Gameday Atmosphere

[StarkVegasSteve]

I have seen it posted on multiple message boards multiple times this year and have experienced it to the games I have been able to get back to. But what do you think is wrong with the atmosphere? Like what would you guys change to try and turn things around? I obviously know winning solves a lot of issues but we need to create some sort of home field advantage to kind of kick start the winning. I mean Mullen's first team went 5-7 but we had sell outs at almost every game, sans Houston, in 09. So what has changed? Is it truly just people want more bang for their buck these days? Is it not having LED lights? Is it a sound system? Is it NIL? Like why are we constantly struggling to get people to campus and in the stadium? This isn't a recruit. These are MSU fans.

What are everyone's thoughts

[StateDawg44]

I have seen it posted on multiple message boards multiple times this year and have experienced it to the games I have been able to get back to. But what do you think is wrong with the atmosphere? Like what would you guys change to try and turn things around? I obviously know winning solves a lot of issues but we need to create some sort of home field advantage to kind of kick start the winning. I mean Mullen's first team went 5-7 but we had sell outs at almost every game, sans Houston, in 09. So what has changed? Is it truly just people want more bang for their buck these days? Is it not having LED lights? Is it a sound system? Is it NIL? Like why are we constantly struggling to get people to campus and in the stadium? This isn't a recruit. These are MSU fans.

What are everyone's thoughts

The outcome of each game.

Win and people will show up. It's very simple.

[StarkVegasSteve]

The outcome of each game.

Win and people will show up. It's very simple.

We won 7 games in year 2 of Leach and 9 games in year 3 and our stadium was not anywhere near full unless the opposing team's fanbase traveled well. So winning doesn't solve it.

[StateDawg44]

We won 7 games in year 2 of Leach and 9 games in year 3 and our stadium was not anywhere near full unless the opposing team's fanbase traveled well. So winning doesn't solve it.

OK to be more particular. Start winning the games that make people notice.

What does 7 wins get you? A trip to the liberty bowl?

9 games is getting there but dink and dunk was about as boring of football to watch as there is. Plus we all knew we still weren't competing with elite teams when we faced them. Like, not even close for the most part.

At Mullen's peak here at MSU fans were invested. Since Mullen the football program has been very predictable.

Hell just beat a top 10 opponent. When was the last time we did that? It very well could be more recent than I realize but I certainly don't remember who it was.

ETA: Using the 9 win season is sort of pointless. Leach passed so the entire program including fanbase got gutted and we got saddled with Arnett. Talk about killing momentum and the possibility at a atmosphere rebuild.

[StarkVegasSteve]

OK to be more particular. Start winning the games that make people notice.

What does 7 wins get you? A trip to the liberty bowl?

9 games is getting there but dink and dunk was about as boring of football to watch as there is. Plus we all knew we still weren't competing with elite teams when we faced them. Like, not even close for the most part.

At Mullen's peak here at MSU fans were invested. Since Mullen the football program has been very predictable.

Hell just beat a top 10 opponent. When was the last time we did that? It very well could be more recent than I realize but I certainly don't remember who it was.

Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022. I just don't think it's W/L related anymore. I mean maybe it is for the diehard fan, but what about the average fan who is going for an experience. It seems we have lost those fans in the last 7-8 years.

[Maroonthirteen]

I think it is far more complicated than just some led lights and marketing.

I think it goes all the way back to 2014 and the way the season ended. That knocked a little air out. Then lose to Bama and OM again in 2015 and 2017. Then Mullen leaves. Then Moorhead loses to Mullen...I just think all that took a lot of wind out of people's sails.

Also, in the meantime, Bama is winning NCs and OM is winning. I think many younger people and non-affiliated people now root for those schools. Then you have the tv effect combined with Starkville being 2 hours from everywhere and few hotels that are crazy expensive.

[starkvegasdawg]

The pregame stuff hasn't changed since 1945. If you've been to more than 3 games you know the whole boring ass routine. I want to stick a fork in my ears when I hear bad to the bone. The band coming out and playing the same songs every time. I would like to see us get some LED and laser displays going. Change the music up. Make it more exciting than standing in line to take a piss.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I think it is far more complicated than just some led lights and marketing.

I think it goes all the way back to 2014 and the way the season ended. That knocked a little air out. Then lose to Bama and OM again in 2015 and 2017. Then Mullen leaves. Then Moorhead loses to Mullen...I just think all that took a lot of wind out of people's sails.

Also, in the meantime, Bama is winning NCs and OM is winning. I think many younger people and non-affiliated people now root for those schools. Then you have the tv effect combined with Starkville being 2 hours from everywhere and few hotels that are crazy expensive.

Yet Oxford has about 3-4 more hotels than us and consistently puts 60K in their stadium. Hell they were doing that before Lane got it rolling. Now it is understandable because they are winning, but there is still a small supply of hotels, AirBNB’s, etc. so how are they still getting all those people to come shell out $1,000/weekend?

[StateDawg44]

Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022. I just don't think it's W/L related anymore. I mean maybe it is for the diehard fan, but what about the average fan who is going for an experience. It seems we have lost those fans in the last 7-8 years.

None of which are top 10.


"Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022"

Is this the full list of top 25 teams we've beat since '21?

If so, yeesh. There's a red flag. Again predictable and we can assume the outcome pretty safely.

How many times have we actually had a decent team and thought we had a chance against stiff competition and we get absolutely blown out. 2017 really comes to mind against UGA, LSU, and Auburn. Flat out embarrassed when we finally play a team with a pulse.

[R2Dawg]

Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022. I just don't think it's W/L related anymore. I mean maybe it is for the diehard fan, but what about the average fan who is going for an experience. It seems we have lost those fans in the last 7-8 years.

Problem is all those teams were not good teams after everyone saw what they were. We were building something in 09, 10, etc. and everyone knew it. Mullen had a swagger that we needed at the time.

Leach put a boring product on the field. It was painful to watch. Yeah we won a few games which was good but we got embarrassed too. There was no real excitement.

Overall gameday everywhere is down but throw a 1-7 team out there and it ain't good. I actually think the students and most have been pretty good considering the circumstances.

[StarkVegasSteve]

The pregame stuff hasn't changed since 1945. If you've been to more than 3 games you know the whole boring ass routine. I want to stick a fork in my ears when I hear bad to the bone. The band coming out and playing the same songs every time. I would like to see us get some LED and laser displays going. Change the music up. Make it more exciting than standing in line to take a piss.

And that is part of the problem. The famous MMMMAAAAROOONN band trots out the same pregame performance they have been doing for decades, we do the same lame Maroon/White cheer, and then watch an SNL skit. Hell maybe try a weekly hype video or something. Hell maybe steal from OM and get a celebrity to do the “I gotta fever” line.

[StarkVegasSteve]

None of which are top 10.


"Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022"

Is this the full list of top 25 teams we've beat since '21?

If so, yeesh. There's a red flag. Again predictable and we can assume the outcome pretty safely.

How many times have we actually had a decent team and thought we had a chance against stiff competition and we get absolutely blown out. 2017 really comes to mind against UGA, LSU, and Auburn. Flat out embarrassed when we finally play a team with a pulse.

We blew LSU’s doors off in 17 and should have beaten Bama. Speaking of that 17 Bama game, that is the last time DWS has been at its full strength.

Also, I mean I get we have not played many marquee teams at home but we cannot control that. OM sells out vs Kentucky and Arkansas. We can only sell out vs UGA because their fans buy up all the tickets. And we 6-3 at the time of that game.

[R2Dawg]

And that is part of the problem. The famous MMMMAAAAROOONN band trots out the same pregame performance they have been doing for decades, we do the same lame Maroon/White cheer, and then watch an SNL skit. Hell maybe try a weekly hype video or something. Hell maybe steal from OM and get a celebrity to do the “I gotta fever” line.

Well TAMU band only knows 2 songs and is boring as I don't know what. The marching thing they do is really cool though.

[R2Dawg]

We blew LSU’s doors off in 17 and should have beaten Bama. Speaking of that 17 Bama game, that is the last time DWS has been at its full strength.

Also, I mean I get we have not played many marquee teams at home but we cannot control that. OM sells out vs Kentucky and Arkansas. We can only sell out vs UGA because their fans buy up all the tickets. And we 6-3 at the time of that game.

I think we had some good 18 atmospheres until Moorhead gave away the UF game. We beat #8 Aub at home and was good.

[Maroonthirteen]

..and as far as this year. This season didn't even get off the ground, when we lost to AzSt and then Toledo.

I really believe if State wins the AzSt and Toledo game, the Florida game would have been a sell our or near it.

[Goldendawg]

Have been to almost every home game as a season ticket holder for approximately 55 consecutive years, 8 to 12 people strong and every game this year to the bitter end now 7 losses in a row. People around me know we won't win and the "D" can't get a stop. We have forced 1 punt in the last two games. We are 1-11 in our last SEC games. Majority of all fans come to see a interesting, competent, competitive team that can stay in the game past the 1st quarter and win more than they lose. All the extra "fluff" in the world won't fill seats without this! BTW: Toledo Embarrassment at Home! Stadium was emptying mid 1st quarter and about as many Arky fans there at the end as State fans.

[StarkVegasSteve]

..and as far as this year. This season didn't even get off the ground, when we lost to AzSt and then Toledo.

I really believe if State wins the AzSt and Toledo game, the Florida game would have been a sell our or near it.

But what happens when we lose that Florida game? And then lose to Texas and UGA? I think we have the same or worse crowd against A&M. I mean maybe we have a fan issue. I really do not know. Just seems strange a team like USCe can continually have at or near sell out crowds but we have not sniffed one in 7 years.

It just baffles me that OM can sell out an 11 AM game against Kentucky and we could not sell out a 7 PM primetime game against Georgia two years ago. I mean we could not even sell out the first game this year, and I think we sold out Croom’s first game

[StarkVegasSteve]

Have been to almost every home game as a season ticket holder for approximately 55 consecutive years, 8 to 12 people strong and every game this year to the bitter end now 7 losses in a row. People around me know we won't win and the "D" can't get a stop. We have forced 1 punt in the last two games. We are 1-11 in our last SEC games. Majority of all fans come to see a interesting, competent, competitive team that can stay in the game past the 1st quarter and win more than they lose. All the extra "fluff" in the world won't fill seats without this! BTW: Toledo Embarrassment at Home! Stadium was emptying mid 1st quarter and about as many Arky fans there at the end as State fans.

But that is what I am talking about. You are not the fan I am asking about because you are a diehard. You were going to be in that stadium come hell or high water. To you, and me because I am in the same boat, it is about wins and losses. I am trying to figure out how we lost all those fans that we had under Mullen and how do you get those people back?

[Goldendawg]

We have some of the best, most long suffering fans in college athletics across all sports. We are last in the nation in most "D" stats and 1-7. Do you continue to pay big bucks and your valuable time for a horrid product with little ROI the last two years? Going is a family type way of life for us for decades at a serious level of financial support. Wait to you see how pitiful the "crowd" will be for UMASS. There won't even be enough UMAA fans travel for our faculty to sell their tickets!****

[Goldendawg]

But that is what I am talking about. You are not the fan I am asking about because you are a diehard. You were going to be in that stadium come hell or high water. To you, and me because I am in the same boat, it is about wins and losses. I am trying to figure out how we lost all those fans that we had under Mullen and how do you get those people back?

Mullen lost me also. Draw up in a knot against bama and lose, start the job search, don't prepare for OM and lose, disappointing bowl. Rinse, repeat.

[Goldendawg]

Put a winning product on the field and more than diehards will be there. Many of those in the sellout crowds at bama and temporarily OM probably never attended and they don't care or know if they have LED lights or the best sound system.

[Pinto]

Who were the ADs during the times when DWS was rocking?
Biggest thing I remember and miss about Byrne was he brought us all together and pulling in the same direction. Plus we?d get those video updates and you felt like you knew and were part of the program.
Right now, I feel like why should I care? Give the people a reason to care and they will show up.

[RockyDog]

But what happens when we lose that Florida game? And then lose to Texas and UGA? I think we have the same or worse crowd against A&M. I mean maybe we have a fan issue. I really do not know. Just seems strange a team like USCe can continually have at or near sell out crowds but we have not sniffed one in 7 years.

It just baffles me that OM can sell out an 11 AM game against Kentucky and we could not sell out a 7 PM primetime game against Georgia two years ago. I mean we could not even sell out the first game this year, and I think we sold out Croom?s first game

Ole Miss has had 5 good years under Kiffin and their sheep are lapping the “Sip” crap up.

We are going thru their Coach O and Matt Luke bottoming out eras.

The problem is I don?t think we get it back because even if Lebby starts winning we will still have a segment on fans that will blame anything that goes wrong on the AD, the president, the waterboy, etc.

[Rawdawg]

The university as a whole hasn?t done anything to make it Mississippi State cool and attractive to new students. There?s no new blood coming in. There?s no party atmosphere and I don?t care what you think about it that matters. We do nothing edgy. We don?t troll on social media. We don?t engage online. Instead we muted Mike Leach, which I thought was one of Cohen?s biggest mistakes. Leach?s sound bites make the school noticed. We don?t do anything to stand out. With traffic and road closures we?ve made tailgating damn near impossible if you don?t use the black tents. We don?t promote the Greek life. We?ve increased ticket prices and concessions. Should I keep on?

[Goldendawg]

But that is what I am talking about. You are not the fan I am asking about because you are a diehard. You were going to be in that stadium come hell or high water. To you, and me because I am in the same boat, it is about wins and losses. I am trying to figure out how we lost all those fans that we had under Mullen and how do you get those people back?

How did we lose fans? Dan's job hunting at the end, JoMo, untimely Leach death, Arnett debacle with a buddy rookie "DC" hire, Lebby's buddy rookie "DC" hire (Again), poor recruiting on "D" for years, terrible evaluation of the portal last cycle, which all leads to where we are now. Very few people in today's world with all its available choices for your time and hard earned $ will sit to the end (or even halftime), to watch this nightmare! "Just Win, Baby!", the late , great Al Davis. A positive I didn't want this or any year: No traffic issues in a quick exit from Lot 28 if you stay to the end of our "games".*****

[Goldendawg]

The university as a whole hasn?t done anything to make it Mississippi State cool and attractive to new students. There?s no new blood coming in. There?s no party atmosphere and I don?t care what you think about it that matters. We do nothing edgy. We don?t troll on social media. We don?t engage online. Instead we muted Mike Leach, which I thought was one of Cohen?s biggest mistakes. Leach?s sound bites make the school noticed. We don?t do anything to stand out. With traffic and road closures we?ve made tailgating damn near impossible if you don?t use the black tents. We don?t promote the Greek life. We?ve increased ticket prices and concessions. Should I keep on?

And only "die hards" will have much interest to continue to attend under these conditions.

