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Mississippi State Bulldogs football

January 28, 2023

The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the sport of American football. The Bulldogs compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They also have won one SEC championship in 1941 and a division championship in 1998. The Bulldogs have 26 postseason bowl appearances. The program has produced 38 All-Americans (2 consensus), 171 All-SEC selections, and 124 NFL players (11 first-round draft picks).[4] The Bulldogs’ home stadium, Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, is the second oldest in the NCAA Division I FBS.

Mississippi State Bulldogs football
First season1895
Athletic directorZac Selmon
Head coachZach Arnett
1st season, 1–0 (1.000)
StadiumDavis Wade Stadium
(capacity: 60,311)
FieldScott Field
Year built1914
Field surfaceNatural Grass
LocationStarkville, Mississippi
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern
All-time record589–602–39 (.495)
Bowl record15–11 (.577)
Unclaimed national titles1 (1940)[1]
Conference titles1 (1941)
Division titles1 (1998)
RivalriesAlabama (rivalry)
LSU (rivalry)
Ole Miss (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans2[2]
Current uniform
ColorsMaroon and white[3]
   
Fight songHail State
MascotBully
Marching bandFamous Maroon Band
WebsiteHailState.com

History

Main article: List of Mississippi State Bulldogs football seasons

Early history (1895–1966)

Mississippi State (then known as the Mississippi A&M Aggies) first fielded a football team in 1895.[5] The team was coached by W. M. Matthews.[5] During his one-season tenure, Matthews posted an overall record of zero wins and two losses (0–2).[6] He is also credited with the selection of what became the official school colors, maroon and white, prior to the Aggies first game ever played at Union University.[7][8]

 
Dan Martin, coach 1903–06

Daniel S. Martin left rival Ole Miss and served as the Aggies' head football coach from 1903–1906.[9] His final record in Starkville was 10–11–3.[10] W. D. Chadwick led the Aggies from 1909–1913.[11] His final record was 29–12–2.[11] During his five-season tenure, Mississippi A&M appeared in and won its first bowl game, the 1911 Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba.[11] Fullback Dutch Reule was selected All-Southern. The 1911 team was also referred to as 'The Bull Dogs'.[12] Earl C. Hayes replaced Chadwick and led Mississippi A&M to 15–8–2 record from 1914–1916.[13] Hunter Kimball received the most votes of any All-Southern halfback in 1914.[14][15] The Mississippi Legislature renamed Mississippi A&M as "Mississippi State College" in 1925 and the mascot was changed from Aggies to Maroons in 1932.[16] Ralph Sasse enjoyed success as Mississippi State's head football coach. After leading Mississippi State to a 20–10–2 record in three years and an appearance in the 1937 Orange Bowl,[17] a loss,[17] Sasse stunned the students and players by resigning from his head coach's duties, following a doctor's orders after a sudden nervous breakdown.[18] Allyn McKeen left Memphis to become head football coach at Mississippi State,[19] where he compiled a 65–19–3 record in ten seasons.[20] In 1940, he was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year after leading Mississippi State to its only undefeated season in school history and its second Orange Bowl appearance, a victory.[19][20] The following year, 1941, his Maroons squad captured the first and only Southeastern Conference championship in program history. McKeen retired from coaching in 1948 after being fired by Athletic Director Dudy Noble because of a 4–4–1 season.[21] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1991. Mississippi State did not field a football team in 1943.[22] Arthur Morton left VMI to become MSU's head football coach after McKeen's retirement.[23] Morton's Maroons posted struggling records of 0–8–1, 4–5 and 4–5 for a cumulative record of 8–18–1[24] before Morton's firing.[25] Murray Warmath came to Mississippi State from his post as line coach at Army[26] and posted records of 5–4 and 5–2–3 for a cumulative two-season record of 10–6–3.[27] Having coached only two seasons in Starkville, Warmath resigned after the 1953 season to take the job of University of Minnesota head coach.[26] Darrell Royal came to Mississippi State from the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos[28] and put up back-to-back 6–4 records in his two seasons as the Maroons head football coach.[29] Royal resigned after the 1955 season to accept the head football coach position at Washington.[28]

Wade Walker was promoted from line coach to head coach following Royal's departure. Walker compiled a 22–32–2 record over his 6-season tenure.[30][31] In 1958 the Legislature renamed the university as Mississippi State University. The Mississippi State Maroons posted a lackluster 2–7–1 record in 1959.[32] The following year, Walker's Maroons improved to 5–5,[32] but students, fans and alumni demanded his ouster.[33] University president Dean W. Colvard relented and fired Walker as football coach, but kept him on as athletic director, a post he kept until 1966.[33][34] Mississippi State changed its mascot from Maroons to Bulldogs in 1960.[16] However, "Bulldogs" had been used unofficially since at least 1905, and the nickname had long been interchangeable with "Maroons."[35] Paul Davis was promoted from assistant coach to head coach following Walker's firing.[36] His teams went 20–38–2 overall and 9–22–2 in the Southeastern Conference in Davis' five seasons.[37] The Bulldogs had a 7–2–2 record in 1963, earning its first postseason bowl game since 1939.[38] The team finished the season with a 16–12 victory over North Carolina State in front of 8,309 fans at the 1963 Liberty Bowl played in a bitter cold Philadelphia.[39] Mississippi State was able to convert two botched North Carolina State punts into touchdowns, and a 13–0 lead at the first quarter.[40] United Press International named Davis the SEC Coach of the Year for the 1963 season.[38] After a lackluster 2–8 record in 1966, MSU terminated Davis, as well as athletic director Wade Walker.[41]

Charles Shira era (1967–1972)

Charles Shira, who had been defensive coordinator for the University of Texas under former Bulldogs head coach Darrell Royal, was named to fill the head coaching position as well as the vacant post of athletic director.[42] In his first season, his team won two games, followed by none the following year. Mississippi State improved to 3–7 in 1969. That year, Shira served as the coach for the Gray squad in the Blue-Gray Classic.[43] Mississippi State posted a surprising six-win season in 1970, including a victory over rival No. 10 Ole Miss.[44] For the accomplishment, the SEC named Shira its Coach of the Year.[45] In 1969, Shira became the first MSU football coach to coach a black player, Frank Dowsing.[46] In 1972, having compiled a record of 16–45–2,[44] Shira resigned as head coach to focus on his duties as athletic director.[47]

Bob Tyler era (1973–1978)

Bob Tyler was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach of the Bulldogs football team after Shira's resignation.[48] Tyler led Mississippi State to a 9–3 season and a victory in the 1974 Sun Bowl over North Carolina.[49] During that season, his team beat perennial powerhouses, Georgia and LSU.[50] The Bulldogs' record was 6–4–1 in 1975, and it was an impressive 9–2 in 1976, ending the season ranked No. 20 in the AP Poll.[49] His team compiled a 5–6 record in 1977, and he went 6–5 in his final season with the Bulldogs.[49] Mississippi State was placed on probation by the NCAA prior to the 1975 season due to alleged improper benefits to student athletes.[51] The school sought and won court approval to play in an adverse legal opinion to the NCAA.[51] Although the alleged infraction was trivial,[52] the NCAA forced the school to forfeit most games it won in 1975, 1976, and 1977.[53]

Emory Bellard era (1979–1985)

Emory Bellard, who had resigned as head coach of Texas A&M during the 1978 season after only six games, was hired to serve as head football coach at Mississippi State beginning with the next (1979) season.[54] He was head coach from 1979 until 1985.[55] He was considered to have had one of the most innovative offensive minds in football and is credited for inventing the wishbone formation.[54] Bellard spent seven seasons as head coach at MSU.[55] His best years as the Bulldogs head coach were in 1980 and 1981, when his team finished 9–3 and 8–4, respectively.[55] Also, Bellard was the coach when Mississippi State defeated number 1, undefeated Alabama 6–3 in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1980.[56] However, the Bulldogs significantly regressed after 1981. In the next five seasons, he only won a total of five games in SEC play. Before the 1985 season, Bellard boldly predicted that the Bulldogs would rebound and win their first SEC title since 1941. They not only failed to do so, but went winless in SEC play. Bellard was fired after the season.[57] He would, however, return in 1988 to coach at the high school level in Texas.

Rockey Felker era (1986–1990)

Rockey Felker returned to his alma mater, which was coming off four consecutive losing seasons, from his post as wide receivers coach at Alabama.[58] At 33, Felker was the youngest coach in the country and the first Mississippi State coach in 30 years to start his career as MSU head football coach with a winning record (6–5).[58][59] However, the Bulldogs never recovered from four consecutive blowout losses at the end of the 1986 season, during which they scored a total of nine points, including a 24–3 loss to Ole Miss. Felker suffered through four losing seasons (4–7, 1–10, 5–6, 5–6) between 1987 and 1990, and only won a total of five games in SEC play. He was only 1–4 vs. Ole Miss.[59] He resigned under pressure at the end of the 1990 season,[60] but would be brought back by his successor, Jackie Sherrill, as running backs coach for two seasons and in a non-coaching position in the football program, where he serves to this day.[58]

Jackie Sherrill era (1991–2003)

After three years away from the game, former Washington State, Pittsburgh and Texas A&M head coach Jackie Sherrill was hired as head football coach at Mississippi State in 1991.[61] He took over a program that hadn't had a winning season since 1986 (and had won a total of 14 games in that stretch) and hadn't had a winning record in Southeastern Conference play since 1981. Sherrill began his Mississippi State career with an upset victory over a familiar foe from his A&M days, the Texas Longhorns (who were the defending Southwest Conference champions).[62] In thirteen seasons in Starkville, Sherrill coached the Bulldogs to a record of 75–75–2.[63] His 75 wins are the most in school history. He led the team to an SEC West title in 1998, and a berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic.[63] A year later, he notched a 10–2 record and No. 12 final ranking.[63] That No. 12 ranking was the highest final ranking achieved by any NCAA Division I-A school in Mississippi in over 30 years. Sherrill, along with Bill Snyder of Kansas State, were among the first to use the rich JUCO systems of their respective states to help their programs progress. Although Sherrill won only eight games in his last three seasons, he built Mississippi State into a consistent winner despite playing in the same division as powerhouses like Alabama, Auburn and LSU. He also finished with a winning record against in-state rival Ole Miss (7–6). Under Sherrill, the Bulldogs went to six bowl games;[63] before his arrival they'd only been to seven bowls in 96 years of play. Sherrill also achieved notoriety by having his team observe the castration of a bull as a motivational technique prior to a game versus Texas. Unranked Mississippi State subsequently beat the No. 13 ranked Longhorns.[64] Sherrill retired after the 2003 season,[65] which was followed by the NCAA levying probation for four years on the program.[66] Despite a prolonged 3-year investigation by the NCAA, Mississippi State was[67] not found guilty of any major violations, and Sherrill was never personally found guilty of any NCAA rules violations at either Mississippi State or Texas A&M.[65]

