In an effort to generate fan
excitement and financial support,
the Mississippi State athletic
department and the Bulldog
Foundation hosted respective
auctions to give the highest bidding
fans a shot at being a head
coach for a day.
The bidding is over and the
winners have been announced:
MSU Alumnus Richard
Adkerson, CEO of Freeport-
McMoRan Copper & Gold
Inc., a Fortune 500 company,
and Bud Thompson, president
of the Bulldog Club, will coach
in Saturday’s Maroon and White
spring scrimmage.
Adkerson, who also serves on
the Bulldog Club board of directors,
won the auction held on
mstateathletics.com and will coach
the White team. Thompson,
who won the auction held by the
Bulldog Foundation –
one of
the two private
fund-raising
organizations
that support
MSU athletics
– will coach
the Maroon
team.
Adkerson’s sons, Ryan, Clark
and Tyler, are the schemers
behind their father’s new head
coaching position, having actually
placed the winning bid as an
early Father’s Day gift.
“It’s always tough to find
him something,” said Ryan, the
youngest son. “This is something
special we can pay him
back with. It is a unique, once-in-
a-life-time-deal.”
Ryan said he initially did not
think he and his brothers could
pull off the high bid.
“This was such a crazy idea,
I didn’t think we could do it,”
he said. “I was surprised it was
being offered.”
Though the MSU athletic
department did not release the
amount of money dished out by
the high bidders, Adkerson said
in regards to generating financial
support for MSU athletics,
he wished the bid would have
reached a higher plateau.
“But the thing is, if [bidding]
had gotten too [high],” Adkerson
said jokingly. “Ryan [and his
brothers] probably wouldn’t have
bought it.”
He said MSU athletic director
Greg Byrne is bringing an
attitude of excitement and participation
into MSU athletic
programs.
“Ideas like this and other ideas
in terms of marketing improve
images and facilities,” Adkerson
said. “It is something that is
positive for State and positive for
the future of athletic programs
at State.
According to Joe Galbraith,
assistant director for athletic
media relations, the idea was
not Byrne’s, but was in fact concocted
by Mullen.
“[Mullen] wanted to find
another way to get our fans
excited and be participants in
what we plan to be a tremendous
weekend,” Galbraith said.
Mullen said he is looking forward
to having two fans whom
he called wonderful supporters
get an up-close and personal
look at the football program.
A natural question being posed
by many who will be attending
Saturday’s scrimmage: Are the
high bidders actually going to be
… well, coaching?
According to Galbraith,
Adkerson and Thompson will be
making the tough decisions like
whether or not to go for it on
fourth down and will also make
calls in the kicking game.
As Mullen put it, “They’re
going to be in charge out there.”
Mullen will be on the field,
mostly as a spectator, and his
assistant coaches will be handling
the face-to-face coaching and the
majority of the play calling.
However, Galbraith said, as far
as the play calling is concerned,
“[Thompson and Adkerson] will
definitely be involved.”
Adkerson said he is the type
of fan that likes to sit in stands,
cheer and be supportive of the
school. He did, however, admit
he drew up some plays from his
home in Phoenix, Ariz.
Ryan said he isn’t sure what
scheme his dad plans to run.
Nevertheless, he said his dad
is an avid MSU football fan,
even though Adkerson’s brother
graduated from Ole Miss, and
is extremely pumped about the
opportunity to serve as a coach
during the Maroon and White
game.
Aside from coaching,
Adkerson and Thompson will
have the opportunity to participate
in drafting the Maroon
and White teams, which occurs
today, and will deliver the pregame
speeches.
However, Adkerson said he is
interested in watching the real
coaches in action and excited
about meeting the players.
“I’m looking forward to being
in there and being part of what
the game is,” he said. “I grew up
in Mississippi playing football
for the Kosciusko Whippets, I
love athletics.”