Mississippi State Bulldogs football

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Mississippi State Bulldogs football
2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
Mississippi State Bulldogs logo.svg
First season 1895
Athletic director John Cohen
Head coach Joe Moorhead
1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium Davis Wade Stadium
(Capacity: 61,337)
Field Scott Field
Year built 1914
Field surface Natural Grass
Location Starkville, Mississippi
NCAA division Division I FBS
Conference Southeastern Conference
Division Western
All-time record 555–573–39 (.492)
Bowl record 13–8 (.619)
Conference titles 1 (1941)
Division titles 1 (1998)
Rivalries Mississippi Rebels
LSU Tigers
Alabama Crimson Tide
Kentucky Wildcats
Consensus All-Americans 2[1]
Current uniform
MississippiState wiki 18.png
Colors Maroon and White[2]
         
Fight song Hail State
Mascot Bully
Marching band Famous Maroon Band
Website hailstate.com

The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University (MSST) in the sport of American football. The Bulldogs compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team’s current head coach is Joe Moorhead. Mississippi State has won one SEC championship in 1941 and a division championship in 1998. The Bulldogs have 16 postseason bowl appearances. The program has produced 38 All-Americans (2 consensus), 171 All-SEC selections, and 124 NFL players (11 first-round draft picks).[3] The Bulldogs’ home stadium, Davis Wade Stadium, is the second oldest in the NCAA Division I FBS.

History[edit]

Early history (1895–1955)[edit]

Coach Martin

Mississippi State (then known as the Mississippi A&M Aggies) first fielded a football team in 1895.[4] The team was coached by W. M. Matthews.[4] During his one-season tenure, Matthews posted an overall record of zero wins and two losses (0–2).[5] He is also credited with the selection of what became the official school colors, maroon and white, prior to the Aggies first game ever played at Union University.[6][7]

Daniel S. Martin left rival Ole Miss and served as the Aggies' head football coach from 1903–1906.[8] His final record in Starkville was 10–11–3.[9] W. D. Chadwick led the Aggies from 1909–1913.[10] His final record was 29–12–2.[10] During his five-season tenure, Mississippi A&M appeared in and won its first bowl game, the 1911 Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba.[10] Fullback Dutch Reule was selected All-Southern. The 1911 team was also referred to as 'The Bull Dogs'.[11] Earle C. Hayes replaced Chadwick and led Mississippi A&M to 15–8–2 record from 1914–1916.[12] Hunter Kimball received the most votes of any All-Southern halfback in 1914.[13][14] The Mississippi Legislature renamed Mississippi A&M as "Mississippi State College" in 1925 and the mascot was changed from Aggies to Maroons in 1932.[15] Ralph Sasse enjoyed success as Mississippi State's head football coach. After leading Mississippi State to a 20–10–2 record in three years and an appearance in the 1937 Orange Bowl,[16] a loss,[16] Sasse stunned the students and players by resigning from his head coach's duties, following a doctor's orders after a sudden nervous breakdown.[17]

Allyn McKeen left Memphis to become head football coach at Mississippi State,[18] where he compiled a 65–19–3 record in ten seasons.[19] In 1940, he was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year after leading Mississippi State to its only undefeated season in school history and its second Orange Bowl appearance, a victory.[18][19] The following year, 1941, his Maroons squad captured the first and only Southeastern Conference championship in program history. McKeen retired from coaching in 1948 after being fired by Athletic Director Dudy Noble because of a 4–4–1 season.[20] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1991. Mississippi State did not field a football team in 1943.[21] Arthur Morton left VMI to become MSU's head football coach after McKeen's retirement.[22] Morton's Maroons posted struggling records of 0–8–1, 4–5 and 4–5 for a grand total of 8–18–1[23] before Morton's firing.[24] Murray Warmath came to Mississippi State from his post as line coach at Army[25] and posted records of 5–4 and 5–2–3 for a grand total of 10–6–3 leaving the Bulldogs.[26] Warmath went on to have a very successful stint as the head football coach at Minnesota after his tenure at MSU.[25]

Darrell Royal came to Mississippi State from the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos[27] and put up back-to-back 6–4 records in his two seasons as the Maroons head football coach.[28] Royal resigned after just two seasons to accept the head football coach position at Washington.[27] Royal would go on to achieve great successes and solidify his place among the all-time greatest college football coaches at Texas.[27]

Wade Walker era (1956–1961)[edit]

