True Maroon Goes Global

This took my day to new heights...or another land. Whatevs.

GOLDEN DAYS - A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE EGG BOWL TROPHY - EPISODE 1

This is brilliant.

A View Of What I Hope Is To Come

The guy who has been making these MSU highlight videos this year is mucho talented. Of course, when you've got the year we had to work with, it probably makes the job a little easier.

Here is the final installment of the year. A year-in-review, if you will. And a glimpse of what I hope is to come for the future of Mississippi State football. (It's the only thing getting me throug basketball season right now.)



And can I just say this again? National championship or not, I wouldn't trade Chris Relf for Cam Newton for a million bucks. Or 200,000 of them. The kid is class personified and I hope next year is an even better year for his has he closes his career out as a Bulldog.

This Makes Me Sad The Season Is Over. Oh, Wait...

It's not! 1.1.11. The fat lady will sing. And she will be singing "Hail State!"

I could watch this over and over again...

It's Our Time

I love these game week videos Mississippi State is putting out, and this week's has to be my favorite. It's got it all. Mourning and joy, highs and lows. While honoring our late fallen Bulldog, Nick Bell, it also sets into focus what Nick Bell would have wanted his team to focus on. BEATING ALABAMA.

I won't say much, but I will say this: I got a feeling. And it's not a bad one either.

And you better get ready to head bang and fist-shake with the best of them because this video will make you do that. And if you have a cowbell, get ready to ring it after you what it because well, you're gonna want to.

GO DAWGS!!!!

24

Saturday night could not have brought me greater joy if Ed McMahon had been standing on my doorstep with a check for 22.4 million dollars. (That may or may not have been a gross overstatement on my part.)

Why?

Because this happened.

And then, this happened.

And Ole Miss lost. Which was really the icing on the proverbial football-shaped cake, if you ask me. And y'all, I've been snacking on that cake ever since. And it is G-O-O-D.

A few Monday morning SEC football notes for you:

- All but one SEC West team (can we guess who?) are in the top 25. Only one SEC East team (South Carolina, yay for the Beamers!) is still ranked in the top 25.

- Two weeks ago, everyone (who played) in the West won and everyone in the East (who played) lost. My friends, the SEC tide has turned.

- There are three SEC teams (Auburn, Alabama, LSU) in the top 8 of the BSC standings - no other conference has more than one. Thanks to @SECSportsUpdate for that tidbit of info.

- MSU is ranked for the first time in nine years. The last time the Bulldogs were ranked, I was a freshman in college. And then Florida whooped our hineys, 52-0, in the swamp, and that was the end of our top 25 days. Until now.

- The last time MSU won in The Swamp? 1965. That's a long beating. A long one.

- Feast your eyes on this lead in the game recap:

"GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No intimidation in the Swamp on Saturday. None at all.
In a venue where Florida has historically flexed its muscles with ease against opposing foes, on this particular night it was Mississippi State delivering blow after to blow en route to a 10-7 upset against the No. 22-ranked Gators in front of stunned crowd of 90,517 at Ben Griffin Stadium."

I didn't know Joe Galbraith could be so eloquent.

(Meanwhile, ESPNU is showing the replay of this game and my office TV is tuned and locked in.

Also, this guy...

Vick Ballard. Also known as, a maroon-colored mack truck with a turbo engine. And also known as, officially, my favorite 2010 Mississippi State Bulldog. This kid, this kid is mucho talented. And I'm so glad that Dan Mullen saw something in this kid that no one else saw because, as much as I would have loved Cam Newton to be our quarterback this year (no offense to Chris Relf and Tyler Russell, because I think those two are the best QBs Mississippi State has seen in a sweet forever), I'm glad Mullen got his claws in this one.

I've said it before, and been cautioned about saying it again, but Vick Ballard has Anthony Dixon/Jerious Norwood type qualities and he's going to do great things for Mississippi State football.

In summary, I see a bright future for Mississippi State football. Hopefully, we respond well to the success and make ourselves bowl eligible with a win over UAB this weekend. Then, let's take care of Kentucky, shock the world against Alabama, have a pig roast the week after, and then get rid of the black bear infestation that has come upon the state of Mississippi within the last week.

And GO SEC! (Boo Ole Miss!)

Linky-Video Madness

Y'all, the bloggy neglect is out of control. You don't have to tell me. This I know.

With the athletic season cranking up, I haven't had the extra time that I usually do to spend blogging away about the nonsense around me. Plus, those episodes of Friday Night Lights and Rachael Zoe Project on my DVR aren't going to watch themselves.

Anyway, to break the silence on the blog today, I thought I'd share some webby nuggets I've either found or been introduced to this week. So here goes...

