In response to Bill Atkinson’s letter on Tuesday, September 28, 2004:
Bill Atkinson’s “MSU football a waste of time, money” was the absolute worst thing I have ever read in my life. Not only am I ashamed of Mr. Atkinson for writing this, but I am ashamed of the Reflector for publishing his letter. Yes, LSU did humiliate us on Saturday, but was that unexpected? This is a rebuilding year. It could take until 2006 for us to be good, but I will be there for as many games as I can possibly make. I have bled maroon and white since birth, and will bleed the maroon and white til I die.
I know MSU football has had a bad reputation, historically and of late, but Mr. Atkinson saying that “MSU footballs is a total waste of time, money and effort.. and has been for at least the last 40 to 50 years” shows how ignorant he is. Where was Mr. Atkinson in 1991 when Jackie Sherrill came and won 7 games his first season, and had MSU’s first bowl game in 11 years? Where was Mr. Atkinson in 1998 when the Bulldogs won the SEC West, and were minutes away from beating number 1 ranked Tennessee in the SEC Championship game? Where was Mr. Atkinson in 1999 when MSU won 10 games for the first time ever? Or where was Mr. Atkinson for my personal favorite, the 1999 Eggbowl? State came back from 20-6 with about 4 minutes remaining to win 23-20. Surely all these accomplishments were not a waste, were they?
Granted, MSU football has been down these past four years. I can remember four years ago Thursday (September 30, 2000) sitting at Scott Field and watching my Dawgs destroy a number 3 ranked Florida team, and destroying Auburn a week later. Two weeks ago, I like everyone else wondered what happened against Maine, and wondered when football would be back to the levels I remember. So if Mr. Atkinson wants to be ashamed of being an MSU alum, let him. And when the day comes that MSU football returns to previous form, I will wonder where Mr. Atkinson is then, and whether he is still ashamed of our University. No matter how bad our football team is, I will NEVER be ashamed of my University. I will ALWAYS wear my maroon and white with PRIDE!
Paul Whitmire is a freshman in pre-accounting.