Bites From The Bay: The Latest From Tampa
December 28, 2022 | Football, Joel Coleman
Mississippi State senior writer Joel Coleman brings you the latest updates as MSU prepares for its upcoming ReliaQuest Bowl.
TAMPA, Fla. – On Monday, January 2, No. 22 Mississippi State wraps up its football season with the ReliaQuest Bowl against Illinois. However, a whole lot is happening before the Bulldogs and Fighting Illini kick things off.
Keep it right here over the course of the next few days for all the latest updates from Tampa. Updates are posted in reverse chronological order, so the most recent information can be found first.
FINAL
Mississippi State 19
Illinois 10
Honoring Coach Leach
From a tribute on the helmet, to a memorial in the pirate ship at Raymond James Stadium, Mike Leach's presence is felt all around at the ReliaQuest Bowl.
For Our Pirate
Time is precious.
Never has that been as clear as it is now.
For three years, we sailed with our Pirate.
Oh, the lessons we learned from him.
A new journey was his destiny, but now, we have a chance to show the world he'll remain a part of us forever.
And how do we do that?
Just like he taught us, we'll be the most excited to play.
No matter the ups. No matter the downs. We'll play the next play, unwilling to be caught up in or burdened by the ones that came before it.
Put simply, we'll play exactly the kind of football he wanted us to play.
We'll do our jobs over and over and over again until the clock reads ZERO…ZERO…ZERO.
Until the clock reads 𝟬:𝟬𝟬#HailState🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/OQg2nw4Tku
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) January 1, 2023
Getting The Bulldogs Into The Home Of The Bucs
So much goes on under the hood in the world of college athletics. Players and coaches are front and center, for good reason. But behind them all sits a staff of totally committed folks doing all they can to make sure the machine runs as smoothly as possible.
It's no different at Mississippi State. Just ask associate athletic director for football operations David Wilczewski, a man often leading the charge for the Bulldogs when it comes to planning all the Maroon and White details.
"We have an absolute fantastic support staff in place here," Wilczewski said. "If you were to ask me what my favorite part of working for this program is, that's got to be it."
For the last several days, a host of behind-the-scenes Bulldogs have shined, making sure State's players have had the absolute best when it comes to nutrition, preparation, treatment, equipment and any other possible need down in Tampa. On Sunday, and into early Monday, a new challenge awaits many of MSU's staffers – getting the Bulldogs into Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs are scheduled to square off inside their facility against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon with kickoff set less than 24 hours before the ReliaQuest Bowl. That obviously doesn't leave a lot of turnaround time for the Bucs and Panthers to get out and MSU and Illinois to get in.
So how's it going to happen? Wilczewski explains:
"First, we'll have [what we consider to be] our normal Friday walkthrough [on Sunday]…We're going to have that over at the high school we've been practicing at (Jesuit High School) and then we'll come back [to the team hotel] for our meetings. Now, that should be about the time that Bucs game will be ending. [Director of football equipment] David Case and his staff and [head athletic trainer] Thomas Callans and his staff, they'll have everything ready to go [over to the stadium]. We do not have one thing at Raymond James Stadium yet because of the Bucs game. So, the [Panthers] are going to move out of the locker room. As soon as they haul their equipment out, that locker room will be cleaned and about two hours later, David Case and his staff and Thomas and his staff will be able to move in. So you're talking about [our people] getting to that stadium at maybe 8 o'clock [Sunday] night and they'll be going straight through until about midnight. They'll be back [at the hotel] about 12:30 a.m. and they'll be right back out the door at 6 a.m. to go get ready for the game. So, it's a huge strain on them, but they're professionals. They're rockstars. They're going to get it done for us."
Getting set up in the stadium clears one hurdle. A couple of days ago, both MSU and Illinois had to clear another.
The Bucs' logos in the end zones and at midfield will be replaced after Sunday's game to prep for Monday's bowl. Well, the planning process for all that provided another example of the many moving parts that must be taken care of ahead of a big-time college football game.