1. This video by our Director of Multimedia Services here at Samford Athletics makes me proud to work with such talented people. And it gets me excited for next Thursday night.

2. Another incredible post by Don Miller. I love how he focuses in on character on everything he does. Becauser really, that's what we are. And the post is so fitting for me right now as I try to figure out what the next step is for me in life. It's so true that knowing where you are going keeps you out of trouble.

3. Also another fantastic post by Mr. Acuff. So good and again, so fitting for me right now. Sometimes I think what I want to do is impossible. Or even living life the way God wants me to is impossible. And I wonder why God makes it so hard. But His Word says that when we are at our weakest point, that is when God loves to show off. Read it. You won't be sorry.

4. Allow me to introduce you to Catalog Living, if you don't already know what it is. Brilliant.

5. And last but most certainly not least, I hope everyone is as pumped for tonight's MSU vs. Auburn game as I am. I'll be watching with a few State fans and a few Auburn fans and well, y'all pray that I'll display a Christian attitude toward the opposition.

Blog-Linkity Goodness 5.19.10

It's time for more linkage. The internet kind. Not the hot dog kind.

- While my daddy was taking a little doctor ordered rest time last month, he decided to go fishing on day and take my furry little brother, Randy, along. Randy always makes things interesting. This outing was nothing different. Check out his story here.

- Also get his take on cowbells here too. It's always good to hear a players' perspective on the subject.

- This post of Jon's at Stuff Christians Like is hilarious. It includes Justin Beiber, Ludacris and the Black Eyed Peas.

- I'm not a big Paul Finebaum fan but the day I read this I was. He wrote a great article on Dan Mullen and the future he has in college football. If you bleed Maroon and White and haven't read it yet, click here.

- Did you see American Idol last night? Did you see Lee Dewyze, who might have to fight Tim Tebow, for my hand in marriage? No? Watch this.



- Last but not least, I hate that I've waited this long to share this with you bloggites, but it's only because I've waited this long to watch it. This is a link to my church's Easter service. (And just for fun, I've embedded the video player below.) David focused on the Love Story that is presented in the book of Ruth. If you don't know the story, please go read it. It's only four chapters and it will change your life. I think I've studied this story about three times in the last three years and it gets better every time. It's such a beautiful, TRUE, realization of our need for the redemption that can only come from Jesus Christ and the immense love of a God that actively pursues us day after day. I love it even more because Mandi Mapes was able to display the amazing gifts that God has placed in her life through her testimony and her talents. Mandi is the girl singing those songs and she wrote them all as well. If you like, you can get them on iTunes.

Blog-Linkity Goodness 2.24.10

A few nuggets from the interweb. Click away.

1. SWAT Team. Jarvis Varnado is eight blocks away from breaking the all-time record for blocked shots. It could happen tonight against Alabama. Great article.

2. What's an edition of Blog-Linkity Goodness without something from Jon Acuff? Dude is legit and writes in a way that just makes me want to read his stuff over and over and over. This post is one part gross a thousand parts ugly truth sprinkled, okay maybe drowning, in a whole lot of God.

3. Some goodness written by one of my favorites, BooMama, over at All-Access. That quote for Beth Moore? Does it come in a yogurt flavor? Because all I want to do is pour a bunch of rainbow sprinkles on it and eat it all up.

4. This video had me weeping at my desk early this morning. Not only is the video good but this guy's voice is nutso incredible.



5. Seen this before. Except it was a frat boy in his boxers smeered with all kinds of unmentionable stinky things and hog-tied to a 2x4. And he had just gotten engaged.

Vroom Maroon? Seriously?

After the serious post below, I thought I should share this. I couldn't stop laughing.

The Nazi's view on this "Vroom Maroon" crap.

Thoughts On Some Things

I'm completely defeated right now. I don't understand why I bust my butt to do my best at something and get it done on time when the people I have to depend on to get the project to its finality completely disregard what I say. Hello. You are an editor. Do some edits. When I ask for something to be changed. Change it. It's frustrating that I get blamed for something not being done on time when I have to depend on other people to help me get it done and they aren't doing their job.

I don't want to talk about the Mississippi State-Kentucky debacle that went on last night in Starkville, but I'm going to. Why? Because some things just can't go unsaid. First things first. From two weeks ago until yesterday, the behavior of the Mississippi State fans, in respect to calling Kentucky forward Demarcus Cousins, was uncalled for. Now, I think it's kind of a fun idea to get a player's number and call and say, "Hey, you're going down on Tuesday," or "Ready to get beat," or whatever. However, calling the kid and making racial and homosexual slurs or talking about the kid's family is really uncalled for and it makes the rest of the nation continue to believe the stereotype of Mississippi people that we have so long tried to move past.