Wade Walker was promoted from line coach to head coach following Royal's departure. Walker compiled a 22–32–2 record over his 6-season tenure.[29][30] In 1958 the Legislature renamed the university as Mississippi State University. The Mississippi State Maroons posted a lackluster 2–7–1 record in 1959.[31] The following year, Walker's Maroons improved to 5–5,[31] but students, fans and alumni demanded his ouster.[32] University president Dean W. Colvard relented and fired Walker as football coach, but kept him on as athletic director, a post he kept until 1966.[32][33] Mississippi State changed its mascot from Maroons to Bulldogs in 1960.[15] However, "Bulldogs" had been used unofficially since at least 1905, and the nickname had long been interchangeable with "Maroons."[34]

Paul Davis era (1962–1966)[edit]

Paul Davis was promoted from assistant coach to head coach following Walker's firing.[35] His teams went 20–38–2 overall and 9–22–2 in the Southeastern Conference in Davis' five seasons.[36] The Bulldogs had a 7–2–2 record in 1963, earning its first postseason bowl game since 1939.[37] The team finished the season with a 16–12 victory over North Carolina State in front of 8,309 fans at the 1963 Liberty Bowl played in a bitter cold Philadelphia.[38] Mississippi State was able to convert two botched North Carolina State punts into touchdowns, and a 13–0 lead at the first quarter.[39] United Press International named Davis the SEC Coach of the Year for the 1963 season.[37] After a lackluster 2–8 record in 1966, MSU terminated Davis, as well as athletic director Wade Walker.[40]

Charles Shira era (1967–1972)[edit]

Charles Shira, who had been defensive coordinator for the University of Texas under former Bulldogs head coach Darrell Royal, was named to fill the head coaching position as well as the vacant post of Athletic Director.[41]

In his first season, his team won two games, followed by none the following year. Mississippi State improved to 3–7 in 1969. That year, Shira served as the coach for the Gray squad in the Blue-Gray Classic.[42] Mississippi State posted a surprising six-win season in 1970, including a victory over rival #10 Ole Miss.[43] For the accomplishment, the SEC named Shira its Coach of the Year.[44] In 1972, having compiled a record of 16–45–2,[43] Shira resigned as head coach to focus on his duties as athletic director.[45]

Bob Tyler era (1973–1978)[edit]

Bob Tyler was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach of the Bulldogs football team after Shira's resignation.[46] Tyler led Mississippi State to a 9–3 season and a victory in the 1974 Sun Bowl over North Carolina.[47] During that season, his team beat perennial powerhouses, Georgia and LSU.[48] The Bulldogs' record was 6–4–1 in 1975, and it was an impressive 9–2 in 1976, ending the season ranked #20 in the AP Poll.[47] His team compiled a 5–6 record in 1977, and he went 6–5 in his final season with the Bulldogs.[47]

Mississippi State was placed on probation by the NCAA prior to the 1975 season due to alleged improper benefits to student athletes.[49] The school sought and won court approval to play in an adverse legal opinion to the NCAA.[49] Although the alleged infraction was trivial,[50] the NCAA forced the school to forfeit most games it won in 1975, 1976, and 1977.[51]

Emory Bellard era (1979–1985)[edit]

Emory Bellard, who had resigned as head coach of Texas A&M during the 1978 season after only six games, was hired to serve as head football coach at Mississippi State beginning with the next (1979) season.[52] He was head coach from 1979 until 1985.[53]

He was considered to have had one of the most innovative offensive minds in football and is credited for inventing the wishbone formation.[52] Bellard spent seven seasons as head coach at MSU.[53] His best years as the Bulldogs head coach were in 1980 and 1981, when his team finished 9–3 and 8–4, respectively.[53] Also, Bellard was the coach when Mississippi State defeated number 1, undefeated Alabama 6–3 in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1980.[54]

However, the Bulldogs significantly regressed after 1981. In the next five seasons, he only won a total of five games in SEC play. Before the 1985 season, Bellard boldly predicted that the Bulldogs would rebound and win their first SEC title since 1941. They not only failed to do so, but went winless in SEC play. Bellard was fired after the season.[55] He would, however, return in 1988 to coach at the high school level in Texas.