Sylvester Croom era (2004–2008)

 
Head coach Sylvester Croom

Sylvester Croom, a longtime assistant in the NFL and a former player for Bear Bryant at Alabama, was hired to replace Sherrill.[68] Croom is a significant figure, because he is not only the first African American head football coach in Mississippi State history, but also in SEC football history.[68] When Croom was hired at Mississippi State, he inherited a program that was riddled with NCAA sanctions and had not won consistently since the 1990s.[68] Croom led the Bulldogs to a 3–8 (2–6 SEC) record in 2004.[69] State began the season with a victory over Tulane,[70] then lost five straight, to No. 18 Auburn,[71] Maine,[72] No. 13 LSU,[73] Vanderbilt[74] and UAB.[75] The next week, State upset No. 20 Florida in what turned out to be the game that got Florida head coach Ron Zook fired.[76][77] The next game saw State beat Kentucky.[78] State then lost their final three games of the season to Alabama,[79] Arkansas[80] and Ole Miss.[81] In 2005, State again finished 3–8.[82] After defeating Murray State in the season opener,[83] State lost to Auburn[84] then beat Tulane in Shreveport, Louisiana.[85] State then lost seven consecutive games, starting with No. 7 Georgia,[86] then No. 4 LSU,[87] No. 13 Florida,[88] Houston,[89] Kentucky,[90] No. 4 Alabama[91] and Arkansas.[92] State defeated Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl to finish the season.[93]

Mississippi State struggled to a 3–9 record in 2006.[94] State lost its first three games of the season to South Carolina,[95] No. 4 Auburn,[96] Tulane,[97] State beat UAB to get its first win of the year in the fourth game.[98] Losses to No 9 LSU and No. 4 West Virginia followed,[99][100] then State defeated Jacksonville State to snap the two-game skid.[101] State then lost to Georgia[102] and Kentucky.[103] MSST then upset Alabama in Alabama[104] before losing to No. 5 Arkansas[105] and Ole Miss.[106] During the 2007 season, during which his team won eight games, including the Liberty Bowl,[107] Croom garnered Coach of the Year awards from three organizations.[107] On December 4, 2007, Croom was named coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association for region two.[107] The AFCA has five regional coaches of the year and announces a national coach of the year each January.[108] That same year, on December 5, Croom was named SEC Coach of the Year twice, once as voted by the other SEC coaches and once as voted by The Associated Press. It was the first time a Mississippi State coach received the AP honor since Charley Shira in 1970 and the first time a Mississippi State coach received the coaches award since Wade Walker in 1957.[109] After a 4–8 record in 2008,[107] culminating with a 45–0 loss to rival No. 25 Ole Miss, Croom was asked by school officials to resign as head coach of the Bulldogs.[110]

Dan Mullen era (2009–2017)

 
Coach Dan Mullen

Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen was hired as Mississippi State's head coach in late 2008.[111] Mullen arrived in Starkville with an explosive offensive background and a reputation as a quarterback guru, having tutored Alex Smith, Chris Leak and Tim Tebow during his career as an assistant coach.[112] Serving under head coach Urban Meyer, Mullen oversaw an offense at Florida that was one of the most explosive in the country, helped the Gators capture the 2006 and 2008 national championships and sent many players into the National Football League.[113][114] In Mullen's first season, the Bulldogs finished 5–7, ending upbeat with a 41–27 victory over No. 20 Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl.[115] In 2010, they started 1–2, and then they had a 6-game winning streak to make their record 7–2 before losing to Alabama and Arkansas, but defeated Ole Miss.[116] The team participated in a bowl game for the first time since 2007, soundly defeating Michigan in the Gator Bowl 52–14.[116][117] In 2011, the Bulldogs entered the season ranked No. 19 in the country, and they started 1–0, before losing to the defending national champion Auburn 41–34.[118] Mississippi State entered the Ole Miss game in Starkville needing a win to qualify for a bowl bid for a second straight season.[118] The Bulldogs won 31–3, earning Mullen the distinction as the first coach to beat Ole Miss in his first three tries since Allyn McKeen in 1941. The Bulldogs capped off the season with a Music City Bowl win over Wake Forest in Nashville, Tennessee.[118][119] In 2012, Mississippi State defeated Tennessee 41–31 in their sixth game of the season to become bowl eligible.[120] After a 7–0 start the team won only one of its remaining five games to finish 8–5, including a 41–24 loss at Ole Miss and a 34–20 loss to the No. 21 Northwestern in the Gator Bowl.[120][121] This was the first time Mississippi State appeared in a bowl three straight years since 2000. In 2013, MSST under Mullen became bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive year following a 17–10 overtime win over Ole Miss.[122] MSST defeated Rice in the Liberty Bowl December 31, 2013 in Memphis, Tennessee, by a score of 44–7.[122][123] It was MSST's third bowl win in the last four years.[124]

2014 turned out to be the most historic run for the team. Led by quarterback Dak Prescott, the Bulldogs reached a No. 1 national ranking for the first time ever, doing so in both the Amway Coaches Poll and the AP Poll, after beating 3 consecutive top-10 teams (No. 8 LSU Tigers,[125] No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies,[126] and No. 2 Auburn Tigers).[127] As a result, the Bulldogs became the fastest team in AP Poll's history to reach the No. 1 ranking, from being unranked, in only 5 weeks. They also became the first team to be ranked No. 1 in the new FBS Playoff Football Poll and held the top ranking for the first three weeks of the poll before losing to Alabama. However, at the end of the season, only one of the three teams remained ranked. Auburn finished 8–5 (4–4 SEC) and ranked No. 22, and lost to Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl, Texas A&M finished 7–5 (3–5 SEC) and beat West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl, and LSU, finished 8–4 (4–4 SEC) and lost to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl.[128][129] The Bulldogs couldn't sustain that momentum, and lost two of their last three regular season games, first to No. 5 Alabama 25–20[130] and then two weeks later to No. 18 Ole Miss 31–17.[131] That loss knocked the Bulldogs out of playoff contention, leaving them 10–2 and ranked No. 7 by the College Football Playoff Committee in their final rankings. As a result, they were awarded a trip to the Orange Bowl against No. 10 Georgia Tech on December 31, 2014. Thanks to the Bulldogs’ inability to stop Georgia Tech's heavy use of the triple option, State lost that contest 49–34. Mississippi State finished the season 10–3 and were ranked No. 11 in the final AP Poll.[132][133] In 2015, the Bulldogs went 4–4 in the SEC and finished the regular season with an 8–4 record and went on to play in the 2015 Belk Bowl against the NC State Wolfpack,[134] winning 51–28.[135] Dak Prescott was named the game MVP after throwing 4 touchdowns.[136] 2016 saw the Bulldogs stumble to a 5–7 regular season record.[137] The season included 3 losses on the final play of games against South Alabama,[138] BYU,[139] and Kentucky.[140] The Bulldogs were able to finish the season on a high note defeating in-state rival Ole Miss 55–20 in the 2016 Egg Bowl.[141] Due to a shortage of 6-win teams and MSU's Academic Progress Rate, they made their seventh consecutive bowl appearance in the St. Petersburg Bowl against Miami (OH) on December 26.[142] The Bulldogs won the game thanks to a blocked extra point and a blocked field goal, edging Miami (Ohio) 17–16.[143] On February 27, 2017, Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen announced a four-year contract extension for Coach Mullen through February 2021.[144] On November 26, 2017, after an 8–4 regular season, Dan Mullen left Mississippi State University to become the head coach at the University of Florida.[145]

Joe Moorhead era (2018–2019)

After Dan Mullen’s departure, Mississippi State hired Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead as the program's 33rd head coach.[146] Moorhead arrived in Starkville with a reputation as an outstanding offensive mind, turning around a struggling FCS program in Fordham as the head coach before moving to Penn State as offensive coordinator where his offenses set school records.[147] The Mississippi State University administration signed Moorhead to a four-year contract worth a total of $11 million in base salary.[148] On January 3, 2020, after failing to energize the offense, and several off field issues, Mississippi State announced Moorhead's firing.[149]

Mike Leach era (2020–2022)

On January 9, 2020, Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen announced the hiring of Washington State and former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach to the vacant head coaching position.[150][151] Leach arrived with a reputation as a great offensive mind and installed a pass-heavy, up-tempo offensive attack known as the Air raid that he has utilized throughout his coaching career.[152] Leach signed a four-year contract with Mississippi State worth $20 million excluding incentives.[153]

Leach died after a heart attack on December 12, 2022.[154]

Zach Arnett era (2022–present)

On December 15, 2022, Zach Arnett was named the 35th head coach of the Bulldogs.[155] Prior to Mike Leach's death, Arnett had been appointed interim head coach after Leach had been hospitalized.[156][157]

Conference affiliations

Championship

Conference championship

The 1941 Mississippi State Bulldogs finished the year with an 8–1–1 record, and won the Southeastern Conference championship. The season included wins over Florida, Alabama, Auburn, and Ole Miss. The Bulldogs tied with LSU and were defeated by Duquesne.

Season Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1941 SEC Allyn McKeen 8–1–1 4–0–1

Division championship

The SEC has been split into two divisions since the 1992 season with Mississippi State competing in the SEC West since that time. In 1998, MSU finished the regular season with a 26–14 win over Alabama, a 22–21 win over Arkansas, and a 28–6 win over Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi. At the end of the regular season, both MSU and Arkansas finished with 6–2 conference records, but by virtue of MSU's head-to-head win over Arkansas, MSU earned the right to represent the SEC West in the SEC Championship Game. In that game, MSU led eventual national champion Tennessee in the fourth quarter before falling 14–24 in the Georgia Dome. They continued on to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, Texas, against the 20th-ranked Texas Longhorns. The Bulldogs lost the game 11–38 on 24 unanswered Longhorn points in the 3rd quarter.