More from Wilczewski:
"We're playing Illinois and we're both fighting and striving to become the ReliaQuest Bowl champions, but there's certain things in a situation like this that you need to collaborate on and you need to work with Illinois. So, we were at the pregame meeting [on Friday] and the representative from Raymond James Stadium said, 'Hey, we're ripping up the sod in the endzone. We're ripping up the sod at the midfield logo. We're putting new paint down. We're putting new sod down. So, nobody can be on the field. No warm-ups before 10:22 in the morning [on Monday.]'
So, Mark Taurisani, who is my counterpart from Illinois, is sitting probably three tables apart from me and the two of us turn to each other and we make eye contact. He's shaking his head. I'm shaking my head. I point to my cell phone, and I start texting him. He starts texting me back. We're on a united front right here. We're saying we need to be able to get on the field for warm-ups at 9:55. And the bowl was great about it. They understood once we brought the concerns to them of, 'Hey, we have a group of guys who need to get prepared and be able to play a game. When we have to be off the field 41 minutes before the game, leaving us about an hour and one minute to warm up just isn't enough. So, they were able to work with us. We were able to get that down to 9:55. But we just have to be really careful with the end zone and the midfield logos just in case they're still wet. Their staff is going to be monitoring that throughout the morning. But there's a good anecdote on how two teams are trying to win games and be competitive, but at the same time, behind the scenes, you have people that are bringing a united front to come up with a solution for a problem."
It truly takes a village to bring games like Monday's to life.
For more behind-the scenes info from Wilczewski, check out his interview with MSU senior writer Joel Coleman and assistant director of communications Logan Lowery on the latest Dear Ol' State podcast.
CLICK HERE to listen, or check it out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Jersey Swapping
Mississippi State wide receiver Rufus Harvey is listed at 165 pounds on MSU's official roster. Meanwhile Bulldog offensive lineman Percy Lewis checks in at 335.
Do the quick math on that and you quickly see it'd pretty much take two Harveys to make one Lewis, but that didn't stop the two Dawgs from having some fun out at football practice on Saturday as the two swapped jerseys for the day. Harvey sported Lewis' oversized No. 75, while Lewis squeezed into Harvey's No. 82.
"Yeah, it's a big jersey," Harvey said while smiling after practice, looking down at the oversized threads he was wearing. "We're just trying to find another way to have fun."
Harvey and Lewis weren't alone. In fact, more Bulldogs than not found a teammate to switch jerseys with during what was essentially the team's final practice of the season – not counting a scheduled Sunday afternoon walkthrough ahead of Monday's ReliaQuest Bowl.
Linebacker Jett Johnson traded in his usual No. 44 for cornerback Emmanuel Forbes' No. 13. Quarterback Will Rogers had on the No. 69 of offensive lineman Kwatrivous Johnson. Wide receiver Caleb Ducking took over Rogers' green No. 2 practice uni, and defensive back Jalen Green wore defensive lineman Cameron Young's No. 93 among some of the other swaps.
"I told Cam I was going to play defensive end, so he said I had to live up to the hype he'd got going," Green joked. "I told him I'd make that happen."
Jersey swap day has become somewhat of an MSU tradition during recent years of bowl practices. So, consider that tradition carried on.
Don't worry though. All Dawgs will find their right sizes by Monday's game.
"Yeah, it's pretty heavy," a laughing Harvey said as he continued to evaluate Lewis' jersey. "It had me a few miles per hour slower."
Dear Ol' State Podcast: One Last Practice In Tampa
On the Dear Ol' State podcast, MSU senior writer Joel Coleman and assistant director of communications Logan Lowery give you a brief glimpse at what was pretty much State's final practice of the season, then bring you exclusive interviews with Jalen Green, Rufus Harvey and former Mississippi State in-house writer Bob Carskadon.
CLICK HERE to listen, or check out the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
A Quick Look At State's ReliaQuest Bowl Practice Site
It's possible that a bunch of Tigers might have become Bulldogs this week.
That's because Mississippi State is holding its practices for the upcoming ReliaQuest Bowl at Alumni Field at Corral Memorial Stadium – home of the Jesuit High School Tigers. The facility is conveniently located just over six miles from MSU's team hotel, the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay.
Corral Memorial Stadium features a state-of-the-art synthetic playing field that was resurfaced in 2015. The field is used by Jesuit's football, soccer and lacrosse programs.
