Senior Feature: Cole Gordon

By Emily Pschigoda, Student Assistant/Communications

He steps on the turf, absorbs the roar of Dudy Noble Field and admires the musk of the left-field grill smoke. Mississippi State baseball graduate student Cole Gordon cycles through this process on a game-by-game basis, soaking in his final season in the Maroon and White.

A Tampa, Florida native, Gordon has proudly represented the Bulldogs on and off the field for the past five years. As a key component on State's pitching staff since 2017, Gordon has solidified his role as a leader in the program.

Gordon holds an impactful memory with him from his first season on the squad. He recalls coach John Cohen calling a meeting, reminding the players that the same group of guys sitting in the room would most likely never be together in the same space again. This realization struck Gordon, urging him to appreciate the passing moments with each team over the years.

Reminiscing on past teammates and old bonds, Gordon admits he will miss the relationships and memories the most from his time at State.

"The first thing [that comes to mind] is how much I'm going to miss [playing at MSU]," said Gordon. "Not just playing baseball, but the time I've had here."

Every season has had its own personality, highlighted by SEC championships, Triple Crown winners, trips to Omaha and comeback stories for the ages. Despite the highs and lows of his Bulldog career, Gordon cannot pinpoint an exact team or moment that rose above the rest.

Riding through the seasons with his teammates and best friends has made each moment one to remember.

"Narrowing down all the time and special moments, I think it would be too hard to single out one year that really stood out among the rest," Gordon said. "It's just hard. This place is special, and it has special moments. You can't narrow it down to one."

The right-handed pitcher has also been an integral piece in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes cohort on campus. A dedicated member of the group, Gordon says his State experience has been molded by his peers and mentors in FCA.

Coming in as a young student-athlete in his faith, Gordon says mentors like Jimmy Gilford, Tyson Cunningham and Tyson Lee were a profound influence on his early experiences. In times that he wavered, Gordon says those role models were always there to support him.

"They were all there with me from the start," said Gordon. "They led me. They grew me into a better person, a better leader and a better Christian. They held me accountable in times I needed to be held accountable."

On Monday, April 15, Gordon attended his final FCA meeting. After an emotional five-year journey, he has been deeply impacted by the faith-centered relationships he's made through the group. Gordon remarks with conviction that his FCA mentors have changed the trajectory of his life in the best way, and he has surely left his mark on the program, as well.

"Cole has been a tremendous blessing to FCA and the MSU campus since stepping foot here," said Gilford, who is MSU's FCA director. "He has the unique ability to connect with any person regardless of [their] background. His kindness and humility distinguish him from many of his peers."

As FCA has been impacted by Gordon, he knows FCA has been the most important stitch in his college career. He claims that the leadership and discipleship from the group has completed his time as a Bulldog.

"I think [FCA] has had everything to do with the way I am as a teammate. Sometimes, I still fail, but we're serving a bigger purpose here than just playing baseball," Gordon said. "My time here is going to end, baseball is going to end, but there is just a more important impact we can make in life. [FCA] has impacted baseball, my game and the way I look at it."

Gordon hopes to carry over all of the lessons he learned into life after baseball and college. He knows that, by applying his experiences at MSU to his life moving forward, he will become a better coworker, leader, future husband and father. By living a life that most reflects his values, Gordon knows he will see those things bleed into the rest of his life.

In 2018, Gordon wrapped up his undergraduate career with his bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing, then returning to play out his eligibility in 2019. While competing on the mound for the Bulldogs, Gordon keeps grinding in the classroom as he is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree.

In the classroom, Gordon achieved SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll honors in his redshirt freshman season. In 2017 and 2018, he garnered SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll. Gordon has certainly demonstrated his valuable character in his academic and athletic successes, and his leadership abilities.

Soaking in the final weeks of the sweet, smoky Dudy Noble Field air, Gordon will surely carry his MSU experience with him as a future family man, teammate and a forever Bulldog.

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