Secondly, the officiating what atrocious (someone give me a benjamin because that's about how much that word cost me to type). From the time that State was up 67-60, the referees called 10 fouls on Mississippi State. TEN FOULS. How many on Kentucky? Zero. ZERO. There is no way that a team that ranks number one in least fouls made per game (13.6) can come out one night against the No. 2 team in the nation and get called for 28 personal fouls. NO WAY.

And while we are on the subject, I know how officiating can set fans off. I know. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Literally. And I have to say, that given the height of emotions and the atmosphere that was present last night, it's commendable to both teams that nothing got out of hand on the court. No punches were thrown, and not a lot of jawing. But the fans need to remember that line that can be crossed and do what the can, no matter what the circumstances or the outcome, not to cross it.

There is a statement made by my conference, the Southern Conference, that I think applies to all conferences and institutions. It says:

"The scoreboard will reflect the quality of the teams in competitions while the kind of support given by the spectators will reveal the character of the fans."

I think that speaks volumes about the kind of character that our fans allowed themselves to show last night. It was embarassing. When the officiating and behavior of fans overshadows the undeniable fight that your team showed, there is major problem that should be dealt with.

I'm even embarassed to say that I am a graduate of Mississippi State right now because that spectacle will be what people remember for a long while. When Mississippi State fans are grouped in the same category as Alabama fans (the nastiest of them all) and Ole Miss fans, when it comes to fans in the SEC, THAT is embarassing.

I just hope that people realize that when you are fan, whether its little league or professional sports, you are not only cheering on your team but you are representing them well. If you wouldn't want bottles and coins thrown at you, take a minute, sober up, think about how you would feel, and then don't do it. Not all emotions are meant to be acted upon, and anger and frustration is one of those. Believe me, I've learned that lesson well in my short 26 years of living. Acting on anger and frustration gets you nowhere...unless you need to bust down a door in an emergency. Then you're like Superman.

Lastly, and to completely switch gears, if you are a Christian (and even if you're not), I encourage you to find a chronological bible reading plan and go through it. I've only read through Genesis, Job and Exodus and am utterly dumbfounded at the truths that are being revealed infront of my eyes and in my heart.

The reason I said "if you are a Christian (and even if you're not)" is because I know that believers and nonbelievers read the Bible through two completely different scopes. There's a whole long explanation that I could go into but maybe I'll save it for another blog post. Let's just say it has to do with when the Holy Spirit indwells us and what he chooses to reveal to us.

Anyway, I encourage you to read through it this way because you are able to see the amazing story of redemption that is threaded throughout the Bible. And if I've already been able to see it through three books, I guess I should brace myself for the other 63 books.

I'm pretty sure my life, my heart and my entire way of thinking is about to be turn upside down.

Phone Tag

Freshman forward for the Kentucky men's basketball team, Demarcus Cousins, has been receiving a number of random phone calls and text messages for the past couple of weeks. Why? Because someone posted his phone number on the internet. It's become a bigger deal this week because, as you'll see in the video, most of the calls are from Mississippi numbers, and the Wildcats are due to play Mississppi State in Starkville on Tuesday.

As a former Rick's Rowdies officer, I can tell you we went to great lengths to get dirt on many opposing players in order to try and "distract" them during games. But the contents of the phone calls that Cousins has been getting is a little over the top. You'll know what I mean when you watch the video.



Please, if you are a Mississippi State student or fan, don't show your ignorance and stupidity, and furthermore, don't prove the Mississippi stereotype true, by calling this kid and insulting him. This guy is a good kid who is getting an education while doing what he loves.

Why Aren't More Libraries Like This?

It's no secret that I'm not a big fan of libraries. Complete and utter silence is not conducive to my study habits but the Mississippi State library was always more of a social environment to me. I could never go in there and not see someone that I knew and not stop and talk. There were just too many distractions in there.

I know. I know. How can a library be distracting?

Whatevs.

But somehow, Mississippi State's Mitchell Memorial Library has completely lost all its marbles and decided to host a rave last night to break up the monotony of exam week.

I think if more libraries were like this all the time, I might actually consider spending more time in them. Except I'd really never get anything done.

Take a look.

Nutzo!



This girl really wants them to turn the lights off.



There's nothing better than a little school spirit and hatred of "The School Up North" to fuel some intense study energy in a bunch of college students.