Rockey Felker era (1986–1990)[edit]

Rockey Felker returned to his alma mater, which was coming off four consecutive losing seasons, from his post as wide receivers coach at Alabama.[56] At 33, Felker was the youngest coach in the country and the first Mississippi State coach in 30 years to start his career as MSU head football coach with a winning record (6–5).[56][57]

However, the Bulldogs never recovered from four consecutive blowout losses at the end of the 1986 season, during which they scored a total of nine points, including a 24-3 loss to Ole Miss. Felker suffered through four losing seasons (4–7, 1–10, 5–6, 5–6) between 1987 and 1990, and only won a total of five games in SEC play. He was only 1-4 vs. Ole Miss.[57] He resigned under pressure at the end of the 1990 season,[58] but would be brought back by his successor, Jackie Sherrill, as running backs coach for two seasons and in a non-coaching position in the football program, where he serves to this day.[56]

Jackie Sherrill era (1991–2003)[edit]

After three years away from the game, former Washington State, Pittsburgh and Texas A&M head football coach Jackie Sherrill was hired as head football coach at Mississippi State in 1991.[59] He took over a program that hadn't had a winning season since 1986 (and had won a total of 14 games in that stretch) and hadn't had a winning record in Southeastern Conference play since 1981. Sherrill began his Mississippi State career with an upset victory over a familiar foe from his A&M days, the Texas Longhorns (who were the defending Southwest Conference champions).[60]

In thirteen seasons in Starkville, Sherrill coached the Bulldogs to a record of 75–75–2.[61] His 75 wins are the most in school history. He led the team to an SEC West title in 1998, and a berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic.[61] A year later, he notched a 10–2 record and #12 final ranking.[61] That #12 ranking was the highest final ranking achieved by any NCAA Division I-A school in Mississippi in over 30 years. Sherrill, along with Bill Snyder of Kansas State, were among the first to use the rich JUCO systems of their respective states to help their programs progress. Although Sherrill won only eight games in his last three seasons, he built Mississippi State into a consistent winner despite playing in the same division as powerhouses like Alabama, Auburn and LSU. He also finished with a winning record against in-state rival Ole Miss (7–6). Under Sherrill, the Bulldogs went to six bowl games;[61] before his arrival they'd only been to seven bowls in 96 years of play.

Sherrill also achieved notoriety by having his team observe the castration of a bull as a motivational technique prior to a game versus Texas. Unranked Mississippi State subsequently beat the #13 ranked Longhorns.[62] Sherrill retired after the 2003 season,[63] which was followed by the NCAA levying probation for four years on the program.[64] Despite a prolonged 3-year investigation by the NCAA, Mississippi State was[65] not found guilty of any major violations, and Sherrill was never personally found guilty of any NCAA rules violations at either Mississippi State or Texas A&M.[63]

Sylvester Croom era (2004–2008)[edit]

Coach Croom

Sylvester Croom, a longtime assistant in the NFL, was hired to replace Sherrill.[66] Croom is a significant figure, because he is not only the first African American head football coach in Mississippi State history, but also in SEC football history.[66] When Croom was hired at Mississippi State, he inherited a program that was riddled with NCAA sanctions and had not won consistently since the 1990s.[66]

Croom led the Bulldogs to a 3–8 (2–6 SEC) record in 2004.[67] State began the season with a victory over Tulane,[68] then lost five straight, to No. 18 Auburn,[69] Maine,[70] No. 13 LSU,[71] Vanderbilt[72] and UAB.[73] The next week, State upset No. 20 Florida in what turned out to be the game that got Florida head coach Ron Zook fired.[74][75] The next game saw State beat Kentucky.[76] State then lost their final three games of the season to Alabama,[77] Arkansas[78] and Ole Miss.[79]

In 2005, State again finished 3–8.[80] After defeating Murray State in the season opener,[81] State lost to Auburn[82] then beat Tulane in Shreveport, Louisiana.[83] State then lost seven consecutive games, starting with No. 7 Georgia,[84] then No. 4 LSU,[85] No. 13 Florida,[86] Houston,[87] Kentucky,[88] No. 4 Alabama[89] and Arkansas.[90] State defeated Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl to finish the season.[91]

Mississippi State struggled to a 3–9 record in 2006.[92] State lost its first three games of the season to South Carolina,[93] No. 4 Auburn,[94] Tulane,[95] State beat UAB to get its first win of the year in the fourth game.[96] Losses to No 9 LSU and No. 4 West Virginia followed,[97][98] then State defeated Jacksonville State to snap the two-game skid.[99] State then lost to Georgia[100] and Kentucky.[101] MSST then upset Alabama in Alabama[102] before losing to No. 5 Arkansas[103] and Ole Miss.[104]