Season Division Coach Opponent SEC CG result
1998† SEC West Jackie Sherrill Tennessee L 14–24

† Co-champions

Bowl games

Mississippi State has played in 26 bowl games, compiling a record of 15–11 through the 2021 season.[160] Memorable highlights include wins in the 1941 Orange Bowl, the 1963 Liberty Bowl, the 1999 Peach Bowl, and the 2011 Gator Bowl.[161]

Mississippi State's first bowl game was against the Havana Athletic Club in the Bacardi Bowl on January 1, 1912 in Havana, Cuba. Known as the Mississippi A&M Aggies at that time, the Bulldogs won by a final score of 12–0. Mississippi State does not count the victory against the athletic club among its bowl games and bowl wins.[162][163]

From 1999 to 2011 Mississippi State had a 5-game winning streak in bowls. The streak ended against the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2013 Gator Bowl. The Bulldogs have been to 12 straight bowl games for the first time in school history dating back to the 2010 season.[164][165][166][167][168]

Date Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1936 Ralph Sasse Orange Bowl Duquesne L 12–13
1940 Allyn McKeen Orange Bowl Georgetown W 14–7
1963 Paul E. Davis Liberty Bowl NC State W 16–12
1974 Bob Tyler Sun Bowl North Carolina W 26–24
1980 Emory Bellard Sun Bowl Nebraska L 17–31
1981 Hall of Fame Classic Kansas W 10–0
1991 Jackie Sherrill Liberty Bowl Air Force L 15–38
1992 Peach Bowl North Carolina L 17–21
1994 Peach Bowl NC State L 24–28
1998 Cotton Bowl Classic Texas L 11–38
1999 Peach Bowl Clemson W 17–7
2000 Independence Bowl Texas A&M W 43–41 OT
2007 Sylvester Croom Liberty Bowl UCF W 10–3
2010 Dan Mullen Gator Bowl Michigan W 52–14
2011 Music City Bowl Wake Forest W 23–17
2012 Gator Bowl Northwestern L 20–34
2013 Liberty Bowl Rice W 44–7
2014 Orange Bowl Georgia Tech L 34–49
2015 Belk Bowl NC State W 51–28
2016 St. Petersburg Bowl Miami (OH) W 17–16
2017 Greg Knox (interim) TaxSlayer Bowl Louisville W 31–27
2018 Joe Moorhead Outback Bowl Iowa L 22–27
2019 Music City Bowl Louisville L 28–38
2020 Mike Leach Armed Forces Bowl Tulsa W 28–26
2021 Liberty Bowl Texas Tech L 7–34
2022 Zach Arnett ReliaQuest Bowl Illinois W 19–10

Rivalries

Ole Miss

Main article: Egg Bowl

The Battle for the Golden Egg, also known as the Egg Bowl, is the Mississippi State-Ole Miss rivalry. It was first played in 1901 and has been played every year since 1915 (with the exception of the 1943 season when neither school fielded teams due to World War II) making it the tenth longest uninterrupted series in the United States. The game became "The Battle for the Golden Egg" in 1927 when a traveling trophy was added. Although through the years the game has been played primarily in 3 locations Starkville (38 times), Oxford (36 times), and Jackson (29 times); there have been a few meetings in other locations including Tupelo 3 times, Greenwood twice, Clarksdale once, and Columbus once. Through 2021, in total the two squads have met on the gridiron 118 times with Ole Miss holding a 64–45–6 lead in the series.[169][170]

LSU

Main article: LSU-Mississippi State football rivalry

The LSU-Mississippi State rivalry is an annual football game between the Louisiana State Tigers and Mississippi State University Bulldogs. Both universities are founding members of the Southeastern Conference, as well as the Western Division. This rivalry is LSU's longest rivalry with 115 meetings.

Mississippi State's 34–29 victory on September 20, 2014, was the Bulldogs' first over LSU since 1999, their first in Baton Rouge since 1991, and just their fourth overall since 1985.

The 1976 game was won on the field by Mississippi State but later deemed by the NCAA to have been forfeited, therefore lost, by the Bulldogs.

Alabama

Main article: Alabama–Mississippi State football rivalry

The Alabama–Mississippi State rivalry, sometimes referred to as the 90 Mile Drive or the Battle for Highway 82, is an annual football game between the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and Mississippi State University Bulldogs. Both universities are founding members of the Southeastern Conference, as well as the Western Division. The two campuses are located approximately 90 miles apart, and are the closest SEC schools in terms of distance.

Entering its 106th meeting as of the 2021 football season, Alabama-Mississippi State is one of the SEC's longest-running series, dating back to 1896.

All-time record vs. SEC teams

Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage Streak First Last
Alabama[171] 18 85 3 .184 Lost 15 1896 2022
Arkansas[172] 14 18 1 .439 Won 1 1916 2022
Auburn[173] 29 65 3 .314 Won 2 1905 2022
Florida[174] 19 34 2 .364 Lost 1 1923 2018
Georgia[175] 6 20 0 .231 Lost 4 1914 2022
Kentucky[176] 25 25 0 .500 Lost 1 1914 2022
LSU[177] 36 77 3 .323 Lost 2 1896 2022
Missouri[178] 2 2 0 .500 Won 2 1981 2020
Ole Miss[179] 47 64 6 .427 Won 1 1901 2022
South Carolina[180] 7 9 0 .438 Won 1 1992 2016
Tennessee[181] 16 29 1 .359 Lost 1 1907 2019
Texas A&M[182] 9 7 0 .563 Won 2 1912 2022
Vanderbilt[183] 15 7 2 .667 Won 5 1904 2021
Totals 243 442 21 .359

Ring of Honor Inductees

Inductee Position Number Years played Induction year
Johnie Cooks Linebacker 99 1979-1982 2011
DD Lewis Linebacker 53 1965-1967 2011
Jackie Parker Quarterback 12 1952-1953 2011
Jack Cristil Announcer 1953-2011 2011
Kent Hull Center 58 1979-1982 2012
Tom "Shorty" McWilliams Halfback 41 1944, 1946-1948 2014
Joe Fortunato Linebacker 31 1950-1952 2017
Art Davis Halfback 22 1952-1955 2018
Walt Harris Cornerback 2 1992-1995 2018

Traditions

The Cowbell

The most unusual and certainly the most resounding symbol of Mississippi State University tradition is the cowbell. Despite decades of attempts by opponents and authorities to banish it from scenes of competition,[184] diehard State fans still celebrate Bulldog victories loudly and proudly with the distinctive sound of ringing cowbells.

The precise origin of the cowbell as a fixture of Mississippi State sports tradition remains unclear to this day. The best records have cowbells gradually introduced to the MSU sports scene in the late 1930s and early 1940s, coinciding with the 'golden age' of Mississippi State football success prior to World War II.

The most popular legend is that during a home football game between State and arch-rival Ole Miss, a jersey cow wandered onto the playing field. Mississippi State soundly whipped the Rebels that Saturday, and State College 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.

Whatever the origin, it is certain that by the 1950s cowbells were common at Mississippi State games, and by the 1960s were established as the special symbol of Mississippi State. Ironically, the cowbell's popularity grew most rapidly during the long years when State football teams were rarely successful. Flaunting this anachronism from the 'aggie' days was a proud response by students and alumni to outsider scorn of the university's 'cow college' history.

In the 1960s two MSU professors, Earl W. Terrell and Ralph L. Reeves obliged some students by welding handles on the bells to they could be rung with much more convenience and authority. By 1963 the demand for these long-handled cowbells could not be filled by home workshops alone, so at the suggestion of Reeves the Student Association bought bells in bulk and the Industrial Education Club agreed to weld on handles. In 1964 the MSU Bookstore began marketing these cowbells with a portion of the profits returning to these student organizations.

Today many styles of cowbells are available on campus and around Starkville, with the top-of-the-line a heavy chrome-plated model with a full Bulldog figurine handle. But some insist the best and loudest results are produced by a classic long-handled, bicycle-grip bell made of thinner and tightly welded shells.

Cowbells decorate offices and homes of Mississippi State alumni, and are passed down through generations of Bulldog fans.

In early 1975, the SEC adopted a rule against artificial noisemakers that made it illegal to ring a cowbell during games; an official complaint by Auburn coach Shug Jordan, whose disapproval of the tradition went back several years,[185] after the Tigers narrow 1974 win over the Bulldogs was largely responsible for the decision.[186] At one point during the game, Jordan instructed his quarterback not to run a play in protest of officials refusing to quiet the crowd.[187] Jordan's dislike for the cowbells inspired Alabama to attempt to purchase 1,000 cowbells from Mississippi State for Alabama fans to take to the Iron Bowl; MSU declined the offer.[188] University of Texas fans also attempted to annoy Jordan with cowbells during the 1974 Gator Bowl.[188] Shortly after the ban was enacted, Mississippi State officials considered other items and devices to replace the cowbells.[189] In 1981, a Mississippi State faculty member filed a suit against Auburn University and the Southeastern Conference that sought to have the rule declared unconstitutional after his cowbell was confiscated at the 1981 AU-MSU game at Jordan–Hare Stadium.[190] Despite creative efforts[191] by MSU fans to circumvent the ruling and continue the tradition, the ban was in effect until 2010.

That spring, the 12 schools of the SEC agreed to a compromise on artificial noisemakers, acknowledging the role cowbells play in the history of Mississippi State University by amending the conference by-law. In the fall of 2010, on a one-year trial with specified restrictions, cowbells were permitted in Davis Wade Stadium for the first time in 36 years. And due to MSU fans' adherence to the rules outlined by the league, cowbells will continue to be allowed with similar restrictions in place. In 2012, the rule was made permanent by the SEC.

Maroon and white

Maroon and White are the distinctive colors of Mississippi State University athletic teams, dating back over a century to the very first football game ever played by the school's student-athletes.

On November 15, 1895, the first Mississippi A&M football team was preparing for a road trip to Jackson, Tennessee., to play Southern Baptist University (now called Union University) the following day. Since every college was supposed to have its own uniform colors, the A&M student body requested that the school's team select a suitable combination.

Considering making this choice an honor, the inaugural State team gave the privilege to team captain W.M. Matthews. Accounts report that without hesitation Matthews chose Maroon and White.

Recruiting

Mississippi State Bulldogs Football 247Sports team recruiting rankings.[failed verification]

Class Rank Commits Top Commit
2021 26 23 Sawyer Robertson[192][193]
2020 27 23 Jo'Quavious Marks[194][195]
2019 24 21 Charles Cross[196][197]
2018 27 23 Devonta Jason[198][199]
2017 24 25 Willie Gay[200][201]
2016 28 20 Jeffery Simmons[202][203]
2015 18 27 Jamal Peters[204][205]
2014 36 24 Jamoral Graham[206][207]
2013 24 21 Chris Jones[208][209]
2012 22 28 Denico Autry[210][211]
2011 41 23 Dee Arrington[212][213]
2010 36 27 Damien Robinson[214][215]
2009 18 28 Chad Bumphis[216][217]
2008 43 15 Charles Mitchell[218][219]
2007 25 32 Robert Elliott[220][221]

First round draft picks

Mississippi State has had 15 players selected in the first round of professional football drafts.

National Football League

Coaching staff

Head coaches

Main article: List of Mississippi State Bulldogs head football coaches

The program has had 35 head coaches since it began play during the 1895 season, and has played more than 1,050 games over 111 seasons.[222] From December 2008 though November 2017, Dan Mullen served as Mississippi State's head coach.[223] Mike Leach was the head coach at Mississippi State from January 9, 2020 until his sudden death from heart complications on December 12, 2022.[224][225][226] The current head coach at Mississippi State is Zach Arnett since his hiring on December 14, 2022.[227]

Historic coaching hire

Mississippi State made history on December 1, 2003, when it hired Sylvester Croom as its head football coach. Croom was the first African-American named to such a position in the history of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).[228]

Future opponents

Intra-division opponents

Mississippi State plays the other six SEC West opponents once per season.

