With just over three minutes left in the game, Kevin Fant scrambled around, looking for a receiver. Finally he lofted a pass into the back corner of the end zone where McKinley Scott made a fantastic catch over two Oregon defenders to pull Mississippi State within nine points.
Yet the crowd was subdued. If anyone who had just turned on the television wondered why, the answer came about 30 seconds later when Brent Smith’s extra point landed in an almost empty Dawg Pound.
On this night, State fans and students did what so many of them have accused the football team of doing the past two seasons. They quit. Some people left the game after the first quarter. The first quarter!
I know the team was down 28-0 but my goodness, there were still three quarters to play.
The largest exodus came at the end of the third quarter after Oregon had just scored to go up 42-21. Never mind that the team had already made one comeback and there were 15 minutes remaining.
“Let’s go back to the fraternity house and drink.” It was a shameful display.
I understand an older couple or a couple with a small child having to leave the late game early but there is no excuse for the students abandoning their team.
I’m sure it warmed the players hearts after fighting so hard to come back from a large deficit to look up into the stands and see the backs of people as they left the stadium.
The team that showed so much heart in coming back twice was let down by the very fans who accused the team of having none. The roles have reversed.
Saturday night the football team represented Mississippi State University with pride and class and the students gave up.
Jeff Edwards is a communication major. He can be reached at [email protected].