During the 2007 season, during which his team won eight games, including the Liberty Bowl,[105] Croom garnered Coach of the Year awards from three organizations.[105] On December 4, 2007, Croom was named coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association for region two.[105] The AFCA has five regional coaches of the year and announces a national coach of the year each January.[106] That same year, on December 5, Croom was named SEC Coach of the Year twice, once as voted by the other SEC coaches and once as voted by The Associated Press. It was the first time a Mississippi State coach received the AP honor since Charley Shira in 1970 and the first time a Mississippi State coach received the coaches award since Wade Walker in 1957.[107] After a 4–8 record in 2008,[105] culminating with a 45–0 loss to rival #25 Ole Miss, Croom was asked by school officials to resign as head coach of the Bulldogs.[108]

Dan Mullen era (2009–2017)[edit]

Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen was hired as Mississippi State's head coach in late 2008.[109] Mullen arrived in Starkville with an explosive offensive background and a reputation as a quarterback guru, having tutored Alex Smith, Chris Leak and Tim Tebow during his career as an assistant coach.[110] Serving under head coach Urban Meyer, Mullen oversaw an offense at Florida that was one of the most explosive in the country, helped the Gators capture the 2006 and 2008 national championships and sent many players into the National Football League.[111][112]

In Mullen's first season, the Bulldogs finished 5–7, ending upbeat with a 41–27 victory over #20 Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl.[113] In 2010, they started 1–2, and then they had a 6-game winning streak to make their record 7–2 before losing to Alabama and Arkansas, but defeated Ole Miss.[114] The team participated in a bowl game for the first time since 2007, soundly defeating Michigan in the Gator Bowl 52–14.[114][115] In 2011, the Bulldogs entered the season ranked #19 in the country, and they started 1–0, before losing to the defending national champion Auburn 41–34.[116] Mississippi State entered the Ole Miss game in Starkville needing a win to qualify for a bowl bid for a second straight season.[116] The Bulldogs won 31–3, earning Mullen the distinction as the first coach to beat Ole Miss in his first three tries since Allyn McKeen in 1941. The Bulldogs capped off the season with a Music City Bowl win over Wake Forest in Nashville, Tennessee.[116][117]

In 2012, Mississippi State defeated Tennessee 41–31 in their sixth game of the season to become bowl eligible.[118] After a 7–0 start the team won only one of its remaining five games to finish 8–5, including a 41-24 loss at Ole Miss and a 34-20 loss to the #21 Northwestern in the Gator Bowl.[118][119] This was the first time Mississippi State appeared in a bowl three straight years since 2000. In 2013, MSST under Mullen became bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive year following a 17-10 overtime win over Ole Miss.[120] MSST defeated Rice in the Liberty Bowl December 31, 2013 in Memphis, Tennessee, by a score of 44–7.[120][121] It was MSST's third bowl win in the last four years.[122]

2014 turned out to be the most historic run for the team. Led by quarterback Dak Prescott, the Bulldogs reached a #1 national ranking for the first time ever, doing so in both the Amway Coaches Poll and the AP Poll, after beating 3 consecutive top-10 teams (#7 LSU Tigers,[123] #6 Texas A&M Aggies,[124] and #2 Auburn Tigers).[125] As a result, the Bulldogs became the fastest team in AP Poll's history to reach the #1 ranking, from being unranked, in only 5 weeks. However, at the end of the season, only one of the three teams remained ranked. Auburn finished 8–5 (4–4 SEC) and ranked #22, and lost to Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl, Texas A&M finished 7-5 (3-5 SEC) and beat West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl, and LSU, finished 8-4 (4-4 SEC) and lost to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl.[126][127] The Bulldogs couldn't sustain that momentum, and lost two of their last three regular season games, first to #5 Alabama 25–20[128] and then two weeks later to #18 Ole Miss 31–17.[129] That loss knocked the Bulldogs out of playoff contention, leaving them 10–2 and ranked #7 by the College Football Playoff Committee in their final rankings. As a result, they were awarded a trip to the Orange Bowl against #10 Georgia Tech on December 31, 2014. Thanks to the Bulldogs’ inability to stop Georgia Tech’s heavy use of the triple option, State lost that contest 49-34. Mississippi State finished the season 10–3 and were ranked #11 in the final AP Poll.[130][131]