[StarkVegasSteve]

The university as a whole hasn?t done anything to make it Mississippi State cool and attractive to new students. There?s no new blood coming in. There?s no party atmosphere and I don?t care what you think about it that matters. We do nothing edgy. We don?t troll on social media. We don?t engage online. Instead we muted Mike Leach, which I thought was one of Cohen?s biggest mistakes. Leach?s sound bites make the school noticed. We don?t do anything to stand out. With traffic and road closures we?ve made tailgating damn near impossible if you don?t use the black tents. We don?t promote the Greek life. We?ve increased ticket prices and concessions. Should I keep on?

All of that is correct. It is why I have harped on embracing out of state like Ole Miss. There is a reason why everyone outside of Mississippi thinks Starkville is a sleepy dump of a college town. It is because over half our student population is from Mississippi. Ole Miss’ message gets spread far and wide because their graduates do not all move back to Jackson or whatever town they are from. They have some that do that, but they also have alums in Dallas, Nashville, Charlotte, Tampa, Birmingham, Atlanta, etc. We do nothing to increase the reach of our brand.

[Rawdawg]

All of that is correct. It is why I have harped on embracing out of state like Ole Miss. There is a reason why everyone outside of Mississippi thinks Starkville is a sleepy dump of a college town. It is because over half our student population is from Mississippi. Ole Miss’ message gets spread far and wide because their graduates do not all move back to Jackson or whatever town they are from. They have some that do that, but they also have alums in Dallas, Nashville, Charlotte, Tampa, Birmingham, Atlanta, etc. We do nothing to increase the reach of our brand.

100% correct and with out of state students comes out of state money. Kids they recruit from all over are going to Oxford for the Greek system. And to be able to afford out of state tuition and sorority dues you come from money. My niece is a prime example of this. She?s graduating from a metro Dallas high school this spring and has applied to almost every school in the conference except MSU and both her parents went to school here. She?s been to several games here and wants nothing to do with MSU because we?re not cool. That?s the perception right now. We aren?t cool. We don?t promote the Greek system like the other schools.

[StarkVegasSteve]

100% correct and with out of state students comes out of state money. Kids they recruit from all over are going to Oxford for the Greek system. And to be able to afford out of state tuition and sorority dues you come from money. My niece is a prime example of this. She?s graduating from a metro Dallas high school this spring and has applied to almost every school in the conference except MSU and both her parents went to school here. She?s been to several games here and wants nothing to do with MSU because we?re not cool. That?s the perception right now. We aren?t cool. We don?t promote the Greek system like the other schools.

Oh it is extremely sad. I live out here in DFW and we barely have a presence. We do not have an Alumni Club out here. It all starts with the dumbasses we have running Greek life and Admissions. We need to get them all out. Unfortunately it will never happen because once you get a job at MSU you basically have to commit murder to be fired.

I went off on the alumni relations person at the first game. I also mentioned out of state recruitment to someone in the Greek life office and they told me that this was the largest out of state class ever in terms of sorority recruitment. I looked her dead in the eye and said Ole Miss will have more girls sign with the top 5 houses than Mississippi State will have go through recruitment, much less out of State.

[Rawdawg]

Oh it is extremely sad. I live out here in DFW and we barely have a presence. We do not have an Alumni Club out here. It all starts with the dumbasses we have running Greek life and Admissions. We need to get them all out. Unfortunately it will never happen because once you get a job at MSU you basically have to commit murder to be fired.

I went off on the alumni relations person at the first game. I also mentioned out of state recruitment to someone in the Greek life office and they told me that this was the largest out of state class ever in terms of sorority recruitment. I looked her dead in the eye and said Ole Miss will have more girls sign with the top 5 houses than Mississippi State will have go through recruitment, much less out of State.

So what I?m getting at is the failure of the school to recruit out of state because we have the perception as lame and not cool, to the lack of social media content, TikTok, to embracing a party atmosphere with LEDs and music that generation wants to hear is all connected and has led to where we are. And what a lot of our fans don?t understand is that when you make it fun for the student body it?ll bleed into fun for everyone and all the fans will want to be apart of it.

[Rawdawg]

And say what you want but we fully embraced and promoted the party at Dudy Noble and it?s the best atmosphere in the sport. Surely it?s just coincidence?

[StateDawg44]

We blew LSU?s doors off in 17 and should have beaten Bama. Speaking of that 17 Bama game, that is the last time DWS has been at its full strength.

Also, I mean I get we have not played many marquee teams at home but we cannot control that. OM sells out vs Kentucky and Arkansas. We can only sell out vs UGA because their fans buy up all the tickets. And we 6-3 at the time of that game.

Ha my mistake on the LSU game. The same season they went 9-4.

We've played plenty of Marquee teams at home. We play in the SEC. We typiclally shit the bed is the point. Get over the hump and do it consistenly and people pay attention.

[StateDawg44]

When was the last time Vandy sold their stadium out before this year?

If that doesn't prove the point that if you win, the fans will come I don't know what will.

[Rawdawg]

When was the last time Vandy sold their stadium out before this year?

If that doesn't prove the point that if you win, the fans will come I don't know what will.

And this is where our fans just don?t get it. There were 5,000-8,000 Texas fans there Saturday. The broadcasters said that Vandy fans were in the minority.

Of course winning draws a crowd but the fact is we won?t be winning for several years so you have to make sure everything else is perfect. So the ?just win and it?s all fine? argument doesn?t apply here. We have to retain the people going to the games now. And make them feel important.

[Maroonthirteen]

Man, yall nailed it on Greek life. I recall orientation a few years ago, Greek life was almost a secret. They couldn't talk about. It was weird.

Then my daughter went through rush and I learned some things. I don't get why MSU caps the numbers for each chapter. Although my wife has minor involvement with Greek life and she says it is absolutely ridiculous OM allows pledge classes of 150-200.

Or maybe yall can answer this, but why has MSU not helped AXO build a house? They have a lot. Maybe by law MSU can't??? When my daughter went through most didn't want a bid from them because they don't have a house. I know AXO is trying hard to grow that chapter in order to raise funds for a house.

[StateDawg44]

And this is where our fans just don?t get it. There were 5,000-8,000 Texas fans there Saturday. The broadcasters said that Vandy fans were in the minority.

Of course winning draws a crowd but the fact is we won?t be winning for several years so you have to make sure everything else is perfect. So the ?just win and it?s all fine? argument doesn?t apply here. We have to retain the people going to the games now. And make them feel important.

I think it does. Regardless if it was full of Texas fans there is more excitement around Vandy right now that I've seen in my lifetime.

Are you telling me that more Vandy fans aren't more excited to attend a game this season than the previous 25+ years? More buy into the program this season than 25+ years? Get real.

Winning isn't THE golden ticket but it's about 99% of it

[Maroonthirteen]

Regarding OM, they benefit from being in close proximity to Memphis metro. Memphis and desoto county are an easy drive, they get many residual people attend from Memphis. Also there isn't a need for hotels for those fans. I can tell you. We have a few people attend from the Memphis area. But not near the numbers they do.

Conversely, for many within an hour drive of Starkville, people have the choice of going to Tuscaloosa or Starkville. Alabama steals many people and resources from east Mississippi that would otherwise go to MSU and Starkville. However we do have far too many alumni that are disengaged.


Those two factors are likely the reasons OM does better than us in Gameday attendance.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Man, yall nailed it on Greek life. I recall orientation a few years ago, Greek life was almost a secret they couldn't talk about. It was weird. Then my daughter went through rush. I don't get why MSU caps the numbers for each chapter.

Or maybe yall can answer this, but why has MSU not helped AXO build a house? They have a lot. Maybe by law MSU can't??? When my daughter went through most didn't want a bid from them because they don't have a house. I know AXO is trying hard to grow that chapter in order to raise funds for a house.

Some of it could be land. State is running out of land to build. They are out on Fraternity row and are pretty close to out on Sorority row. It is also that the university does not want to promote Greek life. I was in a fraternity at State and it was a constant fight with the university about everything. And hell, one of our alums was running damn Greek life. Now I will be the first to admit we did our fair share of dumb shit but it is like Mississippi State actively tries their damnedest to make sure no one goes Greek or enjoys it while they are there. Hell they made us do away with pledges wearing coats and ties because they said it was hazing. Yet the University of Texas in Austin, which is probably a top 10 liberal city in America can have all their pledges wearing orange button downs to every game. It is really funny when you realize the damn University president was a Sigma Chi and his son is one as well. It is also funny because generally speaking those are your more active supporters as students. The Greek hate starts with Regina Hyatt though. If it was up to her, State would abolish Greek life.

[parabrave]

And only "die hards" will have much interest to continue to attend under these conditions.

Not anymore/ My Bro in law whose family has had season tickets for at least 60 years is about to say F it.

[PGHBulldogBG]

The issue is that Mullen was the only coach we have hired where I think 100 percent of the fan base was on board. We also were supposed to be last in the SEC in 2009 and we were double digit underdogs @Vandy and we won 5 games and the Egg Bowl. That is why we had so much fan support because it was the first time since Jackie’s 2000 team that we actually had a real football team that gave our fans hope for the future. While Leach was a good hire, there were still many fans not on board with him because of the style of play. I do think if Leach hadn’t passed away though and coming off an egg bowl and outback bowl win it would have drawn major support in 2023.

[Ranchdawg]

Let me chime in! Greek life at State is bad because it’s viewed as the privileged kids and not inclusive which is the woke crowd attempting to ruin everything that is traditional. Don’t agree with it!

Also most the fans that only come when we are winning are the cheap fans. They ONLY buy tickets when we are winning. We do not have enough hardcore fans that will sit thru losing seasons and most definitely won’t show up if the weather isn’t just perfect. My wife’s family is like that. They will only come to a couple games if the weather is perfect no rain, to hot or to late at night on and on with excuses. And we have a huge fan base of alumni that say they are fans but won’t come to a game even if you give them tickets and tell them that their favorite musician will be playing a free concert.

[KB21]

We blew LSU?s doors off in 17 and should have beaten Bama. Speaking of that 17 Bama game, that is the last time DWS has been at its full strength.

Also, I mean I get we have not played many marquee teams at home but we cannot control that. OM sells out vs Kentucky and Arkansas. We can only sell out vs UGA because their fans buy up all the tickets. And we 6-3 at the time of that game.

I have a friend who covers football for Gridiron Magazine out of England. He was at that Alabama game with a press pass. He was doing a story on EMCC for his magazine, and while he was in the area, he came to the MSU/Alabama game. He told me that was the loudest stadium he's ever been in.

[BB30]

I have seen it posted on multiple message boards multiple times this year and have experienced it to the games I have been able to get back to. But what do you think is wrong with the atmosphere? Like what would you guys change to try and turn things around? I obviously know winning solves a lot of issues but we need to create some sort of home field advantage to kind of kick start the winning. I mean Mullen's first team went 5-7 but we had sell outs at almost every game, sans Houston, in 09. So what has changed? Is it truly just people want more bang for their buck these days? Is it not having LED lights? Is it a sound system? Is it NIL? Like why are we constantly struggling to get people to campus and in the stadium? This isn't a recruit. These are MSU fans.

What are everyone's thoughts

All these people saying winning will solve it don't understand. You show up just like we did with Dan and show what the environment can be and you help to sell the vision to recruits. Unfortunately, and its neither wrong nor right but the majority of our fanbase would rather sit at home and watch the games on TV regardless of if we are winning or not. The atmosphere for Ark and A and M was an absolute joke.

I haven't seen Davis Wade full since Mullen left. It is happening with every program but as small as our fanbase is it's much more noticeable. At LSU you had years of waiting to get season tickets so if a few thousand bail there are other fans to take those spots. We don't have that luxury.

Winning doesn't come first... support of the program does and then winning happens. If I am a 4* recruit with offers from say Arkansas, Ky, State, and OM we aren't outselling our program and fan support with those other 3 schools. This year, State and Vandy are the only teams that can't seem to sell out a stadium for even big games.

Again, I am fine with people sitting at home and watching, just have reasonable expectations when we don't win. Take the same stance when it comes to voting, if you don't vote, don't b**** about the election results. If you don't support state by putting your butt in a seat for the games or donating money, don't b**** when we don't win, it's the fans with unreasonable expectations that don't do anything for the programs that drives me absolutely nuts. Don't complain about coaches, wins or losses if you aren't monetarily supporting in some way whether that is attending games or giving money.

[was21]

They didn't like Leachs' offense.

[KB21]

This is a fan base that believes that football is about 3 yards and a cloud of dust on offense.

[BrunswickDawg]

Having spent a lot of time around Atlanta - MSU has a lot of the same challenges that Ga Tech has.
It's really hard to make an engineering or ag school cool. The students aren't cool, and many times don't give 2 cents about sportsball.
Like GT, we are about 4th on the list of preferred tickets for our general area (Bama, Hunting, and MSU baseball seem to be where people care in East MS).
We both have many years of bad decisions re: the program to overcome in addition to many years of losing.
And our alumni base is more interested in giving to academics then to sports.

It sucks, but its where we are.

[Brobi-wan]

As someone who is young, the Game atmosphere is okay. Light shows would improve it, but the pre-game atmosphere is ATROCIOUS. It?s boring, nobody acts like they want to be there that much, the tailgating atmosphere is middling at best, and it has not always been that way. I?ve even to every home game from 2013-2020. After 2020 everything has been down. Some of that?s COVID and some more is that before this year, we haven?t had an offense that could stretch the field in a LONG time. We won with ML, but there wasn?t any player I was excited to see play every week. Love him or hate him, Will was Will. He wasn?t running anyone over like Fitz or escaping the pocket and making something outta nothing like Dak and there was no Fred Ross or Jameon Lewis type receiver either. Even when we were decent, we?ve been bland.

Showtime is coming, and it will fill up the stadium if we give Lebby time.

[HaggardDawg]

Been going to games for 25 years now and the #1 problem with our game day experience in my opinion compared to other programs is Advertisements on the Jumbotron. Every stoppage there?s a ?One Call that?s all? or Columbus ortho ad that sucks the life out of the stadium. I went to a game at Auburn this year and I don?t think they played one Ad on the Jumbotron the entire game. The screen was used for fan experience things and when there wasn?t a pump up visual it was cameras scanning the crowd for crowd participation. It was nice to not have an ad blaring at you every couple of minutes

[Mjoelner34]

As someone who is young, the Game atmosphere is okay. Light shows would improve it, but the pre-game atmosphere is ATROCIOUS. It?s boring, nobody acts like they want to be there that much, the tailgating atmosphere is middling at best, and it has not always been that way. I?ve even to every home game from 2013-2020. After 2020 everything has been down. Some of that?s COVID and some more is that before this year, we haven?t had an offense that could stretch the field in a LONG time. We won with ML, but there wasn?t any player I was excited to see play every week. Love him or hate him, Will was Will. He wasn?t running anyone over like Fitz or escaping the pocket and making something outta nothing like Dak and there was no Fred Ross or Jameon Lewis type receiver either. Even when we were decent, we?ve been bland.

Showtime is coming, and it will fill up the stadium if we give Lebby time.

