Merry Christmas From The Selmons!
December 24, 2025 | Athletics
It's a great day to be a Mississippi State Bulldog!
As we enter a holiday season filled with so much to be thankful for, my family and I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
Since I last wrote to you a few weeks ago, there has been so much to celebrate. We watched 36 young people earn their degrees and walk across the graduation stage – surrounded by families, friends, coaches, and staff beaming with pride. We named our next head soccer coach, spent meaningful time with Bulldog greats, and made it abundantly clear that elite talent belongs right here in Starkville.
We have also taken thoughtful and very intentional steps to continue moving Mississippi State forward. Critical to our success, we've also continued to have tremendous investors showcase their passion, love, and commitment to Mississippi State and our football program. Additionally, we've also been making significant strides and hitting key milestones in planning for the Billy W. Howard Sr. Indoor Practice Facility and renovations to the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex. On top of all of this, our team has been – and continues to be – hard at work preparing for an exciting matchup in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Duke's Mayo Bowl. I know the young men in our football facility understand the opportunity ahead of them.
We are scraping and clawing day in and day out. The work doesn't stop – and it never will.
I mentioned earlier that we are proud to welcome "OB" – Coach Kevin O'Brien – and his wife, Shannon, to our Mississippi State family. You can read more about OB and his decorated career right here.
You'll have to excuse the philosophical analogy – I come by it honestly. I'm the son of a modern-day philosopher and many car rides and dinner-table conversations growing up encouraged my sisters and me to think deeply about how ideas apply to real life. All jokes aside, I firmly believe the wisdom that "you must be where your feet are." That commitment is the only way to achieve the transformational outcomes we all seek.
A great example of this is right here on our campus. Dr. Keenum and his family boldly committed to Mississippi State, and our beloved institution has flourished under his leadership. The best way to showcase success is to shepherd it all the way through.
Of course, there are countless outstanding staff members across Mississippi State Athletics who pour into our department day in and day out. Today, I'd like to highlight a few special S.T.A.T.E. of Mind Shoutouts – recognizing those who exemplify our core values: Serve. Together. Act. Transform. Excel.
During November and December, our staff hosted numerous special events in addition to their regular responsibilities, including NCAA postseason soccer, high school championships at Davis Wade Stadium, and graduation ceremonies at Humphrey Coliseum. This added workload required long hours and extra effort, and the feedback we consistently receive is that our staff is helpful, hospitable, and positive. You don't find that everywhere – and I couldn't be more proud.
I want to offer a special shoutout to Patrick Felton, Director of Events and Championships. Patrick has been at Mississippi State since 2015 and has taken on a variety of responsibilities throughout his tenure. His execution of these special events exemplifies our S.T.A.T.E. of Mind and represents our department with excellence on a broad scale.
I'd also like to give a S.T.A.T.E. Shoutout for SERVE to our athletics staff members and coaches who participated in our annual Angel Tree initiative. Partnering with the Salvation Army and Starkville Partnership School, our team helped provide Christmas joy to 38 children and families in Oktibbeha County who needed a helping hand. I am blown away by the servant hearts of our staff, who – while managing their own families, work, and holiday commitments – continue to choose to serve others.
Next, I want to recognize our graduating student-athletes with S.T.A.T.E. Shoutouts for ACT and TRANSFORM as they earned their degrees this semester. I often speak about the power at the intersection of higher education and sport, and this group embodied that truth. We celebrated first-generation college graduates, academic scholars, SEC champions, and leaders – not just on the field, but within their families and communities.
In today's landscape, we often hear that "things are different now." While some things have changed, the core of what we do has not. What I see in these graduates are young men and women who proudly wore the Maroon and White, competed at the highest level, and are prepared to represent Mississippi State with pride wherever life takes them. The transformational power of higher education and sport remains as strong and impactful as ever.
