Wednesday Bulldog Update - 2/23/11
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Our track and field teams practiced for the first time yesterday on the refurbished Maddox Track at Spencer Stadium. The contractor is still on hand to do some finishing work in the facility – some patch work in the throwing area, some painting of logos and other finishing touches, and some landscaping. That facility looks SO much better.
The basketball practice facility is nearing completion as well. In fact, that facility should be completely closed in this week so that finishing work on the interior can be completed. Actual practice floor installation on both the men’s and women’s courts will take place over the next six weeks or so. We are still anticipating a first week of April completion of that facility.
Various scoreboard projects have been completed or are nearing completion. Individual court scoreboards have been installed at tennis, in addition to the new team scoreboard at that facility. Scoreboard installation is currently ongoing at the softball field. Work on the ribbon boards for the east- and west-side fascia at Davis Wade Stadium, which we mentioned in this column last week, will begin in mid-April with a June completion date.
This summer, the football stadium’s club level and suites will be re-carpeted, the courtside seats at The Hump will be removed and replaced, and a television compound will be sited and construction begun at Davis Wade Stadium, in conjunction with the university’s master plan for athletics.
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FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET RENEWALS ROLL IN
As we continue to receive football season ticket renewals in advance of the deadline, the waiting list for new season tickets has now exceeded 300 accounts. While it is still very early in the renewal process, we are encouraged that our renewal percentage will remain high and that we will again sell out the football stadium in season tickets.
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MULLEN, FOOTBALL TEAM TO BE RECOGNIZED IN JACKSON
Both the Mississippi Senate and state’s House of Representatives will each honor the accomplishments of our 2010 football team in separate resolutions at the Mississippi Capitol tomorrow. Coach Dan Mullen will attend both sessions.
The Senate will meet at 10 a.m. and the House will convene at 2 p.m., with both sessions open to the public. The proceedings can be viewed via live webcast at the Mississippi State Legislature website - http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/.
Coach Mullen will also be the keynote speaker at the Mississippi Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Program luncheon at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame tomorrow. Each year, Wendy’s franchisees in Mississippi sponsor the awards ceremony and luncheon honoring the 20 Mississippi State Finalists for the national Wendy’s High School Heisman. Ten girls and 10 boys are elected from various high schools across the state as the best ambassadors in areas of athletics, academics and community service.
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HOWELL, GILLOM TROPHY PRESENTATIONS NEAR
The Cellular South Howell Trophy and the Cellular South Gillom Trophy, the media-selected honors awarded annually to Mississippi’s top male and female basketball players respectively, will undergo two significant programming changes in 2011, our good friend Michael Rubenstein has told us.
The 2011 presentation of the two awards has been moved forward on the calendar several weeks to March 7. The event is also shifting from evening to daytime and will be a luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum in Jackson, Miss.
The format will remain the same with 47 statewide media voters determining the top 3 men’s and women’s finalists. The finalists and their head coaches are expected at the awards luncheon. The $35 ticket includes a buffet style lunch. All proceeds benefit the private non-profit Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum.
The Cellular South Howell Trophy is named after Bailey Howell, a two-time All American at Mississippi State. Bulldog Jarvis Varnado won the award last year. When Alexis Rack won the Cellular South Gillom Trophy, Mississippi State became the first school in the state to win both awards in the same season.
For ticket information, contact the Museum at 1-800-280-FAME (3263).
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SUMMER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!
Once again this year, we will offer a full slate of camps and clinics from youngsters on up. It’s a great opportunity for your child or someone you know to spend some time on the campus, learn from the best coaches, and have fun with others their age.
Our camp schedule is listed here: www.mstateathletics.com/camps.
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MISSISSIPPI STATE WEEKEND HOME SPORTS SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 25 – Baseball v Belmont, 4 pm
Saturday, Feb. 26 – Baseball v Belmont, 2 pm
Sunday, Feb. 27 – Women’s Tennis v Louisiana-Monroe, 12 pm; Baseball v Belmont, 1:30 pm; Women’s Basketball v Ole Miss, 2 pm
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REMEMBER IT’S MAROON FRIDAY!
You never know when a prospective Mississippi State student will see how many folks are wearing maroon and think, “boy, they have a lot of spirit at that school.” Are you in the maroon?
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We appreciate what you do for Mississippi State Athletics and want to encourage you to get others involved. There are three things you can do to help the athletic department at Mississippi State reach its desired goals –
1. Buy Season Tickets
2. Financially Support the Bulldog Club
3. Get Others To Do The Same
Thanks for taking the time to read this Update.
Go Dawgs!
Scott Stricklin