For the most part, it’s been a successful sports year for Mississippi State. Perhaps one of the best in several years.
The football team earned a bid to the Liberty Bowl, while the basketball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, losing to Memphis. At the same time, the women’s team were in the WNIT field.
The softball team excelled as well, losing to Hawaii in regional play, while the golf team travels to West Lafayette, Ind., next week to compete for a national title.
Men’s tennis had individuals competing in the NCAAs, while the men’s and women’s track programs achieved quite a bit, as well.
We also saw the changing of the guard in the athletic department, with the firing of Larry Templeton and the hiring of Greg Byrne. And finally, there’s the resignation of Ron Polk.
I guess you could also throw in all the off-the-field mishaps as news interest.
Of all the above, what’s the biggest story and why? And if I left anything out, let me know.
May 23, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Football to me is the biggest story. Just because it’s football. We had the stadium full on a few occassions. Which made me feel justified for the first time in years for buying season tickets. Byrne’s is a big story as well, and he’ll have to make a bigtime decision right away. To many MSU fans, the baseball coach is more important than any other.
May 23, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Why is the baseball coach more important than any other? Because of tradition?
May 23, 2008 at 3:32 pm
No mention of the Bass Fishing Team?
May 23, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I didn’t say it was to me, but yes. I work with several guys who have had season tickets since DNF was built. They could care less what the football team does.
May 23, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I’m sure a lot of people more closely associate MSU with baseball. They do have some name recognition in that respect. Paps, Clark, Palmiero, Thigpen, Brantley.
May 23, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I think football was by far the biggest sports story at MSU. Not only did we leave many teams with a stunned look on their faces after the game, we enjoyed a real home-field advantage for several games including the Liberty Bowl which was packed in maroon. Jackie got us to some bowl games but apparently we were cheating which makes this one all the more special. Not only that but Jackie couldn’t seem to win a bowl game with the exception of the last two.
The Byrne story is second because he gets to show us what he’s made of (or what we are stuck with) right away!!
May 23, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Got a question for you GG. Do you disagree? Do you not feel that this a huge test for him? In my opinion, this hire will make people form opinions of him that will stay with him as long as he’s at State. Good or bad.
May 23, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Man, this is a tough one. Being in the student section of the Alabama game was almost a life experience. A fellow lifelong bulldog described the interception as 6 years of frustration let out by 55,000 people along with every other bulldog.
Then again, the Larry Templeton era ended, which has so many memories included in it. Templeton has been there for so so long, tht many forget all the great things that he has done with the athletics department here at Mississippi State. Byrne coming in has a great opportunity to take State to the next level. I believe he is ready.
Polk, the father of college baseball in this era retires. The reason that we have the cathedral that we call Dudy Noble Field at Polk Dement Stadium. Thanks for the memories Polky.
May 23, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I’d have to say the football season is the biggest story. It had been a long time since we tasted success. We all know football is king.
Polk’s retirement is without question a huge story but not the biggest. No lower than third, probably second. If you think about it, what has been the hottest topic about this? Polk and his legacy or his replacement? I guess you could say that the next coach might already be a bigger story. I think his timing had a lot to do with the magnitude of his retirment. It added a “shock value”.
May 23, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Oh, I agree draws. And I wasn’t questioning your statement at all. I was just interested in why people think that. If you said football, I still would have asked the same question. Sorry, it’s the reporter in me that keeps asking questions. LOL!
May 23, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I’m not gonna lie though. It is a very close second. I love my baseball.
May 23, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Farley going to a basketball game
May 23, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Very well thought out, 2thdoc. And as a bonus, he didn’t get thrown out.
May 23, 2008 at 9:33 pm
For those of you (gg) who were unable to make it to our friends farewell party last weekend……..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nhx0dU4q06Y
May 23, 2008 at 9:43 pm
And this one too………
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hqGirLjW9Eo
May 24, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Wow, I just woke up from watching that last night at 10pm! Too bad the old fella had to g……………….Who on Earth am I kidding! “Hit the road Polk, and don’t ya come back no more no more no more no more. Hit the road Polk, and don’t ya come back no more!”
May 25, 2008 at 1:36 am
Sorry draws, was just a little bored.
May 25, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Speaking of baseball coaches, several Oregon newspapers are reporting that the Sunday game between Oregon State and Pacific may have been Pat Casey’s last game as coach of Oregon State. Casey is said to be considering several options, though he has said that he may still decide to stay with the Beavers. The Beavers may still get into a regional so that aspect of the reports could be wrong as well.
If Casey does move on to MSU, I would not worry that his “small ball” game will not work at MSU. Casey has had to go the small ball path simply because the high school kids with power who sign with Casey end up going straight to the professional ranks out of high school. The Pacific Northwest is not known for producing a lot of power hitters and Casey has to make do with the kids that fit into that “small ball” category. Anyway, if Casey does go the MSU route, MSU will be getting a good man and an outstanding coach.
May 26, 2008 at 8:03 am
thanks, interestedosufan. I posted one of the blogs. How would the OSU fans feel if Casey were to leave or just retire?
May 26, 2008 at 11:45 am
Pat Casey IS Oregon State baseball. He handles every aspect of the program except some of the initial recruiting contacts. The loss of Casey would devestate the program(IMHO), but Beaver fans will support Casey in whichever direction he decides to go with his career. If he decides to go to another program, most Beaver fans will immediately become fans of that program(of course, the Beavers will remain our top choice).
If he chooses to retire, it will be a short retirement. The guy lives for baseball.
May 26, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Thanks, osufan. Is everyone disappointed about not getting into a regional or was it expected?
May 26, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The great majority of Oregon State fans feel that the Beavers missed too many opportunities to write their own ticket into a regional. Even the players place the blame squarely on their own shoulders rather than the selection committee. The Beavers had five big series wins against quality regional qualifiers, but they didn’t beat the easy teams on the schedule.