Even numbered years Odd number years
at Alabama vs Alabama
vs Arkansas at Arkansas
vs Auburn at Auburn
at LSU vs LSU
vs Texas A&M at Texas A&M
at Ole Miss vs Ole Miss

Non-division opponents

Mississippi State plays Kentucky as a permanent non-division opponent annually and rotates around the East division among the other six schools.[229]

2023 2024 2025
vs Kentucky at Kentucky vs Kentucky
at South Carolina vs Tennessee at Florida

Non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of August 5, 2022.[230]

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  225. ^ "MSU Bulldog family, college football community mourns the death of Coach Mike Leach". Mississippi State. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  226. ^ "Mississippi State coach Mike Leach dies after hospitalization". ESPN. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  227. ^ "Zach Arnett Named Mississippi State's 35th Head Football Coach". Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  228. ^ "Sylvester Croom". Saturday Down South. August 18, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  229. ^ "SEC Future Football Schedule Rotation Announced". fbschedules.com. May 19, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  230. ^ "Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedules and Future Schedules". fbschedules.com. Retrieved August 5, 2022.

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January 28, 2023
mississippi, state, bulldogs, football, program, represents, mississippi, state, university, sport, american, football, bulldogs, compete, football, bowl, subdivision, national, collegiate, athletic, association, ncaa, western, division, southeastern, conferen. The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the sport of American football The Bulldogs compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision FBS of the National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference SEC They also have won one SEC championship in 1941 and a division championship in 1998 The Bulldogs have 26 postseason bowl appearances The program has produced 38 All Americans 2 consensus 171 All SEC selections and 124 NFL players 11 first round draft picks 4 The Bulldogs home stadium Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field is the second oldest in the NCAA Division I FBS Mississippi State Bulldogs football2022 Mississippi State Bulldogs football teamFirst season1895Athletic directorZac SelmonHead coachZach Arnett 1st season 1 0 1 000 StadiumDavis Wade Stadium capacity 60 311 FieldScott FieldYear built1914Field surfaceNatural GrassLocationStarkville MississippiNCAA divisionDivision I FBSConferenceSoutheastern ConferenceDivisionWesternAll time record589 602 39 495 Bowl record15 11 577 Unclaimed national titles1 1940 1 Conference titles1 1941 Division titles1 1998 RivalriesAlabama rivalry LSU rivalry Ole Miss rivalry Consensus All Americans2 2 Current uniformColorsMaroon and white 3 Fight songHail StateMascotBullyMarching bandFamous Maroon BandWebsiteHailState com Contents 1 History 1 1 Early history 1895 1966 1 2 Charles Shira era 1967 1972 1 3 Bob Tyler era 1973 1978 1 4 Emory Bellard era 1979 1985 1 5 Rockey Felker era 1986 1990 1 6 Jackie Sherrill era 1991 2003 1 7 Sylvester Croom era 2004 2008 1 8 Dan Mullen era 2009 2017 1 9 Joe Moorhead era 2018 2019 1 10 Mike Leach era 2020 2022 1 11 Zach Arnett era 2022 present 2 Conference affiliations 3 Championship 3 1 Conference championship 3 2 Division championship 4 Bowl games 5 Rivalries 5 1 Ole Miss 5 2 LSU 5 3 Alabama 5 4 All time record vs SEC teams 6 Ring of Honor Inductees 7 Traditions 7 1 The Cowbell 7 2 Maroon and white 8 Recruiting 9 First round draft picks 9 1 National Football League 10 Coaching staff 10 1 Head coaches 10 2 Historic coaching hire 11 Future opponents 11 1 Intra division opponents 11 2 Non division opponents 11 3 Non conference opponents 12 References 13 External linksHistory EditMain article List of Mississippi State Bulldogs football seasons Early history 1895 1966 Edit Mississippi State then known as the Mississippi A amp M Aggies first fielded a football team in 1895 5 The team was coached by W M Matthews 5 During his one season tenure Matthews posted an overall record of zero wins and two losses 0 2 6 He is also credited with the selection of what became the official school colors maroon and white prior to the Aggies first game ever played at Union University 7 8 Dan Martin coach 1903 06 Daniel S Martin left rival Ole Miss and served as the Aggies head football coach from 1903 1906 9 His final record in Starkville was 10 11 3 10 W D Chadwick led the Aggies from 1909 1913 11 His final record was 29 12 2 11 During his five season tenure Mississippi A amp M appeared in and won its first bowl game the 1911 Bacardi Bowl in Havana Cuba 11 Fullback Dutch Reule was selected All Southern The 1911 team was also referred to as The Bull Dogs 12 Earl C Hayes replaced Chadwick and led Mississippi A amp M to 15 8 2 record from 1914 1916 13 Hunter Kimball received the most votes of any All Southern halfback in 1914 14 15 The Mississippi Legislature renamed Mississippi A amp M as Mississippi State College in 1925 and the mascot was changed from Aggies to Maroons in 1932 16 Ralph Sasse enjoyed success as Mississippi State s head football coach After leading Mississippi State to a 20 10 2 record in three years and an appearance in the 1937 Orange Bowl 17 a loss 17 Sasse stunned the students and players by resigning from his head coach s duties following a doctor s orders after a sudden nervous breakdown 18 Allyn McKeen left Memphis to become head football coach at Mississippi State 19 where he compiled a 65 19 3 record in ten seasons 20 In 1940 he was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year after leading Mississippi State to its only undefeated season in school history and its second Orange Bowl appearance a victory 19 20 The following year 1941 his Maroons squad captured the first and only Southeastern Conference championship in program history McKeen retired from coaching in 1948 after being fired by Athletic Director Dudy Noble because of a 4 4 1 season 21 He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1991 Mississippi State did not field a football team in 1943 22 Arthur Morton left VMI to become MSU s head football coach after McKeen s retirement 23 Morton s Maroons posted struggling records of 0 8 1 4 5 and 4 5 for a cumulative record of 8 18 1 24 before Morton s firing 25 Murray Warmath came to Mississippi State from his post as line coach at Army 26 and posted records of 5 4 and 5 2 3 for a cumulative two season record of 10 6 3 27 Having coached only two seasons in Starkville Warmath resigned after the 1953 season to take the job of University of Minnesota head coach 26 Darrell Royal came to Mississippi State from the CFL s Edmonton Eskimos 28 and put up back to back 6 4 records in his two seasons as the Maroons head football coach 29 Royal resigned after the 1955 season to accept the head football coach position at Washington 28 Wade Walker was promoted from line coach to head coach following Royal s departure Walker compiled a 22 32 2 record over his 6 season tenure 30 31 In 1958 the Legislature renamed the university as Mississippi State University The Mississippi State Maroons posted a lackluster 2 7 1 record in 1959 32 The following year Walker s Maroons improved to 5 5 32 but students fans and alumni demanded his ouster 33 University president Dean W Colvard relented and fired Walker as football coach but kept him on as athletic director a post he kept until 1966 33 34 Mississippi State changed its mascot from Maroons to Bulldogs in 1960 16 However Bulldogs had been used unofficially since at least 1905 and the nickname had long been interchangeable with Maroons 35 Paul Davis was promoted from assistant coach to head coach following Walker s firing 36 His teams went 20 38 2 overall and 9 22 2 in the Southeastern Conference in Davis five seasons 37 The Bulldogs had a 7 2 2 record in 1963 earning its first postseason bowl game since 1939 38 The team finished the season with a 16 12 victory over North Carolina State in front of 8 309 fans at the 1963 Liberty Bowl played in a bitter cold Philadelphia 39 Mississippi State was able to convert two botched North Carolina State punts into touchdowns and a 13 0 lead at the first quarter 40 United Press International named Davis the SEC Coach of the Year for the 1963 season 38 After a lackluster 2 8 record in 1966 MSU terminated Davis as well as athletic director Wade Walker 41 Charles Shira era 1967 1972 Edit Charles Shira who had been defensive coordinator for the University of Texas under former Bulldogs head coach Darrell Royal was named to fill the head coaching position as well as the vacant post of athletic director 42 In his first season his team won two games followed by none the following year Mississippi State improved to 3 7 in 1969 That year Shira served as the coach for the Gray squad in the Blue Gray Classic 43 Mississippi State posted a surprising six win season in 1970 including a victory over rival No 10 Ole Miss 44 For the accomplishment the SEC named Shira its Coach of the Year 45 In 1969 Shira became the first MSU football coach to coach a black player Frank Dowsing 46 In 1972 having compiled a record of 16 45 2 44 Shira resigned as head coach to focus on his duties as athletic director 47 Bob Tyler era 1973 1978 Edit Bob Tyler was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach of the Bulldogs football team after Shira s resignation 48 Tyler led Mississippi State to a 9 3 season and a victory in the 1974 Sun Bowl over North Carolina 49 During that season his team beat perennial powerhouses Georgia and LSU 50 The Bulldogs record was 6 4 1 in 1975 and it was an impressive 9 2 in 1976 ending the season ranked No 20 in the AP Poll 49 His team compiled a 5 6 record in 1977 and he went 6 5 in his final season with the Bulldogs 49 Mississippi State was placed on probation by the NCAA prior to the 1975 season due to alleged improper benefits to student athletes 51 The school sought and won court approval to play in an adverse legal opinion to the NCAA 51 Although the alleged infraction was trivial 52 the NCAA forced the school to forfeit most games it won in 1975 1976 and 1977 53 Emory Bellard era 1979 1985 Edit Emory Bellard who had resigned as head coach of Texas A amp M during the 1978 season after only six games was hired to serve as head football coach at Mississippi State beginning with the next 1979 season 54 He was head coach from 1979 until 1985 55 He was considered to have had one of the most innovative offensive minds in football and is credited for inventing the wishbone formation 54 Bellard spent seven seasons as head coach at MSU 55 His best years as the Bulldogs head coach were in 1980 and 1981 when his team finished 9 3 and 8 4 respectively 55 Also Bellard was the coach when Mississippi State defeated number 1 undefeated Alabama 6 3 in Jackson Mississippi in 1980 56 However the Bulldogs significantly regressed after 1981 In the next five seasons he only won a total of five games in SEC play Before the 1985 season Bellard boldly predicted that the Bulldogs would rebound and win their first SEC title since 1941 They not only failed to do so but went winless in SEC play Bellard was fired after the season 57 He would however return in 1988 to coach at the high school level in Texas Rockey Felker era 1986 1990 Edit Rockey Felker returned to his alma mater which was coming off four consecutive losing seasons from his post as wide receivers coach at Alabama 58 At 33 Felker was the youngest coach in the country and the first Mississippi State coach in 30 years to start his career as MSU head football coach with a winning record 6 5 58 59 However the Bulldogs never recovered from four consecutive blowout losses at the end of the 1986 season during which they scored a total of nine points including a 24 3 loss to Ole Miss Felker suffered through four losing seasons 4 7 1 10 5 6 5 6 between 1987 and 1990 and only won a total of five games in SEC play He was only 1 4 vs Ole Miss 59 He resigned under pressure at the end of the 1990 season 60 but would be brought back by his successor Jackie Sherrill as running backs coach for two seasons and in a non coaching position in the football program where he serves to this day 58 Jackie Sherrill era 1991 2003 Edit After three years away from the game former Washington State Pittsburgh and Texas A amp M head coach Jackie Sherrill