I'll try to go in chronological order:
1. Mumbling, monotone rap with a double bass beat being played every 5 seconds as the only semblance of music in the song as fans are entering the stadium. Yeah, nothing gets the fans fired up like that! How about some Stones, Hendrix, CCR....etc. instead? They'll eventually play one of those and then it's back to the mumbling until the ads start before the band entrance.
2. The same pre-game band performance we've been doing since I was in school back in the 80's with the exception of adding 'It's a Grand Old Flag' which I do not stand for because it isn't the 'Star Spangled Banner'.
3. For the love of God, please stop with the Bad to the Bone!
4. Next comes the biggest pre-game atmosphere killer of all. Any excitement that had been built within the crowd is immediately lost when the nasally PA announcer comes on telling people that its time for the maroon and white cheer and explains how to do it. Here is a clue: It doesn't have to be explained. People are already watching Bully and know what to do when he raises the towels. All noise in the crowd immediately stops because people are listening to him instead of reacting to what's happening on the field and any trying to get people fired up now has to start over from scratch. This causes it to sound extremely forced instead of creating an 'organic' excitement. I'd compare it to the difference in atmosphere created by getting up and loud for an important 3rd down on defense vs the atmosphere if the other team gets the 1st down. That's how big of a crowd killer this is.
5. I've got a fever! If we're going to continue to use a worn out clip can we at least cut it down to only "Guess what?! I've got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!". I saw on here somewhere or on 6Pack where someone suggested that if we're going to keep doing this, how about instead of the SNL clip, we use a former player or a celebrity.

Items not covered but I'm sure some will address if they haven't been already:
- Sound system
- Lagging or inoperable ribbons boards
- Metal detectors (Why do we have to have them but ole miss doesn't?)
- LED lights
- Honoring people or playing commercials on the jumbotron during timeouts when the crowd is fired up causing the stadium to get quiet again
- More visitors in the MSU faculty section than in the visitor's ticketed sections

[StarkVegasSteve]

I'll try to go in chronological order:
1. Mumbling, monotone rap with a double bass beat being played every 5 seconds as the only semblance of music in the song as fans are entering the stadium. Yeah, nothing gets the fans fired up like that! How about some Stones, Hendrix, CCR....etc. instead? They'll eventually play one of those and then it's back to the mumbling until the ads start before the band entrance.
2. The same pre-game band performance we've been doing since I was in school back in the 80's with the exception of adding 'It's a Grand Old Flag' which I do not stand for because it isn't the 'Star Spangled Banner'.
3. For the love of God, please stop with the Bad to the Bone!
4. Next comes the biggest pre-game atmosphere killer of all. Any excitement that had been built within the crowd is immediately lost when the nasally PA announcer comes on telling people that its time for the maroon and white cheer and explains how to do it. Here is a clue: It doesn't have to be explained. People are already watching Bully and know what to do when he raises the towels. All noise in the crowd immediately stops because people are listening to him instead of reacting to what's happening on the field and any trying to get people fired up now has to start over from scratch. This causes it to sound extremely forced instead of creating an 'organic' excitement. I'd compare it to the difference in atmosphere created by getting up and loud for an important 3rd down on defense vs the atmosphere if the other team gets the 1st down. That's how big of a crowd killer this is.
5. I've got a fever! If we're going to continue to use a worn out clip can we at least cut it down to only "Guess what?! I've got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!". I saw on here somewhere or on 6Pack where someone suggested that if we're going to keep doing this, how about instead of the SNL clip, we use a former player or a celebrity.

Items not covered but I'm sure some will address if they haven't been already:
- Sound system
- Lagging or inoperable ribbons boards
- Metal detectors (Why do we have to have them but ole miss doesn't?)
- LED lights
- Honoring people or playing commercials on the jumbotron during timeouts when the crowd is fired up causing the stadium to get quiet again
- More visitors in the MSU faculty section than in the visitor's ticketed sections

I'll try to go down the list here because I agree with most of it:

1. I have no problem playing a little classic rock mixed in with the rap. The players like the rap so we need to play it because that's what they want to hear during warm ups. I do agree that we need to mix in some other stuff. Maybe some Stones like you said or AC/DC, Guns N Roses, even a little Queen We Will Rock You. I think the main problem with the music is the crappy sound system. It makes everything sound worse.

2. The band performance is awful. Legit could put people to sleep.

3. Agreed. Please stop. Play anything else....Who Let The Dawgs Out, Stone Cold theme, It's Time To Play The Game, The Final Countdown, ANYTHING.

4. It's awful. We need to stop doing the damn cheer altogether. Put please don't explain it to people like they're 4.

5. Like I said, do a celebrity or former player like OM does with the Are You Ready. Send them all a loud ass Battle Bell to do it with.

[Rawdawg]

The LSU wristband light show between the 3rd and 4th quarters against OM was awesome. Whole student section singing Set it Off was incredible.

[Brobi-wan]

And playing explicit music and cutting it when there’s a “bad” word is terrible for the flow.

I can’t even understand half the words to the songs when I know the lyrics. The rap is fine, but play someone known. Play more Eminem, Lil Wayne, TI, or Kanye. Baby got back and Tootsie roll came out before I was born. Nobody under 35-40 wants to hear them.

[Rawdawg]

And playing explicit music and cutting it when there’s a “bad” word is terrible for the flow.

I can’t even understand half the words to the songs when I know the lyrics. The rap is fine, but play someone known. Play more Eminem, Lil Wayne, TI, or Kanye. Baby got back and Tootsie roll came out before I was born. Nobody under 35-40 wants to hear them.

Exactly. LSU can play Lil Boosie and the whole crowd sing it with no backlash but we have to edit our stuff. 17 that. Be cool and quit caring about offending someone. Embrace the party.

[Brobi-wan]

Exactly. LSU can play Lil Boosie and the whole crowd sing it with no backlash but we have to edit our stuff. 17 that. Be cool and quit caring about offending someone. Embrace the party.

We don’t have to play “****** in Paris” but it would be a lot cooler if we did. Lmao

[Brobi-wan]

And you know what else? I hate to admit it, but everyone knows Taylor Swift. Every girl in the Dude loved Bryce Chance walking out to her music. Play some of her stuff and give the girls something to get into. And not something when she was 19, something new. I don’t think we could make her song Maroon work for us, but it’s funny she has one titled that.

[ScooterDog]

If there ever was a thread that our AD needs to read, this is it. Since this effects the production of revenue, someone needs to get it to him.

[MBDawg601]

Exactly. LSU can play Lil Boosie and the whole crowd sing it with no backlash but we have to edit our stuff. 17 that. Be cool and quit caring about offending someone. Embrace the party.

If we played Boosie our fans would lose their minds.

They want Rolling Stones and Metallica. Absolute opposite of what gets young folks (the ones that bring the energy) hyped.

[BuckyIsAB****]

There is a lot of im just better than that 40-60 year olds in our fan base that arent going to like hype music. They are never going to embrace the party. That?s a big problem with a lot of our folks.

The next biggest is that Dan Mullen was absolutely the last coach everyone was behind. Moorhead lost it quick, you can read this board to this day and see that it didnt matter if Leach went undefeated we weren?t gonna all embrace him. John Cohen and his liberal non sense took a coach that put literal no where schools on the map and silenced him because he was too conservative.

I personally like the pre game routine with the band and all, it is cheesy but i still love it. Makes me feel like I?m 13 again with my dad sitting by me. But the ads and metal detectors are putrid and have to go.

[BuckyIsAB****]

Texas A&M is literally a cult and they are jamming Mo Bamba every single 3rd down. And it?s 98 percent white folks doing it. They are the same type of school we are (ag/engineering) so don?t tell me we can?t turn on some Boosie, Yo Gotti or hell even Wacka Flacka Flame hahaha

[Mjoelner34]

And playing explicit music and cutting it when there’s a “bad” word is terrible for the flow.

Just so happens, the song I would choose for the team run out has a "bad" word over and over in the chorus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KHqU7l4NIk

Edit it to start off at the 1:53 mark when the players come out of the locker room and the lights are flashing in the tunnel. Then you have a kick-ass instrumental (with heavy cowbell) until 2:42 when the "bad" word starts up again. I imagine the students could do plenty of damage with the chorus during that time without actually having to play the song lyrics. Or, you could just play the instrumental version that's on Youtube but it sounds like the editing kicked the music down a notch on that one.

Imagine the meltdown if we played the full version of Hair of the Dog while showing the Hardee's Memphis bbq burger commercial on the jumbotron.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJdXL1-aff4

I remember the game where that commercial was on the jumbotron. I told the guys around me "Enjoy this. You won't ever see it again."

[MBDawg601]

Texas A&M is literally a cult and they are jamming Mo Bamba every single 3rd down. And it?s 98 percent white folks doing it. They are the same type of school we are (ag/engineering) so don?t tell me we can?t turn on some Boosie, Yo Gotti or hell even Wacka Flacka Flame hahaha

We have to. And we need LEDs. When we score it needs to be rockus. 3rd downs need to be something more modern. Watch any SEC game in any other stadium this year, it's 10 times more intimidating.

[JimBobDawg]

When Mullen was here, he would get out on the field, get the stadium PA and get the crowd fired up. Especially before the big game. He made many request in 2010 about respecting the bell. Being competitive and winning goes a long way in game day atmosphere.

[MBDawg601]

Oh, and another thing... Colorado has that little stadium rocking every week. It is so electric, we have no excuse not to atleast match that atmosphere.

[BuckyIsAB****]

Yall can say what you want, but the absolute biggest part of it to me is having a coach that everyone is excited about and behind. It would help old fuddy duddys if he would yell at the refs too. It just would. I know personally my dad used to absolutely love it when Mullen went off and when Leach threw the chairs down vs Auburn

[Brobi-wan]

Just so happens, the song I would choose for the team run out has a "bad" word over and over in the chorus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KHqU7l4NIk

Edit it to start off at the 1:53 mark when the players come out of the locker room and the lights are flashing in the tunnel. Then you have a kick-ass instrumental (with heavy cowbell) until 2:42 when the "bad" word starts up again. I imagine the students could do plenty of damage with the chorus during that time without actually having to play the song lyrics. Or, you could just play the instrumental version that's on Youtube but it sounds like the editing kicked the music down a notch on that one.

Imagine the meltdown if we played the full version of Hair of the Dog while showing the Hardee's Memphis bbq burger commercial on the jumbotron.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJdXL1-aff4

I remember the game where that commercial was on the jumbotron. I told the guys around me "Enjoy this. You won't ever see it again."

I already like this version of DWS better. My grandparents wouldn?t like it and neither would my mom, but they don?t attend and I do lol

[MBDawg601]

Yall can say what you want, but the absolute biggest part of it to me is having a coach that everyone is excited about and behind. It would help old fuddy duddys if he would yell at the refs too. It just would. I know personally my dad used to absolutely love it when Mullen went off and when Leach threw the chairs down vs Auburn

Yep. It is going to take some hype from the top. We need fire in the leadership ranks. We can't give off the image we are content.

I believe they need to get some icons that rep State involved. Throw some money at Hardy to do promotional events. Give Dak a call. Call Preston Smith, Sweat, Jeff Simmons, John Abrams. Get people interested. We need life. We have tons of former players that are major stars in NFL right now. We need to try to utilize that to pump up the volume a bit.

[Rawdawg]

If we played Boosie our fans would lose their minds.

They want Rolling Stones and Metallica. Absolute opposite of what gets young folks (the ones that bring the energy) hyped.

Trust me I get it but there lies the problem. Until you get on board with being modern and embracing this kinda stuff we?re always going to be stuck in the mud.

[StarkVegasSteve]

If we played Boosie our fans would lose their minds.

They want Rolling Stones and Metallica. Absolute opposite of what gets young folks (the ones that bring the energy) hyped.

The thing is there's a place for both. You can play DaBaby and then turn around two songs later and play Guns N Roses. You just have to embrace both. We just have a problem where some in the fan base want what's played at the baseball game to be played in the football stadium. They completely turn a blind eye to the fact that the year we won the national championship Rowdey Jordan's walk out song was Night Crawler by Travis Scott. Logan Tanner's was No Option by Internet Money. Or Kameron James had Word On The Street by Key Glock.

[Rawdawg]

The thing is there's a place for both. You can play DaBaby and then turn around two songs later and play Guns N Roses. You just have to embrace both. We just have a problem where some in the fan base want what's played at the baseball game to be played in the football stadium. They completely turn a blind eye to the fact that the year we won the national championship Rowdey Jordan's walk out song was Night Crawler by Travis Scott. Logan Tanner's was No Option by Internet Money. Or Kameron James had Word On The Street by Key Glock.

And if you really want to point to baseball, the Dude has LED lights and at night when we hit a homerun that place is an electric factory. I was there on a Tuesday night the first homerun in the new stadium was hit and we did the LED flashing light show as we rounded the bases and the place was beside itself. On a Tuesday. In February. So don?t tell me this stuff doesn?t matter.

[MBDawg601]

Trust me I get it but there lies the problem. Until you get on board with being modern and embracing this kinda stuff we?re always going to be stuck in the mud.

I agree completely. We need a complete modernization. Revamp our entire pre-game. Rejuvenate the junction and get folks excited, before the game even starts. Who knows, maybe an electric crowd may cause our defense to force a punt

[StarkVegasSteve]

And if you really want to point to baseball, the Dude has LED lights and at night when we hit a homerun that place is an electric factory. I was there on a Tuesday night the first homerun in the new stadium was hit and we did the LED flashing light show as we rounded the bases and the place was beside itself. On a Tuesday. In February. So don?t tell me this stuff doesn?t matter.

Well look who the AD was when it was built. That tells you why the baseball stadium has every bell and whistle imaginable and the football stadium has speakers that don't work, no LED lights, and trailers in the end zone.

[Rawdawg]

Well look who the AD was when it was built. That tells you why the baseball stadium has every bell and whistle imaginable and the football stadium has speakers that don't work, no LED lights, and trailers in the end zone.

Yeah I get that what I?m saying is we have a direct reference point on campus where there?s something modern and really cool.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I agree completely. We need a complete modernization. Revamp our entire pre-game. Rejuvenate the junction and get folks excited, before the game even starts. Who knows, maybe an electric crowd may cause our defense to force a punt

We have to do something to get people to campus AND THEN into the stadium. I think for the big games, we can get them on campus or in town, but they'd rather sit at the tailgate than go in the game. We have to get it where people want to be apart of the atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, winning is a MASSIVE part of that. But as we saw with Leach, it isn't the only part. I never agree with Bucky, literally never, but he has a point on Mullen. It got the crowd fired up when he was fired up. I remember early in his tenure he'd give a pregame speech to the fans as the team was coming off the field to get the damn fans fired up. Then later in his tenure when he'd fire the crowd up or go after the refs everyone would go insane because they missed that Dan Mullen. I'll never forget post game of the 09 Egg Bowl and the speech. I'd have run through a wall for him that day.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Yeah I get that what I?m saying is we have a direct reference point on campus where there?s something modern and really cool.

