Season tickets, Bulldog Club membership on the rise

Earlier today, I sat down with Greg Byrne for about 30 minutes for a Q&A that will run on Thursday.

Here is an excerpt from what he had to say on football season tickets and Bulldog Club membership:

“I don’t know exactly where we are today in exact numbers with football season tickets, but we are ahead of where we finished last year. In July, we were already ahead of our Bulldog Club membership where we ended last year and that is an attribute to our fanbase and how loyal and supportive they are of Mississippi State and we can’t thank them enough for that. At the same time, we’ve had a lot of new folks get on board. We’re on pace to potentially add 1,200 new members this year. But we still have some work to do. We’re building that foundation and getting everyone to do their part and pulling the rope in the same direction. And that’s whether someone gives us $100 or if someone gives us $1 million.”

As for the current Bulldog Club membership, he said it’s now just a tad over 6,000. In four years, his goal is to have 10,000 members.

Stansbury’s Summer Speak

OK. I admit that’s a weak attempt at alliteration. But you get the point.

Anyway, the SEC held its annual summer basketball teleconference today and hear are some things the state’s newest millionaire, MSU’s Rick Stansbury, had to say. . .

• Outside of Barry Stewart, the 10th-year coach said there are no other injuries hampering his players. Stewart, who suffered a stress fracture in his ankle during a pickup game two weeks ago, is expected to be out of action for the next 6-8 weeks but back in time for the start of practice in October without any issues.
• As for his new contract that was finalized earlier this month and pays him roughly $1.2 million, he said the money is “nice” and that he’s grateful for the commitment, but added, “I’m still going to do what we did starting off 10 years ago.” In other words, the money isn’t going to change him.
• He also said his assistants received pay increases and that was a part of his deal. “I’ve always said assistants are the lifeline of program, and I want to make sure my assistants are taken care of.”
• As far as the schedule is concerned, he said it’s still a ways away, but noted MSU is playing in the Legends Classic in New Jersey and that another game will be played in Jackson.In the Legend’s Classic, Pittsburgh, Washington State and Texas Tech are just a few of the teams playin.
• On Greg Byrne: “Greg has been terrific. We’ll miss Larry and the experience he brought here. But at the same time, Greg has been terrific to work with.”
• He has no problem with prospects committing as early as the 10th grade.

Croom and his honey-do list

With the start of practice just a little more than two weeks away, you might think Sylvester Croom is gearing up for one last vacation.

Think again.

Speaking engagements and meetings with assistants to finalize practice schedules are high on the agenda.

Yet, so are buying birthday and anniversary gifts and doing those honey-do lists before he slips away for the next few months to coach a little football.

“Right after spring is over is really when we begin preparing for the fall,” he said. “That’s what we do the entire month of May. Practice schedules are in order and the preliminary game plans for the first four games are in place. That’s all done by the first of June.”

Now, all that’s left to do are to buy birthday and anniversary presents for the wife.

“You buy, stick them in your trunk so that when the dates roll around, you are ready,” he said with a laugh. “Sometimes, they sneak up on you, so you better be ready.”

As for that honey-do list . . .

“She’s got me cleaning windows,” he said. “I’ve about got them all done.”