was hired as head football coach at Mississippi State in 1991 61 He took over a program that hadn t had a winning season since 1986 and had won a total of 14 games in that stretch and hadn t had a winning record in Southeastern Conference play since 1981 Sherrill began his Mississippi State career with an upset victory over a familiar foe from his A amp M days the Texas Longhorns who were the defending Southwest Conference champions 62 In thirteen seasons in Starkville Sherrill coached the Bulldogs to a record of 75 75 2 63 His 75 wins are the most in school history He led the team to an SEC West title in 1998 and a berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic 63 A year later he notched a 10 2 record and No 12 final ranking 63 That No 12 ranking was the highest final ranking achieved by any NCAA Division I A school in Mississippi in over 30 years Sherrill along with Bill Snyder of Kansas State were among the first to use the rich JUCO systems of their respective states to help their programs progress Although Sherrill won only eight games in his last three seasons he built Mississippi State into a consistent winner despite playing in the same division as powerhouses like Alabama Auburn and LSU He also finished with a winning record against in state rival Ole Miss 7 6 Under Sherrill the Bulldogs went to six bowl games 63 before his arrival they d only been to seven bowls in 96 years of play Sherrill also achieved notoriety by having his team observe the castration of a bull as a motivational technique prior to a game versus Texas Unranked Mississippi State subsequently beat the No 13 ranked Longhorns 64 Sherrill retired after the 2003 season 65 which was followed by the NCAA levying probation for four years on the program 66 Despite a prolonged 3 year investigation by the NCAA Mississippi State was 67 not found guilty of any major violations and Sherrill was never personally found guilty of any NCAA rules violations at either Mississippi State or Texas A amp M 65 Sylvester Croom era 2004 2008 Edit Head coach Sylvester Croom This section may be too long to read and navigate comfortably Please consider splitting content into sub articles condensing it or adding subheadings Please discuss this issue on the article s talk page April 2018 Sylvester Croom a longtime assistant in the NFL and a former player for Bear Bryant at Alabama was hired to replace Sherrill 68 Croom is a significant figure because he is not only the first African American head football coach in Mississippi State history but also in SEC football history 68 When Croom was hired at Mississippi State he inherited a program that was riddled with NCAA sanctions and had not won consistently since the 1990s 68 Croom led the Bulldogs to a 3 8 2 6 SEC record in 2004 69 State began the season with a victory over Tulane 70 then lost five straight to No 18 Auburn 71 Maine 72 No 13 LSU 73 Vanderbilt 74 and UAB 75 The next week State upset No 20 Florida in what turned out to be the game that got Florida head coach Ron Zook fired 76 77 The next game saw State beat Kentucky 78 State then lost their final three games of the season to Alabama 79 Arkansas 80 and Ole Miss 81 In 2005 State again finished 3 8 82 After defeating Murray State in the season opener 83 State lost to Auburn 84 then beat Tulane in Shreveport Louisiana 85 State then lost seven consecutive games starting with No 7 Georgia 86 then No 4 LSU 87 No 13 Florida 88 Houston 89 Kentucky 90 No 4 Alabama 91 and Arkansas 92 State defeated Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl to finish the season 93 Mississippi State struggled to a 3 9 record in 2006 94 State lost its first three games of the season to South Carolina 95 No 4 Auburn 96 Tulane 97 State beat UAB to get its first win of the year in the fourth game 98 Losses to No 9 LSU and No 4 West Virginia followed 99 100 then State defeated Jacksonville State to snap the two game skid 101 State then lost to Georgia 102 and Kentucky 103 MSST then upset Alabama in Alabama 104 before losing to No 5 Arkansas 105 and Ole Miss 106 During the 2007 season during which his team won eight games including the Liberty Bowl 107 Croom garnered Coach of the Year awards from three organizations 107 On December 4 2007 Croom was named coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association for region two 107 The AFCA has five regional coaches of the year and announces a national coach of the year each January 108 That same year on December 5 Croom was named SEC Coach of the Year twice once as voted by the other SEC coaches and once as voted by The Associated Press It was the first time a Mississippi State coach received the AP honor since Charley Shira in 1970 and the first time a Mississippi State coach received the coaches award since Wade Walker in 1957 109 After a 4 8 record in 2008 107 culminating with a 45 0 loss to rival No 25 Ole Miss Croom was asked by school officials to resign as head coach of the Bulldogs 110 Dan Mullen era 2009 2017 Edit This section may be too long to read and navigate comfortably Please consider splitting content into sub articles condensing it or adding subheadings Please discuss this issue on the article s talk page April 2018 Coach Dan Mullen Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen was hired as Mississippi State s head coach in late 2008 111 Mullen arrived in Starkville with an explosive offensive background and a reputation as a quarterback guru having tutored Alex Smith Chris Leak and Tim Tebow during his career as an assistant coach 112 Serving under head coach Urban Meyer Mullen oversaw an offense at Florida that was one of the most explosive in the country helped the Gators capture the 2006 and 2008 national championships and sent many players into the National Football League 113 114 In Mullen s first season the Bulldogs finished 5 7 ending upbeat with a 41 27 victory over No 20 Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl 115 In 2010 they started 1 2 and then they had a 6 game winning streak to make their record 7 2 before losing to Alabama and Arkansas but defeated Ole Miss 116 The team participated in a bowl game for the first time since 2007 soundly defeating Michigan in the Gator Bowl 52 14 116 117 In 2011 the Bulldogs entered the season ranked No 19 in the country and they started 1 0 before losing to the defending national champion Auburn 41 34 118 Mississippi State entered the Ole Miss game in Starkville needing a win to qualify for a bowl bid for a second straight season 118 The Bulldogs won 31 3 earning Mullen the distinction as the first coach to beat Ole Miss in his first three tries since Allyn McKeen in 1941 The Bulldogs capped off the season with a Music City Bowl win over Wake Forest in Nashville Tennessee 118 119 In 2012 Mississippi State defeated Tennessee 41 31 in their sixth game of the season to become bowl eligible 120 After a 7 0 start the team won only one of its remaining five games to finish 8 5 including a 41 24 loss at Ole Miss and a 34 20 loss to the No 21 Northwestern in the Gator Bowl 120 121 This was the first time Mississippi State appeared in a bowl three straight years since 2000 In 2013 MSST under Mullen became bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive year following a 17 10 overtime win over Ole Miss 122 MSST defeated Rice in the Liberty Bowl December 31 2013 in Memphis Tennessee by a score of 44 7 122 123 It was MSST s third bowl win in the last four years 124 2014 turned out to be the most historic run for the team Led by quarterback Dak Prescott the Bulldogs reached a No 1 national ranking for the first time ever doing so in both the Amway Coaches Poll and the AP Poll after beating 3 consecutive top 10 teams No 8 LSU Tigers 125 No 6 Texas A amp M Aggies 126 and No 2 Auburn Tigers 127 As a result the Bulldogs became the fastest team in AP Poll s history to reach the No 1 ranking from being unranked in only 5 weeks They also became the first team to be ranked No 1 in the new FBS Playoff Football Poll and held the top ranking for the first three weeks of the poll before losing to Alabama However at the end of the season only one of the three teams remained ranked Auburn finished 8 5 4 4 SEC and ranked No 22 and lost to Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl Texas A amp M finished 7 5 3 5 SEC and beat West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl and LSU finished 8 4 4 4 SEC and lost to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl 128 129 The Bulldogs couldn t sustain that momentum and lost two of their last three regular season games first to No 5 Alabama 25 20 130 and then two weeks later to No 18 Ole Miss 31 17 131 That loss knocked the Bulldogs out of playoff contention leaving them 10 2 and ranked No 7 by the College Football Playoff Committee in their final rankings As a result they were awarded a trip to the Orange Bowl against No 10 Georgia Tech on December 31 2014 Thanks to the Bulldogs inability to stop Georgia Tech s heavy use of the triple option State lost that contest 49 34 Mississippi State finished the season 10 3 and were ranked No 11 in the final AP Poll 132 133 In 2015 the Bulldogs went 4 4 in the SEC and finished the regular season with an 8 4 record and went on to play in the 2015 Belk Bowl against the NC State Wolfpack 134 winning 51 28 135 Dak Prescott was named the game MVP after throwing 4 touchdowns 136 2016 saw the Bulldogs stumble to a 5 7 regular season record 137 The season included 3 losses on the final play of games against South Alabama 138 BYU 139 and Kentucky 140 The Bulldogs were able to finish the season on a high note defeating in state rival Ole Miss 55 20 in the 2016 Egg Bowl 141 Due to a shortage of 6 win teams and MSU s Academic Progress Rate they made their seventh consecutive bowl appearance in the St Petersburg Bowl against Miami OH on December 26 142 The Bulldogs won the game thanks to a blocked extra point and a blocked field goal edging Miami Ohio 17 16 143 On February 27 2017 Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen announced a four year contract extension for Coach Mullen through February 2021 144 On November 26 2017 after an 8 4 regular season Dan Mullen left Mississippi State University to become the head coach at the University of Florida 145 Joe Moorhead era 2018 2019 Edit After Dan Mullen s departure Mississippi State hired Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead as the program s 33rd head coach 146 Moorhead arrived in Starkville with a reputation as an outstanding offensive mind turning around a struggling FCS program in Fordham as the head coach before moving to Penn State as offensive coordinator where his offenses set school records 147 The Mississippi State University administration signed Moorhead to a four year contract worth a total of 11 million in base salary 148 On January 3 2020 after failing to energize the offense and several off field issues Mississippi State announced Moorhead s firing 149 Mike Leach era 2020 2022 Edit On January 9 2020 Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen announced the hiring of Washington State and former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach to the vacant head coaching position 150 151 Leach arrived with a reputation as a great offensive mind and installed a pass heavy up tempo offensive attack known as the Air raid that he has utilized throughout his coaching career 152 Leach signed a four year contract with Mississippi State worth 20 million excluding incentives 153 Leach died after a heart attack on December 12 2022 154 Zach Arnett era 2022 present Edit On December 15 2022 Zach Arnett was named the 35th head coach of the Bulldogs 155 Prior to Mike Leach s death Arnett had been appointed interim head coach after Leach had been hospitalized 156 157 Conference affiliations EditIndependent 1895 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association 1896 1921 158 Southern Conference 1922 1932 159 Southeastern Conference 1933 present Championship EditConference championship Edit The 1941 Mississippi State Bulldogs finished the year with an 8 1 1 record and won the Southeastern Conference championship The season included wins over Florida Alabama Auburn and Ole Miss The Bulldogs tied with LSU and were defeated by Duquesne Season Conference Coach Overall record Conference record1941 SEC Allyn McKeen 8 1 1 4 0 1Division championship Edit The SEC has been split into two divisions since the 1992 season with Mississippi State competing in the SEC West since that time In 1998 MSU finished