Mississippi State University’s ultimate frisbee men’s team, Darkhorse, is preparing to host one of the biggest events in its history — the Bulldog Brawl. The two-day tournament, set for this weekend at the Columbus Sports Complex, will bring together 16 teams from across the Southeast, making it the widest-reaching tournament Darkhorse has ever hosted.
Darkhorse has been a part of Mississippi State’s club sports scene for at least 15 years. Over the years, the team has fluctuated in size, but this season marks a historic milestone in participation.
“This is the biggest we’ve ever been in the history of the program,” team president Gideon Miller said. “We have 38 active players, 44 rostered players and even more on a practice squad.”
The practice squad allows students to learn the game and participate in team drills without committing to the full travel schedule, providing a structured way to develop skills beyond casual pickup games.
This year’s Bulldog Brawl is the most expansive tournament Darkhorse has ever organized, featuring teams from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and South Carolina.
This is the first year for Darkhorse to put on the tournament under the name Bulldog Brawl, but they have put on tournaments like it for the last 3 years.
“We changed the name sometimes, but this time around, it’s Bulldog Brawl,” Miller said. “We’re fielding two teams ourselves, and then we’re bringing in 14 others from different states and regions. It’s probably the widest range we’ve ever had for a tournament.”
Beyond the tournament, Darkhorse likes to give back to the community in addition to helping players who are not able to afford the team’s fees so that they are still able to play.
“We heavily invest in our community, our youth and our players,” Miller said. “We’ve put in a ton of effort to help players who might not be as financially able, making sure they can still be part of the team.”
Darkhorse has also taken a leadership role in growing ultimate frisbee at the high school level.
“We started hosting a youth tournament last year, and we’re doing it again this year,” Miller said. “We invite high school teams from Mississippi, Alabama, anywhere to come and play so the sport continues to grow. It gives them an opportunity to play the game we all love and allows them to develop in ways they wouldn’t otherwise have.”
The impact extends beyond just the ultimate frisbee players. Columbus, Mississippi, has recognized the value Darkhorse brings to the community by hosting large-scale tournaments, even setting aside a budget to support the sport’s growth at the Columbus Sports Complex.
For some members of the team, this weekend’s tournament carries extra meaning. Graduate student Will Kalahar is relishing the opportunity to take the field one last time with his teammates.
“Glad to have one last tour with the boys, you know,” Kalahar said. “Love these guys. I wouldn’t want to play this sport with anybody else. And, being able to play just 20 minutes down the road from where we practice is amazing.”
Darkhorse’s name is a tribute to Dave’s Darkhorse Tavern, a well-known local establishment that served as the team’s first sponsor.
“The original founders of the program got sponsorship from Dave at Darkhorse Tavern, and he supported us for a long time,” Miller said. “The horse in our logo comes from somewhere around here—it’s a slightly modified version of the one on the tavern.”
With its biggest roster, Darkhorse is ready to showcase its talent and passion on the field this weekend. The tournament is free to attend and will start at 9. a.m. Saturday.