Cohen's Corner - 8/9/17 - Mississippi State

If you or someone you know is not receiving this and would like to, please e-mail us at:
bulldog-club@athletics.msstate.edu

Welcome back Bulldog fans as we begin another year of athletics and education at Mississippi State. Already this early in August we have our student-athletes back on campus training, practicing, competing and studying. Just within the next month we'll see the start of football, cross country, volleyball and soccer seasons as the fall slate kicks off, and we'll have our annual Fan Day on August 19 in the Palmeiro Center. Meanwhile, students are moving in across campus, teachers are finalizing syllabi and buildings are getting their final touch-ups as classes are almost ready to begin.

There is an excitement that comes with the return of collegiate sports after summer concludes and it is palpable within the athletic department, where a number of new hires and positions have expanded our staff to a greater size than ever before. As the fall semester approaches, we are reminded of the mission of all who show their dedication to MSU Athletics through giving, working and cheering year-round: to support our teams and our student-athletes, to foster great environments for training and education, and to create enjoyable and unforgettable experiences for coaches, players and fans alike.

Even during the slow summer we were able to see the fruits of our labor when we had the opportunity to watch so many former Bulldogs have success at the next level. Just this week we saw former track star Brandon McBride compete at the global level in London for the IAAF World Championships representing his home country of Canada, while former golf standout Ally McDonald posted her best-ever professional finish on the LPGA Tour in the Women's British Open over the weekend. And not only was former Bulldog Dak Prescott an award-winner at the ESPY's this summer, so too were some current Bulldogs as our women's basketball team was honored for their run to the National Title Game this spring.

All the while, progress has continued on projects throughout campus, including the very beginnings of the new Dudy Noble as our old stadium has come down, a note on which I hope you'll read at the bottom of this update.

There is never a bad time to be a Bulldog, but it is certainly true that these days are among the best.

SINGLE-GAME FOOTBALL TICKETS NOW ON SALE

We are officially less than one month away from Coach Dan Mullen's ninth season at the helm of our football program. Like any year in the SEC, the schedule is both strong and exciting, and this season in particular offers a great slate of home games at Davis Wade Stadium. With so many proven veterans back and with so much young talent on the roster, I know I am not alone in looking forward to watching our young men on the field this fall, as those of us who support the Bulldogs know this can be a special year.

If you haven't yet secured tickets, single-game tickets went on sale this week, which are available here. I can't wait to see a packed out DWS and would love to have a season-long sellout streak!

BULLDOGS AT RYDER CUP

One of the best things about being a Mississippi State fan is being a part of something and being in a big, extended family of Bulldogs across the globe. To that end, I wanted to share an offer that our partners at Prime Sport have put together as a package for State fans to travel to France and experience the 2018 Ryder Cup at the historic Le Golf National, one of Europe's most esteemed courses. Just a short train ride away from Paris and Versailles, this is an opportunity to have a number of great experiences in one bundled trip. More information is available here, where you can also find info on travel packages to our football game against Georgia in Athens this fall.

THE BULLY PUPLIT WELCOMES PRICE, PERRY

With the return of the athletic year also comes the return of The Bully Pulpit podcast. Our host Matt Wyatt takes a look ahead to football season in the first episode of the year, and to do so he is joined by the two new members of the radio broadcast crew, play-by-play man Neil Price and sideline reporter Jay Perry. You can listen to the podcast here or by searching "Hail State" on iTunes or SoundCloud.

CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY ON NEW DUDY NOBLE

As mentioned above and as most of you know, demolition on our baseball stadium began immediately after the 2017 season ended, followed by construction on what will be a fitting home for the best fans in college baseball. As we monitor the progress on The New Dude, I wanted to pass along a letter we received earlier this summer from longtime season-ticket holder Ron Black looking back on the years he and his wife have spent cheering on the Bulldogs...

"I've been watching the demolition of PDS. Looks like this morning that Section K; Row 10; Seats 6 & 7 are officially gone. I was thinking about the original $250 that Jan and I paid for each seat. By my estimate, it cost us approximately 25 cents per game for our chairback seat.

Considering we were living in Georgia and we scrapped to come up with the $500 at the time seats were sold for PDS, I think it's safe to say that we made a wise investment and certainly got our money's worth. Looking forward attending games in our third stadium at Dudy Noble Field!"

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!

John Cohen
Director of Athletics

Mississippi State University Athletics

Cohen's Corner - 8/9/17

Related News

Related Videos