Bulldogs Savor The Moment Before Chasing The Next Goal

STARKVILLE – Six years ago, Mississippi State head coach James Armstrong sat down with associate head coach Nick Zimmerman to lay out the blueprints for the foundation the pair wanted to build at Mississippi State.

As soon as Zimmerman received Armstrong's call, he dropped everything and drove through severe weather to Armstrong's home to discuss the next steps in building a winning soccer culture in Starkville, Mississippi.

Fast-forward to 2024. Armstrong, Zimmerman and the plethora of talented staff and players in the Maroon and White are making a third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Not only are the Bulldogs in postseason play. They are a No. 1 seed. The Dawgs celebrated their achievement with many of their fans at a selection show gathering Monday afternoon.

"To see the amount of people that were here on a school day, in the middle of the afternoon all-smiles [was great], and the players were doing a great job getting around the room… it's just a special group," Armstrong said. "When I say special group, obviously the players [because] they're the most important part of this, but the coaching staff that's been together for a long time now, the support staff, it really is a team effort and there's a great synergy. To hear that one-seed [announcement] and be able to still be playing at this time of the year is fantastic and is something that we won't take lightly."

The Gridiron Club at Davis Wade Stadium hosted the well-deserved watch party for the program as the team anxiously awaited their fate. Family members, friends, fans and fellow Bulldogs from all walks of life gathered to celebrate and congratulate the players on their success this season and witness where the program would start postseason play.

Although the club knew they were in the tournament, one of many goals heading into this season was to capture a No. 1 seed for the first time. As the countdown began, the anticipation filled the room.

The silence that fell over the crowd gathered around the multiple television screens around the room signified what this meant to everyone in attendance. The wait was well worth it when the last top seed was announced and MSU flashed across the big screen. As soon as the realization sank in, the room shook with thunderous applause and a joyous eruption that could have been heard from miles away.

A dream years in the making had come true for Armstrong and his supporting crew of coaches and players.

"We've built something so special, and just to be a part of it and reap the benefits, it means everything," Macey Hodge said. "We don't take for granted playing in front of our fans. They really give us that extra push and we know how much we mean to them, and they mean the exact same to us. We're doing it, not just for us, but for them as well. Everything we do moving forward, it's going to be a true effort together."

For players like Hodge, Maddy Anderson and Riley Combs, who have all been a part of building Bulldog soccer over the last few years, this moment meant everything. The hours of hard work and many obstacles thrown in their way throughout their climb to the apex of success have paid off tenfold.

Heading into this season, the players constantly reiterated their stance on the chemistry of this year's team. This year's squad is more than just a soccer club. They are family. They are sisters in the Maroon and White who have gone through ups and downs and experienced peaks and valleys together as one.

"To be able to do something you love with the people you love is so special," Anderson said. "I wouldn't ask for it any other way. To be able to celebrate the big wins together is huge."

Reaching another historic feat is an incredible achievement for the Bulldogs. Still, they are hungry for more.

The mission has never changed. That aspiration is a glowing and shiny cup awaiting the club that secures its spot as the national champions at the end of the season. For the winningest coach in program history, that remains the goal. Armstrong's team and staff are laser-focused on the task at hand.

"Our whole goal all year has been day-by-day," Armstrong said. "I know that's a cliche, but the players have done that. The staff's done that. We just have to make sure that we improve each practice and each game. At the beginning of the year, our mission statement was to win the Magnolia Cup, win an SEC Regular Season Championship, win the SEC Tournament and win a National Championship. The only mission that's left is that National Championship. Being a one seed obviously helps because you get home-field advantage, but you've got to make sure that you show up day in and day out to work hard. Our goal is bigger than just being a one seed."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Bulldogs Savor The Moment Before Chasing The Next Goal

Players Mentioned

Maddy Anderson

Macey Hodge

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