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PrintHometown: Starkville
Team: Bulldogs
Colors: Maroon and white
Tailgating: The tailgating area is The Junction.
According to Whit Waide, a professor at Mississippi State, it was known years ago as Malfunction Junction where several campus roads intersected.
Eventually the roads were ripped out and replaced with a large grassy field.
Food: "A lot of barbecue ... more barbecue than you see at other places," Waide said. "There is an abundance of food."
Attire: Dress is best described as business casual, Waide said. Some students wear dresses or button downs; others don T-shirts and jeans.
Rituals: The football team does the Dawg Pound Rock on the sideline before the start of the game.
It's the cowbell, though, that defines school spirit.
"A cowbell will be in someone's pocket, and you can hear the clanging when they walk," Waide said.
The SEC has imposed cowbell rules for Mississippi State fans over the years. From 1974 to 2010, they were not allowed during games. This year they were permitted in the stadium with certain restrictions on use.
Next: University of South Carolina
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Comments
Coach Dan Mullen has brought a lot of pride and new traditions to Miss State. For example, I am watching the Egg Bowl and the Miss State football players are now wearing maroon jersys with gold lettering that say HAIL STATE on the back of the jersey. The gold coming from the Golden egg trophy to the winner.
After the home football games, they go to the student section and sing the Miss State alma mater.
Even the marketing campaigns and billboards on the highways that say, Welcome to Our State is a positive way to recruit prospective students, as well as the television adverting promotions.
I would love to see you print a follow up story about the history of the cowbell and the story of how it became a tradition at Miss State.