It could be safe to say that the people who mostly read this newspaper are students or faculty, but as I learned in October, more people than that see what we write, which is why I’m calling you out, Bulldog fans.
If you’re going to buy a ticket and come to the basketball games, then make yourself heard. Don’t sit there and take up space. Don’t get me wrong. I understand you support the university and the team by being there, and it is appreciated. But you could do more.
A man who writes for a publication in Gainesville, Fla., referred to The Hump as an “Amish barn.” Granted, he was not saying it was like that the night we actually played Florida, but in most cases, the energy inside the building coming from everywhere but the student section matches the energy in an Amish barn. For the most part, there is none.
Fan support has gotten somewhat better during the last couple of years, but, as I said, it could be better. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a team that at one point was ranked seventh in the country. SEVENTH. With the way college basketball is today, the Bulldogs were a couple of upsets away from jumping to No. 1.
I understand that some of you may be a little shocked that the Dawgs are 1-3 in the SEC, but come on, this is where they need you more than ever. Wednesday night, the fans sitting opposite the students might as well have been asleep.
I hope this all becomes a moot point Saturday when State takes on LSU at The Hump. LSU is a ballclub that shot 63 percent from the field at home, played against an injured Mario Austin and only won by 13.
With LSU losing at Arkansas and Auburn finally getting knocked back down to Earth with a loss at Kentucky, MSU has a great chance to jump right back into the thick of things with a win Saturday against LSU, but they can’t do that without you. Help the students. Be vocal, stand up every now and then and make LSU wish they had never made the trip.
How many people on this campus or anywhere else in the Bulldog nation realize that your Lady Bulldog basketball team is ranked 13th in the country? That’s right, 13th.
They will travel to Knoxville, Tenn., Sunday to take on Tennessee, which will be a big test for the Lady Dawgs. But if you look at the history, the Lady Vols have struggled as of late with MSU–home or away. OK, so UT leads the series 19-0, but look closer. It took a Kara Lawson jumper at the buzzer last year; two years ago UT escaped by seven, and in 1999-2000, UT only won by four in Starkville and by three in the SEC Championship. Remember, there’s a first time for everything.
Super Bowl Stuff
Former Bulldog Ellis Wyms is playing for the NFC Champion Buccaneers this Sunday in Super Bowl XXXVII. This is the first time a Bulldog has played in the big game since Greg Favors went to the show with the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. In case you were wondering, D.D. Lewis leads in appearances with five with the Dallas Cowboys. Kent Hull, who is the only Bulldog ever to play in both the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl, is in second with four–all with the Buffalo Bills.
You know the Super Bowl is struggling when French-Canadian Celine Dion is asked to sing “God Bless America” and the Dixie Chicks are singing the national anthem. But it could be a lot worse–it could be the new cast of “American Idol.”