In 2015, the Bulldogs went 4–4 in the SEC and finished the regular season with an 8–4 record and went on to play in the 2015 Belk Bowl against the NC State Wolfpack,[132] winning 51-28.[133] Dak Prescott was named the game MVP after throwing 4 touchdowns.[134] 2016 saw the Bulldogs stumble to a 5–7 regular season record.[135] The season included 3 losses on the final play of games against South Alabama,[136] BYU,[137] and Kentucky.[138] The Bulldogs were able to finish the season on a high note defeating in-state rival Ole Miss 55-20 in the 2016 Egg Bowl.[139] Due to a shortage of 6-win teams and MSU's Academic Progress Rate, they made their seventh consecutive bowl appearance in the St. Petersburg Bowl against Miami (OH) on December 26.[140] The Bulldogs won the game thanks to a blocked extra point and a blocked field goal, edging Miami (Ohio) 17-16.[141] On February 27, 2017, Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen announced a four-year contract extension for Coach Mullen through February 2021.[142] In November 2017, after an 8-4 season, Dan Mullen left Mississippi State University to become the head coach at the University of Florida.

Joe Moorhead era (2018–present)[edit]

After Dan Mullen’s departure, Mississippi State hired Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead as the program's 33rd head coach.[143] Moorhead arrived in Starkville with a reputation as an outstanding offensive mind, turning around a struggling FCS program in Fordham as the head coach before moving to Penn State as offensive coordinator where his offenses set school records.[144] The Mississippi State University administration signed Moorhead to a four-year contract worth a total of $11 million in base salary.[145]

Program achievements[edit]

The 1940 Mississippi State Bulldogs finished the season 10–0–1 and defeated Georgetown 14–7 in the 1941 Orange Bowl, with key wins over Florida, Alabama, and Ole Miss, while tying with Auburn 7–7. The Bulldogs finished ranked #9 in the AP Poll and Minnesota was named national champions by all major polls.

SEC champion 1941
SEC West champion 1998
Final AP Poll ranking 1940, 1941, 1942, 1957, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2010, 2014, 2017
Final Coaches' Poll ranking 1963, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2010, 2014, 2017
Bowl victories* 1940, 1963, 1974, 1981, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
Bowl appearances* 1936, 1940, 1963, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • Years listed for Bowl victories are seasons for which they occurred.

Championships[edit]

Conference championships[edit]

The 1941 Mississippi State Bulldogs finished the year with an 8–1–1 record, and won the Southeastern Conference championship. The season included wins over Florida, Alabama, Auburn, and Ole Miss. The Bulldogs tied with LSU and were defeated by Duquesne.

Season Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1941 SEC Allyn McKeen 8–1–1 4–0–1

Division championships[edit]

The SEC has been split into two divisions since the 1992 season with Mississippi State competing in the SEC West since that time. In 1998, MSU finished the regular season with a 26–14 win over Alabama, a 22–21 win over Arkansas, and a 28–6 win over Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi. At the end of the regular season, both MSU and Arkansas finished with 6–2 conference records, but by virtue of MSU's head-to-head win over Arkansas, MSU earned the right to represent the SEC West in the SEC Championship Game. In that game, MSU led eventual national champion Tennessee in the fourth quarter before falling 14–24 in the Georgia Dome. They continued on to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, Texas, against a heavily favored[citation needed] Texas Longhorns team. The Bulldogs lost the game 11–38.

Season Division Coach Opponent SEC CG result
1998† SEC West Jackie Sherrill Tennessee L 14–24

† Co-champions

Bowl games[edit]

Mississippi State has played in 21 bowl games, compiling a record of 13–8, highlighted by wins in the 1941 Orange Bowl, the 1963 Liberty Bowl, the 1999 Peach Bowl, and the 2011 Gator Bowl.[146]

Mississippi State's first bowl game was against the Havana Athletic Club in the Bacardi Bowl on January 1, 1912 in Havana, Cuba. Known as the Mississippi A&M Aggies at that time, the Bulldogs won by a final score of 12–0. Mississippi State does not count the victory against the athletic club among its bowl games and bowl wins.[147][148]

From 1999–2011 Mississippi State had a 5-game winning streak in bowls. The streak ended against the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2013 Gator Bowl. The Bulldogs have been to eight straight bowl games for the first time in school history dating back to the 2010 season.[149][150][151][152][153]

