Wednesday Bulldog Update - 9/7/16
September 07, 2016
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With the season-opener for football and our No. 18 cross country team opening competition last week, all of our fall sports have now begun at Mississippi State, keeping things quite busy on campus for our students and coaches.
We are disappointed in the outcome of last Saturday's football game, but I encourage all of us to follow the team's lead and put the loss behind us and continue to support our Bulldogs with the same fervor and dedication we've shown them the last several years. The best thing we can do is to create a great atmosphere and game experience Saturday, which is something I know MSU fans are great at doing. We can start by having a big crowd for SEC Nation, who will be broadcasting live from The Junction from 9-11 Saturday morning. We can't wait to host them.
I do want to thank all of you for your cooperation with our new clear bag policy last weekend. Things went very smoothly in the first game, and for those coming this weekend who are unfamiliar, make sure to check www.hailstate.com/clearbag for a refresher.
Also, with temperatures expected to be warmer even than last weekend, we will again have our heat advisory initiatives in place on Saturday. Each fan may bring two personal-size clear water bottles or one clear large water bottle of 32 ounces or less into the stadium. Additionally, cash-only kiosks will be selling discounted water bottles and water bottle refilling stations will be placed at strategic points around the concourse of the stadium. Air conditioned rest areas will be available at gates C and L, should any of you need to make use of them.
We are asking the lower levels of the stadium to wear maroon Saturday, which includes the club level and 200 level, and asking the upper levels to wear white. We kick off at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. As always, make sure to check www.hailstate.com/gameday for up-to-the-minute information.
During the game Saturday, we will be honoring our five inductees into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame, and I hope you'll join me in congratulating these outstanding Bulldogs. The M-Club is hosting a gala to honor them on Friday night at The Mill Conference Center and tickets are available at www.MSUMClub.org.
CROSS COUNTRY BACK IN ACTION
As mentioned above, our women's cross country team began their season over the weekend with a preseason rank of No. 18 nationally. Competing in the Memphis Twilight Invitational, four different Bulldogs finished in the Top 10, good for an impressive No. 2 finish to open the 2016 slate. Meanwhile, on the men's side, our Bulldogs took fourth place in the event, ending up with three top 25 finishes. Congratulations to Coach Houston Franks and the runners, and good luck to them the rest of the way!
VOLLEYBALL CONTINUES ROAD SLATE ON HOT STREAK
A hearty congratulations goes to Coach David McFatrich and our volleyball team as they continue their road trip this weekend by playing in the Wildcat Classic at Kansas State. After a tough-fought season-opener against No. 5 Kansas, our Bulldogs have gone on a 5-1 streak in their last six matches. We wish them luck this weekend and look forward to welcoming them home next weekend for four matches in the Maroon Classic.
SOCCER OPENS SEC PLAY AT HOME FRIDAY
Speaking of teams who are doing well, Coach Aaron Gordon and our soccer team have won three-straight matches over the last week-and-a-half, including an exciting 1-0 victory over Southern Miss in Hattiesburg on Sunday. Congratulations to goalkeeper Tanya de Souza who was named the SEC Defender of the Week for her performance in those wins.
This weekend, I hope you'll join me in welcoming the Bulldogs back to town as we host Arkansas on Friday at 7 p.m. and ULL on Sunday at 1 p.m., with both games being broadcast online on SEC Network+.
In addition, our 2001 SEC Western Division champion soccer team will have a reunion Friday night and will be recognized at the football game on Saturday as well.
We appreciate what you do for Mississippi State Athletics and want to encourage you to get others involved. There are three things you can do to help the athletic department at Mississippi State reach its desired goals –
1. Buy Season Tickets
2. Financially Support the Bulldog Club
3. Get Others To Do The Same
Thanks for taking the time to read this Update.
Hail State!
Scott Stricklin