The north side of the venue is overlooked by the Al Lopez Sports Complex, which features locker rooms, showers, Jesuit High's athletic department offices and several other facilities and amenities.
The Bulldogs have also been utilizing an adjacent practice field beside Corral Memorial Stadium, located directly behind the bleachers on the east side.
Per Jesuit High's website, the school claims to be the home of the area's premier athletic facilities, providing student-athletes with state-of-the-art venues, top training equipment, updated locker and shower facilities and an aesthetically stimulating athletic environment.
Well, since Wednesday, the grounds have certainly been invigorating the Bulldogs as seemingly every practice, the focus and intensity has gone up as ReliaQuest Bowl gameday gets closer and closer.
One Last Ride
Among several Bulldogs who'll be playing one final time in Maroon and White on Monday will be center LaQuinston Sharp. You better believe he plans on making the most of it in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
"It's most definitely sunk in [that it's my last game at MSU]," Sharp said on Friday after practice. "Sometimes, it gets emotional [having] played these years here and enjoying it. Friends man, I'm going to miss those boys, but I'm going to enjoy the last ride with them."
Sharp has had a stellar Bulldog career on and off the field. He's already received a college degree, then with the pads on, he's racked up award after award.
This season alone, Sharp has won either Southeastern Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week or SEC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week three times. He did so once last year as well, on the way to being chosen as an honorable mention All-SEC player by Pro Football Focus.
That's in the past though. Right now, all Sharp is concerned with is the present and putting a bow on his career with a good game against a tough opponent.
"[Illinois is] very good up front," Sharp said. "They twist a lot. They've got a good defense. We've just got to come play."
No matter how things end though, nothing could spoil what MSU has meant to Sharp.
"Honestly, it's been a blessing for real," Sharp said. "I've had trials and errors, injuries and stuff like that. It's just a blessing to be able to play here.
"As a Mississippi State Bulldog, this experience has been great. It's family-oriented. I'm big on family. I love the atmosphere here. When I first got here, they treated me like it was home. This is home. It's a great atmosphere I love to be in."
Of course no matter where Sharp goes, he'll forever be a part of the Bulldog family. No future destination could ever change that.
But where will that next stop be? Time will tell. After the ReliaQuest Bowl, Sharp will play one more collegiate game come January 14 in the Hula Bowl.
That'll give Sharp a chance to impress scouts as he seeks a professional football future.
"I can show them what I've got," Sharp said.
And as Bulldog fans all know, Sharp has plenty to give.
Shout Out To Jalen Green
He'll play in one more game as a Bulldog, but now State defensive back Jalen Green has another contest on his schedule for later in January.
The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl announced via its Twitter account on Friday evening that Green will take part. The game is scheduled for January 28 and is set to be televised by NFL Network.
Green has put together back-to-back strong seasons for Mississippi State since coming to Starkville following three years at Texas. Green has racked up 88 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss over his two years as a Bulldog. He's also nabbed four interceptions, deflected 14 passes and had a pair of fumble recoveries for the Maroon and White.
And now, after the ReliaQuest Bowl, Green is on to showcase his skills along with other NFL Draft-eligible players.
D0minant 💪💪💪 @jaygreen__
— The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (@NFLPABowl) December 30, 2022
In 12 games played for @HailStateFB Green registered 47 total tackles, 14 passes deflected, five tackles for loss, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.
Welcome, Jalen 🤝
#NFLPABowl | #Path2Pasadena | #HailState pic.twitter.com/VMiY1aqvOW
Hail Sandcastles!
After Mississippi State wrapped up practice early Friday afternoon, the Bulldogs headed over to Clearwater Beach to enjoy a few hours among fans, bands, cheerleaders and more.
But the most impressive thing on the beach likely wasn't the incredible athletes roaming around. Instead, it was a ReliaQuest Bowl-themed sandcastle. For those already in or headed down to Tampa for the bowl game, can you top this?
#HailState at Clearwater Beach pic.twitter.com/rPlam8UKwF
— Rhett Hobart (@RhettHobart) December 30, 2022
Take a look at what else the Dawgs got into down at the beach:
😎🌴🤙#HailState🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/fA8I7q9hnG
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) December 30, 2022
Dear Ol' State Podcast: Tampa Talk With Sharp, Charlton And Arnett
Listen in as MSU senior writer Joel Coleman and assistant director of communications Logan Lowery bring you the latest from Tampa, including exclusive interviews with LaQuinston Sharp and Randy Charlton. The guys also bring you comments from head coach Zach Arnett.
