| Mississippi State Bulldogs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Current season: 2019 Mississippi State Bulldogs
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| First season | 1895 | ||
| Athletic director | John Cohen | ||
| Head coach | Mike Leach | ||
| 1st year, 0–0 (.000) | |||
| Home stadium | Davis Wade Stadium | ||
| Year built | 1914 | ||
| Stadium capacity | 55,082 | ||
| Stadium surface | Prescription Athletic Turf | ||
| Location | Starkville, Mississippi, U.S. | ||
| Conference | SEC | ||
| Division | Western | ||
| All-time history | |||
| All-time record | 569–585–39 (.493) | ||
| Postseason bowl record | 13–10 (.565) | ||
| Conference titles | 1 (SEC 1941) | ||
| Division titles | 1 (SEC West 1998) | ||
| Consensus All-Americans | 2[1] | ||
| Current uniform | |||
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| Colors | Maroon and White
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| Fight song | Hail State | ||
| Mascot | Bully | ||
| Marching band | Famous Maroon Band | ||
| Rivals | Ole Miss Rebels Alabama Crimson Tide Kentucky Wildcats | ||
| Website | HailState.com | ||
The Mississippi State Bulldogs football team is a member of the NCAA FBS Southeastern Conference, playing their home games at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field in Starkville, Mississippi. The Bulldogs are currently coached by Jeff Lebby.
Team History[]
Over its history, Mississippi State has produced an SEC championship team in 1941 and a divisional championship team in 1998, along with 16 postseason bowl appearances. The Bulldogs represented the SEC Western Division in the 1998 SEC Championship Game, falling to #1 Tennessee 14-24. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124 NFL players, including 11 first round draft picks 1[2]. The Bulldogs play their home games at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, the second oldest football stadium in NCAA Division I-FBS, which has a seating capacity of 55,082. The largest crowd was recorded on November 12, 2009, as the Bulldogs hosted #3 Alabama, at 58,103. Mississippi State competes in the annual Battle for the Golden Egg against in-state archrival Ole Miss, while also maintaining rivalries with Alabama and Kentucky. Jackie Sherrill, who was the head coach of the Bulldogs from 1991 to 2003, is MSU's all-time winningest coach. Sherrill led MSU to 6 postseason bowl games and an appearance in the SEC Championship Game in 1998. Allyn McKeen, who led the Bulldogs to its first and only SEC championship in 1941, has the highest winning percentage (.764). Some also credit McKeen with a national championship in 1940. The team is currently coached by Dan Mullen, former Florida offensive coordinator, who led the 2006 and 2008 Gators to national championships. During his time at MSU, Mullen has led the Bulldogs to two consecutive bowl victories in 2010 and 2011, and an undefeated record over in-state rival Ole Miss since his hiring.
Notable seasons[]
1941 SEC champions[]
The 1941 Mississippi State Bulldogs finished the year with a 7-1-1 record, and claimed the Southeastern Conference championship. The season included wins over Florida, Alabama, Auburn, and Mississippi. The Bulldogs tied with LSU, and were defeated by Duquesne. While Mississippi State won the conference championship in 1941, they did not win the national championship. Alabama claims the 1941 season as a national championship, even though they finished the season with a 9-2 record, including losses to Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, and were ranked #20 in the final AP poll.
1998 SEC Western Division champions[]
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, MS. 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 play in the 1998 SEC Championship Game as SEC Western Division Champions. MSU . In that game, MSU was leading Tennessee in the fourth quarter before falling 24-14 before 74,000 fans in the Georgia Dome. They continued on to play in the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, Texas, against a heavily favored Texas Longhorns team. The Bulldogs lost the game 38-11.
1940 season[]
The 1940 Mississippi State Bulldogs finished the season 10-0-1 and defeated Georgetown 14-7 in the 1941 Orange Bowl, with key wins over Florida, Alabama, and Ole Miss, while tying with Auburn 7-7. The Bulldogs finished ranked #9 and Minnesota was named national champions by all major polls. Some Bulldog fans retroactively claim the 1940 season as a national championship for Mississippi State, but the university neither claims nor acknowledges the feat.
