t have a good home like I did. You don’t realize it until you’re grown and older, but once you do you really appreciate it.”