CLICK HERE to listen to the show, or check it out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
As Mississippi State defensive lineman Randy Charlton walked off the practice field on Friday, it'd been more than a month since he firmly inserted himself on MSU highlight reels for years to come. Remember, it was Charlton's right hand that deflected a football, denied a late Ole Miss two-point conversion and essentially wrapped the Egg Bowl in Maroon and White back on Thanksgiving.
Charlton has his sights set on making more plays for the Bulldogs in Monday's ReliaQuest Bowl, but he said on Friday he's still relishing the victory in Oxford that capped State's 8-4 regular season.
"It's been great walking into our facility and seeing the Egg Bowl trophy sitting there pretty where it belongs at," Charlton said. "I've still got people tweeting at me and showing me videos of the [game-winning] moment. It felt great to do something good for our team."
Now, if Charlton wanted to, he could've let his Egg Bowl heroics been his final act as a Bulldog. The fifth-year veteran in the trenches has his sights set on the NFL after all.
Yet Charlton, like many of his other teammates with pro aspirations, has made the call to line up one more time with the Dawgs. And why?
"Why not?" Charlton said. "I believe if you start something, you've got to finish it."
Charlton continued by noting he's also committed to playing so he can honor a certain Pirate who opened a door for Charlton to continue his football career. Charlton spent his first three seasons at UCF before transferring to MSU.
"The legend, Mike Leach, he gave me a second chance to come here and play ball again," Charlton said. "I'll never forget that. Just being able to be here and finish something he started with me, and I started with him, it's just great."
It seems safe to say Leach would be proud of how Charlton is attacking things in the leadup to Monday's game. Like all Bulldogs, Charlton has been enjoying the bowl experience. However, he's starting to shift his focus to Monday.
"You've got to be a grown man about your business and handle what you've got in front of you," Charlton said.
Well, Charlton has already proven he knows how to handle business when it counts. Perhaps he can do so again in the ReliaQuest Bowl and help the Bulldogs bring another trophy back to Starkville.
Making It Possible
Before Thursday comes completely to an end, how about a special shoutout to Mississippi State defensive lineman Cameron Young?
Young was selected as MSU's recipient of the ReliaQuest Bowl's Make It Possible Award. The honor was bestowed based on Young's leadership qualities and play on the field.
Anyone who's watched Bulldog football in recent years can attest Young's accolade was well deserved. Young has paced the State defensive line room in tackles in each of the last two seasons.
It was only a few weeks back when MSU defensive line coach Jeff Phelps was asked about Young's presence along the Bulldog front. Phelps' words almost foreshadowed an award like the one Young got to hold in his hands on Thursday.
"He's such a steady presence," Phelps said of Young. "He's kind of like the adhesive that keeps everything together. I joke around and say he's the elder of the program. He comes to work every day. He's tough as nails. He loves the game of football. He loves Mississippi State. He loves being around his teammates. Everything you want out of a young man, he's got."
Congrats again to Cam, who'll suit up in the Maroon and White one last time on Monday when MSU faces Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Dear Ol' State Podcast: Picking Up The Pace
Senior writer Joel Coleman and assistant director for communications Logan Lowery were out at MSU's practice in Tampa on Thursday and bring you their thoughts on what looked to be a group of Bulldogs starting to flip a switch into business mode. Plus, the guys bring you comments from Nathan Pickering, Will Rogers and Jett Johnson.
CLICK HERE to listen to the show, or check it out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Bulldogs At Busch Gardens
With practice done, it was time for fun.
Thursday afternoon, Mississippi State took a team trek over to Tampa's Busch Gardens to explore, ride the rides and live it up. Take a look at a few scenes:
🐶➕🎢➕🐆
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) December 30, 2022
Thanks for having us, @BuschGardens! #HailState🏴☠️ x #FootballinParadise pic.twitter.com/vANpfXkrs9
The Man For The Job
Zach Arnett's elevation to Mississippi State head coach obviously came under the most tragic of circumstances. And while Arnett's resume and experience speaks for itself as to why he was chosen as the new top Dawg for the Bulldogs, just listen to some of his players talk about him and you get an even clearer picture for why Arnett is the right guy at the right time for State.
