"Our Fans Are The Best In The Country"

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's Davis Wade Stadium has been called the loudest stadium in college football.

The Bulldogs' home field had a tamer tone in 2020 thanks to capacity restrictions due to COVID-19 but is expected to return to a decibel level befitting its reputation when it welcomes Louisiana Tech on Saturday at 3 p.m. to kickoff a new season.

"I can't wait," said wide receiver Austin Williams. "I think our fans are the best in the country. I can't wait to get there and hear the cowbells ringing. It's going to be awesome."

While Williams is well versed in all things clanga entering his fifth year at MSU, many of his counterparts have yet to experience the home field advantage of a packed stadium in Starkville.

Running back Jo'quavious Marks got a taste of that atmosphere while on a recruiting visit, but has yet to do so as a player. Marks played in all five of the Bulldogs' home games last year as a freshman, drawing an average crowd of 12,866.

"Since they said everybody is going to be in there fully, that's all I've been thinking about," Marks said. "When I came on a visit, I heard it. Now, I'm just ready to walk out on the field and hear it."

Even Mike Leach is eagerly anticipating roaming the sidelines on Saturday in a packed Davis Wade Stadium for the first time as the Bulldogs' head coach. The largest home crowd Leach coached in front of last fall was in the season opener against Arkansas (13,564).

"I'm definitely looking forward to it," Leach said. "The only time (I've been here) when they were at full strength was when I was at the University of Kentucky and they were screaming and hollering. Mississippi State had a pretty good year (in 1999) so yeah, it was a great environment."

That day, nearly 22 years ago, saw the eighth-ranked Bulldogs stay undefeated at 8-0 as Scott Westerfield booted a 45-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to send the 39,149 fans on hand happy with a 23-22 victory over the Wildcats.

After having his initial season as MSU head coach marred by lightly attended games across the league last year, Leach is optimistic about college football returning to a sense of normalcy this fall.

"Hopefully it's a good, fulfilling year and not too many external distractions," Leach said.

"Our Fans Are The Best In The Country"

Players Mentioned

Jo'Quavious Marks

Austin Williams

Mississippi State University Athletics