It's just how do you transfer that to a bigger scale. Part of the allure to DNF is that it's a party in the outfield. I mean I call it The Baseball Grove and with that come a lot of negative connotations but there are some positive connotations as well. I mean when you put 2,000 people in a confined space and let them bring their own alcohol....things can get out of control and if it's a tight game, that can make the difference. Call it The Dude Effect or whatever the hell you want to call it but it's real and you can feel it. We have nothing like that in football. We haven't had that type of feel in 7 years.

[MBDawg601]

We have to do something to get people to campus AND THEN into the stadium. I think for the big games, we can get them on campus or in town, but they'd rather sit at the tailgate than go in the game. We have to get it where people want to be apart of the atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, winning is a MASSIVE part of that. But as we saw with Leach, it isn't the only part. I never agree with Bucky, literally never, but he has a point on Mullen. It got the crowd fired up when he was fired up. I remember early in his tenure he'd give a pregame speech to the fans as the team was coming off the field to get the damn fans fired up. Then later in his tenure when he'd fire the crowd up or go after the refs everyone would go insane because they missed that Dan Mullen. I'll never forget post game of the 09 Egg Bowl and the speech. I'd have run through a wall for him that day.

Dan did a good job of that at Florida too. I remember the years he would wear the Darth Vader mask. He knew how to fire people up, that is for sure. Insane that it didn't work out.

Look at us after Mullen and Florida. Absolute dumpster fires.

[Saltydog]

Beat number 12 Kentucky and 17 Auburn in 2021 and beat 17 A&M and 20 OM in 2022. I just don't think it's W/L related anymore. I mean maybe it is for the diehard fan, but what about the average fan who is going for an experience. It seems we have lost those fans in the last 7-8 years.

NIL has ran those fans off and it's going to get worse.........

[Rawdawg]

It's just how do you transfer that to a bigger scale. Part of the allure to DNF is that it's a party in the outfield. I mean I call it The Baseball Grove and with that come a lot of negative connotations but there are some positive connotations as well. I mean when you put 2,000 people in a confined space and let them bring their own alcohol....things can get out of control and if it's a tight game, that can make the difference. Call it The Dude Effect or whatever the hell you want to call it but it's real and you can feel it. We have nothing like that in football. We haven't had that type of feel in 7 years.

Well for starters don?t discourage the frats from tailgating by over regulating them. They can?t even bring their own speakers. Screw that, let em get after it. And if you?re concerned about the perception outside of the stadium in the junction, move the black tents from the amphitheater to the junction and let the amphitheater be for the frats. Hell they?d have a stage they could but a DJ on and throw a damn party in front of all the frats and the passer byes wouldn?t even see it.

[StarkVegasSteve]

NIL has ran those fans off and it's going to get worse.........

Again those are diehards. I am talking the average sidewalk fan. As much as I do not like them, they added 5-10K every Saturday in our stadium. Win or lose, they came because Starkville was a place they had to be on the weekend. They came because from the time they entered the tailgate to the time they got back in the car they were going to have a hell of a time. We have just lost those fans. I know many of them, and they may not like NIL or agree with it, but that is not the reason they are not coming anymore.

[KB21]

I wonder if there is any truth to the rumor posted at another site that Mark Keenum may be the next Secretary of Agriculture for President Trump.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I wonder if there is any truth to the rumor posted at another site that Mark Keenum may be the next Secretary of Agriculture for President Trump.

He was on the shortlist when Trump won in 2016 so I would presume he would be this time around as well. However, the chances are far less now. He has one kid who is a freshman at State and his other kids are in high school at Starkville Academy. If he was going to take it, he would have in 2016.

[viverlibre]

We have some of the best, most long suffering fans in college athletics across all sports.

We also have way too many of some of the worst fans, especially of those who are active in the internet. We have a ton of fans who likely don't attend many games nor give much, but yet they are as negative as can be. In Oxford, they are pulling in the same direction and certainly not tearing their own program down.

[KOdawg1]

We also have way too many of some of the worst fans, especially of those who are active in the internet. We have a ton of fans who likely don't attend many games nor give much, but yet they are as negative as can be. In Oxford, they are pulling in the same direction and certainly not tearing their own program down.

That's because they have a fanbase and an athletic department that communicate and are on the same page.

The disconnect with our athletic department coupled with weak leadership from previous administrations have gotten us to this point

[CaptainObvious]

We also have way too many of some of the worst fans, especially of those who are active in the internet. We have a ton of fans who likely don't attend many games nor give much, but yet they are as negative as can be. In Oxford, they are pulling in the same direction and certainly not tearing their own program down.

Wait until they lose 2 more games and go 8-4 and get the Gator Bowl or the Outback Bowl. They will turn on Kiffin faster than you can say Hugh Freeze likes hookers!

[confucius say]

We won 7 games in year 2 of Leach and 9 games in year 3 and our stadium was not anywhere near full unless the opposing team's fanbase traveled well. So winning doesn't solve it.

We were 7-4 going into the season finale both of those years and were underdogs in the finale. Solid for sure, but not great in the yearly fcs era.

Look at soccer. And what happened with women's basketball. Even men's basketball has sold out season tickets.
We will support a winner.

And after going 2-10 this year, we will support and show up for a 7-5/8-4 when it comes back.

[Cooterpoot]

Half the fans are against paying players, and half are pissed off about everything else

[Coursesuper]

That's because they have a fanbase and an athletic department that communicate and are on the same page.

The disconnect with our athletic department coupled with weak leadership from previous administrations have gotten us to this point

We have been and always will be a very disjointed alumni and fan base, to many factions and egos jockeying for power and to prove just how big their dick is. From the Delta group that controlled things in the 40's and 50's that help run of our best ever coach to the various times throughout the decades that group from the coast, Jackson or north Mississippi that have fought for and at times gained control. Each group has pulled in its own direction to the detriment of the athletic department and the university as a whole. Our confederate brothers are able to get it together much more often than us for sure.

[viverlibre]

We have been and always will be a very disjointed alumni and fan base, to many factions and egos jockeying for power and to prove just how big their dick is. From the Delta group that controlled things in the 40's and 50's that help run of our best ever coach to the various times throughout the decades that group from the coast, Jackson or north Mississippi that have fought for and at times gained control. Each group has pulled in its own direction to the detriment of the athletic department and the university as a whole. Our confederate brothers are able to get it together much more often than us for sure.

I think it's deeper than that. I think too many of our fans have "little brother" syndrome. When something goes wrong, our fans get angry, pout and lash out. Our fans point out the failings of our town and program to make themselves feel better, makes no sense to me. Instead of emphasizing the positive and minimizing the negative, we have too many that do the opposite. Right now there's not much to be positive about in regards to football, that doesn't mean go negative, we have a Sweet 16 basketball team, let's focus on that or focus on how well MVB looks as a true freshman.

[Coursesuper]

I think it's deeper than that. I think too many of our fans have "little brother" syndrome. When something goes wrong, our fans get angry, pout and lash out. Our fans point out the failings of our town and program to make themselves feel better, makes no sense to me. Instead of emphasizing the positive and minimizing the negative, we have too many that do the opposite. Right now there's not much to be positive about in regards to football, that doesn't mean go negative, we have a Sweet 16 basketball team, let's focus on that or focus on how well MVB looks as a true freshman.

You should have been in my career field. This is how these situations work. When things are good that's exactly how things are supposed to be and if anything is wrong it's completely 17ed up and so is everything else.

[StarkVegasSteve]

So to kind of get the conversation back on track, I do believe all the things mentioned would help and I do believe the complete buy in starts with winning, but to just get people into the stadium(which we are having trouble doing now) it is going to take bells and whistles. I think you can almost tie it into the NIL conversation that our fans want something for what they're giving. Basically, if they're giving money, just saying it is for players is not enough. They want an experience or something tangible. I think the same principle will have to be applied to trying to get people to the game. Just coming to the game for a football game is not enough. You have to give them a light show, a drone show, something that they feel was worth their money they spent. Because right now it is obvious that people don't want to spend their money just to come to Starkville to watch the ballgame.

[Duckdog]

Hell, just look at the product presented at the Ark game. They couldn't even post scores for other games correctly. The atmosphere flat out sucked, the team sucked, the time of the game sucked, attendance sucked, the crappy country band they had playing before the game was so damn lame, didn't even see very many frats tailgating.

[Cooterpoot]

Hell, just look at the product presented at the Ark game. They couldn't even post scores for other games correctly. The atmosphere flat out sucked, the team sucked, the time of the game sucked, attendance sucked, the crappy country band they had playing before the game was so damn lame, didn't even see very many frats tailgating.

Most all of that other than the actual infield trash, was because we got assigned an early game. Kids went home, people didn't drive the early start. Too early to tailgate too. The school has put nothing into the stadium experience since Mullen left.

[CoachT14]

We also have way too many of some of the worst fans, especially of those who are active in the internet. We have a ton of fans who likely don't attend many games nor give much, but yet they are as negative as can be. In Oxford, they are pulling in the same direction and certainly not tearing their own program down.

Yeah, we should just keep taking shit from an athletic department and president that doesn't give two shits about the average fan, that'll solve the issues.

Please sir, can I have some more?

[StarkVegasSteve]

Yeah, we should just keep taking shit from an athletic department and president that doesn't give two shits about the average fan, that'll solve the issues.

Please sir, can I have some more?

So that was the original question.....what can be done to get the average fan back in the stadium?

[Gutter Cobreh]

So that was the original question.....what can be done to get the average fan back in the stadium?

The question your asking has been answered, which is win. If you win, the average fan will return.

Now, you may be asking how to do we get the casual fan to attend while we are rebuilding and the product on the field sucks... If so, then a light show or some other form of entertainment isn't going to work. Only hope is that lower ticket will help put people in seats. We have 7,000 coaching assistants - so you could put them in the stands then offer their sideline spots to paying customers.

[Cooterpoot]

Until people see real investment in the football program to get things on par with this conference you won't see anything change. A damn uniform change won't bring fans or make the team better, but we won't look like a bunch of poor asses getting shit off TEMU.
Lights and sound and premium amenities will get a few fans to the games and make the experience better, which can grow things. We are so far behind it's crazy.
But, in the end, winning cures more than anything.

[StateDawg44]

Basically, if they're giving money, just saying it is for players is not enough. They want an experience or something tangible.

Doesn't have to be tangible. Just needs to be a win and not equal to burning their money each snap. As long as it goes to a player that is making an impact on the field and he contributes to a....... WIN!




Just coming to the game for a football game is not enough. You have to give them a light show, a drone show, something that they feel was worth their money they spent.

Ok so you get to see a drone show. :rolleyes: How many times is that entertaining to you? Would be a bathroom break for me personally after the first time. What gives you the idea that our admin would even mix it up at all if we did one? I'd be willing to bet if there was a drone show it would be the exact show every week. And honestly, is the a drone show even at the top of anyones list of highlights after a game whether we win or lose? Not trying to poop on the idea because it's something, it just seems like background noise.




Because right now it is obvious that people don't want to spend their money just to come to Starkville to watch the ballgame.

Because the product on the field sucks and odds are very high they won't..... WIN!

[StarkVegasSteve]

Doesn't have to be tangible. Just needs to be a win and not equal to burning their money each snap. As long as it goes to a player that is making an impact on the field and he contributes to a....... WIN!





Ok so you get to see a drone show. :rolleyes: How many times is that entertaining to you? Would be a bathroom break for me personally after the first time. What gives you the idea that our admin would even mix it up at all if we did one? I'd be willing to bet if there was a drone show it would be the exact show every week. And honestly, is the a drone show even at the top of anyones list of highlights after a game whether we win or lose? Not trying to poop on the idea because it's something, it just seems like background noise.





Because the product on the field sucks and odds are very high they won't..... WIN!

WE had two 5-7 seasons with Mullen along with a two 6-6 seasons. People still sold out the stadium. Same stadium too. I get we were winning a bit more but we were having sell outs. Moorhead went 8-4 his first year and 6-6 his second and the stadium was empty. Leach went 7-5 and 8-4 in his two seasons he was allowed to have crowds and the stadium was empty. So it's not winning or losing. It's something else. That's what I'm trying to figure out. I mean what constitutes the product being good or crappy? Because it's obviously not wins and losses so what is it?

[Rawdawg]

WE had two 5-7 seasons with Mullen along with a two 6-6 seasons. People still sold out the stadium. Same stadium too. I get we were winning a bit more but we were having sell outs. Moorhead went 8-4 his first year and 6-6 his second and the stadium was empty. Leach went 7-5 and 8-4 in his two seasons he was allowed to have crowds and the stadium was empty. So it's not winning or losing. It's something else. That's what I'm trying to figure out. I mean what constitutes the product being good or crappy? Because it's obviously not wins and losses so what is it?

Winning will bring current fans back to a point, but if you want to make it something that ?new? fans want to be apart of you have to make it fun and cool. We have to grow our football brand and make it something special. We did that with baseball, time to do it at football.

[BrunswickDawg]

Ok so you get to see a drone show. :rolleyes: How many times is that entertaining to you? Would be a bathroom break for me personally after the first time. What gives you the idea that our admin would even mix it up at all if we did one? I'd be willing to bet if there was a drone show it would be the exact show every week. And honestly, is the a drone show even at the top of anyones list of highlights after a game whether we win or lose? Not trying to poop on the idea because it's something, it just seems like background noise.


What makes anyone thing we would sustain something like a drone show when we couldn't even keep Air Bully flying


https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/451312282_10234318511768095_1975371033386484988_n. jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=bd9a62&_nc_ohc=aELuGsZFAXwQ7kNvgGQ2rWH&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ADxIKWxz-4GyHX_5z0c3ZV3&oh=00_AYAXJ3db0neZb2OU5Bil_XVxoCCQ3fAVybxuzWCyuIxv Sg&oe=6728568C

[RockyDog]

WE had two 5-7 seasons with Mullen along with a two 6-6 seasons. People still sold out the stadium. Same stadium too. I get we were winning a bit more but we were having sell outs. Moorhead went 8-4 his first year and 6-6 his second and the stadium was empty. Leach went 7-5 and 8-4 in his two seasons he was allowed to have crowds and the stadium was empty. So it's not winning or losing. It's something else. That's what I'm trying to figure out. I mean what constitutes the product being good or crappy? Because it's obviously not wins and losses so what is it?

As you can see by this thread, we have fans that bitch about SOO much that I don't think we ever get it back. It's the ADs fault. It's the president's fault. The uniforms aren't maroon enough. The stripe on the left shoulder sucks. The stripe on the right shoulder sucks. We wear white pants. We wear gray pants. Dorman Hall is visible on TV. We don't have an completely enclosed end zone. Recruit x is a pre madonna. Player x is a pre madonna. We throw too much. We run too much. Our coach's hat is stupid. Our coach wears a hat. Our coach wears a sweatshirt. Our coach wear a short-sleeve shirt. The band sucks. The stadium DJ sucks. The ads suck. The concession suck. It's neverending and tiresome. Yet our boards, FB, Twitter, and other forms of social media are FILLED with MSU "fans" that want to spew this crap CONSTANTLY

[StateDawg44]

WE had two 5-7 seasons with Mullen along with a two 6-6 seasons. People still sold out the stadium. Same stadium too. I get we were winning a bit more but we were having sell outs. Moorhead went 8-4 his first year and 6-6 his second and the stadium was empty. Leach went 7-5 and 8-4 in his two seasons he was allowed to have crowds and the stadium was empty. So it's not winning or losing. It's something else. That's what I'm trying to figure out. I mean what constitutes the product being good or crappy? Because it's obviously not wins and losses so what is it?