A Few Words From Matt Wyatt

For those of you who don't know, Matt Wyatt was Mississippi State's quarterback from 1995-1999. And he's possibly my most favorite quarterback in recent Mississippi State history because he's just a sweet and precious as can be. You know, he was on that team that played in against Peyton Manning and the Vols in the SEC Championship game in 1998 and versus Texas in the Cotton Bowl the same year, and then led the largest fourth quarter comeback the next season against Auburn (after going into the game undefeated at 5-0). (Click here is you want to see a blurry version of those highlights.)

Anyway, after a short-lived career in the German Football League, he's done several different jobs while also doing some freelance work. He contributes for Bulldawg Junction from time to time and recently pitched in his two cents about this past weekend's Egg Bowl.

I just love when former players give their opinion about games like this because they really see it in a different light.

Check out what he had to say here. I promise you won't be disappointed.

We're All In This Together

I'm channeling High School Musical.

No, really. I experienced two things today that really made me think about this thing we call "the world" and what humanity really is.

The first...

The large certified can of Whoop-Yo-Butt Mississippi State put on Ole Miss today to bring that sweet little (ahem...big) golden egg back home to Starkville. Y'all, work in athletics and I work game days which means I don't get to cheer a lot so in a way, I've sort of become desensitized to the yelling and screaming of it all because well, I'm forbidden to do all the yelling and screaming because I'm expected to be an unbiased professional at the "workplace".

However, when I get home, away from all the professionalism, and close to my rowdy fan of a mother, I tend to get rowdy myself. And today, I'm pretty sure I shredded my vocal chords on that last pick-six by Corey Broomfield. That sweet kid played three quarters with a separated shoulder, y'all. All to bring me that Golden Egg.

Anyway, this is why it's good to be a college football fan. You end up celebrating with complete strangers. After the game, you're at Lowe's. You get out of the car and are greeted by other State fans, yelling, "Go Dawgs!" You're at the movies. A lady notices the shirt you're wearing and asks who won. You give her the news and what does she say? "That's just like Ole Miss to lose." Ha.

The second...

I went to see 2012 at the movies with the parental units this afternoon after the Egg Bowl. I was afraid of how this movie would turn out. I was hoping it would be a little more than ohmygoodnesstheworldisending. And I should've known that these kinds of movies always have a moral to the story.

To paraphrase what one of the characters said towards the end of the movie, humanity isn't sacrificing others lives for the sake of our own. It's caring for each other in this thing we called life.

So, what is the big epiphany that I came away with today?

It is this.

In triumph or tribulation, we, humankind, come together at the end of the day. That's why it's called humankind. Human. Kind. Kind. Human. We care for each other. We share this thing called life. Together. Whether we like it or not.

Because we are human. We can't help but care for each other.

Ain't that just like God to make us care for each other and stuff.

A Letter To Ole Miss

Dear Ole Miss,

Thanks, again, for letting the world see what "Mississippi's finest" is all about.

The lengths you go to to show the nation that Mississippi is indeed one of the least racist states in the country continue to amaze me. (end sarcasm)

To those who continue to live in an era before the 1950s, just a few opinions:

1. The South will never "rise again" because the north and the south are one nation now. Red and yellow, black and white. We are all one nation, under God. If you don't like it, move to Russia.

2. The Ku Klux Klan should be disbanned for life. The values that they stand on go against any and all that the "Bible Belt" should be proud to uphold. If you want to continue to gather, may I again say, move to Russia. I don't care what the First Amendment says. To me, you are no better than the terrorists who claim to do things in the name of Allah.

3. To the students of the University of Mississippi...as children of the 20th century and Generation X, Y, Z or whatever generation it is -- one of the most tolerant generations ever -- you should be ashamed that you are affiliated with a university that would allow the Ku Klux Klan to march on its campus in support of a stupid song. For the love of all that is right with college football, IT. IS. A. SONG. I'm sure it they took "Who Let The Dogs Out" or "Bad To The Bone" away from Mississippi State, the students wouldn't stage a protest, sitting in blazers and ties behind the goal posts. They would find a new song to create a new tradition. One that doesn't offend an entire people group. And I know what you are thinking: No, my cowbell doesn't offend cows.

Get over yourselves and become human beings.

Blog-Linkity Goodness 11.4.09 and Random Dozen

Here are a few things I came across yesterday and today and I wanted to share the love. Also, as an added bonus, Lid's Random Dozen. As if you, didn't already know enough about me.

1. This video completely made my morning. My day was top-notch after viewing this. 252 yards of maroon and white goodness.



2. Boomama's post yesterday was one of my most favorite in a while. And she "wasn't even planning to write this post". Go read it now. It mentions Steven Curtis Chapman, if that helps at all.