Linebacker Jett Johnson is a man who has seen his career take off since Arnett's arrival in Starkville back in 2020. After practice Thursday, Johnson was asked his opinion about how Arnett has turned from being Johnson's defensive coordinator to Johnson's head coach. Well, the praise for Arnett soon flowed easily from the mouth of Johnson.
"Me, personally, and all the guys were happy for Coach Arnett," Johnson said. "We think he's very deserving. He's worked his tail off ever since he's been here. He's probably had numerous opportunities to go somewhere else, but he's stuck it out with us and now he's reaping the benefits of that. We're super glad to have him. He's a great coach. He knows when to kind of jump on you, but also off the field, he's very personable and wants to have a relationship with you."
While it was a surprise to see it happen right here, right now, the way it did, what wasn't a surprise to Johnson and others was that Arnett would one day be leading his own program.
"You could tell pretty early on with the way he carries himself and the way he's gone about his business," Johnson explained. "You could tell early on he was going to be a head coach sooner rather than later."
Johnson added: "Since [Arnett's] been here, all the offensive guys have loved him and obviously everybody on defense loves him, too. We're very excited for him. We all think he deserves the opportunity. We all want to play very hard for him and we're just ecstatic for him."
Oh, not to mention, Johnson also potentially sees another benefit to the Arnett era now that Arnett has a little more responsibility on his plate.
"Maybe I'll get a few less butt chewings than before," Johnson joked.
Nine On The Mind
It was a common theme heard on Thursday. Mississippi State is zeroing in on the number nine.
Nine wins that is – a mark the Bulldogs haven't hit since 2017. Head coach Zach Arnett mentioned the importance of getting that ninth win when he met with reporters earlier on Thursday, then after practice, some of the Bulldogs themselves reemphasized it.
"At the end of the day, we've had a long year," quarterback Will Rogers said. "I think we've earned the right to play in this game and try to get win number nine. I'd say that's the team's main focus right now is to get win number nine and everybody is locked in to do that."
It was very apparent on Thursday that the Bulldogs are indeed getting more and more laser focused as their time in Tampa continues. Sure, there's a lot going on. From pool and bowling over at Splitsville on Wednesday night to rides and entertainment at Busch Gardens after practice Thursday, there's still plenty of fun being had down in Florida. But you better believe, on the field, business is picking up.
After a lighter workout on Wednesday, the pads were on Thursday. Plays were being made all over the field at MSU's bowl prep site, Tampa's Jesuit High School. It didn't look like a team just wanting a ninth win. It looked a team needing it and willing to do whatever it takes to get it.
"It'd be a springboard to next season," Rogers said. "It's hard to win even eight games in this league. It's even harder to win nine and 10. If we can get win number nine and get some momentum headed into spring ball and next year, it'd be huge for the program."
The Head Men Speak
The word respect gets thrown around a lot in sports. As ReliaQuest Bowl events continued on Thursday with a joint press conference featuring Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett and Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, it was quickly made apparent these are two programs and two coaches who admire how the other goes about business.
"We're playing a phenomenal opponent that when you turn on the film, you see they play the game the way it's supposed to be played," Arnett said of the Fighting Illini. "I know our guys have a deep respect and admiration for how they play the game. Ultimately, we're having a good time here [down in Tampa], but these are two hard-nosed football teams that will line up and put on a good show for all the fans in attendance [on Monday]."
Bielema offered similar remarks about Arnett's bunch, praising the Dawgs' aggressive, attacking style and the toughness of State.
Of course, a team's character is only as strong as the guys who make it up. This bowl trip has served as a reminder for how bought in the Dawgs are.
Several Mississippi State players have already announced intentions to enter the upcoming NFL Draft. However, that hasn't stopped guys like Emmanuel Forbes, Cameron Young and others from deciding to suit up in the Maroon and White one more time next week.