Bottomline is we don't win the games that raise any attention. Yeah we may have a decent year where we beat the OM, Arkansas, Auburns, A&M's and KY and sometimes a LSU win. Like we expect to. But then we drop so many opportunities it's very hard to get your hopes up and get excited about MSU football. We've constantly for well over a decade had momentum and some how drop a head scratcher or get blown out by Bama and it's just the same ole thing every year. We didn't even score a TD against them for 3 effing years straight.

Win the games that we shouldn't and put EVERYONE on notice. Instead we shit the bed when we finally have the media's attention or a primetime game. It's like clockwork.

Basketball sort of has the same bug but you could really see the fans engage this past year with our success. But we still dropped so many games when we finally get media attention or they rank us.

Why would the media hype us at all like you see them hype OM? Because OM pulls off that Bama upset once in a blue moon. And they are at least usually competitive with them. For several years after Freeze beat saban back to back that game was super hyped up. But each year after it died down some and now it's not really the same focus on it.

The first year of the CFP when we were ranked. A couple of years after 2014 you would see the banner M logo floating around in the background like we had a shot to replicate the magic. Now they'd be fired for flashing our logo up on the commercials.

You think we had all that hype in 2014 because we marketed ourselves a certain way and gave the fans off the field entertainment at games.

I'd happily drive down 5 hours to a game or two one weekend if I thought we had a chance to win. There's zero chance at all I'll waste my time this year.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Bottomline is we don't win the games that raise any attention. Yeah we may have a decent year where we beat the OM, Arkansas, Auburns, A&M's and KY and sometimes a LSU win. Like we expect to. But then we drop so many opportunities it's very hard to get your hopes up and get excited about MSU football. We've constantly for well over a decade had momentum and some how drop a head scratcher or get blown out by Bama and it's just the same ole thing every year. We didn't even score a TD against them for 3 effing years straight.

Win the games that we shouldn't and put EVERYONE on notice. Instead we shit the bed when we finally have the media's attention or a primetime game. It's like clockwork.

Basketball sort of has the same bug but you could really see the fans engage this past year with our success. But we still dropped so many games when we finally get media attention or they rank us.

Why would the media hype us at all like you see them hype OM? Because OM pulls off that Bama upset once in a blue moon. And they are at least usually competitive with them. For several years after Freeze beat saban back to back that game was super hyped up. But each year after it died down some and now it's not really the same focus on it.

The first year of the CFP when we were ranked. A couple of years after 2014 you would see the banner M logo floating around in the background like we had a shot to replicate the magic. Now they'd be fired for flashing our logo up on the commercials.

You think we had all that hype in 2014 because we marketed ourselves a certain way and gave the fans off the field entertainment at games.

I'd happily drive down 5 hours to a game or two one weekend if I thought we had a chance to win. There's zero chance at all I'll waste my time this year.

That's fair. And maybe it truly is that we just don't win enough of the big ones. I mean I do find that hard to believe since we never really won on those marquee games with Dan either. I know Dan had a long talk with Lebby, Selmon, and Keenum all separately a couple of weekends ago. Maybe they picked his brain on what worked and what got the fan base involved. I mean Dan wasn't exactly a people person when he was here

[BrunswickDawg]

That's fair. And maybe it truly is that we just don't win enough of the big ones. I mean I do find that hard to believe since we never really won on those marquee games with Dan either. I know Dan had a long talk with Lebby, Selmon, and Keenum all separately a couple of weekends ago. Maybe they picked his brain on what worked and what got the fan base involved. I mean Dan wasn't exactly a people person when he was here

But it's not just a "now" thing. Even at Jackie's best we had the same attendance issues. Other than the Bama game every other year we didn't sellout regularly even when we were good. And that was with a smaller stadium, almost no TV exposure, and far fewer expectations for the "game experience". Ultimately, it comes down to our fan base, not the school. We have never supported football at an SEC level consistently and it shows in everything we do.

[civildawg]

I haven't read through this thread but I wanted to give some input from someone that was a diehard 10 years ago to someone who only watches our games on TV.

First, we haven't had an exciting team since Mullen's last year. Yeah I know Leach won 9 games one year but the offense was so boring to watch with the most unathletic person to play qb in maybe history. It was like watching paint dry.

Secondly, the game day experience with trying to leave the game was terrible a few years ago. That and parking was one of the reasons we gave up our tickets.

Thirdly, our band has to be one of the worst in the country. I've been to multiple SEC stadiums and their bands had "Swag" and pretty cool traditions during the pregame stuff. Our band does the most bland stuff that it's comical. We need the guy from drumline to come in and spice our band up or something.

Lastly, it's just the overall lack of give a crap that our whole AD has. I mean the sound system issue is terrible and it's been that way for years. How did Selmon not have that as #1 on his list? The lights, same story. I remember when I went to games years ago, there was always spaces on the video board out or the ribbons were acting up. I mean wtf? Did we not have someone checking this stuff before the game during the week? And one more thing, stop with all the recognitions during timeouts. It's freaking exhausting seeing another team being recognized 10 times a game

I was hoping Selmon was going to come in and get this stuff cleaned up but he's been more of the same in my untrained eyes.

[Ranchdawg]

I’m not that big a fan of Cohen but one thing he did do correct imo he would be on sports talk radio and he would at least attempt to sell the product to anyone that would interview him. He would also direct a lot effort towards to the common alum/fan. Unlike our current AD. I don’t recall any interviews from Selmon extolling the greatness of our game day. It’s just a little thing again imo that would help.

Do you think the perceived greatness of the Grove happened by accident? No! Ole Miss put a lot of effort into building that fictitious bull crud. The Grove is nothing but a grove of trees with pop up tents tailgating just like a bunch of other southern universities do on football game days. Nothing special! But now it’s a national thing. Another example if you say something enough it becomes truth.

[BrunswickDawg]

Ranch I'm not going to quote your whole post -
But I'm going to disagree about parking and traffic. I've been to about half of the SEC and we are so much easier to park and exit post game then any place I've been.

Athens, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, and Gainesville are total shitshows.

[Bothrops]

Theoretically MSU football will be where we need it to be now in about 10 more years.

[Brobi-wan]

I haven't read through this thread but I wanted to give some input from someone that was a diehard 10 years ago to someone who only watches our games on TV.

First, we haven't had an exciting team since Mullen's last year. Yeah I know Leach won 9 games one year but the offense was so boring to watch with the most unathletic person to play qb in maybe history. It was like watching paint dry.

Secondly, the game day experience with trying to leave the game was terrible a few years ago. That and parking was one of the reasons we gave up our tickets.

Thirdly, our band has to be one of the worst in the country. I've been to multiple SEC stadiums and their bands had "Swag" and pretty cool traditions during the pregame stuff. Our band does the most bland stuff that it's comical. We need the guy from drumline to come in and spice our band up or something.

Lastly, it's just the overall lack of give a crap that our whole AD has. I mean the sound system issue is terrible and it's been that way for years. How did Selmon not have that as #1 on his list? The lights, same story. I remember when I went to games years ago, there was always spaces on the video board out or the ribbons were acting up. I mean wtf? Did we not have someone checking this stuff before the game during the week? And one more thing, stop with all the recognitions during timeouts. It's freaking exhausting seeing another team being recognized 10 times a game

I was hoping Selmon was going to come in and get this stuff cleaned up but he's been more of the same in my untrained eyes.

Our band is pathetic. Not only do they just not sound good, anytime they let someone else?s band in DWS they blow us away. I also hate at the beginning of every year they don?t wear their uniforms for the first couple games. Dude, I get it. It?s hot, but the ball players are running up and down the field in pads and a helmet. You?re telling me these nerds can?t wear a uniform for 15 minutes and change when they go back to the stands into their maroon band tees? Idk. Maybe I?m being too hard on them, but they suck so bad I haven?t watched them perform once in the last two years at halftime. I would rather stand in line at a urinal. If any of your fam members are in it, I?m sorry. I?m sure they don?t suck individually, but the FMB sucks collectively.

[Maroonthirteen]

I'm laughing about the band comments.

Ha. I've been to a few sec stadiums in the past few years. It's all the same thing. The band plays the same ole pregame. Flyover. Hype video. Rap music. More rap music. Another video with rap music. Kickoff


During the game you don't hear the band. I saw Texas had a band in Austin. I may have heard them once. I heard H-O--T--T-O-G-O loud and clear, twice.

There was commercials. Rap music. There was a "let's recognize..." some Olympian. Followed by rap music. Same ole same ole as at State.

[Todd4State]

While I think there are some issues with LED lights and I think most fans would love to see the interlocking MSU back I think it still boils down to the product on the field.

I've been watching MSU football seriously since Jackie was first hired and I think part of the excitement with Jackie was there was always the opportunity that we might upset someone just as much as we might get blown out. That chance of an upset kept people engaged and coming back.

Croom was not good either but on a smaller scale than Jackie to be sure he would also score some pretty good wins too. Like Florida 2004, Alabama 2006, and most of the 2007 season. So even though he was not a good coach there was still that chance.

Now with Dan by the time he became our coach we just all assumed that we would occasionally pull off big memorable wins because heck if Croom could do it why couldn't Dan? But Dan was a bit of an enigma in that he won almost all of the games he should win which was great and something neither Jackie nor Croom could do. But at the same time most of Dan's big wins came in either 2010 or 2014. And I think beating teams we "should" beat started to get kind of stale with our fans because that is when I first noticed the crowds starting to dwindle some.

Then we hired Moorhead who was a bad hire but as a fan I can actually tolerate that every now and then AS LONG as MSU doesn't do the same thing all over again. This is I think pretty KEY to the issue. The mistake was we hired an inexperienced guy who in an up cycle year decided to run an offense that didn't fit out players and it led to an underachieving disappointing year.

So we hire Mike Leach who was perfect for MSU and he was left with a rebuild. We also knew to expect the first two years to be meh and then we would win big. Which is pretty much what happened. And during that time we got some pretty memorable wins over LSU in 2020 and Auburn in 2021. And then we followed that up with a 9 win season. After we beat Ole Miss in 2022 it seemed to me like the fan base pretty much finally bought into Leach at that point. Had he not passed away and with a team in an up cycle year in 2023 coming off of 9 wins I suspect our attendance would have been much better. I think we may have topped 2022 in wins in 2023 with Leach. Everything was set up to do that. But it didn't happen because he passed away.

Now MSU hires Arnett. And I think the number one thing fans wanted to do was not see a replay of Moorhead again and the mistakes that were made then- in other words changing offenses to something that didn't fit the players and hire an inexperienced coach. MSU did both. And the results were a 5-7 season and that pissed a lot of fans off. I think how that all went down really fractured the fan base and probably broke a lot of people because that was the point a lot of fans knew it was going to be a rebuild plus the school basically misled fans by saying that the offense was going to be very similar to the Air Raid and it wasn't. Add in the fact that most of Leach's guys were fired and replaced by boosters friends and it just left a very bad taste in everyone's mouth.

So now we have Lebby and I think he is a good coach and has good potential but what does he do? Oh just hire the worst DC in the history of MSU who had very questionable qualifications and wouldn't bother to leave Alabama until their season was over. Lebby's offense is pretty exciting and has some roots to the Air Raid and statistically it's pretty solid for year one so I don't think fans aren't showing up because of the offense being exciting or boring. It's that no one thinks we're going to win a game until we fire Hutzler and get a new DC because the defense is literally unwatchable and can't stop the 96 year old dude that scored a touchdown in the spring game in 1991. All that old guy would have to do is a half assed spin move and at least three of our players would fall down. And here we go AGAIN with MSU making the same mistake- hiring an inexperienced coach this time on the defensive side and it fails miserably again.

So while I agree with the "experience upgrades" and bringing the interlocking MSU back and building an IPF the FIRST order of business is to hire a competent staff. Fans are tired of watching rebuilds and shitty football which has been the case for every year since 2017 with the exception of 2022. The LED lights and drone shows don't do us any good when we play so bad we're on TV every Saturday at 11:00 in the morning.

[Todd4State]

I'm laughing about the band comments.

Ha. I've been to a few sec stadiums in the past few years. It's all the same thing. The band plays the same ole pregame. Flyover. Hype video. Rap music. More rap music. Another video with rap music. Kickoff


During the game you don't hear the band. I saw Texas had a band in Austin. I may have heard them once. I heard H-O--T--T-O-G-O loud and clear, twice.

There was commercials. Rap music. There was a "let's recognize..." some Olympian. Followed by rap music. Same ole same ole as at State.

We have to play Madalon for the fans in attendance who were at MSU in 1947.

[Todd4State]

Ranch I'm not going to quote your whole post -
But I'm going to disagree about parking and traffic. I've been to about half of the SEC and we are so much easier to park and exit post game then any place I've been.

Athens, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, and Gainesville are total shitshows.

Yeah. I don't really think our traffic is that bad. I have a parking pass so maybe that helps. I come in from Hail State Blvd and then take a right on Blackjack and then go onto campus after the round about. Then I flash them my pass and they move the barricade. College campuses in the SEC weren't exactly designed for football games attended by 50K fans and the tailgating that goes along with it.

[Todd4State]

That's fair. And maybe it truly is that we just don't win enough of the big ones. I mean I do find that hard to believe since we never really won on those marquee games with Dan either. I know Dan had a long talk with Lebby, Selmon, and Keenum all separately a couple of weekends ago. Maybe they picked his brain on what worked and what got the fan base involved. I mean Dan wasn't exactly a people person when he was here

How much of that was Dan and how much of that was Byrne though? Was it Dan's idea to give pep talks before games or was it Byrne's? Because I didn't see Dan do that very much after Byrne left.

Now, I do think that Dan helped a lot with the football culture which led to wins and that leads to fan involvement.

But I think that is part of MSU's problem. They want a "Ron Polk" of football. Ron Polk did a lot of the heavy lifting for baseball that made us nationally relevant in that sport and a lot of that was because of the input he would give the AD.

Now I think Dan was close to that or the closest to that of any football coach we have had outside of maybe Jackie. But Dan was only going to elevate us in some areas and not others like recruiting which was his major weakness at MSU.

[BrunswickDawg]

We have to play Madalon for the fans in attendance who were at MSU in 1947.

I like Madalon - but you have to find a place for it that works. Other schools do these same things with the band, but they figure out how to make it integrate into the modern game experience. UGA is a great example. At least since "Dixie" fell out of fashion and stopped being played pregame (and I'm old enough to remember when they were the "Dixie Red Coat Marching Band"), they started playing Battle Hymn of the Old Republic at times. In 2000, they re-arranged the music to blend into other UGA anthems, and made the trumpet solo at the start a BIG deal. They put the soloist on the corner of the upper deck and blast them over the speakers and have it on the video screen and everyone is into it. Great use of the band and modernization of standard music. They look at things from an entertainment perspective and not just a traditions perspective - and they create. We don't create.

