As the homecoming game on Nov. 3 quickly approaches and generations of loyal Maroon and White fans pile into Davis Wade Stadium, fond memories will be shared celebrating the history of the Mississippi State University football program.
Fans and students from the late 1990s will tell stories from the 1998 and 1999 seasons, when Mississippi State football excelled, showing the strength of the then-mighty Bulldogs.
In 1999, Mississippi State built on its 8-5 (6-2 SEC) record from the previous year, which included its first-ever Southeastern Conference West Division title. It delivered a program-defining season, finishing with a 10-2 (6-2 SEC) record and earning a spot in the Peach Bowl.
Led by ninth-year head coach Jackie Sherill and featuring key players in quarterback Wayne Madkin, wide receiver Kelvin Love, defensive back Fred Smoot and linebacker Barrin Simpson, the Bulldogs were not simply looking to win games — they wanted to dominate and be a greater threat to tougher competition within the conference.
Placing second in the SEC West Division, the Bulldogs won six of eight conference games, showing they were a major player and not to be overlooked. The team earned marquee wins over South Carolina, Auburn, Louisiana State University, Kentucky and Ole Miss.
The Bulldogs defeated South Carolina, 17-0. However, the rest of their key wins came down to the wire. They took down Auburn 18-16, LSU 17-16 and Kentucky 23-22.
Winning their first eight games of the season, a first for the program, Mississippi State’s squad was recognized. MSU’s Associated Press Poll rankings rose from their lowest at No. 23 in week one to No. 8 after week seven.
The squad suffered its only losses back-to-back against No. 11 ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 19-7, on Nov.13 and against No. 22 ranked Arkansas, 14-9, on Nov. 20.
Mississippi State rounded out their season in a close home Egg Bowl victory over No. 23 ranked Ole Miss, 23-20. Starting the fourth, Ole Miss led 20-6, forcing MSU to fight to comeback.
Celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the 1999 Ole Miss game, team captain Barrin Simpson was asked about his fourth-quarter sideline speech, which boosted the squad to victory.
“I remember being on the sideline saying, ‘Hey guys, you’ve got to believe. We can go out here and get a stop. The offense will get the ball back and score. Then we get another stop, and the offense can score again,'” Simpson said.
The squad rallied behind Simpson’s words and punched in two touchdowns off passes from Madkin to tight-end Donald Lee with 12:49 to go and to tight-end C.J. Sirmones with 27 seconds remaining, bringing the game to an even 20-20 score.
Anticipating that Ole Miss would run out the clock and head for overtime, Mississippi State sent out a regular defensive formation. This would prove in their favor as the Rebels would run a play.
The Rebel’s quarterback, Romaro Miller, threw deep; however, the Bulldogs were ready with cornerback Robert Bean in position. Bean tipped the ball up and it flew straight into MSU defensive back Eugene Clinton’s hands, who ran 27 yards to the Ole Miss 26. The Bulldogs kicked a 44-yard field goal, leaving Ole Miss only four seconds to bounce back. MSU had done it; the comeback in a game, dubbed the “Kick and Pick,” was complete.
After a historic season, Mississippi State rolled into Atlanta to take on Clemson University in the Peach Bowl. Neither team scored in the first half, but coming out of the half, Mississippi State livened up and advanced to a 10-0 lead.
Clemson struck their sole scoring play of the game, making it 10-7. The Bulldogs quickly shut down the noise, scoring a 15-yard touchdown pass from Madkin to Dontae Walker. MSU ended their 1999 season on top with a 17-7 win.
Sherill brought out a winning culture in Starkville in back-to-back seasons, and MSU fans were fully invested in the program he was building. MSU’s 1999 season would be his winningest with the program.
Fans fondly talk about the excitement surrounding MSU football in the 1999 season and the close conference wins the team secured, routing them to the Peach Bowl.
Today, as Mississippi State fans reminisce on the glory days of MSU football with Coach Jackie Sherrill in the late 1990s, the 1999 season is one of the program’s best.