Date Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1936 Ralph Sasse Orange Bowl Duquesne L 12–13
1940 Allyn McKeen Orange Bowl Georgetown W 14–7
1963 Paul E. Davis Liberty Bowl NC State W 16–12
1974 Bob Tyler Sun Bowl North Carolina W 26–24
1980 Emory Bellard Sun Bowl Nebraska L 17–31
1981 Hall of Fame Classic Kansas W 10–0
1991 Jackie Sherrill Liberty Bowl Air Force L 15–38
1992 Peach Bowl North Carolina L 17–21
1994 Peach Bowl NC State L 24–28
1998 Cotton Bowl Classic Texas L 11–38
1999 Peach Bowl Clemson W 17–7
2000 Independence Bowl Texas A&M W 43–41
2007 Sylvester Croom Liberty Bowl UCF W 10–3
2010 Dan Mullen Gator Bowl Michigan W 52–14
2011 Music City Bowl Wake Forest W 23–17
2012 Gator Bowl Northwestern L 20–34
2013 Liberty Bowl Rice W 44–7
2014 Orange Bowl Georgia Tech L 34–49
2015 Belk Bowl NC State W 51–28
2016 St. Petersburg Bowl Miami (OH) W 17–16
2017 Greg Knox (interim) TaxSlayer Bowl Louisville W 31–27

Rivalries[edit]

Ole Miss[edit]

Main article: Egg Bowl

The Battle for the Golden Egg, also known as the Egg Bowl, is the Mississippi State-Ole Miss rivalry. It was first played in 1901 and has been played every year since 1915 (with the exception of the 1943 season when neither school fielded teams due to World War II) making it the tenth longest uninterrupted series in the United States. The game became "The Battle for the Golden Egg" in 1927 when a traveling trophy was added. Although through the years the game has been played primarily in 3 locations Starkville (38 times), Oxford (36 times), and Jackson (29 times); there have been a few meetings in other locations including Tupelo 3 times, Greenwood twice, Clarksdale once, and Columbus once. In total the two squads have met on the gridiron 114 times with Ole Miss holding a 64–44–6 lead in the series.[citation needed][when?]

Mississippi State-Ole Miss: All-Time Record
Games played First meeting Last meeting MSU wins MSU losses Ties
114 1901 (Won 17–0) November 23, 2017 (Lost 28–31) 44 64 6

LSU[edit]

Main article: LSU–Mississippi State football rivalry

The LSU–Mississippi State rivalry, is an annual football game between the Louisiana State Tigers and Mississippi State University Bulldogs. Both universities are founding members of the Southeastern Conference, as well as the Western Division. This rivalry is LSU's longest rivalry with 108 meetings.

Mississippi State's 34–29 victory on September 20, 2014 was the Bulldogs' first over LSU since 1999, their first in Baton Rouge since 1991, and just their fourth overall since 1985.

LSU-Mississippi State: All-Time Record
Games played First meeting Last meeting MSU wins MSU losses Ties
109 November 20, 1896 (Loss 52–0) September 16, 2017 (Won 37–7) 35 73 3
  • Includes the 1976 game, which was won on the field by Mississippi State but later deemed by the NCAA to have been forfeited, therefore lost, by Mississippi State.

Alabama[edit]

Main article: Alabama–Mississippi State football rivalry

The Alabama–Mississippi State rivalry, sometimes referred to as the 90 Mile Drive or the Battle for Highway 82, is an annual football game between the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and Mississippi State University Bulldogs. Both universities are founding members of the Southeastern Conference, as well as the Western Division. The two campuses are located approximately 90 miles apart, and are the closest SEC schools in terms of distance.

Entering its 97th meeting as of the 2012 football season, Alabama-Mississippi State is one of the SEC's longest-running series, dating back to 1896.

Mississippi State-Alabama: All-Time Record
Games played First meeting Last meeting MSU wins MSU losses Ties
101 1896 (Lost 0–20) November 11, 2017 (Lost 24–31) 18 80 3

Kentucky[edit]

Main article: Kentucky–Mississippi State football rivalry

Kentucky has been Mississippi State's designated cross-division permanent opponent since the SEC became a 12-team league in 1992. The annual rivalry game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and University of Kentucky Wildcats rotates between Lexington, Kentucky and Starkville, Mississippi. The game became a permanent rivalry when the Southeastern Conference assigned permanent interdivisional rivals. Mississippi State lost to Kentucky on October 22, 2016 ending a 7-game win streak against the Wildcats.

