Wednesday Bulldog Update - 4/24/13
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Before we get into the usual news nuggets on this week’s Bulldog Update, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for making Super Bulldog Weekend, yet again, such a success. Bulldogs showed up in droves both on campus and online in support of our teams, resulting in numerous successes over the course of the long weekend.
We’re already looking forward to next year.
ATTENDANCE RECORDS AT DUDY NOBLE
In addition to congratulating our Diamond Dawgs for winning 10 of their last 12 games, I offer a job-well-done to all of our fans who have supported us over the years, as Dudy Noble now owns the entire Top 10 in college baseball attendance records. Some schools would be happy just having the No. 1 spot and knowing you’re the best place in the country to watch a baseball game, but Our State couldn’t rest until we got all 10. The 14,562 of us in attendance this past Saturday was the second-largest crowd ever, both in the nation and on campus. I’m hoping for more chances to break our own records in the postseason.
PROGRESS AT DAVIS WADE STADIUM
Speaking of attendance records, we are well on pace to break our own mark in football when we host Southern Miss to start the 2014 football season. As many of you saw over the weekend, expansion and renovation of Davis Wade Stadium is coming along quickly and smoothly. The first tier of the lower bowl now stretches all the way around the endzone and will be a nice upgrade for our students, while significant construction has been done in recent weeks on the concourse of the endzone, in addition to the second level getting started. Renovations in the concourse of the west side are on track, as well, and we hope those with seats on that side of the stadium will enjoy the new amenities and clean look this fall.
TICKET RENEWAL DEADLINE APRIL 25
May this serve as a final reminder to members of the Bulldog Club that the deadline for season ticket renewal is tomorrow, Thursday, April 25. Once the deadline passes, tickets will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Stop me if I sound like a broken record, but I’m excited about your enthusiasm once again as we’re on pace for yet another sell-out season at Davis Wade Stadium.
GOOD LUCK TO SEVERAL TEAMS ENTERING POSTSEASON
As the semester winds down, several season are entering their stretch run. Particularly, our tennis and golf teams are waiting to hear their postseason fate and have high hopes for where they will land. I and our women’s golf team would like to invite you to join us at Buffalo Wild Wings in Starkville on Monday, April 29, at 6:30 for the NCAA Women’s Golf Selection show. Coach Homan’s men will find out their NCAA Tournament draw on May 6.
Both of our golf teams earned Top 5 finishes in the SEC Tournament over the weekend, the best finish ever by the women’s program and the highest in five years for the men. Between multiple Player of the Week honors and a record number of tournament victories, each has had its best season in program history. We’re very proud of what they’ve done and look forward to what the postseason holds
The NCAA Tennis Championship field will be announced on Tuesday, April 30, and, with a No. 12 national ranking, Coach Nilsson’s men’s team is in a position to be one of the 16 hosts for the first and second rounds. It would be the second year in a row for our program to host and speaks to the work his team continues to put in.
MORE FUN ON THE DIAMOND THIS WEEKEND
While many of our teams will be heading out of town, we welcome Coach Stuedeman’s softball team back to Starkville this weekend in a big series against South Carolina. They’re putting the final touches on their NCAA Tournament resume’ after nearly scraping a series win at No. 4 Alabama last weekend. I’d love to see another packed house at the MSU softball field like we had two weeks when the Bulldogs hosted, you know, that school to the north.
For those Bulldogs who have spread across the southeast, I hope many of you will be able to make it to Nashville to cheer on Coach Cohen’s Diamond Dawgs in a series against highly-ranked Vanderbilt carrying national implications. Our guys are on quite the roll lately and I know we have many of you in the Nashville area. Win, lose or draw, they’ll be thrilled to have your support on the road.
THOUSANDS RAISED FOR BOSTON MARATHON
As of noon today, over $20,000 has been raised for the One Boston Fund in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings. We’re auctioning 24 of our game-worn “B” hats from last Thursday’s baseball game and have been overwhelmed with the interest and sincere support from Our State. If you’d like to join in the bidding (ends April 26, 5 p.m. CT), it’s as easy as clicking here.
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