the regular season with a 26 14 win over Alabama a 22 21 win over Arkansas and a 28 6 win over Ole Miss in Oxford Mississippi At the end of the regular season both MSU and Arkansas finished with 6 2 conference records but by virtue of MSU s head to head win over Arkansas MSU earned the right to represent the SEC West in the SEC Championship Game In that game MSU led eventual national champion Tennessee in the fourth quarter before falling 14 24 in the Georgia Dome They continued on to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas Texas against the 20th ranked Texas Longhorns The Bulldogs lost the game 11 38 on 24 unanswered Longhorn points in the 3rd quarter Season Division Coach Opponent SEC CG result1998 SEC West Jackie Sherrill Tennessee L 14 24 Co championsBowl games EditMississippi State has played in 26 bowl games compiling a record of 15 11 through the 2021 season 160 Memorable highlights include wins in the 1941 Orange Bowl the 1963 Liberty Bowl the 1999 Peach Bowl and the 2011 Gator Bowl 161 Mississippi State s first bowl game was against the Havana Athletic Club in the Bacardi Bowl on January 1 1912 in Havana Cuba Known as the Mississippi A amp M Aggies at that time the Bulldogs won by a final score of 12 0 Mississippi State does not count the victory against the athletic club among its bowl games and bowl wins 162 163 From 1999 to 2011 Mississippi State had a 5 game winning streak in bowls The streak ended against the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2013 Gator Bowl The Bulldogs have been to 12 straight bowl games for the first time in school history dating back to the 2010 season 164 165 166 167 168 Date Coach Bowl Opponent Result1936 Ralph Sasse Orange Bowl Duquesne L 12 131940 Allyn McKeen Orange Bowl Georgetown W 14 71963 Paul E Davis Liberty Bowl NC State W 16 121974 Bob Tyler Sun Bowl North Carolina W 26 241980 Emory Bellard Sun Bowl Nebraska L 17 311981 Hall of Fame Classic Kansas W 10 01991 Jackie Sherrill Liberty Bowl Air Force L 15 381992 Peach Bowl North Carolina L 17 211994 Peach Bowl NC State L 24 281998 Cotton Bowl Classic Texas L 11 381999 Peach Bowl Clemson W 17 72000 Independence Bowl Texas A amp M W 43 41 OT2007 Sylvester Croom Liberty Bowl UCF W 10 32010 Dan Mullen Gator Bowl Michigan W 52 142011 Music City Bowl Wake Forest W 23 172012 Gator Bowl Northwestern L 20 342013 Liberty Bowl Rice W 44 72014 Orange Bowl Georgia Tech L 34 492015 Belk Bowl NC State W 51 282016 St Petersburg Bowl Miami OH W 17 162017 Greg Knox interim TaxSlayer Bowl Louisville W 31 272018 Joe Moorhead Outback Bowl Iowa L 22 272019 Music City Bowl Louisville L 28 382020 Mike Leach Armed Forces Bowl Tulsa W 28 262021 Liberty Bowl Texas Tech L 7 342022 Zach Arnett ReliaQuest Bowl Illinois W 19 10Rivalries EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Ole Miss Edit Main article Egg Bowl The Battle for the Golden Egg also known as the Egg Bowl is the Mississippi State Ole Miss rivalry It was first played in 1901 and has been played every year since 1915 with the exception of the 1943 season when neither school fielded teams due to World War II making it the tenth longest uninterrupted series in the United States The game became The Battle for the Golden Egg in 1927 when a traveling trophy was added Although through the years the game has been played primarily in 3 locations Starkville 38 times Oxford 36 times and Jackson 29 times there have been a few meetings in other locations including Tupelo 3 times Greenwood twice Clarksdale once and Columbus once Through 2021 in total the two squads have met on the gridiron 118 times with Ole Miss holding a 64 45 6 lead in the series 169 170 LSU Edit Main article LSU Mississippi State football rivalry The LSU Mississippi State rivalry is an annual football game between the Louisiana State Tigers and Mississippi State University Bulldogs Both universities are founding members of the Southeastern Conference as well as the Western Division This rivalry is LSU s longest rivalry with 115 meetings Mississippi State s 34 29 victory on September 20 2014 was the Bulldogs first over LSU since 1999 their first in Baton Rouge since 1991 and just their fourth overall since 1985 The 1976 game was won on the field by Mississippi State but later deemed by the NCAA to have been forfeited therefore lost by the Bulldogs Alabama Edit Main article Alabama Mississippi State football rivalry The Alabama Mississippi State rivalry sometimes referred to as the 90 Mile Drive or the Battle for Highway 82 is an annual football game between the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and Mississippi State University Bulldogs Both universities are founding members of the Southeastern Conference as well as the Western Division The two campuses are located approximately 90 miles apart and are the closest SEC schools in terms of distance Entering its 106th meeting as of the 2021 football season Alabama Mississippi State is one of the SEC s longest running series dating back to 1896 All time record vs SEC teams Edit Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage Streak First LastAlabama 171 18 85 3 184 Lost 15 1896 2022Arkansas 172 14 18 1 439 Won 1 1916 2022Auburn 173 29 65 3 314 Won 2 1905 2022Florida 174 19 34 2 364 Lost 1 1923 2018Georgia 175 6 20 0 231 Lost 4 1914 2022Kentucky 176 25 25 0 500 Lost 1 1914 2022LSU 177 36 77 3 323 Lost 2 1896 2022Missouri 178 2 2 0 500 Won 2 1981 2020Ole Miss 179 47 64 6 427 Won 1 1901 2022South Carolina 180 7 9 0 438 Won 1 1992 2016Tennessee 181 16 29 1 359 Lost 1 1907 2019Texas A amp M 182 9 7 0 563 Won 2 1912 2022Vanderbilt 183 15 7 2 667 Won 5 1904 2021Totals 243 442 21 359Ring of Honor Inductees EditInductee Position Number Years played Induction yearJohnie Cooks Linebacker 99 1979 1982 2011DD Lewis Linebacker 53 1965 1967 2011Jackie Parker Quarterback 12 1952 1953 2011Jack Cristil Announcer 1953 2011 2011Kent Hull Center 58 1979 1982 2012Tom Shorty McWilliams Halfback 41 1944 1946 1948 2014Joe Fortunato Linebacker 31 1950 1952 2017Art Davis Halfback 22 1952 1955 2018Walt Harris Cornerback 2 1992 1995 2018Traditions EditThe Cowbell Edit This section may be too long to read and navigate comfortably Please consider splitting content into sub articles condensing it or adding subheadings Please discuss this issue on the article s talk page April 2018 The most unusual and certainly the most resounding symbol of Mississippi State University tradition is the cowbell Despite decades of attempts by opponents and authorities to banish it from scenes of competition 184 diehard State fans still celebrate Bulldog victories loudly and proudly with the distinctive sound of ringing cowbells The precise origin of the cowbell as a fixture of Mississippi State sports tradition remains unclear to this day The best records have cowbells gradually introduced to the MSU sports scene in the late 1930s and early 1940s coinciding with the golden age of Mississippi State football success prior to World War II The most popular legend is that during a home football game between State and arch rival Ole Miss a jersey cow wandered onto the playing field Mississippi State soundly whipped the Rebels that Saturday and State College 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 Whatever the origin it is certain that by the 1950s cowbells were common at Mississippi State games and by the 1960s were established as the special symbol of Mississippi State Ironically the cowbell s popularity grew most rapidly during the long years when State football teams were rarely successful Flaunting this anachronism from the aggie days was a proud response by students and alumni to outsider scorn of the university s cow college history In the 1960s two MSU professors Earl W Terrell and Ralph L Reeves obliged some students by welding handles on the bells to they could be rung with much more convenience and authority By 1963 the demand for these long handled cowbells could not be filled by home workshops alone so at the suggestion of Reeves the Student Association bought bells in bulk and the Industrial Education Club agreed to weld on handles In 1964 the MSU Bookstore began marketing these cowbells with a portion of the profits returning to these student organizations Today many styles of cowbells are available on campus and around Starkville with the top of the line a heavy chrome plated model with a full Bulldog figurine handle But some insist the best and loudest results are produced by a classic long handled bicycle grip bell made of thinner and tightly welded shells Cowbells decorate offices and homes of Mississippi State alumni and are passed down through generations of Bulldog fans In early 1975 the SEC adopted a rule against artificial noisemakers that made it illegal to ring a cowbell during games an official complaint by Auburn coach Shug Jordan whose disapproval of the tradition went back several years 185 after the Tigers narrow 1974 win over the Bulldogs was largely responsible for the decision 186 At one point during the game Jordan instructed his quarterback not to run a play in protest of officials refusing to quiet the crowd 187 Jordan s dislike for the cowbells inspired Alabama to attempt to purchase 1 000 cowbells from Mississippi State for Alabama fans to take to the Iron Bowl MSU declined the offer 188 University of Texas fans also attempted to annoy Jordan with cowbells during the 1974 Gator Bowl 188 Shortly after the ban was enacted Mississippi State officials considered other items and devices to replace the cowbells 189 In 1981 a Mississippi State faculty member filed a suit against Auburn University and the Southeastern Conference that sought to have the rule declared unconstitutional after his cowbell was confiscated at the 1981 AU MSU game at Jordan Hare Stadium 190 Despite creative efforts 191 by MSU fans to circumvent the ruling and continue the tradition the ban was in effect until 2010 That spring the 12 schools of the SEC agreed to a compromise on artificial noisemakers acknowledging the role cowbells play in the history of Mississippi State University by amending the conference by law In the fall of 2010 on a one year trial with specified restrictions cowbells were permitted in Davis Wade Stadium for the first time in 36 years And due to MSU fans adherence to the rules outlined by the league cowbells will continue to be allowed with similar restrictions in place In 2012 the rule was made permanent by the SEC Maroon and white Edit Maroon and White are the distinctive colors of Mississippi State University athletic teams dating back over a century to the very first football game ever played by the school s student athletes On November 15 1895 the first Mississippi A amp M football team was preparing for a road trip to Jackson Tennessee to play Southern Baptist University now called Union University the following day Since every college was supposed to have its own uniform colors the A amp M student body requested that the school s team select a suitable combination Considering making this choice an honor the inaugural State team gave the privilege to team captain W M Matthews Accounts report that without hesitation Matthews chose Maroon and White Recruiting EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Mississippi State Bulldogs Football 247Sports team recruiting rankings failed verification Class Rank Commits Top Commit2021 26 23 Sawyer Robertson 192 193 2020 27 23 Jo Quavious Marks 194 195 2019 24 21 Charles Cross 196 197 2018 27 23 Devonta Jason 198 199 2017 24 25 Willie Gay 200 201 2016 28 20 Jeffery Simmons 202 203 2015 18 27 Jamal Peters 204 205 2014 36 24 Jamoral Graham 206 207 2013 24 21 Chris Jones 208 209 2012 22 28 Denico Autry 210 211 2011 41 23 Dee Arrington 212 213 2010 36 27 Damien Robinson 214 215 2009 18 28 Chad Bumphis 216 217 2008 43 15 Charles Mitchell 218 219 2007 25 32 Robert Elliott 220 221 First round draft picks EditMississippi State has had 15 players selected in the first round of professional football drafts National Football League Edit 1949 Harper Davis 1956 Art Davis 1959 Billy Stacy 1975 Jimmy Webb 1982 Glen Collins amp Johnie Cooks 1983 Michael Haddix 1996 Eric Moulds amp Walt Harris 2011 Derek Sherrod 2012 Fletcher Cox 2019 Jeffery Simmons Montez Sweat amp Johnathan Abram 2022 Charles CrossCoaching staff EditHead coaches Edit Main article List of Mississippi State Bulldogs head football coaches The program has had 35 head coaches since it began play during the 1895 season and has played more than 1 050 games over 111 seasons 222 From December 