If you made it out to Dudy Noble Field, Polk DeMent Stadium this week for any of the ballgames or even drove by, you probably noticed something peculiar behind the scoreboard. That’s right-another scoreboard.
Not just another scoreboard, but a flashier, monstrously big scoreboard that makes you say, “Hey, let’s use that one instead.”
The plan, Athletic Director Larry Templeton said, is to have the new scoreboard functioning for this weekend’s series against Mississippi.
“Our contract only calls for it to be ready by Super Bulldog Weekend,” Templeton said. “But we think we’re going to have it ready for this weekend.”
A new scoreboard might still be wishful thinking if it weren’t for a grant from the Henry Mize Foundation of Tupelo.
A Feb. 13 news release reads: “The gift, in honor of the late Henry Mize of Booneville, Miss., has made possible the $1.8 million projects in the Humphrey Coliseum and at Dudy Noble Field, Polk Dement Stadium.”
Templeton added, “We’ve always had a desire to improve the scoreboards in the Hump and the scoreboard in baseball, but the gift made it happen.”
The new scoreboard’s most noticeable improvement will be its video screen, mostly used for replays. Another use: fans won’t necessarily have to choose anymore between MSU basketball and baseball in March because basketball games can be shown on the big screen at the Dude.
The screen is approximately 15 feet by 21 feet.
The scoreboard itself measures 55 feet in width and has a height greater than 47 feet.
Templeton says that the scoreboard, made by Barco, will require 10 people to operate. He also said Barco and MidSouth sign company have another chore to look forward to-getting the old scoreboard down.
“I don’t know when they’re going to take the old one down, but I’d like to get it down as soon as possible,” baseball coach Ron Polk said.
Fans likely feel the same way because the old scoreboard blocks the view of the aesthetically pleasing new scoreboard.
“Hopefully the old one will be down by Friday night,” Templeton said. “It’s not an easy process, but we think we can pull it off.”