"I just think it speaks to the guys we have in this program," Arnett said. "They're guys who like playing football. They're guys who want to play with each other. I think it says a lot about those guys individually. They're football guys. They're Mississippi State guys. They want to go out there and line up and play and be with their teammates…You love having those guys in your locker room and you appreciate what they do for your program."
What those guys have done for MSU is help put the Bulldogs on an unquestioned upward trajectory. After all, State is in Tampa looking for a nine-win season for the first time since 2017. Not to mention MSU just inked another Top-25 recruiting class last week.
So much good has been done by this group of Bulldogs. Among so many other things, this bowl trip is a celebration of all that.
"The thing we talk about and Coach Leach's family has expressed this to us is this is ultimately a reward for our players for the job they've done this year and the success they've had," Arnett said. "We're an 8-4 football team. They've been tremendous throughout this year, and this is a reward for their efforts…So we're excited for this opportunity. The best way to honor Coach Leach is to go out there and play the way he expects us to play. That's with tremendous effort and toughness."
And it wouldn't hurt to put an exclamation point on the end of the trip when the time comes.
"It's always better to go into the offseason on a win than a loss, right?" Arnett said. "As much fun as you have on bowl trips, you always remember how it ends…It would be a gigantic springboard into the offseason to leave with a win."
Bowling At The Bowl
When an afternoon of practice gets the competitive juices flowing, well you carry that right on into the night.
On Wednesday evening, right after their helmets came off, the Bulldogs took a trip to Splitsville to enjoy games, bowling and a whole lot more. Take a look:
𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 in Tampa 🎳#HailState🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/ZCdz2pfEwp
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) December 29, 2022
Dawgs Glad To Be Back On Field For First Tampa Practice
The calendar said Wednesday, but for Mississippi State, Wednesday was Sunday – at least as far as game preparation went.
Since the ReliaQuest Bowl is a Monday game as opposed to a Saturday, the Bulldogs have adjusted their typical leadup to gameday, thus effectively making their first practice at Tampa's Jesuit High School on Wednesday as what would usually be a "Sunday" practice. That meant a lighter, shorter afternoon than what MSU will go through in following days when things ramp up. Even with no pads on though, the energy was evident.
It was a good sign, too. Bowl games are often decided by which team shows up the most excited to play. Well, that was one of the cornerstones of former head coach Mike Leach's teachings so it should come as no surprise the Dawgs hit the ground running down in Florida.
"It's been tough, but I know Coach Leach would be proud to see the team rallying," receiver Austin Williams said after practice. "I feel we're attacking it the right way and doing everything we can to prepare for the game and go out there and give it our best shot."
Added linebacker Nathaniel Watson: "Everybody was ready to get back on the field. When you have a death in the family, it's good to get back on the field. Being back on the field and honoring Coach Leach, it means a lot."
Of course, nobody should be surprised the Bulldogs are locked in. New head coach Zach Arnett is much like his predecessor in his demands. Arnett will accept nothing less than everything the Bulldogs have got.
"Coach Arnett is doing a great job of honoring the legacy of Coach Leach and everything he brought and continuing on with the hard work, blue-collar [style of play we're known for]," Williams said. "It's the same mentality. Coach Arnett is a heck of a coach. We're all excited. We're rallying behind him, and we're excited to see what he does."
MSU will get back after it on Thursday. Or, in Bulldog football preparation terms, "Tuesday".
First Day in Tampa 🌴😎☀️#HailState🏴☠️ x #FootballinParadise pic.twitter.com/smoRlgIpiu
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) December 29, 2022
Dear Ol' State Podcast: A Look At Practice No. 1 In Tampa
Senior Writer Joel Coleman and Assistant Director of Communications Logan Lowery provide a quick glimpse of State's initial practice down in Tampa, as well as bring you comments from Emmanuel Forbes, Austin Williams and Nathaniel Watson.
CLICK HERE to listen to the show, or check it out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
The Journey Begins
Every trip starts somewhere. For Mississippi State, its trek to the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida began around midday on Tuesday.
The Dawgs touched down in Tampa late in the afternoon with bowl prep set to pick back up about 24 hours later.
Dawgs in Tampa 🌴#HailState🏴☠️ x #FootballinParadise pic.twitter.com/i69ntqjKMC
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) December 28, 2022
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