[RockyDog]

But it's not just a "now" thing. Even at Jackie's best we had the same attendance issues. Other than the Bama game every other year we didn't sellout regularly even when we were good. And that was with a smaller stadium, almost no TV exposure, and far fewer expectations for the "game experience". Ultimately, it comes down to our fan base, not the school. We have never supported football at an SEC level consistently and it shows in everything we do.

You are right. I was looking back at some stat sheets from the Jackie era and just happened to notice the attendance numbers. 27k, 31k, 33k. Lots of those. I guess I didn’t pay attention much to the rest of the stadium since I was a student during the middle of Jackie’s tenure. But I remember many games where we had rows to ourselves. Kentucky kicked our butts one day in the freezing cold and I think there were about 20k there. Even the Arkansas game where we clinched the West wasn’t full, although cold and sleet played a part.

[Duckdog]

Just win that's what will bring folks back hell win 7 to 8 games a year will keep it full. This stupid crap about light shows etc is just retarded

[StarkVegasSteve]

Just win that's what will bring folks back hell win 7 to 8 games a year will keep it full. This stupid crap about light shows etc is just retarded

We literally won 8 games in 2018, 6 games in 2019, 7 games in 2021, and 8 games in 2022. It was half empty almost every home game every year unless UGA or Bama was playing us.

[Todd4State]

You are right. I was looking back at some stat sheets from the Jackie era and just happened to notice the attendance numbers. 27k, 31k, 33k. Lots of those. I guess I didn’t pay attention much to the rest of the stadium since I was a student during the middle of Jackie’s tenure. But I remember many games where we had rows to ourselves. Kentucky kicked our butts one day in the freezing cold and I think there were about 20k there. Even the Arkansas game where we clinched the West wasn’t full, although cold and sleet played a part.

Our stadium was a lot smaller capacity wise during that time. We probably should have just enclosed the stadium instead of adding the East side upper deck.

[KB21]

Our stadium was a lot smaller capacity wise during that time. We probably should have just enclosed the stadium instead of adding the East side upper deck.

At some point, you have to wonder how much more can be done to the stadium without basically tearing it down and building a new one.

[StarkVegasSteve]

At some point, you have to wonder how much more can be done to the stadium without basically tearing it down and building a new one.

Not much. I know one of the reasons we can't chairback everything is the slope of the stadium.

[KB21]

Not much. I know one of the reasons we can't chairback everything is the slope of the stadium.

I think there is a group of folks who harp on this that don't quite realize just what all needs to be done to the facility to make this happen. If we are going to do it, then we need to do it correctly. Don't just half ass put some LEDs and speakers up.

[StateDawg44]

That's fair. And maybe it truly is that we just don't win enough of the big ones. I mean I do find that hard to believe since we never really won on those marquee games with Dan either. I know Dan had a long talk with Lebby, Selmon, and Keenum all separately a couple of weekends ago. Maybe they picked his brain on what worked and what got the fan base involved. I mean Dan wasn't exactly a people person when he was here

Those years that Dan had us ticking UNTIL we had a marquee game. Then we got exposed and deflated.

Sure, stay undefeated through the first 5 or so games and get into your first major game and people buy in. But, with our history drop one early to a KY and fans start thinking nothing has changed.

Or go lay a goose egg against Bama and fans see that we will still crawl in a hole when we play them. What's new? Knowing we very likely will have to see them or someone of equal talent to actually do something.


ETA: Look at our women's soccer team attendance right now lol. I wonder what's happened differently this season. Did they add LED's? What about fancy uniforms or the logo the fans want on the field? Drone show? Concessions? Maybe the band is killing it?

[StateDawg44]

I think there is a group of folks who harp on this that don't quite realize just what all needs to be done to the facility to make this happen. If we are going to do it, then we need to do it correctly. Don't just half ass put some LEDs and speakers up.

How would you half ass put up LEDs?

[viverlibre]

As you can see by this thread, we have fans that bitch about SOO much that I don't think we ever get it back. It's the ADs fault. It's the president's fault. The uniforms aren't maroon enough. The stripe on the left shoulder sucks. The stripe on the right shoulder sucks. We wear white pants. We wear gray pants. Dorman Hall is visible on TV. We don't have an completely enclosed end zone. Recruit x is a pre madonna. Player x is a pre madonna. We throw too much. We run too much. Our coach's hat is stupid. Our coach wears a hat. Our coach wears a sweatshirt. Our coach wear a short-sleeve shirt. The band sucks. The stadium DJ sucks. The ads suck. The concession suck. It's neverending and tiresome. Yet our boards, FB, Twitter, and other forms of social media are FILLED with MSU "fans" that want to spew this crap CONSTANTLY

Yuup, it's crazy how negative our fans openly are. Recruits, parents, prospective students all read these comments.

OM fans moved past dissociating with the term, "Rebels" (a tradition/identity that was much more ingrained than any of ours) and there was certainly some blowback, but they moved past that fairly quickly and got on board, and there were some losing seasons during that time.

[StateDawg44]

Yuup, it's crazy how negative our fans openly are. Recruits, parents, prospective students all read these comments.

OM fans moved past dissociating with the term, "Rebels" (a tradition/identity that was much more ingrained than any of ours) and there was certainly some blowback, but they moved past that fairly quickly and got on board, and there were some losing seasons during that time.

Eh. Not sure on this one. And it certainly didn't happen quickly.

They had to change their mascot a couple of times to even start the process and that took several years. You think if they weren't forced to they would have changed it?

[Todd4State]

Those years that Dan had us ticking UNTIL we had a marquee game. Then we got exposed and deflated.

Sure, stay undefeated through the first 5 or so games and get into your first major game and people buy in. But, with our history drop one early to a KY and fans start thinking nothing has changed.

Or go lay a goose egg against Bama and fans see that we will still crawl in a hole when we play them. What's new? Knowing we very likely will have to see them or someone of equal talent to actually do something.


ETA: Look at our women's soccer team attendance right now lol. I wonder what's happened differently this season. Did they add LED's? What about fancy uniforms or the logo the fans want on the field? Drone show? Concessions? Maybe the band is killing it?

This is true. People want to be a part of something special. Beating people who we were supposed to beat became stale.

Look at 2014. That season and team blew up after we beat LSU. That definitely qualified as a special memorable win for MSU and the fans followed.

[viverlibre]

Eh. Not sure on this one. And it certainly didn't happen quickly.

They had to change their mascot a couple of times to even start the process and that took several years. You think if they weren't forced to they would have changed it?

Of course they wouldn't have changed it, but they did and the fanbase got on board. Can you imagine our fanbase accepting that change? We'd still be bitching and moaning about it 10 years later.

[Brobi-wan]

Yuup, it's crazy how negative our fans openly are. Recruits, parents, prospective students all read these comments.

OM fans moved past dissociating with the term, "Rebels" (a tradition/identity that was much more ingrained than any of ours) and there was certainly some blowback, but they moved past that fairly quickly and got on board, and there were some losing seasons during that time.

You can literally watch any other SEC game and see their atmosphere is better than ours from the ESPN suite. We?re just being realistic. This thread wasn?t meant to pump sunshine up anyone?s a$$. Some things need to change. It is what it is. There?s a reason our highest rated recruit is from Macon and we don?t have a 4 star QB from Utah on our roster and transfers from everywhere across the country, yet our school is very similar to the one that does. We don?t have a national brand because we refuse to create one.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Those years that Dan had us ticking UNTIL we had a marquee game. Then we got exposed and deflated.

Sure, stay undefeated through the first 5 or so games and get into your first major game and people buy in. But, with our history drop one early to a KY and fans start thinking nothing has changed.

Or go lay a goose egg against Bama and fans see that we will still crawl in a hole when we play them. What's new? Knowing we very likely will have to see them or someone of equal talent to actually do something.


ETA: Look at our women's soccer team attendance right now lol. I wonder what's happened differently this season. Did they add LED's? What about fancy uniforms or the logo the fans want on the field? Drone show? Concessions? Maybe the band is killing it?

They let students bring in beer. The soccer team has always had decent crowds, I mean it only takes 8-900 to quantify a decent crowd. Those are the types of athletic events that the citizens of Starkville always attend. I mean you act like they are pulling 5K, I think they had the biggest crowd in school history a couple of weeks ago and it was like 2100

[StateDawg44]

They let students bring in beer. The soccer team has always had decent crowds, I mean it only takes 8-900 to quantify a decent crowd. Those are the types of athletic events that the citizens of Starkville always attend. I mean you act like they are pulling 5K, I think they had the biggest crowd in school history a couple of weeks ago and it was like 2100


Haha my God, yes thanks for pointing that out. That is exactly my point. The biggest crowd in history at a soccer game.... because we are winning games. Because enough people want to be a part of it beer or not.

If we sucked do you honestly think allowing students to bring beer to the soccer games would be what convinced the students to come and they would've set that attendance record? Like that's what has been holding the soccer program's crowds back. Get real. I'm sure a few wouldn't have come without being able to drink beer but they likely wouldn't even consider it if they were a losing team.

The actual number the soccer team is pulling is totally irrelevant to the point I'm trying to make. They are setting attendance records is the point. And it's because we have a legit team. Not one that lets the fans in attendance down.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Haha my God, yes thanks for pointing that out. That is exactly my point. The biggest crowd in history at a soccer game.... because we are winning games. Because enough people want to be a part of it beer or not.

If we sucked do you honestly think allowing students to bring beer to the soccer games would be what convinced the students to come and they would've set that attendance record? Like that's what has been holding the soccer program's crowds back. Get real. I'm sure a few wouldn't have come without being able to drink beer but they likely wouldn't even consider it if they were a losing team.

The actual number the soccer team is pulling is totally irrelevant to the point I'm trying to make. They are setting attendance records is the point. And it's because we have a legit team. Not one that lets the fans in attendance down.

But again.....we were winning under Leach so why weren't people showing up? I mean soccer has beaten 3 ranked teams this year. Leach beat 2 in 2022 and 3 in 2021. So no, it's not just winning. That's what I'm trying to figure out. What's missing? Why can't we get people to come? Because I 1000% guarantee you every one of those people who go to the soccer games are also in Davis Wade because they're die hards for the university. They support the university no matter what. That's not the people I'm focusing on. I'm focusing on the people we have lost since 2010-2017. We've won since...had some pretty big wins actually. Same teams Dan beat. So what's the issue? Why did they stop coming? That's the entire point of the thread. And as I've said probably 10 times now, it's obviously not just winning. Hell we were 6-3 going into the UGA game in 2022 and it was 60/40 State to UGA in our own stadium.

And to tie that back to this year and next, I mean look we may not be great next year. 6-6 or 7-5 could be the ceiling even with a revamped roster. Are we still going to have 45K at every game? or 55K with 25K being the opposing fan base? I mean are people just not going to come back until we're 10-2? You can't just wait for us to win to say well now why aren't people coming. You have to get them in the stadium now and next year to start getting a home field advantage again. I harken back to that old Dan Mullen quote, It's not win first and the fans show up, fans show up and start believing in the program and the wins will come." Well right now we've got to give them something to get them there and make them want to come back, even in these lean years.

[Brobi-wan]

But again.....we were winning under Leach so why weren't people showing up? I mean soccer has beaten 3 ranked teams this year. Leach beat 2 in 2022 and 3 in 2021. So no, it's not just winning. That's what I'm trying to figure out. What's missing? Why can't we get people to come? Because I 1000% guarantee you every one of those people who go to the soccer games are also in Davis Wade because they're die hards for the university. They support the university no matter what. That's not the people I'm focusing on. I'm focusing on the people we have lost since 2010-2017. We've won since...had some pretty big wins actually. Same teams Dan beat. So what's the issue? Why did they stop coming? That's the entire point of the thread. And as I've said probably 10 times now, it's obviously not just winning. Hell we were 6-3 going into the UGA game in 2022 and it was 60/40 State to UGA in our own stadium.

And to tie that back to this year and next, I mean look we may not be great next year. 6-6 or 7-5 could be the ceiling even with a revamped roster. Are we still going to have 45K at every game? or 55K with 25K being the opposing fan base? I mean are people just not going to come back until we're 10-2? You can't just wait for us to win to say well now why aren't people coming. You have to get them in the stadium now and next year to start getting a home field advantage again. I harken back to that old Dan Mullen quote, It's not win first and the fans show up, fans show up and start believing in the program and the wins will come." Well right now we've got to give them something to get them there and make them want to come back, even in these lean years.

Some people who sat behind me early in the year literally said, “Well glad I know we’re terrible before I show up to every game won’t catch me here for awhile.” That’s not the type of mentality we need to fill the stadium.

[MoreCowbell]

The program has been in steady decline since September 29, 2018

[Ranchdawg]

Another piece of the puzzle is the NIL and transfer rules that are currently ruining college football. People I talk to why should they buy season tickets when we are not able to purchase the players that Bama, Georgia, Texas and Texas A&M purchase. If you do not have the horses to run the race you are seldom going to win. Currently we have nags to run the race.

Look at Ole Miss they are packing their stadium because they were preached to repeatedly that they were going to at the very least make the playoffs and possibly play for a Natty. They also spent so much money for their coach and the players they purchased that is not sustainable. Kiffen in the future will want more and more money to stay there. They even borrowed money to buy players all for this one big push to win. Look what this got them. A strong possibility that they won’t make the playoffs this year. Then what are they going to do next year and the next?

[parabrave]

Another piece of the puzzle is the NIL and transfer rules that are currently ruining college football. People I talk to why should they buy season tickets when we are not able to purchase the players that Bama, Georgia, Texas and Texas A&M purchase. If you do not have the horses to run the race you are seldom going to win. Currently we have nags to run the race.

Look at Ole Miss they are packing their stadium because they were preached to repeatedly that they were going to at the very least make the playoffs and possibly play for a Natty. They also spent so much money for their coach and the players they purchased that is not sustainable. Kiffen in the future will want more and more money to stay there. They even borrowed money to buy players all for this one big push to win. Look what this got them. A strong possibility that they won’t make the playoffs this year. Then what are they going to do next year and the next?

Well another reason VH is packed is because of the party atmosphere. Hell I know a bunch of girls who go to other schools who go to the OM games for that one reason. They make a weekend out of it.

[EdwardDrayton]

Have been to almost every home game as a season ticket holder for approximately 55 consecutive years, 8 to 12 people strong and every game this year to the bitter end now 7 losses in a row. People around me know we won't win and the "D" can't get a stop. We have forced 1 punt in the last two games. We are 1-11 in our last SEC games. Majority of all fans come to see a interesting, competent, competitive team that can stay in the game past the 1st quarter and win more than they lose. All the extra "fluff" in the world won't fill seats without this! BTW: Toledo Embarrassment at Home! Stadium was emptying mid 1st quarter and about as many Arky fans there at the end as State fans.