2008 though November 2017 Dan Mullen served as Mississippi State s head coach 223 Mike Leach was the head coach at Mississippi State from January 9 2020 until his sudden death from heart complications on December 12 2022 224 225 226 The current head coach at Mississippi State is Zach Arnett since his hiring on December 14 2022 227 Historic coaching hire Edit Mississippi State made history on December 1 2003 when it hired Sylvester Croom as its head football coach Croom was the first African American named to such a position in the history of the Southeastern Conference SEC 228 Future opponents EditIntra division opponents Edit Mississippi State plays the other six SEC West opponents once per season Even numbered years Odd number yearsat Alabama vs Alabamavs Arkansas at Arkansasvs Auburn at Auburnat LSU vs LSUvs Texas A amp M at Texas A amp Mat Ole Miss vs Ole MissNon division opponents Edit Mississippi State plays Kentucky as a permanent non division opponent annually and rotates around the East division among the other six schools 229 2023 2024 2025vs Kentucky at Kentucky vs Kentuckyat South Carolina vs Tennessee at FloridaNon conference opponents Edit Announced schedules as of August 5 2022 230 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032vs Southeastern Louisiana vs Eastern Kentucky at Southern Miss vs Louisiana Monroe vs Minnesota vs Texas Tech at Texas Tech vs Washington State at Washington State at Tulanevs Arizona at Arizona State vs Arizona State at Minnesota at Troy at Memphis vs Memphis vs Tulane vs Southern Missvs Western Michigan vs Utah State vs Alcorn State vs Troy vs Chattanooga at Southern Missvs Southern Miss vs UMass vs Northern Illinois vs Tennessee TechReferences Edit Howell James 1940 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings week 12 Archived from the original on September 15 2013 2011 NCAA Football Records Award Winners PDF Mississippi State Athletic Identity Standards PDF September 14 2020 Retrieved April 6 2021 http www hailstate com 2008 Mississippi State Football Media Guide Media Information and Record Book a b Counting down the Years of Mississippi State Football 1895 For Whom the Cowbell Tolls May 13 2012 Retrieved December 12 2015 DeLassus David W M Matthews Records by Year College Football Data Warehouse Archived from the original on November 6 2012 Retrieved February 19 2012 Barnwell Marion 1997 A Place Called Mississippi Collected Narratives Jackson Mississippi University Press of Mississippi p 241 ISBN 0 87805 964 4 Access date February 19 2012 Galbraith Joe Nemeth Mike eds 2006 2006 Mississippi State Football Media Guide PDF Birmingham Alabama EBSCO Media p 126 Archived from the original PDF on December 11 2013 Retrieved February 19 2012 Mississippi State Football History 1895 1916 For Whom the Cowbell Tolls June 21 2012 Retrieved December 12 2015 Dan Martin Coaching Record College Football at Sports reference com Retrieved December 12 2015 a b c William Chadwick Coaching Record College Football at Sports reference com Retrieved December 12 2015 Reville Vol VII The Yearbook of the Class of 1911 Starkville Mississippi Mississippi A amp M College 1911 p 174 E C Hayes Coaching Record College Football at Sports reference com Retrieved December 12 2015 Spalding s Official Football Guide NCAA 1915 John Wendell Bailey 1947 1 The M Book of Athletics Mississippi a and M College 2 40 a b Mississippi State Traditions Mississippi State Athletics Retrieved March 30 2017 a b Ralph Sasse Coaching Record College Football at Sports reference com Retrieved December 12 2015 Sasse Confined to Home After Giving Up Post Sarasota Herald Tribune Associated Press November 11 1937 Retrieved February 11 2011 a b Allyn McKeen College Football Hall of Fame Footballfoundation org January 25 1991 Retrieved December 12 2015 a b Allyn McKeen Coaching Record College Football at Sports reference com Retrieved December 12 2015 Nemeth Mike 2009 Mississippi State Football Vault College Vault Whitman Publishing ISBN 9780794828073 SEC Football by the Numbers Season opening streaks Florida s record roll AL com August 29 2013 Retrieved December 12 2015 The Tuscaloosa News Google News Archive Search Retrieved March 30 2017 Slick Morton Coaching Record College Football at Sports reference com Retrieved December 12 2015 Ballard Michael B 2008 Maroon and White Mississippi State University 1878 2003 Michael B Ballard Google Books ISBN 9781604733105 Retrieved December 12 2015 a b GoVolsXtra University of Tennessee sports Govolsxtra com Retrieved December 12 2015 Murray Warmath Coaching Record College Football at Sports reference com Retrieved December 12 2015 a b Darrell Royal former Longhorns coach dies at age 88 Espn November 9 2012 Retrieved December 12 2015 Darrell Royal Coaching Record College Football at Sports reference com Retrieved December 12 2015 Charles Bud Wilkinson PDF College Football Historical Society Newsletter Vol VII No II August 1994 Wade Walker Records by Year Archived 2010 02 15 at the Wayback Machine College Football Data Warehouse retrieved June 17 2009 a b Wade Walker Coaching Record College Football at Sports reference com Retrieved December 12 2015 a b Services For Former MSU Coach Athletic Director Wade Walker Saturday Mississippi State University Bulldogs Official Athletic Site HailState com Archived from the original on January 20 2016 Retrieved December 12 2015 Michael B Ballard Maroon and White Mississippi State University 1878 2003 p 144 University Press of Mississippi 2008 ISBN 1 57806 999 8 Mississippi State Traditions The Bulldog Mississippi State University n d Retrieved March 3 2014 Former Mississippi State Bulldogs coach Paul Davis dies at 87 Sports espn go com January 4 2009 Retrieved December 12 2015 Paul Davis Coaching Record College Football at Sports reference com Retrieved December 12 2015 a b Strange Mike Davis former SEC coach dies at 87 Knoxville News Sentinel March 31 2009 Accessed April 6 2009 via Associated Press Ex Bulldogs coach Davis dies at 87 ESPN April 1 2009 Accessed April 1 2009 White Gordon S Jr N Carolina State Bows Miss State s Early Attack Tops N C State in Liberty Bowl 16 12 Ball Barely Reaches Long March Starts The New York Times December 22 1963 Accessed April 6 2009 Via Associated Press Football Athletic Heads Out at Mississippi State The New York Times December 11 1966 Accessed April 6 2009 via United Press International Shira Gets Two Posts At Mississippi State The New York Times January 12 1967 Accessed April 6 2009 32nd Blue Gray Tilt Set in Montgomery Sarasota Journal December 26 1969 a b Charles Shira Coaching Record College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 Michael B Ballard Maroon and White Mississippi State University 1878 2003 p 201 University Press of Mississippi 2008 ISBN 1 57806 999 8 Frank Dedric Dowsing Jr Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Archived from the original on July 24 2018 Retrieved November 11 2018 Burial to be in Starkville Shira Funeral Services Today Florence Times Tri Cities Daily January 3 1976 Coaching History Bob Tyler Coaching History Archived from the original on May 6 2014 Retrieved May 6 2014 a b c Bob Tyler Coaching Record College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 1973 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 a b Gadsden Times Retrieved March 30 2017 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASS N v GILLARD 352 So 2d 1072 1977 Leagle com Retrieved March 30 2017 Legislative Services Database LSDBi Retrieved March 30 2017 a b Ex Aggies football coach Emory Bellard dies at 83 February 10 2011 Retrieved March 30 2017 a b c Emory Bellard Coaching Record College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 1980 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 Times Wire Services November 11 1985 Mississippi State s Bellard Fired as Coach Forecaster Los Angeles Times a b c Felker enters fifth decade with MSU football Starkville Daily News Archived from the original on May 7 2014 Retrieved March 30 2017 a b Rockey Felker Coaching Record College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 Gainesville Sun Google News Archive Search Retrieved March 30 2017 Mississippi State Hires Sherrill December 10 1990 Retrieved March 30 2017 via LA Times 1991 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 a b c d Jackie Sherrill Coaching Record College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 SPORTS PEOPLE COLLEGE FOOTBALL Sherrill Apologizes for Incident The New York Times September 16 1992 Retrieved March 30 2017 a b Mississippi State s Jackie Sherrill to retire at end of season Retrieved March 30 2017 Mississippi State penalized for violations in football Bad Dogs Mississippi St gets probation more October 27 2004 Retrieved March 30 2017 a b c Glier Ray December 1 2003 Mississippi St Hires S E C s First Black Head Coach The New York Times Retrieved March 30 2017 2004 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports reference com January 1 1970 Retrieved May 25 2017 Final September 5 2004 Tulane vs Mississippi State Game Recap September 4 2004 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Final September 11 2004 Auburn vs Mississippi State Game Recap September 11 2004 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Maine vs Mississippi State Game Summary September 18 2004 ESPN September 18 2004 Retrieved May 25 2017 Final September 25 2004 Mississippi State vs LSU Game Recap September 25 2004 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Final October 2 2004 Mississippi State vs Vanderbilt Game Recap October 2 2004 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Final October 9 2004 UAB vs Mississippi State Game Recap October 9 2004 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Final October 24 2004 Florida vs Mississippi State Game Recap October 23 2004 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 With Zook out will Spurrier get a call Espn com October 26 2004 Retrieved May 25 2017 Final October 30 2004 Kentucky vs Mississippi State Game Recap October 30 2004 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Final November 6 2004 Mississippi State vs Alabama Game Recap November 6 2004 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Final November 22 2004 Arkansas vs Mississippi State Game Recap November 20 2004 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Final November 27 2004 Mississippi State vs Ole Miss Game Recap November 27 2004 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 2005 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports reference com January 1 1970 Retrieved May 25 2017 Final September 3 2005 Murray State vs Mississippi State Game Recap September 3 2005 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Final September 10 2005 Mississippi State vs Auburn Game Recap September 10 2005 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Final September 18 2005 Mississippi State vs Tulane Game Recap September 17 2005 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Final September 25 2005 Georgia vs Mississippi State Game Recap September 24 2005 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 LSU vs Mississippi State Game Summary October 1 2005 ESPN October 1 2005 Retrieved May 25 2017 Final October 8 2005 Mississippi State vs Florida Game Recap October 8 2005 ESPN Retrieved May 25 2017 Houston vs Mississippi State Game Recap October 22 2005 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs Kentucky Game Recap October 29 2005 ESPN ESPN com Alabama vs Mississippi State Game Recap November 5 2005 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs Arkansas Game Recap November 19 2005 ESPN ESPN com Ole Miss vs Mississippi State Game Recap November 26 2005 ESPN ESPN com 2006 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports Reference com College Football at Sports Reference com South Carolina vs Mississippi State Game Summary August 31 2006 ESPN ESPN com Auburn vs Mississippi State Game Recap September 9 2006 ESPN ESPN com Tulane vs Mississippi State Game Recap September 16 2006 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs UAB Game Recap September 23 2006 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs LSU Game Recap September 30 2006 ESPN ESPN com West Virginia vs Mississippi State Game Recap October 7 2006 ESPN ESPN com Jacksonville State vs Mississippi State Game Recap October 14 2006 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs Georgia Game Summary October 21 2006 ESPN ESPN com Kentucky vs Mississippi State