It's GAMEDAY: Nov. 8
November 08, 2025 | Athletics
Wake up – It's GAMEDAY!
It's a great day to be a Mississippi State Bulldog!
Starkville is the place to be. As Coach Lebby said earlier this week, "We need 60,000 shaking cowbells and having as rowdy of an atmosphere as there is in the country. We have to protect Davis Wade and fill it in Maroon & White." Make plans to be here. Everything you need for game day is right here.
We kicked off the weekend by recognizing Bruce and Julie Martin for their incredible generosity and investment in our football program through their gift to the Billy W. Howard Indoor Practice Facility and Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex. Bruce and Julie are tremendous supporters. Their passion, generosity, and even the joy they share through Bully XXII, aka Dak, continues to fuel us forward. Read more about the Martins here — and when you see them this weekend, please thank them!
Yesterday, our women's basketball team hosted the annual education day game, welcoming young students from across Mississippi to The Hump. For many, it may be one of their only chances to see the Dawgs live — which is why it's one of my favorite days of the year. Start 'em young! It's been a great opening week of hoops. The men's season opener on Wednesday featured the most students scanned at a men's opening night since 2015. Our students showed up and showed out. The Hump is going to be electric.
Yesterday afternoon, we had the chance to showcase Mississippi State on Paul Finebaum's show live from The Junction. Any time you can highlight the incredible things happening here to a national SEC audience, you take it. Thanks to everyone who brought the energy on set.
Then it was straight from The Junction to The Dude for the Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic, powered by the Bulldog Initiative. As smoke drifted from left field and Coach Polk went player to player with his hand on their shoulder, you could feel something special. Ten thousand Bulldogs came together to celebrate our history and lean into our future — it was truly magical. Thank you to our Diamond Dawgs who returned to invest their time and energy into this program. These guys could be anywhere in the world, and they chose to come back and be a part of this incredible weekend. If you see them around campus this weekend, please thank them. And thank YOU for buying tickets, parking, concessions — and wearing your maroon proudly.
Before we lock in and head to Davis Wade Stadium, I want to highlight a couple of BIG wins from this week.
Rachel and I attended a wonderful luncheon hosted by President Mark and Rhonda Keenum ahead of the formal dedication of the new Jim and Thomas Duff Center. This incredible building will impact countless lives across Mississippi and the country. We are grateful to the Duff Family and to everyone who executed such a thoughtful, intentional addition to our campus.
We also celebrated senior track and field athlete Tafada Wright being named a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Tafada, a senior thrower from Spanish Town, Jamaica, has been a shining star for us on the track, in the classroom, and beyond.
Mississippi State's impact truly knows no borders. Congratulations to Tafada — she will continue to represent us with excellence.
On Wednesday, it was announced that two Bulldogs — Michael Haddix and Glen Collins — are being inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class. A huge congratulations to both of these deserving legends. We'll have more celebrations around their formal induction this summer.
Alright, time to sign off and head to Davis Wade Stadium. Let's bring the energy today. Thank you for being a difference maker for us.
Hail State!
Zac
It's a great day to be a Mississippi State Bulldog!
Starkville is the place to be. As Coach Lebby said earlier this week, "We need 60,000 shaking cowbells and having as rowdy of an atmosphere as there is in the country. We have to protect Davis Wade and fill it in Maroon & White." Make plans to be here. Everything you need for game day is right here.
We kicked off the weekend by recognizing Bruce and Julie Martin for their incredible generosity and investment in our football program through their gift to the Billy W. Howard Indoor Practice Facility and Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex. Bruce and Julie are tremendous supporters. Their passion, generosity, and even the joy they share through Bully XXII, aka Dak, continues to fuel us forward. Read more about the Martins here — and when you see them this weekend, please thank them!
Yesterday, our women's basketball team hosted the annual education day game, welcoming young students from across Mississippi to The Hump. For many, it may be one of their only chances to see the Dawgs live — which is why it's one of my favorite days of the year. Start 'em young! It's been a great opening week of hoops. The men's season opener on Wednesday featured the most students scanned at a men's opening night since 2015. Our students showed up and showed out. The Hump is going to be electric.
Yesterday afternoon, we had the chance to showcase Mississippi State on Paul Finebaum's show live from The Junction. Any time you can highlight the incredible things happening here to a national SEC audience, you take it. Thanks to everyone who brought the energy on set.
Rachel and I attended a wonderful luncheon hosted by President Mark and Rhonda Keenum ahead of the formal dedication of the new Jim and Thomas Duff Center. This incredible building will impact countless lives across Mississippi and the country. We are grateful to the Duff Family and to everyone who executed such a thoughtful, intentional addition to our campus.
We also celebrated senior track and field athlete Tafada Wright being named a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Tafada, a senior thrower from Spanish Town, Jamaica, has been a shining star for us on the track, in the classroom, and beyond.
Mississippi State's impact truly knows no borders. Congratulations to Tafada — she will continue to represent us with excellence.
Hail State!
Zac
2024-25 Mississippi State Athletics Recap
Thursday, August 21
STATE OF MIND: EP 4 | FT. ZAC SELMON
Thursday, January 09
STATE OF MIND: EP 1 | FT. JOSH HUBBARD
Monday, November 04
Zac Selmon Joins Charlie Winfield And Bart Gregory On Out Of Left Field
Thursday, October 03