Tonight, the Mississippi State Student Association, with the Alumni Association, AT&T and Rick’s Cafe, will present the 10th annual Bulldog Bash. The free concert in the Cotton District will feature some minor changes this year.
Bill Broyles, associate vice president for student affairs, said traffic blocks will be set up to move everyone to the front in an attempt to avoid a bottleneck around the stages.
“Last year, everyone was stuck behind the stage; no one wants to see the back side of the band,” Broyles said. “This year, we’re going to funnel people around to get better spots.”
The changes will be predominantly for those coming from Main Street. The concert’s backstage area will be blocked off from the corner of University Drive to South Nash Street. Traffic from Main Street will be diverted down South Nash to Hogan Street.
The bash will have two stages, one sponsored by Rick’s Cafe and the main stage sponsored by AT&T. The main stage will be at the corner of University Drive and Maxwell Street, and the Rick’s Cafe stage will be on Paige Street.
At 5 p.m. there will be a pep rally, and the music will start at 7 p.m. on the Rick’s Cafe stage with Red City Hill. Third Eye Blind will perform at 10:30 p.m. on the main stage.
Other bands scheduled to perform are The Flames, Soul Gravy, Sterling Y and Red City Hill.
Student Association President Blake Jeter said SA has received a large amount of contributions for this year’s Bash.
“This will probably be the biggest one we’ve ever had,” he said. “We’ve received a $10,000 title sponsor donation from the Alumni Association, a $7,500 [donation] from AT&T, and even a $1,500 one from Red Bull.”
Jeter said there will be some changes this year compared to last year’s Bash.
“Red Bull is even bringing a Hummer that is a DJ stand so that in between set changes the music won’t stop,” he said. “And of course, there will be the inflatable games and jumpers for the community.”
With the largest budget yet, Jeter said the SA wanted to find a way to give something back to the community. The SA, with help from local cell phone providers, has set up a text donation number for the United Way.
He said when the texts are sent, $5 is charged to the cell phone bill, and the cell phone providers then donate the money to the United Way.
“We wanted to give something back to the community, and out of all of the SEC schools Mississippi State donates the least to the United Way,” he said. “At the concert we’re going to ask students to pull out their cell phones and text NCMISS to 864-833.”
Jeter said if only one-tenth of the people in the audience text the number, the United Way could raise thousands of dollars.
“Hopefully, this will send a message to the community,” he said. “We’re hoping to not only attract people from around the Golden Triangle and surrounding region, but let them know we care about our community here at MSU.”
Freshman chemical engineering major Leon Carrubba said he thinks Bulldog Bash will make an impact on the United Way.
“I think it’s an awesome idea,” Carrubba said. “I just hope they ask early enough in the concert, so that everyone is still able to text.”