And Toledo is 5-3 (2-2) on the year with losses to Buffalo, Western KY and Bowling Green. 7th out of 12 in the MAC. And dare I say at risk of the football gods raining further hellish wrath on us, Toledo beat UMass 38-23.

[Mjoelner34]

Yuup, it's crazy how negative our fans openly are. Recruits, parents, prospective students all read these comments.

OM fans moved past dissociating with the term, "Rebels" (a tradition/identity that was much more ingrained than any of ours) and there was certainly some blowback, but they moved past that fairly quickly and got on board, and there were some losing seasons during that time.

They didn't really disassociate anything. All they did was quit playing Dixie and get Colonel Reb off of the sidelines. Their PA announcer still blares "Your Ole Miss Rebels" when they take the football field or basketball court, Rebel Rags ads are shown on their jumbotrons and I'm pretty sure they still have 'Rebels' across the front of one of their baseball jerseys.

[EdwardDrayton]

He was on the shortlist when Trump won in 2016 so I would presume he would be this time around as well. However, the chances are far less now. He has one kid who is a freshman at State and his other kids are in high school at Starkville Academy. If he was going to take it, he would have in 2016.

Commuting back and forth to DC every week is a very viable option in this day & time so ......... I'm all for it. ******

[R2Dawg]

Those years that Dan had us ticking UNTIL we had a marquee game. Then we got exposed and deflated.

Sure, stay undefeated through the first 5 or so games and get into your first major game and people buy in. But, with our history drop one early to a KY and fans start thinking nothing has changed.

Or go lay a goose egg against Bama and fans see that we will still crawl in a hole when we play them. What's new? Knowing we very likely will have to see them or someone of equal talent to actually do something.


ETA: Look at our women's soccer team attendance right now lol. I wonder what's happened differently this season. Did they add LED's? What about fancy uniforms or the logo the fans want on the field? Drone show? Concessions? Maybe the band is killing it?

This thread is what happens anytime a program is losing. It has to be this other stuff. Not saying to not do some other stuff but let the main thing be the main thing. Put the big rocks in the jar first. Whatever analogy you like.

Just win and all is good. We could play in a cow pasture in a top 5 team and fans would show up in hay wagons to watch and never complain - AKA baseball - leftfield lounge. WBB when Vic was here. Why did we pack the Hump? Just win.

Why are fans showing up to womens soccer? Because we are #1 and a threat to win a NC. People like winners. Why there are so many sidewalk Bama fans. This ain't complicated.

[viverlibre]

They didn't really disassociate anything. All they did was quit playing Dixie and get Colonel Reb off of the sidelines. Their PA announcer still blares "Your Ole Miss Rebels" when they take the football field or basketball court, Rebel Rags ads are shown on their jumbotrons and I'm pretty sure they still have 'Rebels' across the front of one of their baseball jerseys.

They did away with Col Reb on the sidelines and him as their mascot, so yeah, I say they disassociated with Col Reb. Our fan base would NEVER move past that.

[EdwardDrayton]

This thread is what happens anytime a program is losing. It has to be this other stuff. Not saying to not do some other stuff but let the main thing be the main thing. Put the big rocks in the jar first. Whatever analogy you like.

Just win and all is good. We could play in a cow pasture in a top 5 team and fans would show up in hay wagons to watch and never complain - AKA baseball - leftfield lounge. WBB when Vic was here. Why did we pack the Hump? Just win.

Why are fans showing up to womens soccer? Because we are #1 and a threat to win a NC. People like winners. Why there are so many sidewalk Bama fans. This ain't complicated.

That analogy says it all.

[MBDawg601]

Imagine how our stadium would look had we beat Texas, Georgia and A&M. It would be packed. Even after our pathetic losses. If you want people to show up, put on a show. Not many shitty movies have great ratings no matter how nice and flashy the theater is.

[Mjoelner34]

They did away with Col Reb on the sidelines and him as their mascot, so yeah, I say they disassociated with Col Reb. Our fan base would NEVER move past that.

Yes, they did get rid of Col. Reb and I said as much but you had said that they disassociated with the term "Rebels" which they most definitely have not.

[Rawdawg]

Imagine how our stadium would look had we beat Texas, Georgia and A&M. It would be packed. Even after our pathetic losses. If you want people to show up, put on a show. Not many shitty movies have great ratings no matter how nice and flashy the theater is.

For the love of God how many times do we have to get past “just win” to get asses to occupy metal. Our entire problem is that we aren’t a good football team and will not be one next year. HOWEVER, we need people to buy in to what Lebby is selling and show up despite the fact that there’s a better than 75% chance that we are ass. So assuming we’re ass on the field what do you do to attract people to be there? I’m not trying to be condescending but do you understand what I’m trying to say here? Like does it make a little bit of sense?

[StateDawg44]

So assuming we’re ass on the field what do you do to attract people to be there?

You f****ing win and not be ass on the field! Good lord.

I am bought in on Lebby. But Rome wasn?t build in a day. As cheesy as it is to say? Build it and they will come.

Y'all are really making it way more complicated than it is.

[StateDawg44]

Imagine how our stadium would look had we beat Texas, Georgia and A&M. It would be packed. Even after our pathetic losses. If you want people to show up, put on a show. Not many shitty movies have great ratings no matter how nice and flashy the theater is.

Thank you!! No one wants to watch garbage.

If we won those I?d 100% be on my way to a game this year. I mean, even if we took 2/3 of those that?d get people?s attention.

[Percho]

I think it is far more complicated than just some led lights and marketing.

I think it goes all the way back to 2014 and the way the season ended. That knocked a little air out. Then lose to Bama and OM again in 2015 and 2017. Then Mullen leaves. Then Moorhead loses to Mullen...I just think all that took a lot of wind out of people's sails.

Also, in the meantime, Bama is winning NCs and OM is winning. I think many younger people and non-affiliated people now root for those schools. Then you have the tv effect combined with Starkville being 2 hours from everywhere and few hotels that are crazy expensive.

I wonder how many hotel vacancies there are in Starkville on game weekends?

[Todd4State]

But again.....we were winning under Leach so why weren't people showing up? I mean soccer has beaten 3 ranked teams this year. Leach beat 2 in 2022 and 3 in 2021. So no, it's not just winning. That's what I'm trying to figure out. What's missing? Why can't we get people to come? Because I 1000% guarantee you every one of those people who go to the soccer games are also in Davis Wade because they're die hards for the university. They support the university no matter what. That's not the people I'm focusing on. I'm focusing on the people we have lost since 2010-2017. We've won since...had some pretty big wins actually. Same teams Dan beat. So what's the issue? Why did they stop coming? That's the entire point of the thread. And as I've said probably 10 times now, it's obviously not just winning. Hell we were 6-3 going into the UGA game in 2022 and it was 60/40 State to UGA in our own stadium.

And to tie that back to this year and next, I mean look we may not be great next year. 6-6 or 7-5 could be the ceiling even with a revamped roster. Are we still going to have 45K at every game? or 55K with 25K being the opposing fan base? I mean are people just not going to come back until we're 10-2? You can't just wait for us to win to say well now why aren't people coming. You have to get them in the stadium now and next year to start getting a home field advantage again. I harken back to that old Dan Mullen quote, It's not win first and the fans show up, fans show up and start believing in the program and the wins will come." Well right now we've got to give them something to get them there and make them want to come back, even in these lean years.

With Leach we had to deal with COVID and a rebuild from 2020-2021. 2022 was the year that Leach turned the corner and as I said before I think the crowds would have been much better in 2023 had he lived. If I remember correctly we had a pretty good crowd the first game of 2023 against SELU. Good for a game against a FCS team at least. But then after watching the team struggle fans knew it wasn't going to work pretty quickly with Arnett. And I'm not sure how many really believed Arnett was actually going to work long term anyway.

MSU's big problem in football comes down to they make decisions that alienate fans. Like hiring, Arnett/Barbay and Hutzler that are questionable from the get go. And I can't remember a questionable hire ever surprising us in football at MSU. It's pretty much not only something that doesn't work- it ends up being outlier bad. I'm curious if getting a good DC to go with Lebby might help with attendance some in and of itself. Because at least with Lebby our fans can see that the offense is solid and fans can see that MVB is a legit QB that MSU can market and build around for the next few years. Things like not using the interlocking logo alienate fans. Things like not taking care of the stadium alienate fans.

As far as the Dan Mullen quote- I don't know that I totally agree with that quote by him. Especially since MSU has asked so much from the fans and we have fans that are giving money and all of this and then the portal class is subpar. Dan likes to act like he invented Mississippi State football and he was a great coach but when he was hired we were only two seasons removed from an 8 win Liberty Bowl season and only about ten years removed from the winning the SEC West and a 10 win season in 1999 which to me was better than any season Dan had.

Going back to the assistant coach thing. Fans aren't asking for MSU to hire Bill Walsh and Bill Bellichick as OC/DC. Like Hutzler- we gave him a million dollars a year. You're telling MSU fans that we couldn't have gotten Tulane or Troy's DC this past offseason for that? But the other thing is the head coaches pick these lame ass coaches. Arnett couldn't do better than Barbay? Hell all he had to do was promote Spurrier, Jr. or hire Ben Arbuckle. Arbuckle probably would have been much cheaper than Barbay and he runs a modern Air Raid like the critics wanted and it's averaging like 38 PPG. And Lebby hiring Hutzler over multiple qualified G5 DC's is concerning. He has to get that right in the offseason whether that's Durkin or whoever. MSU fans aren't coming because they can't get their shit right off the field.

[Todd4State]

For the love of God how many times do we have to get past “just win” to get asses to occupy metal. Our entire problem is that we aren’t a good football team and will not be one next year. HOWEVER, we need people to buy in to what Lebby is selling and show up despite the fact that there’s a better than 75% chance that we are ass. So assuming we’re ass on the field what do you do to attract people to be there? I’m not trying to be condescending but do you understand what I’m trying to say here? Like does it make a little bit of sense?

But that's the thing. The main draw is the football team. It's more fun when MSU wins. Everything is better. The team has to win. Let's go back to Dan's first year. It wasn't really that Byrne did something magical that year with promotions or anything. The team was very competitive. We took a good LSU team down to the final play of the game before we lost. That was a NC caliber LSU team. A much closer game than any of our moral victories this year so far. We had a very competitive game against Tim Tebow and Florida and went toe to toe with them in year one. Lost a close game to a good Houston team. We didn't really lose any games to a team like Toledo. We beat a good Ole Miss team which honestly whether we like it or not and right or wrong is a big factor for fans. And no one outside of Maroon Mary believes we have a prayer of beating them this year. If we did it might be the biggest Egg Bowl upset ever. And in 2009 we beat Vanderbilt and Kentucky both on road if I remember correctly and looked solid doing so.

Contrast that to now where we actually have a better offense than we did in 2009 but our defense is an absolute embarrassing disgrace. And yeah I know that Lebby is going to fire Hutzler but after he does that he still has to get the hire right. That's the most critical thing for MSU right now.

[StarkVegasSteve]

But that's the thing. The main draw is the football team. It's more fun when MSU wins. Everything is better. The team has to win. Let's go back to Dan's first year. It wasn't really that Byrne did something magical that year with promotions or anything. The team was very competitive. We took a good LSU team down to the final play of the game before we lost. That was a NC caliber LSU team. A much closer game than any of our moral victories this year so far. We had a very competitive game against Tim Tebow and Florida and went toe to toe with them in year one. Lost a close game to a good Houston team. We didn't really lose any games to a team like Toledo. We beat a good Ole Miss team which honestly whether we like it or not and right or wrong is a big factor for fans. And no one outside of Maroon Mary believes we have a prayer of beating them this year. If we did it might be the biggest Egg Bowl upset ever. And in 2009 we beat Vanderbilt and Kentucky both on road if I remember correctly and looked solid doing so.

Contrast that to now where we actually have a better offense than we did in 2009 but our defense is an absolute embarrassing disgrace. And yeah I know that Lebby is going to fire Hutzler but after he does that he still has to get the hire right. That's the most critical thing for MSU right now.

Yet we still lost in 09. That's the point I am trying to make. We weren't winning. And that seems to be what most people say we need. We sold out the stadium against LSU that year, and it was mostly our fans, when we were 2-1 with wins over mighty Vandy and JSU. We were BLOWN OUT at Auburn. I mean we were 3-4 against Florida and DWS was AS LOUD as I had ever heard it. It was electric vs Bama and we were 4-5. And those 4 wins were JSU, Vandy, MTSU, and Kentucky. We beat all those teams under Leach, but the crowds were WAY WORSE in 2021 and 2022. So what gives? Did people really just hate Leach that much? I mean that's the only thing I can come up with if it truly is just about winning.

[Liverpooldawg]

I have seen it posted on multiple message boards multiple times this year and have experienced it to the games I have been able to get back to. But what do you think is wrong with the atmosphere? Like what would you guys change to try and turn things around? I obviously know winning solves a lot of issues but we need to create some sort of home field advantage to kind of kick start the winning. I mean Mullen's first team went 5-7 but we had sell outs at almost every game, sans Houston, in 09. So what has changed? Is it truly just people want more bang for their buck these days? Is it not having LED lights? Is it a sound system? Is it NIL? Like why are we constantly struggling to get people to campus and in the stadium? This isn't a recruit. These are MSU fans.

What are everyone's thoughts

The team is terrible. That that is all it is.

[Todd4State]

Yet we still lost in 09. That's the point I am trying to make. We weren't winning. And that seems to be what most people say we need. We sold out the stadium against LSU that year, and it was mostly our fans, when we were 2-1 with wins over mighty Vandy and JSU. We were BLOWN OUT at Auburn. I mean we were 3-4 against Florida and DWS was AS LOUD as I had ever heard it. It was electric vs Bama and we were 4-5. And those 4 wins were JSU, Vandy, MTSU, and Kentucky. We beat all those teams under Leach, but the crowds were WAY WORSE in 2021 and 2022. So what gives? Did people really just hate Leach that much? I mean that's the only thing I can come up with if it truly is just about winning.

We lost games but in 2009 we were 5-7 which is just one win from bowl eligibility. So while we didn't win there was still a chance that we could win.

With this team we are 1-7 with NO chance of winning except maybe this Saturday. If this was 2009 we would comfortably beat UMass. With this team it's a toss up. This team can't beat Vandy or Kentucky this year or the 2009 version. The defense is that bad. And no the defense wasn't very good in 2009 but Torbush and those guys look like the 85 Bears compared to what we're putting out there now.

There is no hope to win and when there is no hope no one is going to show up.

[StarkVegasSteve]

We lost games but in 2009 we were 5-7 which is just one win from bowl eligibility. So while we didn't win there was still a chance that we could win.

With this team we are 1-7 with NO chance of winning except maybe this Saturday. If this was 2009 we would comfortably beat UMass. With this team it's a toss up. This team can't beat Vandy or Kentucky this year or the 2009 version. The defense is that bad. And no the defense wasn't very good in 2009 but Torbush and those guys look like the 85 Bears compared to what we're putting out there now.

There is no hope to win and when there is no hope no one is going to show up.