I also want to recognize The Vitart Family from Madison and some special "elves" from Birmingham for helping create Christmas magic for a remarkable Bulldog - Joshua Richardson from Canton, Mississippi. Because of the generosity and thoughtfulness of fellow Bulldogs, Joshua enjoyed an unforgettable day, including courtside seats at Saturday's men's basketball victory over Memphis and time with the team afterward - including his favorite player, Josh Hubbard. While Joshua was the surprise recipient, he was truly the one who made our day.
This week, I also had the opportunity to spend time with Bulldog legend Erick Dampier. If you missed it, we recently unveiled a jersey honoring our 1996 Final Four team, which we will celebrate during an upcoming Alumni Weekend and game on January 17. We look forward to welcoming so many great Mississippi State basketball players back to the Hump - and hope to see you there.
As we close out this year and gather with those we love, I am deeply grateful for the Bulldog Family and the role each of you plays in Mississippi State Athletics. Your passion, generosity, and belief in our young people make everything we do possible. We enter the new year with optimism, purpose, and a relentless commitment to continue advancing to new heights.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Praying for joy, peace, and gladness this holiday season.
Hail State!
Zac
As we enter a holiday season filled with so much to be thankful for, my family and I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
We have also taken thoughtful and very intentional steps to continue moving Mississippi State forward. Critical to our success, we've also continued to have tremendous investors showcase their passion, love, and commitment to Mississippi State and our football program. Additionally, we've also been making significant strides and hitting key milestones in planning for the Billy W. Howard Sr. Indoor Practice Facility and renovations to the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex. On top of all of this, our team has been – and continues to be – hard at work preparing for an exciting matchup in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Duke's Mayo Bowl. I know the young men in our football facility understand the opportunity ahead of them.
We are scraping and clawing day in and day out. The work doesn't stop – and it never will.
I mentioned earlier that we are proud to welcome "OB" – Coach Kevin O'Brien – and his wife, Shannon, to our Mississippi State family. You can read more about OB and his decorated career right here.
In our conversations, it is clear that the O'Briens' desire to fully immerse themselves in our community and to see the fruits of their labor through for years to come. That sentiment reminded me of one of my mentors and his long career planting seeds and watching them bear fruit. He has led a department for nearly three decades, steadied the ship (department) through countless storms and has earned the highest achievements programs can achieve. Sustained success only comes when you put in the time – stability and continuity truly act as fertilizer.A proven winner!
— Mississippi State Soccer (@HailStateSOC) December 7, 2025
Please help us welcome a five-time coach of the year and the eighth head coach in program history: 𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐎'𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧
📰 https://t.co/uWkFLpHL8v#HailState pic.twitter.com/6xAhEELjXw
You'll have to excuse the philosophical analogy – I come by it honestly. I'm the son of a modern-day philosopher and many car rides and dinner-table conversations growing up encouraged my sisters and me to think deeply about how ideas apply to real life. All jokes aside, I firmly believe the wisdom that "you must be where your feet are." That commitment is the only way to achieve the transformational outcomes we all seek.
A great example of this is right here on our campus. Dr. Keenum and his family boldly committed to Mississippi State, and our beloved institution has flourished under his leadership. The best way to showcase success is to shepherd it all the way through.
Of course, there are countless outstanding staff members across Mississippi State Athletics who pour into our department day in and day out. Today, I'd like to highlight a few special S.T.A.T.E. of Mind Shoutouts – recognizing those who exemplify our core values: Serve. Together. Act. Transform. Excel.
During November and December, our staff hosted numerous special events in addition to their regular responsibilities, including NCAA postseason soccer, high school championships at Davis Wade Stadium, and graduation ceremonies at Humphrey Coliseum. This added workload required long hours and extra effort, and the feedback we consistently receive is that our staff is helpful, hospitable, and positive. You don't find that everywhere – and I couldn't be more proud.
I want to offer a special shoutout to Patrick Felton, Director of Events and Championships. Patrick has been at Mississippi State since 2015 and has taken on a variety of responsibilities throughout his tenure. His execution of these special events exemplifies our S.T.A.T.E. of Mind and represents our department with excellence on a broad scale.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Praying for joy, peace, and gladness this holiday season.
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