Wednesday Bulldog Update - 5/4/16
May 04, 2016
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While we still have a great many games, matches and competitions left in the athletic year here at Mississippi State, the spring semester ends this week and with it comes a variety of emotions. First, I should say good luck to our students across campus and within athletics who are finishing finals this week. It's been a few years since I had that experience myself, but I hope your hard work is rewarded when final grades come in.
A particular level of applause is deserved for so many of our student-athletes who are graduating this weekend. Every year at this time in athletics we are filled with bittersweet emotions. It's hard to say goodbye to the young men and women we've come to know and support over their time at MSU, but we are incredibly proud of their accomplishments within their realms of competition as well as in the classroom.
I say often that our No. 1 priority in athletics is to prepare student-athletes for life after college, and we are all happy to see the fruits of so much labor as our Bulldogs walk across the stage this weekend and receive their diplomas. You will always be a part of the Mississippi State family and you will have our support wherever you go!
TENNIS TEAMS SELECTED FOR NCAA TOURNAMENT
Regular readers of this column know how often I have found myself mentioning our tennis programs this year, and that is not without reason. Once again I find myself congratulating Coach Roberts and Coach Greenan as our men's and women's team were both selected for the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row (men's sixth straight). Their success is no surprise with the remarkable seasons they have had and we will be supporting them as the postseason gets underway next Friday, May 13, for both squads.
Our 22nd-ranked men will face No. 41 Memphis that afternoon in the first round in Champaign, Ill., while our No. 21 women square off against No. 34 Virginia Tech in Lubbock, Texas. Good luck to you all!
BASEBALL BACK AT HOME
Speaking of successful teams…Coach Cohen's No. 3 Diamond Dawgs are continuing their hot streak, having won six of seven SEC series and ascending to the Top 5 in nearly every poll. We have three weekends left before the postseason begins, starting this week as we host Missouri. A reminder here that this is a Thursday-Saturday series. We play at 6 p.m. Thursday on SEC Network, 7 p.m. Friday on ESPNU and 4 p.m. Saturday with an online-only broadcast on SEC Network+.
We only have one more home series left in the regular season (though we hope to host postseason play at Dudy Noble once again this year) so make sure you come out for a weekend of Bulldog Baseball.
MCBRIDE SETS GLOBAL PACE
In the realm of individual performers, few have been better in the Maroon and White than our All-American senior track star Brandon McBride. Brandon broke his own record in the 800-meter sprint over the weekend at our home invitational, and with a mark of 1:44.63, he now owns the fastest time in the world this year. Quite an impressive feat. Job well done, Brandon!
In addition to his incredible performance, we also had Bulldogs finish first in 10 other events. Next up are the SEC Championships, May 12-14 at Alabama.
WRAPPING UP THIS WEEK'S EMAIL IN MAROON AND WHITE
- In the same week we see so many of our players off to graduation, I want to say congratulations our football Bulldogs who were selected in the NFL Draft and who signed free agent deals with teams over the weekend. We'll be cheering each of you on in your pro careers.
- Also, don't forget about the SEC Softball Tournament on campus at Nusz Park next weekend (May 11-14). General Admission tickets are sold out, though we will have some standing-room only tickets available. Come support our Bulldogs if you're able.
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Thanks for taking the time to read this Update.
Hail State!
Scott Stricklin
