Our year at Mississippi State is coming to a close, and what a year it was. A lot of things on campus and in the world came to a terrifying stop on Sep. 11–sports was one of them. The one thing that for years has kept so many people together took a back seat to observing and mourning the loss of thousands in New York City and Washington, D.C.
In my life, I have been lucky enough to witness countless memorable sporting events, some of which are less well-known than others, and without question, the most emotional sight I have ever witnessed at a sporting event was the pregame ceremony that took place before the South Carolina football game here at Davis Wade Stadium. It was amazing to see everyone come together as Americans, even if it was only for that night. This was also a time where people on this campus still held the belief that this football team could go places–oh, what I wouldn’t give to believe that again. Sure, it was disappointing to watch the football team lose eight of their 11 games, but it’s amazing how one win can make everyone forget that it was a bad season.
My second Egg Bowl as a student is one that will go down in my history as one of the greatest sporting events I’ve ever attended. My first Egg Bowl in Oxford last year was rather unspectacular not only due to the outcome, but due to the quality, or lack of quality, of the fans and students at Mississippi, but that’s a whole other issue.
I saw the emergence of a new team, a new quarterback and a new excitement amidst the disappointment of a 3-8 season. It wasn’t just the game itself; it was the emotion involved.
People here forgot that State was only 2-7 at the time–people forgot the losses to Troy State, LSU and Alabama. For one night, we were champions, and as it pertains to the state of Mississippi, for the next year, we ARE champions; we are the best team in Mississippi.
It was a near miss a week later that further energized people and made them wish next season would start soon. The Bulldogs won every phase of the game against BYU, but it was a couple of bad bounces (or referees in this case) that kept the ‘Dawgs out of the win column.
A championship that was less publicized, but just as important as any other, is the SEC Western Division title that our women’s soccer team brought home.
It was the first in school history, and, judging by the future, it probably won’t be the last. Freshman Amy Van Zandt sparked the Lady ‘Dawgs’ charge to the West crown this season and looks to do the same in 2002 with the return of players such as Jessi Moore and Amber Rose.
The excitement on campus picked up when the basketball teams made their run to the NCAA Tournament and climaxed with an SEC Championship for the men. For the first time in school history, the MSU men and women both made the NCAA Tournament, and both advanced to the round of 32 before being eliminated. Both teams did what they could to put themselves back on the basketball map, and in my opinion, they succeeded.
Another group put themselves on the basketball map also. The Rick’s Rowdies, led by MSU student Nathan Moore, accomplished something that doesn’t happen very often–they made The Hump one of the toughest places to play in the Southeastern Conference. An argument could be made for The Hump being one of the loudest arenas in the country, but I say give it another year–after then, it will be.
It will be hard for me to forget one game in particular this past basketball season, and that game was against NCAA powerhouse Kentucky. The most storied program in college basketball history came into Humphrey Coliseum on Jan. 6 having given the then No. 1 team in the United States, Duke, a run for their lives. It was a game that I had been waiting for since last year, and I know that a lot of Mississippi State basketball fans felt the same way.
The atmosphere was absolutely electric before the game, people were lined up outside well before the tip and The Rowdies were, well, rowdy.
Kentucky came in and put on a first-half run that would make any other team run and hide in the locker room, but for some reason, this team didn’t die and neither did the fans.
With each basket, the crowd got louder, each possession became more and more important. Then Mario Austin hit the biggest shot of his career–a three-pointer to tie the game and send it into overtime. It wasn’t a normal three-pointer because Austin had never hit one in his career as a Bulldog. As it turns out, that was one of the biggest three-pointers made in Mississippi State basketball history. Final score: Mississippi State 74, No. 6 Kentucky 69.
That win was the first of 10 SEC wins for the ‘Dawgs in 2002, and was the precursor to a historic season that included 27 wins (the most in school history), an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and most importantly, an SEC Championship. In my opinion, with the late return of Mario Austin, this past season will be boring compared to what the Bulldogs can do in 2003. Now it’s time for me to name my Bulldog MVP of the Year. It isn’t one athlete, but a group of athletes. In fact, it’s the group I just spoke about. The first ever Bulldog MVP of the Year is the 2001-2002 Mississippi State men’s basketball team.
Before the season began, the media picked the Bulldogs dead last in the SEC–boy, were they wrong. The ‘Dawgs finished second in the SEC West and had as many wins as Florida and more than Kentucky. The season was capped by a 61-58 win over Alabama in the SEC Championship game, giving the ‘Dawgs their first SEC Tournament title since the Final Four year of 1996. Like I said earlier, this team will only get better, so get ready fans, because The Hump will be an SEC graveyard in 2002-2003.
So I will now close the book on this school year and get ready to open another one in August. Before I do, I have to salute all of the Bulldogs that will be leaving us this year. To them I say, “Thanks for the memories,” and to the ones that will be here next season I say, “Get ready–we have some championships to win.