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The Drill Field
The Drill Field”- located in the center of campus. Known for gorgeous buildings including Lee Hall to the north (built in the late 1800’s) to Schwalm Hall to the south (built in the late 1900’s).
The Mitchell Memorial library can be located in the SE corner of the drill field where you will also find the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library located downstairs. To the NW corner
of the drill field rests the Colvard Student Union where many students frequent throughout the day to grab lunch from Chick-fil-A or coffee from Starbucks as well as many other dining options located in proximity.ty.
The Junction
The Junction is the prime real estate spot for tailgating during football season where crowds upwards of 80,000 + create a tent village, fire up their grills, and reminisce prior to kick off. The 6.2 million dollar scoreboard in the background with the Mississippi State logo along with an antique statue of Bully (1 of 3 on campus) make for an ideal photo opportunity while on campus. Many fans and graduates alike pose for pictures in this spot. The sidewalk leading into the stadium is also the home of the famous “Dawg Walk” prior to kickoffs on Saturdays.
Deavenport Hall
Deavenport Hall is a new construction dorm located in the center of campus. Everything south of the dorm is academics, where you will spend your mornings in class. And everything north is for the student-athletes. You share a dorm room with one other freshman, and a bathroom for the two of you. There is a common room, study area, kitchen and laundry room on each floor. Halls are keycard access only for safety and privacy.
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Templeton Athletic Academic Center
Newly renovated $10 million dollar facility houses the athletic academic advisors, two separate computer labs, an on campus writing center, individual tutoring rooms, Student-Athlete Development offices, and a cafeteria the operates in cooperation with the sports nutritionists to fuel the student-athletes.
Shira Olympic Sport Weight Room
Renovated in 2019, the Shira weight room facility is run by Head Olympic Strength and Conditioning Coach Marci Hoppa. Coach Hoppa's combination of movement assessments, technology assisted workouts, and baseball/softball knowledge is a key part of our training.
Sports Nutrition
Our sports dietitians provide individualized nutrition support to each student-athlete to help achieve optimal
athletic performance, as well as education for life after college.
Nusz Park
Opened in 2016, Nusz Park features 1,265 maroon chairback seats, a new video board, restrooms, concession stands, standing concourse viewing, pressbox and media rooms. The facility has also added larger dugouts, a new bullpen, training room, locker room and bathroom facilities for the student-athletes.
The #RickettsEffect
Samantha Ricketts is one of the rising coaching stars in college softball. She has directed the most explosive offenses in Mississippi State history and was named the Bulldogs’ sixth head softball coach on July 22, 2019. In her first season at the helm, Ricketts got off to a start many only dream off. She became the fastest head coach in program history to reach 20 wins, doing so in 23 games and is the only coach in program history to have her team nationally ranked at some point during her first year.
Ricketts led her first team to a 25-3 record as the Bulldogs joined No. 1/1 UCLA as the only teams in the nation to win 25 games. She is the first first-year head coach since at least 1989 to lead the nation in total wins. State finished at No. 20 in the final polls, its highest final ranking in program history.
The success continued in 2021 as the Bulldogs reached their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament and third straight regional final. Ricketts also became the fastest Bulldog head coach to reach the 60-win mark, doing so in just 87 games.
Traditions
Why Teal?
Alex Wilcox was a member of the 2018 Mississippi State softball team who inspired the nation with her courageous fight against ovarian cancer. During her freshman season, Wilcox continued to practice while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment. MSU immortalized Wilcox on Sept. 15, 2018 when the university retired her No. 8 jersey, making her the first female student-athlete in Mississippi State history to receive the honor. The MSU softball team has continued to honor her legacy by wearing teal uniforms to raise awareness of ovarian cancer for all midweek competitions.
The Cowbell
During a 1930's home football game between MSU and arch-rival Ole Miss, a cow wandered onto the field. Mississippi State soundly beat the Rebels that Saturday, and State students immediately adopted the cow as a good luck charm. Students are said to have continued bringing a cow to football games for a while, until the practice was eventually discontinued in favor of bringing just the cow's bell. We ring responsibly to follow the NCAA rules, and Davis Wade stadium is the only stadium in the country where artificial noisemakers are allowed to honor the university tradition..
"Don't Stop Believing"
A fourth quarter tradition..
Welcome to #StarkVegas
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge is located in east-central Mississippi. This 48,000-acre refuge was established in 1940 and contains a diversity of habitats. The refuge is one of over 550 refuges that make up the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge System. The Blue Goose identifies refuges which are found in all 50 states, covering over 92 million acres. This National treasure, set aside for wildlife, provides enjoyment for over 30 million visitors a year.
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Lights on Lafayette
For families, singles, and retirees, the Starkville community and adjacent Mississippi State University offer an abundance of places to see, events to attend, and activities to enjoy. The opportunities range from SEC sporting events, outdoor recreation, tours, rodeos, historical sites and buildings to festivals and concerts, art galleries, and museums – and, of course, a wide range of shopping and dining options.
VISIT STARKVILLE
