University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Getting to Know Our Opponents -- Mississippi State
7/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The countdown is on as your Golden Eagles prepare for the 2015 Football season! The Golden Eagles and Bulldogs take the field at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, Miss. with kickoff slated for 9 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
Getting to know... Mississippi State
General Information:
Location: Starkville, Miss.
Opened: 1878
Enrollment: 20,138
Nickname: Bulldogs
President: Dr. Mark Keenum
Athletics Director: Scott Stricklin
Colors: Maroon and White
Athletics Website: www.hailstate.com
Institution Website: www.msstate.edu
Twitter: @HailStateFB
Facebook: HailStateFootball
Instagram: HailStateFB
YouTube: HailState
Football Information:
Primary Offense: Spread / Multiple
Primary Defense: 4-3 / Multiple
All-Time Record: 531-558-39 (116th Season)
Letterman Returning / Lost: 45 / 22
Offense: 22 / 11
Defense: 20 / 10
Specialist: 3 / 1
Head Coach:
Dan Mullen enters his seventh season as the head coach of the Bulldogs, having posted a 46-31 record. He has directed the bulldogs to five-straight bowl appearances. Last season he led State to a 10-win season.
Football Stadium:
Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, named after Olympic sprinter Don Margruder Scott, one of the Bulldogs' first football superstars, the 101-year-old historic facility has undergone five renovation and expansion projects during its history, including a $75 million expansion that was done in 2014.
About Starkville, Miss:
Starkville is located in Oktibbeha County, and holds the county seat. Starkville is in the northwest region of Mississippi along with Columbus and West Point. Starkville is named in honor of Revolutionary War hero, General John Stark. Starkville has been populated for over 2100 years. East of the rich historic town, which was once an Indian Mound Campground, artifacts in the form of clay pot fragments and artwork where found. On March 21, 2006, Starkville became the first city in Mississippi to adopt a smoking ban for indoor public places, including restaurants and bars. With help from the Mississippi State student body, the local attractions benefit tremendously. With a nickname such as, "StarkVegas," the Arts and culture are vibrant. "StarkVegas" holds the oldest festival in the state known as the Magnolia Film Festival. The Dudy Gras Parade, Cotton District Arts Festival, Super Bulldog Weekend, Old Main Music Festival, Ragtime & Jazz Music Festival and Bulldog Bash, are all major events held in Starkville.
Notable Bulldogs:
Richard Adkerson, President, CEO and co-chairman of the board of directors of Freeport-McMoRan, one of the world's largest producers of gold and copper. Mississippi State's school of accountancy bears the Adkerson name.
John Grisham, best-selling novelist, and Mississippi State accounting graduate.
Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro, nicknamed Thunder and Lightning, were both Major League Baseball All-Stars.
Four of the nine Mississippi Supreme Court justices, including chief justice, graduated from State -- Chief Justice William L. "Bill" Waller Jr., 1974; Presiding Justice George C. Carlson Jr., 1969; Associate Justice Jess H. Dickinson, 1978; and Associate Justice David A. Chandler, 1972, 1974 and 1988.
Tyrone Keys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bailey Howell, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
Jeff Brantley, Major League Pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
Bobby Thigpen, former major league pitcher for Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.
Eric Moulds, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.
Kent Hull, Buffalo Bills
William Nathaniel "Buck" Showalter current manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Former manager of the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers.
Eric Dampier, currently with the Miami Heat, once with Pacers, Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks.
Dwight Douglas "D.D.", 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
