Wednesday Bulldog Update - 3/20/13
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I just returned from a trip to Texas where I visited with some great Bulldogs and much of the conversation centered around the Texas Kickoff Classic, our season-opening football game next fall against Oklahoma State at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
There is a lot of excitement building there for opening our season in a premier football event, in a professional football stadium, on what we expect to be national television. Our friends and alumni in Houston, which is now our largest out-of-state alumni base, could not be more excited for our visit August 31.
If you have not done so, I would encourage you to make your plans now to be in Houston to open the 2013 season. We began accepting single-game ticket orders for that game in November (click here), but those tickets may also be purchased with your ’13 season ticket order.
NORTH END ZONE PRIORITY DEPOSIT DEADLINE NEARS
As construction at Davis Wade Stadium continues, the April 1, 2013, deadline for new premium seating deposits is less than two weeks away. The new north end zone will be complete in time for the 2014 season and those who make a deposit by the deadline will be placed in priority rank order and will be assigned seating before those who wait until after April 1st (2013).
Additionally, the re-seating of Davis Wade Stadium will take place prior to the 2014 season. Donors who make major gift donations to the “Today.Tomorrow.Forever" athletic facilities initiative will be placed in rank order and will be assigned their seats before the rest of the general donor base.
If you have not already done so, I would encourage you to secure your seat location for the 2014 season now. Visit the Bulldog Club web site: www.msubulldogclub.com or call 1-662-325-3074.
HAIL STATE WITH SCOTT STRICKLIN RETURNS THIS MONTH
"Hail State with Scott Stricklin" returns to Park Heights Restaurant in Tupelo (335 East Main Street) this coming Monday, March 25. We've had great receptions across the state and look forward to being back in Tupelo next week. Reservations for dinner and the show are encouraged, and may be made by emailing arma@eatwithus.com or by calling 662-327-6982. The hour-long radio show is heard on all Mississippi State Radio Network affiliates state wide and streamed live online at HailState.com.
A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and show beginning at 7 p.m. It will feature newsmakers from around the nation, guests from the university, and questions from fans at Park Heights, as well as around the state. Questions may be submitted via twitter (@hailstate and @stricklinmsu).
My special guest will be Mississippi State treasure and long-time Tupelo resident Jack Cristil. I really look forward to being back in Tupelo and with Jack again. This show presents a different forum for us to promote Mississippi State and the athletic program.
SUPER BULLDOG WEEKEND REMINDER
Don’t forget to put the weekend of April 17-21 on your calendar, when MSU will host the 28th-annual Super Bulldog Weekend. The weekend actually begins Wednesday when the first round of the SEC Women's Tennis Championship (which MSU hosts) will be held. Then, on Thursday night, ESPNU will televise the first game of our baseball series with Auburn.
On Saturday, due to construction at Davis Wade Stadium, the football game will be played at 1 p.m., with the baseball series finale against Auburn slated for 4.
We have launched the SBW site (www.hailstate.com/gameday), so please visit it often this spring for updates. I hope you’ll make plans to join us in Starkville for what is always a fun weekend.
SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE BEGINS TODAY
In preparation for Super Bulldog Weekend and the 2013 season, Coach Mullen, his staff, and the Bulldog football team kicked off spring practice today. All 15 spring practice sessions are open to the public, with most being conducted on the practice fields behind Shira Athletic Complex (adjacent to the new Leo Seal Football Complex).
A schedule of spring practice dates follows, with times and dates subject to change:
Saturday, March 23 - 12 noon
Tuesday, March 26 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 28 - 4 p.m.
Friday, March 29 - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 2 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 4 - 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 6 - Scrimmage at Davis Wade Stadium - 12 noon
Tuesday, April 9 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 10 - 4 p.m.
Friday, April 11 - Scrimmage at Davis Wade Stadium - 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 16 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 18 - 4 p.m.
Friday, April 19 - 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 - Maroon/White Spring Game - Davis Wade Stadium - 1 p.m.
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S GOLF TEAMS OFF TO GREAT SPRING STARTS
I hope you have noticed that our men’s and women’s golf teams have started the spring season with a flurry of great finishes in tournaments across the South.
The men’s team, under the direction of Coach Clay Homan, has four top-10 finishes since starting the spring campaign, including first- and second-place showings in its last two tournaments. The men’s team won the Tiger Shootout at Grand National Golf Club in Opelika, Ala., and finished second a week ago at the Seminole Intercollegiate at Southwood Golf Club in Tallahassee, Fla.
Earlier this spring, Clay’s team was 10th at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., and tied for fourth at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate.
Coach Ginger Brown-Lemm’s team has produced three top-10 finishes since the spring semester began. He club most recently tied for eighth at the SunTrust Gator Invitational in Gainesville, but earlier this was second at the JMU/Eagle Landing Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla. They opened the spring tied for fourth at the Westbrook Invitational in Peoria, Ariz.
SALUTING DR. JIMMY ABRAHAM
The news this week that Dr. Jimmy Abraham has decided to retire this June saddens those of us in athletics who have worked closely with Dr. A through the years. There is no single individual who has given more to Our University than Jimmy. He truly loves Mississippi State University and has always been one of its greatest ambassadors. We will miss him.
But we also know that Jimmy will continue to sell his alma mater nationally, even as he steps away from his position as Associate Vice President and Executive Director of the Alumni Association. Now, he will be able to do just that while spending more time with his wife Patti, children and grandchildren.
Best of luck Dr. A with all of your future endeavors, and I hope you know that you have a lot of friends here in the Athletic Department.
MISSISSIPPI STATE HOME SCHEDULE
Friday, March 22 – Women’s Tennis v Arkansas, 3 pm
Saturday, March 23 – Track & Field hosts Big 10/SEC Challenge
Sunday, March 24 – Women’s Tennis v LSU, 1 pm
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.
Hail State!
Scott Stricklin