Bulldogs Getting Ready To ‘Own It’
October 16, 2024 | Women's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Here’s a quick look behind the meaning of this year’s MSU women’s hoops team motto.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On Wednesday morning at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Mississippi State women's basketball was in the spotlight. From appearances on the SEC Network, to the main media room filled with reporters, to the photo ops and random questions coming from all directions, the attention was the Bulldogs'.
Head coach Sam Purcell along with veteran players Jerkaila Jordan and Debreasha Powe crushed it. One might could even say they owned it. It won't be the last time either.
For as Purcell and his team embark on their 2024-25 voyage, Purcell has chosen 'Own It' as the group's motto. If you're wondering why the phrase is on MSU's social media hashtags and more, it all came about as Purcell reflected on last year's journey.
"Yeah, it's got multiple layers," Purcell shared. "One, for me personally, I'm upset how last year ended. I've got to own it as the head coach. Responsibility falls on my plate. We were in third place in the SEC with two weeks to go. We just didn't finish.
"I'm proud of how we joined in the WBIT tournament when most teams across the country decided just to fold the season. We didn't do that. We're proud to wear that uniform. We showed up and we showed out, but at the same time, again, our goal is to make NCAA deep runs. We were right there and we were one game short. So, I can't complain about it. I've got to own it. And believe me, that's been my motivation."
Purcell continued on and explained how the slogan's meaning goes even deeper.
"Then, too, what a crazy time of college athletics," Purcell said. "With realignment, we just added Texas and Oklahoma [to the SEC]. There's the transfer portal and NCAA rules and craziness that is occurring. You can't complain about it. You've got to own it.
"So I kept telling myself that at [last] season's end. And I said, 'You know what? That's going to be our hashtag for this year, because the team that can make the least excuses, the team that can take whatever the NCAA has done and find a way, but most importantly, the team that can stay together year-round is the team that's going to own it and control their own destiny."
Purcell's message has gotten through. In the midst of strolling around at Media Day on Wednesday, Powe and Jordan shared what 'Own It' means to them individually and to the Bulldogs as a whole.
"Own where you are," Powe said. "Be where your feet are. Own it. If you make a mistake, own it. If you're doing great, own it. It's just really being where your feet are and owning whatever that is. Owning the room. Owning the team. It's doing the best you can and giving it 110 percent and owning it all."
Jordan added on.
"It just means taking accountability," Jordan said. "It's holding each other accountable, holding yourself accountable [and] holding the coaching staff accountable. It's not pointing fingers. It's looking in the mirror when things don't go your way. It's owning every opportunity and owning every mistake and owning everything as one – going into every game as a team and leaving as a team."
So, bring on the season. Come what may – highs, lows or anything in between – these Bulldogs are ready to own it as they seek an invitation to dance at year's end.
And should it happen, well, you can rest assured Purcell and the Dawgs will do all they can to own March, too.