Game Recap October 28 2006 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs Alabama Game Recap November 4 2006 ESPN ESPN com Arkansas vs Mississippi State Game Recap November 18 2006 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs Ole Miss Game Summary November 25 2006 ESPN ESPN com a b c d Sylvester Croom Coaching Record College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 Croom receives AFCA regional award The ClarionLedger Retrieved October 23 2012 Croom named SEC s best Coach honored by conference media The ClarionLedger Retrieved October 23 2012 ESPN film examines Croom s legacy as MSU head coach djournal com Archived from the original on January 21 2013 Retrieved October 23 2012 Florida assistant Mullen gets Mississippi St job December 11 2008 Retrieved March 30 2017 It s easy to see why rumors surround Dan Mullen annually November 30 2015 Retrieved March 30 2017 Dan Mullen July 9 2014 Clary Heath Dan Mullen Why He Should Resist Florida Urge Stay in Starkville Bleacher Report 2009 Mississippi State Bulldogs Stats College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 a b 2010 Mississippi State Bulldogs Stats College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 Mississippi State vs Michigan Game Recap January 1 2011 ESPN Retrieved March 30 2017 a b c 2011 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 Mississippi State vs Wake Forest Game Recap December 30 2011 ESPN Retrieved March 30 2017 a b 2012 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 Mississippi State vs Northwestern Game Recap January 1 2013 ESPN Retrieved March 30 2017 a b 2013 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports Reference com Retrieved March 30 2017 Rice vs Mississippi State Game Recap December 31 2013 ESPN Retrieved March 30 2017 Mississippi State Dominates Rice 44 7 For 2013 Liberty Bowl Title Retrieved March 30 2017 Mississippi State vs LSU Game Recap September 20 2014 ESPN ESPN com Texas A amp M vs Mississippi State Game Recap October 4 2014 ESPN ESPN com Auburn vs Mississippi State Game Recap October 11 2014 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State completes fastest ascent to No 1 in AP Top 25 history October 12 2014 Retrieved March 30 2017 Mississippi St leaps FSU for No 1 in AP poll October 12 2014 Retrieved March 30 2017 Mississippi State vs Alabama Game Recap November 15 2014 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs Ole Miss Game Recap November 29 2014 ESPN ESPN com Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on December 11 2014 Retrieved January 9 2015 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Mississippi State vs Georgia Tech Game Recap December 31 2014 ESPN ESPN com 2015 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports Reference com College Football at Sports Reference com NC State vs Mississippi State Game Recap December 30 2015 ESPN ESPN com Anderson Alex Dak Prescott puts exclamation point on career wins Belk Bowl MVP 2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results College Football at Sports Reference com College Football at Sports Reference com South Alabama vs Mississippi State Game Recap September 3 2016 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs BYU Game Recap October 14 2016 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs Kentucky Game Recap October 22 2016 ESPN ESPN com Mississippi State vs Ole Miss Game Recap November 26 2016 ESPN ESPN com College football 2016 bowl eligibility 75 teams qualify leaving five open spots CBSSports com Miami OH vs Mississippi State Game Recap December 26 2016 ESPN ESPN com MSU announces 4 year coach extension HailState com 2017 Retrieved February 28 2017 Florida swings for the fences ends up with safe pick in Dan Mullen November 27 2017 Miss St hands reins to blue collar Moorhead ESPN com November 29 2017 Joe Moorhead Named Mississippi State s 33rd Head Football Coach Mississippi State Journal Logan Lowery Daily MSU Notebook Moorhead s modest contract means more money for staff Daily Journal Joe Moorhead Relieved of Duties as Head Football Coach Mississippi State January 3 2020 Ahoy SEC Miss St Pirates Leach from Wazzu Espn com Mike Leach Leaves Washington State for Mississippi State ESPN January 9 2020 Basketball on grass The origin of Mike Leach s Air Raid offense October 7 2020 Mississippi State coach Mike Leach signs contract for 5M per year with incentives Mississippi State coach Leach dies at age 61 December 13 2022 Zach Arnett Named Mississippi State s 35th Head Football Coach Retrieved December 16 2022 Sallee Barrett December 12 2022 Mississippi State coach Mike Leach hospitalized in critical condition with personal health issue CBS Sports Retrieved December 12 2022 Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach still in critical condition ESPN December 12 2022 Retrieved December 12 2022 Bailey John Wendell 1924 Handbook of Southern Intercollegiate Track and Field Athletics Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College p 14 The History of the Southern Conference soconsports com Mississippi State Bulldogs Bowls College Football at Sports Reference com Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on September 24 2015 Retrieved January 6 2015 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Wood Michael T July 30 2012 Bacardi Bowl American Football and Cuba Mississippi A amp M vs Club Atletico de Cuba 1912 Retrieved March 30 2017 W D Chadwick and the Bulldogs vs the Tigres 1912 July 30 2012 Retrieved March 30 2017 Gator Bowl Pregame Bulldogs Look to Extend Bowl Streaks January 1 2013 Archived from the original on March 31 2017 Retrieved March 30 2017 Orange Bowl by the numbers High scoring hard running Mississippi State Georgia Tech square off January 2015 Retrieved March 30 2017 MSU Earns Eighth Straight Bowl Bid Will Face Louisville in TaxSlayer Bowl MSU Athletics Retrieved December 28 2017 Bowl History PDF Mississippi State Athletics Archived from the original PDF on July 26 2015 Retrieved January 1 2015 Mississippi State Bowl History College Football Data Warehouse Archived from the original on October 6 2014 Retrieved January 1 2015 POST GAME NOTES PDF HAIL STATE Mississippi State Athletics November 22 2018 Retrieved November 23 2018 With tonight s win MSU improves to 45 64 6 in the all time series history Postgame Notes vs Mississippi State OLE MISS SPORTS University of Mississippi November 22 2018 Retrieved November 23 2018 Ole Miss holds a 64 45 6 advantage in the series Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Alabama Crimson Tide football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Arkansas Razorbacks football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Auburn Tigers football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Florida Gators football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Georgia Bulldogs football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Kentucky Wildcats football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs LSU Tigers football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Missouri Tigers football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Ole Miss Rebels football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs South Carolina Gamecocks football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Tennessee Volunteers football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Texas A amp M Aggies football series history Winsipedia Winsipedia Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Vanderbilt Commodores football series history Winsipedia Shug Jordan The cowbells have no place in football The War Eagle Reader Did Auburn players ring cowbells during a Mississippi State game in the late 1960s Retrieved March 30 2017 Shug Jordan The cowbells have no place in football The War Eagle Reader Former AU quarterback Phil Gargis talks about the 1974 Auburn Mississippi State game that led to cowbell ban Retrieved March 30 2017 a b The University of Alabama tried to buy 1 000 cowbells from Mississippi State to bring to the 1974 Iron Bowl Texas fans took them to annoy Auburn at the Gator Bowl Retrieved March 30 2017 Mississippi State considered handheld mirrors cow tails as replacement traditions when cowbells were banned in 1975 Archived from the original on October 13 2014 Mississippi State fan sues Auburn SEC over confiscated cowbell calls rule unconstitutional The War Eagle Reader Mississippi State considered handheld mirrors cow tails as replacement traditions when cowbells were banned in 1975 Archived from the original on October 13 2014 2021 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2021 Retrieved March 18 2021 Mississippi State 2021 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2021 Retrieved March 18 2021 2020 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2020 Retrieved February 5 2020 Mississippi State 2020 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2020 Retrieved February 5 2020 2019 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2019 Retrieved April 25 2019 Mississippi State 2018 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2018 Retrieved April 25 2019 2018 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2018 Retrieved June 10 2018 Mississippi State 2018 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2018 Retrieved June 10 2018 2017 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2017 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2017 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2017 Retrieved July 3 2017 2016 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2016 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2016 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2016 Retrieved July 3 2017 2015 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2015 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2015 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2015 Retrieved July 3 2017 2014 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2014 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2014 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2014 Retrieved July 3 2017 2013 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2013 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2013 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2013 Retrieved July 3 2017 2012 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2012 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2012 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2012 Retrieved July 3 2017 2011 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2011 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2011 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2011 Retrieved July 3 2017 2010 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2010 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2010 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2010 Retrieved July 3 2017 2009 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2009 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2009 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2009 Retrieved July 3 2017 2008 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2008 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2008 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2008 Retrieved July 3 2017 2007 Football Team Rankings CBS INTERACTIVE 2007 Retrieved July 3 2017 Mississippi State 2007 Football Commits CBS INTERACTIVE 2007 Retrieved July 3 2017 2011 Mississippi State Football Media Guide pp 86 92 Forde Pat December 11 2008 Mississippi State hires Florida coordinator as coach ESPN com Retrieved July 31 2011 Bonagura Kyle January 9 2020 Mike Leach leaves Washington State for Mississippi State ESPN MSU Bulldog family college football community mourns the death of Coach Mike Leach Mississippi State Retrieved December 13 2022 Mississippi State coach Mike Leach dies after hospitalization ESPN December 13 2022 Retrieved December 13 2022 Zach Arnett Named Mississippi State s 35th Head Football Coach Retrieved December 16 2022 Sylvester Croom Saturday Down South August 18 2014 Retrieved June 14 2020 SEC Future Football Schedule Rotation Announced fbschedules com May 19 2014 Retrieved June 14 2014 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedules and Future Schedules fbschedules com Retrieved August 5 2022 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mississippi State Bulldogs football Official website Retrieved 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