Mississippi State-Kentucky: All-Time Record
Games played First meeting Last meeting MSU wins MSU losses
45 1914 (Lost 13–19) October 21, 2017 (Won 45–7) 23 22

All-time record vs. SEC teams[edit]

Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage Streak First Last
Alabama 18 80 3 .193 Lost 10 1896 2017
Arkansas 11 16 1 .411 Won 1 1916 2017
Auburn 26 63 2 .297 Lost 2 1905 2017
Florida 19 33 2 .370 Won 1 1923 2010
Georgia 6 18 0 .250 Lost 2 1914 2017
Kentucky 23 22 0 .511 Won 1 1914 2017
LSU 35 73 3 .329 Won 1 1896 2017
Missouri 1 2 0 .333 Won 1 1981 2015
Ole Miss 44 64 6 .407 Lost 1 1901 2017
South Carolina 7 9 0 .438 Won 1 1992 2016
Tennessee 16 28 1 .367 Won 1 1907 2012
Texas A&M 6 5 0 .545 Won 2 1912 2017
Vanderbilt 13 7 2 .636 Won 3 1904 2014
Totals 225 420 20 .353

Traditions[edit]

The cowbell[edit]

The most unusual and certainly the most resounding symbol of Mississippi State University tradition is the cowbell. Despite decades of attempts by opponents and authorities to banish it from scenes of competition,[154] diehard State fans still celebrate Bulldog victories loudly and proudly with the distinctive sound of ringing cowbells.

The precise origin of the cowbell as a fixture of Mississippi State sports tradition remains unclear to this day. The best records have cowbells gradually introduced to the MSU sports scene in the late 1930s and early 1940s, coinciding with the 'golden age' of Mississippi State football success prior to World War II.

The most popular legend is that during a home football game between State and arch-rival Ole Miss, a jersey cow wandered onto the playing field. Mississippi State soundly whipped the Rebels that Saturday, and State College students immediately adopted the cow as a good luck charm. Students are said to have continued bringing a cow to football games for a while, until the practice was eventually discontinued in favor of bringing just the cow's bell.

Whatever the origin, it is certain that by the 1950s cowbells were common at Mississippi State games, and by the 1960s were established as the special symbol of Mississippi State. Ironically, the cowbell's popularity grew most rapidly during the long years when State football teams were rarely successful. Flaunting this anachronism from the 'aggie' days was a proud response by students and alumni to outsider scorn of the university's 'cow college' history.

In the 1960s two MSU professors, Earl W. Terrell and Ralph L. Reeves obliged some students by welding handles on the bells to they could be rung with much more convenience and authority. By 1963 the demand for these long-handled cowbells could not be filled by home workshops alone, so at the suggestion of Reeves the Student Association bought bells in bulk and the Industrial Education Club agreed to weld on handles. In 1964 the MSU Bookstore began marketing these cowbells with a portion of the profits returning to these student organizations.

Today many styles of cowbells are available on campus and around Starkville, with the top-of-the-line a heavy chrome-plated model with a full Bulldog figurine handle. But experts insist the best and loudest results are produced by a classic long-handled, bicycle-grip bell made of thinner and tightly-welded shells.

Cowbells decorate offices and homes of Mississippi State alumni, and are passed down through generations of Bulldog fans.

In early 1975, the SEC adopted a rule against artificial noisemakers that made it illegal to ring a cowbell during games; an official complaint by Auburn coach Shug Jordan, whose disapproval of the tradition went back several years,[155] after the Tigers narrow 1974 win over the Bulldogs was largely responsible for the decision.[156] At one point during the game, Jordan instructed his quarterback not to run a play in protest of officials refusing to quiet the crowd.[157] Jordan's dislike for the cowbells inspired Alabama to attempt to purchase 1,000 cowbells from Mississippi State for Alabama fans to take to the Iron Bowl; MSU declined the offer.[158] University of Texas fans also attempted to annoy Jordan with cowbells during the 1974 Gator Bowl.[158] Shortly after the ban was enacted, Mississippi State officials considered other items and devices to replace the cowbells.[159] In 1981, a Mississippi State faculty member filed a suit against Auburn University and the Southeastern Conference that sought to have the rule declared unconstitutional after his cowbell was confiscated at the 1981 AU-MSU game at Jordan–Hare Stadium.[160] Despite creative efforts[161] by MSU fans to circumvent the ruling and continue the tradition, the ban was in effect until 2010.

