In addition to the enthusiasm
from Head Coach Dan Mullen,
Davis Wade Stadium at Scott
Field literally has a fresh new vibe.
12 large-scale banners, seven of
which showcase former and current
players, were installed earlier
this month costing MSU a total
of $170,000.
Opposing teams in the SEC
coaching fraternity have taken
notice, Mullen said.
“I could not wait to hear comments
from my buddies [fellow
coachers] who are coming up
for the LSU game,” the first-year
coach said.
The banners give color to a
once plain exterior. Banners hang
across all four walking ramps, the
West side exterior and interior
fascia to give the stadium a more
modern feel.
Senior associate athletic director
Mike Nemeth said on behalf
of the design team, the athletic
department has received wonderful
feedback concerning the
banners.
“[The design team] is elated
with how the banners have turned
out,” Nemeth said. “The banners
add to the overall appearance and
are a positive reinforcement to
our football traditions.”
The actual production took
about a month, including a few
days for them to be manufactured
and shipped. The installation
took a matter of hours, but
instantly brought attention from
reporters and websites, Nemeth
said.
Baseball was the first sport to
display banners on the facade of
its structures in the winter of ’08,
said Nemeth. Newell Grissom
and the volleyball squad will
be the next banner set added.
Banners are nothing new to
MSU facilities, but are becoming
more common.
“We liked the way that the
baseball stadium looked so we
wanted to expand it to the football
stadium,” Nemeth said.
The inspiration for the banners
came from traveling around
the country to other schools,
Nemeth said.
Choosing a company among
several companies that produce
large sized graphics was the
beginning point for the design
team.
State chose Advent Marketing
Company, which creates tradeshow
booths and brand space
across the nation.
Fortunately, MSU had an
inside connection with Advent
from the start. Account Executive
Walt Malone, though an Auburn
graduate, worked hands on with
MSU. Both of Malone’s parents
graduated from MSU, and
Malone grew up in Jackson.
Nemeth said the bulk of the
project time was spent on planning
and organizing the designs.
Specifically, the team decided to
make the images large and general.
The design team wanted people
to be able to get the ideas
behind having the banners while
providing a general scope of the
players and fond memories that
MSU has enjoyed over the years.
On the West side, two banners
are for quarterbacks John Bond,
MSU’s famous wishbone style
quarterback, and Wayne Madkin,
who lead state to bowl wins and a
conference championship.
Fans can see posted the school’s
leading rusher, Jerious Norwood.
The final three are State’s most
recognized defensive players,
linebacker D.D. Lewis, two-time
Super Bowl winner, cornerback
Fred Smoot, smack talk extraordinaire,
and linebacker Johnnie
Cooks, arguably MSU’s greatest
defensive force ever.
The choices were made to pay
homage to these greats, Nemeth
said.
“We wanted to give our fans
the concept of our rich history,”
he said. “Those players have represented
MSU well, and give
meaning to what it is to be a
Bulldog.”
The banners have a three to
five year lifespan, so soon State
will need new banners. The athletic
department will evaluate
adding different players when
the time comes, possibly adding
most notably Keifer McGee, who
tragically drown in ’95, Hunter
Corhern and Buddy Elrod, both
MSU’s first All-Americans in the
’40s.
On the south side ramps, facing
the junction, are displayed
current players and Dan Mullen.
Zach Smith, Charles Mitchell,
Brandon McCrae, Tyson
Lee, Marcus Washington, J.C
Brignone, K.J. Wright, Jamar
Chaney and Derek Sherrod cover
the Southwest corner.
Interestingly, senior running
back Anthony Dixon is missing
from the banner. Mullen said
media relations chose the players,
and Dixon was not left out due
to punishment.
Senior quarterback Tyson Lee
said seeing his picture blown-up
on the stadium ramp was quite
humbling. He thinks the new
additions create a more fun and
exciting environment.
“The video board and the
banners create more of an SEC
environment than we have ever
had,” the signal caller said. “We
have always had great fan atmosphere,
but now we have a much
greater overall atmosphere from
what our athletic department has
provided.”
On Sunday afternoon, freshman
Jacob Kent, from Tupelo,
was taking pictures of the banners.
He said, he liked the way
the character of the building has
not been lost, but a fresh adjustment
has given Davis Wade a
new feel that will boost fan support.
“We do not always have the
best of seasons, but I continually
see the pride that the students
have at sporting events on this
campus,” Kent said. “Especially
with the new coach and athletic
director that pride is going to
increase, I think everyone has a
strong outlook for the future.”