Putting Together A Precious Reward
October 28, 2021 | Baseball, Joel Coleman
A collaboration of ideas resulted in a fitting National Championship ring for Mississippi State.
STARKVILLE – Scott "Bubba" Garrard was anxious. The Mississippi State alumnus was headed to MSU's campus last Friday, toting special cargo with him.
"It was so nerve racking because I didn't want to have a wreck," Garrard said.
Garrard is a sales rep for Balfour, a company that has long specialized in producing commemorative items, including championship rings. In his possession last Friday were the rings for MSU's first-ever team national champions – the 2021 Diamond Dawg baseball squad.
Despite Garrard's stress, he arrived in Starkville without incident. The figurative crowns for the kings of college baseball weren't harmed.
On Saturday, eight days since Garrard's trek, MSU coaches, players and staff will finally take hold of one of the most precious rewards in Bulldog history. Four months since dogpiling in Omaha at the College World Series, it still all seems somewhat unreal.
"Still trying to let it all sit in," State director of baseball operations Roger Rodeheaver said.
No matter how much it may still feel like it, the Bulldogs aren't dreaming. Reality will continue to hit this weekend as the prize many throughout MSU history have chased is finally in the grasp of those who wear Maroon and White.
As for the design of the ring itself, it was a collaboration. The trio of Garrard, Rodeheaver and MSU head coach Chris Lemonis all had input, building upon a foundation originally crafted by MSU director of creative design, Ali Meeler. The result was a finished product everyone was incredibly proud of, to say the least.
"It's the pinnacle of my career," Garrard said. "I get chill bumps saying that because it's a national championship ring for Mississippi State University. The ring design itself is phenomenal and is obviously, probably the best design I've ever had a hand in participating with. Just the significance of it being a national championship ring is so incredibly humbling and I'm so honored to be able to work with Mississippi State University in that capacity. It's just amazing."
So, what was important in putting this masterpiece together? What considerations were made?
"Well, when you win the national championship, it's got to be a gold ring," Rodeheaver said with a smile.
Makes perfect sense. What else?
"I felt like [including] the M-over-S was huge," Lemonis said. "And we ended up with the trophy on it but the trophy kind of looks like the No. 1. That was a big point. I wanted, when you look at it, to know it was different than all the rest of our College World Series rings or anything else. I wanted you to know that was the team who won it. I think that was the biggest piece."
There's certainly a lot of 2021-specific flavor on the ring. It includes several of the sayings that became synonymous with the champs.
There's 'Dawgs Win Again', the phrase that became an unofficial victory proclamation for the Diamond Dawgs. From social media to T-shirts, those words were everywhere this past season and now on the ring, the mantra never looked better.
There's 'Dude Effect'. Lemonis spoke of the Dude Effect often over the course of the season. It was his way of describing the incredible homefield advantage Dudy Noble Field provides.
Other features of each ring include the specific name of the recipient, as well as the team's national championship logo that was developed by Meeler.
It all sits on a ring constructed of a man-made alloy.
The M-over-S logo is indeed the centerpiece of the ring. Garrard says the iconic emblem fits down onto a base, where there is one large stone.
As for the rest of the ring's makeup, there are a grand total of 142 other smaller stones that make up the shiny, beautiful creation.
"We wanted it to be something that looked almost like a trophy on your desk," Lemonis said. Â
Mission accomplished. When Lemonis finally laid eyes on the finished product he was blown away.
"That's what we wanted," Lemonis said. "We wanted the effect to be like, 'Wow'. This is the real thing."
It's a fitting token for a champion – a constant reminder for the Bulldogs who'll claim one, as well as all those who'll ever see it, that Mississippi State's 2021 squad climbed to the peak of the college baseball world and earned the sport's greatest prize.