That spring, the 12 schools of the SEC agreed to a compromise on artificial noisemakers, acknowledging the role cowbells play in the history of Mississippi State University by amending the conference by-law. In the fall of 2010, on a one-year trial with specified restrictions, cowbells were permitted in Davis Wade Stadium for the first time in 36 years. And due to MSU fans' notable adherence to the rules outlined by the league, cowbells will continue to be allowed with similar restrictions in place. In 2012, the rule was made permanent by the SEC.

Maroon and white[edit]

Maroon and White are the distinctive colors of Mississippi State University athletic teams, dating back over a century to the very first football game ever played by the school's student-athletes.

On November 15, 1895, the first Mississippi A&M football team was preparing for a road trip to Jackson, Tennessee., to play Southern Baptist University (now called Union University) the following day. Since every college was supposed to have its own uniform colors, the A&M student body requested that the school's team select a suitable combination.

Considering making this choice an honor, the inaugural State team gave the privilege to team captain W.M. Matthews. Accounts report that without hesitation Matthews chose Maroon and White.

Recruiting[edit]

Mississippi State Bulldogs Football 247Sports team recruiting rankings.

Class Rank Commits Top Commit
2018 27 23 Devonta Jason[162][163]
2017 24 25 Willie Gay[164][165]
2016 28 20 Jeffery Simmons[166][167]
2015 18 27 Jamal Peters[168][169]
2014 36 24 Jamoral Graham[170][171]
2013 24 21 Chris Jones[172][173]
2012 22 28 Denico Autry[174][175]
2011 41 23 Dee Arrington[176][177]
2010 36 27 Damien Robinson[178][179]
2009 18 28 Chad Bumphis[180][181]
2008 43 15 Charles Mitchell[182][183]
2007 25 32 Robert Elliott[184][185]

First round draft picks[edit]

Mississippi State has had 11 players selected in the first round of professional football drafts.

National Football League[edit]

Coaching staff[edit]

Head coaches[edit]

Main article: List of Mississippi State Bulldogs head football coaches

The program has had 32 head coaches since it began play during the 1895 season, and has played more than 1,050 games over 111 seasons.[186] From December 2008 though November 2017, Dan Mullen served as Mississippi State's head coach.[187]

Historic coaching hire[edit]

Mississippi State made history on December 1, 2003, when it hired Sylvester Croom as its head football coach. Croom was the first African-American named to such a position in the history of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).[citation needed]

Current coaching staff[edit]

[when?][188]

Name Position
Joe Moorhead Head Coach
Mark Hudspeth Associate Head Coach & Tight Ends Coach
Charles Huff Assistant Head Coach, Run Game Coordinator, & Running Backs Coach
Brian Baker Defensive Line Coach
Andrew Breiner Pass Game Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach
Terrell Buckley Cornerbacks Coach
Luke Getsy Offensive Coordinator* & Wide Receivers Coach
Marcus Johnson Offensive Line Coach
Joey Jones Special Teams Coordinator
Tem Lukabu Linebackers Coach
Bob Shoop Defensive Coordinator & Safeties Coach
Anthony Piroli Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Andrew Warsaw Director of Football Operations

Future opponents[edit]

Intra-division opponents[edit]

Mississippi State plays the other six SEC West opponents once per season.

Even numbered years Odd number years
at Alabama vs Alabama
vs Arkansas at Arkansas
vs Auburn at Auburn
at LSU vs LSU
vs Texas A&M at Texas A&M
at Ole Miss vs Ole Miss

Non-division opponents[edit]

Mississippi State plays Kentucky as a permanent non-division opponent annually and rotates around the East division among the other six schools.[189]

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Kentucky at Kentucky vs Kentucky at Kentucky vs Kentucky at Kentucky vs Kentucky
at Tennessee vs Missouri at Vanderbilt vs Georgia at South Carolina vs Tennessee at Florida

Non-conference opponents[edit]

Announced schedules as of June 14, 2018.[190]

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029
vs Kansas State at NC State vs NC State at Arizona vs Arizona at Arizona State vs Arizona State at Minnesota vs Minnesota vs Texas Tech at Texas Tech
vs Abilene Christian vs UMass vs Louisiana Tech vs Memphis at Tulane at Southern Miss vs Troy at Troy
vs Louisiana–Lafayette^ vs Tulane at Memphis vs Northwestern State vs Southern Miss vs Eastern Kentucky
vs Southern Miss vs Alcorn State vs Eastern Illinois vs Southeastern Louisiana

^ The 2019 game against Louisiana–Lafayette will be held at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

References[edit]

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External links[edit]

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