And that is the entire point of the thread. We suck, we know it, and we're probably still going to be average at best next year. So how do you still get people to the stadium? Because to start getting better we are going to need to create an edge and a home field advantage that kids want to come play in front of. No recruit wants to come help a program get back on track that has no fan support.

[Todd4State]

And that is the entire point of the thread. We suck, we know it, and we're probably still going to be average at best next year. So how do you still get people to the stadium? Because to start getting better we are going to need to create an edge and a home field advantage that kids want to come play in front of. No recruit wants to come help a program get back on track that has no fan support.

Well:

1. Get a legit DC even if you have to overspend some to get them.

2. Build the IPF as soon as possible

3. Improve the stadium- LED lights, more replays, etc.

4. Bring back the interlocking MSU as the primary uniform.

And if I were MSU I would put out things on social media highlighting what we are doing with those things. Talk about the IPF and the importance of it and how nice it will be. Demonstrate to people the improvements in the stadium experience. Put something out about Davis Wade having new LED lights. Have a big new uniform reveal video and it's the interlocking MSU.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Well:

1. Get a legit DC even if you have to overspend some to get them.

2. Build the IPF as soon as possible

3. Improve the stadium- LED lights, more replays, etc.

4. Bring back the interlocking MSU as the primary uniform.

And if I were MSU I would put out things on social media highlighting what we are doing with those things. Talk about the IPF and the importance of it and how nice it will be. Demonstrate to people the improvements in the stadium experience. Put something out about Davis Wade having new LED lights. Have a big new uniform reveal video and it's the interlocking MSU.

The interlocking is not happening. PERIOD. End of Discussion. Those are not going to be our primary uniforms. I really don't see what the damn big deal is about uniforms. I mean if that is what's going to decide if people go to games are not then our fan base is a lot worse than even I thought. We'll probably break them out a couple of times a year going forward, but they won't ever be the primary.

We're still getting funding for the IPF. The House Settlement happened a lot faster than most anticipated so money is having to be shuffled around and we are having to get more private donations for it.

The LED lights are a project that they are going to do. It's a tad bit more expensive than some 2A high school in MS that has 8 light poles. Our lights and stanchions cost well over 250K altogether so it's not just simply putting LED bulbs in the current lights. The replays probably could be better, no clue the thought process on those. IMO, the most important thing right now is the sound system, getting the club level up to date in terms of design, and getting the damn trailers out of the NEZ.

I think you can probably guess we're going to get a pretty good DC this offseason.

[Todd4State]

The interlocking is not happening. PERIOD. End of Discussion. Those are not going to be our primary uniforms. I really don't see what the damn big deal is about uniforms. I mean if that is what's going to decide if people go to games are not then our fan base is a lot worse than even I thought. We'll probably break them out a couple of times a year going forward, but they won't ever be the primary.

We're still getting funding for the IPF. The House Settlement happened a lot faster than most anticipated so money is having to be shuffled around and we are having to get more private donations for it.

The LED lights are a project that they are going to do. It's a tad bit more expensive than some 2A high school in MS that has 8 light poles. Our lights and stanchions cost well over 250K altogether so it's not just simply putting LED bulbs in the current lights. The replays probably could be better, no clue the thought process on those. IMO, the most important thing right now is the sound system, getting the club level up to date in terms of design, and getting the damn trailers out of the NEZ.

I think you can probably guess we're going to get a pretty good DC this offseason.

The big deal with the uniforms is that it represents the program and the fan base. That uniform in 1998 represents Mississippi State football. It's the same reason why most SEC teams like Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, etc. have only made very minor changes over the years. And yes those teams do wear alternate uniforms from time to time and I would be totally fine if we did that if the 1998's were our primary uniform. But for the most part established teams wear their primary look.

But as far as fans I think it hurt the trust between the fans and the AD because for years people were told that Nike owned it. And that turned out to be a lie. That's not a good thing to do to consumers. And if MSu extended an olive branch to the fans by giving us that uniform back as the primary it would help some.

And that's just one of the lies MSU fans have been told recently. Remember Arnett was going to run something close to the Air Raid? Another lie.

Good to hear on the other things but unfortunately it sounds like that's going to take five years to complete it all. Have to start somewhere though.

[StarkVegasSteve]

The big deal with the uniforms is that it represents the program and the fan base. That uniform in 1998 represents Mississippi State football. It's the same reason why most SEC teams like Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, etc. have only made very minor changes over the years. And yes those teams do wear alternate uniforms from time to time and I would be totally fine if we did that if the 1998's were our primary uniform. But for the most part established teams wear their primary look.

But as far as fans I think it hurt the trust between the fans and the AD because for years people were told that Nike owned it. And that turned out to be a lie. That's not a good thing to do to consumers. And if MSu extended an olive branch to the fans by giving us that uniform back as the primary it would help some.

And that's just one of the lies MSU fans have been told recently. Remember Arnett was going to run something close to the Air Raid? Another lie.

Good to hear on the other things but unfortunately it sounds like that's going to take five years to complete it all. Have to start somewhere though.

I just don't get the big deal about uniforms. The ones we have now are good and the players like them. How does one season's uniform represents Mississippi State football? We went 8-5. Should the 2022 uniforms represent Mississippi State football because we went 9-4? Or the 14 uniforms because we went 10-3? Or how about the 1941 uniforms when we went 8-1-1? Also, LSU and Tennessee have numerous alternates. Tennessee has all blacks and greys. Has an orange helmet along with a white. LSU has an all white helmet. They've broken out a bunch of different uni combos in the last 5 years. Hell even UGA breaks out the blacks from time to time.

[Cooterpoot]

The team is terrible. That that is all it is.

It's not all it is. Y'all can have the damn dress code arguments, but I'm not interested. I'm looking at the school asking me for more money at every turn and me getting almost nothing in return. Why do I want to give more money when our leaders suck ass? They turned their backs on the fans and seem to feel they don't need them, until they want a dollar. Fans are tired of that BS! And I didn't even start with how poorly the school has supported football and continually sucked the cocks of baseball. 17 these guys!

[Brobi-wan]

It's not all it is. Y'all can have the damn dress code arguments, but I'm not interested. I'm looking at the school asking me for more money at every turn and me getting almost nothing in return. Why do I want to give more money when our leaders suck ass? They turned their backs on the fans and seem to feel they don't need them, until they want a dollar. Fans are tired of that BS! And I didn't even start with how poorly the school has supported football and continually sucked the cocks of baseball. 17 these guys!

You have a point on the baseball thing. Good or bad they support baseball. Didn’t we break a record or two during that horrible two year stint despite the team being awful? Selmon doesn’t seem all that interested in baseball. That’s a good thing.

[Todd4State]

I just don't get the big deal about uniforms. The ones we have now are good and the players like them. How does one season's uniform represents Mississippi State football? We went 8-5. Should the 2022 uniforms represent Mississippi State football because we went 9-4? Or the 14 uniforms because we went 10-3? Or how about the 1941 uniforms when we went 8-1-1? Also, LSU and Tennessee have numerous alternates. Tennessee has all blacks and greys. Has an orange helmet along with a white. LSU has an all white helmet. They've broken out a bunch of different uni combos in the last 5 years. Hell even UGA breaks out the blacks from time to time.

The 2014 uniforms- the ones that became the primary essentially- were based off the the 1998.

It's not just 1998 that we won in those. It was 1999 as well- both were better seasons than 2014. Also we beat SEC West champ Alabama in 1996 wearing those. We beat 1997 SEC west champ Auburn in them on the road. We beat SEC East champ Florida and SEC West champ Auburn in them and won the snow bowl in 2000 in them. And then we beat Eli and Ole Miss in 2001 in them.

And as I mentioned yes other teams do wear alternate uniforms BUT they never have done away with the uniform their fans like the most. And that's the difference between MSU and everyone else.

[Todd4State]

You have a point on the baseball thing. Good or bad they support baseball. Didn’t we break a record or two during that horrible two year stint despite the team being awful? Selmon doesn’t seem all that interested in baseball. That’s a good thing.

Baseball keeps getting harped on BUT I will say when Polk 2 was the coach everything declined including the crowds. That's when Dudy Noble became out of date and things got bad. It took some time to fix baseball and turn it into what MSU fans have wanted it to be.

[Brobi-wan]

Baseball keeps getting harped on BUT I will say when Polk 2 was the coach everything declined including the crowds. That's when Dudy Noble became out of date and things got bad. It took some time to fix baseball and turn it into what MSU fans have wanted it to be.

I take your word for it. To put in perspective, I?m 26 so I?ve only ever known MSU sports to be pretty decent in my lifetime. The exception to that is our Basketball program. I love MSU baseball, but the baseball first/only people are like ungrateful stay at home wives with high earning husbands. Instead of being grateful for the splendor he?s paying for, she just tells him he couldn?t do what she does on a day to day basis.

Exhibit A is anytime someone brings up the natty to elevate the baseball program as more important?Is it a better program? Yeah, of course. But it cannot and will not exist as it is today without football. We?re going to have to bring football back or everything else will suffer. Big time.

[Todd4State]

I take your word for it. To put in perspective, I?m 26 so I?ve only ever known MSU sports to be pretty decent in my lifetime. The exception to that is our Basketball program. I love MSU baseball, but the baseball first/only people are like ungrateful stay at home wives with high earning husbands. Instead of being grateful for the splendor he?s paying for, she just tells him he couldn?t do what she does on a day to day basis.

Exhibit A is anytime someone brings up the natty to elevate the baseball program as more important?Is it a better program? Yeah, of course. But it cannot and will not exist as it is today without football. We?re going to have to bring football back or everything else will suffer. Big time.

I don't have the illusion as a baseball guy that football isn't what brings most of the money in.

At the same time our baseball program is special and it's something that MSU and its fans and alumni should celebrate and be proud of because it is historically the most successful sports program on campus period.

Football should be getting much more attention than it is. But I don't think that we should de-emphasize baseball in the process. I think we should keep doing what we are doing with baseball while building the football program up.

It's funny to me how some of the main ones who bash the LFL folk and talk about how stupid it is to focus on baseball seem to care an awful lot about it when we lost to Central Arkansas.

But since you are young when we brought Polk back in 2001 it was a lazy hire by Larry Templeton and he basically just let Polk run the program. Basically it was a nostalgia grab to please some locals who are still prominent in the LFL to this day. And it ran the program in the ground. Polk's recruiting got outdated and the stadium mostly stayed status quo and Ole Miss who was awful at baseball most years from 1984-2001 got a lot better under Bianco and they even surpassed us in baseball at one point. We still drew well for SBW at that time and drew better than most but by and large it was nothing like it is now.

Cohen is the one who fixed the baseball program as a coach. He should get a lot of credit for our National Championship. People can criticize him for focusing on baseball as AD but the reality is that is what he knows. He doesn't really know college football like he does baseball. I don't think he really meant to de-emphasize football. I think he just didn't know what the hell he was doing.

[Todd4State]

And it's kind of funny now that I think about it. We had a lot of the same issues with baseball back in the 2000's that we have with football now.

Hideous uniforms. Questionable assistant coaches. MSU catering to certain boosters while screwing everyone else. LED lights weren't really a thing then though.

[BrunswickDawg]

I take your word for it. To put in perspective, I?m 26 so I?ve only ever known MSU sports to be pretty decent in my lifetime. The exception to that is our Basketball program. I love MSU baseball, but the baseball first/only people are like ungrateful stay at home wives with high earning husbands. Instead of being grateful for the splendor he?s paying for, she just tells him he couldn?t do what she does on a day to day basis.

Exhibit A is anytime someone brings up the natty to elevate the baseball program as more important?Is it a better program? Yeah, of course. But it cannot and will not exist as it is today without football. We?re going to have to bring football back or everything else will suffer. Big time.

The thing you have to realize about baseball is that the university didn't build it and fund it to make it what it is - Ron Polk went out and made it and got people to fund it. MSU didn't understand modern athletics and fundraising until Greg Byrne was hired. That's why so many MSU fans are invested in baseball - they literally built it. Most of our fans really don't understand how far behind we are in football from a funding perspective and donations perspective.

I'd love for some of the people who bitch on here about "MSU just wants more" to go spend a day with with a UGA fan or Bama fan and talk about how much they have to donate annually just to keep their points up to to keep their season tickets. Our cheap ass fans would learn a whole lot. I have friends in the Magill Society at UGA and go to a number events with them. At every event, a member of the athletic department asks for more money. These friends already give $100k athletics annually and are endowing scholarships on the academic side - and it's still always about money from the university.

[Homedawg]

The 2014 uniforms- the ones that became the primary essentially- were based off the the 1998.

It's not just 1998 that we won in those. It was 1999 as well- both were better seasons than 2014. Also we beat SEC West champ Alabama in 1996 wearing those. We beat 1997 SEC west champ Auburn in them on the road. We beat SEC East champ Florida and SEC West champ Auburn in them and won the snow bowl in 2000 in them. And then we beat Eli and Ole Miss in 2001 in them.

And as I mentioned yes other teams do wear alternate uniforms BUT they never have done away with the uniform their fans like the most. And that's the difference between MSU and everyone else.

The 14 unis looked nothing like the 98.

[SaintDawg]

The administration doesnt care. If they did, they?d spend the money other schools are. New world in college football.You cant poormouth anymore. I?ve said it before and I?ll say it again. The game and culture has passed State by. You could put billions into the program and it wouldnt solve it. We don?t belong in the SEC anymore. More like AAC. I quit lying to myself long ago.

[Todd4State]

The thing you have to realize about baseball is that the university didn't build it and fund it to make it what it is - Ron Polk went out and made it and got people to fund it. MSU didn't understand modern athletics and fundraising until Greg Byrne was hired. That's why so many MSU fans are invested in baseball - they literally built it. Most of our fans really don't understand how far behind we are in football from a funding perspective and donations perspective.

I'd love for some of the people who bitch on here about "MSU just wants more" to go spend a day with with a UGA fan or Bama fan and talk about how much they have to donate annually just to keep their points up to to keep their season tickets. Our cheap ass fans would learn a whole lot. I have friends in the Magill Society at UGA and go to a number events with them. At every event, a member of the athletic department asks for more money. These friends already give $100k athletics annually and are endowing scholarships on the academic side - and it's still always about money from the university.

Excellent post.

[Todd4State]

The 14 unis looked nothing like the 98.

Correct. Because "Nike owned the interlocking MSU" at that time. They were tribute uniforms based off of the 1998's.

[Cooterpoot]

Today is the first game I've missed in awhile (surgery). I'm pissed I'm missing it too. As mad as I get watching, I still like being in Starkville, The Junction, and kicking around.
If the leaders at State would work with the fans to get things right, the team is going to improve. I just have no faith in our leaders to give one shit about the fans and football.
Think about this, other than the lights/speakers/signs at Davis Wade, even US damn M has their own craft beer. OM has a beer and a vodka. We don't have leaders, we've got theives taking our money. Just no foresight to see how to increase revenue and fan support. Shit ass marketing and branding too.
If it hadn't been for Ron Polk, baseball would be sporting the banner like other sports.