Program Achievements[]
| SEC West Champions | 1998 |
| SEC Champions | 1941 |
| Final Top 25 (AP) | 1940, 1941, 1942, 1957, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2010 |
| Final Top 25 (Coaches) | 1963, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2010 |
| Bowl Victories* | 1940, 1963, 1974, 1981, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2011 |
- Years listed for Bowl victories are seasons for which they occurred.
Recent history[]
1999 season[]
The 1999 Bulldog team finished their season with a 10–2 record, earning a final ranking of #12 nationally. During the 1999 season MSU fielded the #1 ranked defense in the country. MSU beat in-state rival Ole Miss to finish the regular season. It was Jackie Sherrill's 6th win in his first 9 games against the Rebels. In the bowl game, the Bulldogs defeated Clemson in the Peach Bowl, 17–7 to finish 10-2 and ranked #12. That #12 ranking is the highest final ranking of any FBS Division team in the State of Mississippi in over 40 years.
2000 season[]
The 2000 Bulldogs finished 8–4 (4–4) in what would be Jackie Sherrill's final winning season at MSU. The team reached the 2000 Independence Bowl where led by quarterback Wayne Madkin and running back Dontae Walker, under snowy conditions, they pulled out an exciting 43–41 overtime victory over Texas A&M.
2007 season[]
- Main article: 2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Bulldogs finished 8–5 and won the Liberty Bowl over the Conference USA Champions Central Florida. Other notable wins include away victories at Auburn University and the University of Kentucky and home wins versus the University of Alabama and Mississippi Rebels. With the win over Ole Miss, Mississippi State claimed the Egg Bowl trophy.
2010 season[]
- Main article: 2010 Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State defeated the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators in the same season for the first time in team history. The Bulldogs also defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 31-23 for the Bulldogs' second consecutive win over the in-state rival. MSU finished the season with a 52-14 win in the Gator Bowl over traditional college football power Michigan Wolverines. The Bulldogs finished the 2010 football season ranked 15th by the Associated Press, the highest final ranking for the school in the AP poll since finishing 13th in the nation after the 1999 season.
Nick Bell[]
On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 20-year-old defensive end Nick Bell, who had undergone surgery that Sunday for a type of skin cancer, died after a rapid deterioration of his health[3]; he had been scheduled to begin chemotherapy that day. His loss was mourned by the university and head coach Dan Mullen, who decided to meet with Bell's family on Monday night- when it became clear he was deteriorating- instead of attending the meeting of the Jackson Touchdown Club; Athletic Director Scott Stricklin went instead.
2011 season[]
- Main article: 2011 Mississippi State Bulldogs
MSU won 7 games, including beating the Ole Miss Rebels for the 3rd straight time. It was also the MSU's 4th win in the last 5 against Ole Miss. The Bulldogs went on to beat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the Music City Bowl 23-17. The win in the Music City Bowl was the Bulldogs' 5th straight bowl win, which is currently tied for the longest bowl win streak in the NCAA.
Logos/Uniforms[]
Image gallery[]
Seasons[]
2020s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Mike Leach |
2010s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Joe Moorhead | 6-7 |
| 2018 | Joe Moorhead | 8-5 |
| 2017 | Dan Mullen; Greg Knox | 9-4 |
| 2016 | Dan Mullen | 6-7 |
| 2015 | Dan Mullen | 9-4 |
| 2014 | Dan Mullen | 10-3 |
| 2013 | Dan Mullen | 7-6 |
| 2012 | Dan Mullen | 8-5 |
| 2011 | Dan Mullen | 7-6 |
| 2010 | Dan Mullen | 9-4 |
2000s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Dan Mullen | 5-7 |
| 2008 | Sylvester Croom | 4-8 |
| 2007 | Sylvester Croom | 8-5 |
| 2006 | Sylvester Croom | |
| 2005 | Sylvester Croom | |
| 2004 | Sylvester Croom | |
| 2003 | ||
| 2002 | ||
| 2001 | ||
| 2000 |
References[]
- ↑ 2011 Awards for Miss. State Bulldogs football at fs.ncaa.org
- ↑ www.hailstate.com 2008 Mississippi State Football Media Guide: Media Information and Record Book
- ↑ "Miss. State's Nick Bell dies of cancer", 2010-10-02. Retrieved on 2010-10-02.