3. Jon Acuff's post yesterday on Stuff Christians Like was all about "rooting for Tim Tebow". And if you know me, this is a cause I can get behind. Quarterback keep. Hut one. Hut two.

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1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
I used to do this all the time in Starkville. Well, not all the time. There was this one light though, between fraternity row and Bost Extension that never, EVER turned green late at night. Even when no one was coming the other way. I literally waited one night for 10 minutes for it to change in it never did, so I went. Sue me.

2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
I would have gotten more work done yesterday.

3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
I usually go to the other person's blog to comment.

4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
Toss-up. Mary Poppins, The Lion King or The Santa Clause movies.

5. Do you recycle?
I used to at the place I lived at before I moved but they don't come and pick up recycling where I live now. However, I will recycle if there is a receptical nearby.

6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
Totally strategy. More opportunities to win. You can control stategy. You can't control chance. That's why I don't gamble. Plus I like to figure things out. I'm a puzzle nerd.

7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
I used to have a lot of them when I was little. There is one, though, now that tends to come back often. I'm at a water park. That's about all I can recall.

8. What did you learn from your first real job?
I learned how to make a mean sno-cone.

9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
I like to buy because I like to write in my books.

10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?

I don't think I've wore anything again that I have before. I will never where sturrip pants again, though. Or roll my jeans. I did cave on the leggings thing though.

11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
I pretty much Christmas shop all year round. If I see something that I know someone would like, I'll get it then. If I have the money. But usually I'm buying presents like two weeks before.

12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?
Yes. Most of them have had to do with the Mississippi State Bulldogs winning. You know, it's a big deal when we win these days in football. I do have to say that the most crazy I've ever gone after winning a game was after we beat Alabama at their place in 2004 to win the SEC outright.

Quote of the Day

"When Erin Andrews shows up on your campus to cover a game, I guess you're playing the big game of the week."
- Dan Mullen, Mississippi State head football coach

My MSU Legacy

My mom just showed me this article written by Bob Hartley (pictured right), former Mississippi State sports information director and the person whom the Mississippi State football pressbox is named after. The article entitled "From the Hart", appeared in each issue of Dawgs' Bite, a small newspaper with eventually turned into a full-fledged magazine reporting the happenings of the Mississippi State athletics front.

The article contains several different parts to it and the last part is a sort of homage to my grandfather, my mom's father, my Boppie. Boppie died when I was in second grade, after losing his battle with prostate cancer. It didn't have much of an affect on me then, but the older I got and the more pictures and stories I was told, the more I grew to miss him more and more.

I wanted to share this article with my readers to give you a little more insight on why my blood is truely maroon. Besides the fact that I get to brag that my dad played for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, I get to brag that my Boppie did too, among other things.

So here goes...

"When former MSU classmate, fraternity brother and ex-star wing-back Collins Wohner called just before [the] 10 o'clock news Saturda night, Feb. 16, I had a premonition he was about to report some bad news. The call was appreciated, but [the] new of the death of one of Mississippi State University's all-time favorite graduates was saddening.

W.O. "Willie" STone has meant as much to MSU as any person I've ever known. He served the University and his fellow man in many ways. From the Hart will always treasure his memory of Willie Stone.

He is perhaps best remembered by many as the captain of Mississippi State's 1935 football team that shocked Army, 13-7. The upset startled the sports world. This game is regarded by many as the school's most important football victory. Not only was Willie Stone captain of the football team, he was president of the MSU student body. He was a 1936 grad. He was (is) also [a] member [of the] MSU Sports Hall of Fame.

Stone served as Alumni Secretary at his alma mater, 1939-41, returning after World War II. My first association with Willie was when I accompanied Coach Dudy Noble and Stone to a meeting in Tupelo, a week after joining [the] Athletic Department staff, Aug. 15, 1946. I [remember] stopping a Whitt's Cafe at Crosstown (Tupelo) while WIllie made a phone call. After the call, he reported news that Shorty McWilliams had resigned from West Point (U.S. Military Academy) and was returning to State.

One of six brothers to attend Mississippi State (five are graduates), Stone served on the Board of Instuations of Higher Learning (College Board), 1969-72, including [a] term as board president. He retired after 30 years with Mississippi Roadbuilders Supply as Vice President and Sales Manager in 1986."

The rest of the article just lists survivors and requests for memorials to Mississippi State's Development Foundation.

I share this because of my enormous pride in where I come from. My parents are the greatest and I can't imagine being a part of another family. God sure did a great job in picking parents for me and they are a true testament and result of great parents on their part as well.

(I wish I had a picture of my grandfather on my computer but I don't. Many could be scanned if I had access to a scanner.)

Praise God for amazing families!