Mississippi State

Beginning in the fall, these food staples in most college diets might be a thing of the past. Mississippi State freshmen beginning next fall will have to purchase a meal plan. MSU is the last state public university to implement a mandatory meal plan.

Beginning in the fall, all incoming freshmen will be required to live on campus, which officials hope will help to keep more students enrolled at the university. The meal plan just seems to go hand in hand with this mandate. The meal plan will cost about $1,150 per student per semester.

MSU is in a 10 year contract with Aramark who will oversee the operation of the cafeteria. Aramark took over the cafeteria this year. MSU hopes by contracting this out that the cafeteria might actually make a profit instead of at a loss. Aramark will invest around $5 million in cafeteria upgrades.

The meal plan will have options for students like choosing how many meals in the cafeteria a semester with an additional allowance to eat at the other Aramark outlets on campus.

Super Bulldog Weekend is next month. This annual event features some great sports, barbecue, and other happenings. Here is a rundown of the sporting events for the weekend:

Friday, March 28
8:00 a.m.: Pig Cooking Setup (along Lakeview Drive between Coliseum and Bryan Building)
Noon: Bulldog High School Track Invitational (Spencer Stadium/Maddox Track)
2:00 p.m.: Women’s Tennis vs. Kentucky (A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre)
6:30 p.m.: Baseball vs. Georgia (Dudy Noble Field/Polk-DeMent Stadium)

Saturday, March 29
9:00 a.m.: Bulldog Track Invitational (Spencer Stadium/Maddox Track)
9:00 a.m. - Noon: Pig Cooking Judging (along Lakeview Drive between Coliseum and Bryan Building)
9:00 a.m. - Noon: MSU State Farm Fan Fair (in front [south side] of Humphrey Coliseum)
9:00 a.m.: Volleyball Alumni Match (Newell-Grissom Building)
10:00 a.m.: Soccer Alumni Match (MSU Soccer Field)
Noon: Spring Football Game (Davis Wade Stadium)
2:00 p.m.: Baseball vs. Georgia (Dudy Noble Field/Polk-DeMent Stadium)
4:00 p.m.: Softball vs. Mississippi Valley State (MSU Softball Field)
6:00 p.m.: Softball vs. Georgetown (MSU Softball Field)

Sunday, March 30
12:00 p.m.: Softball vs. Georgetown (MSU Softball Field)
1:00 p.m.: Women’s Tennis vs. Vanderbilt (A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre)
1:30 p.m.: Baseball vs. Georgia (Dudy Noble Field/Polk-DeMent Stadium)
2:00 p.m.: Softball vs. Mississippi Valley State (MSU Softball Field)

Baseball season is fast approaching. The First Pitch/Meet the Team event is coming up at the end of the month. Here are the details.

Tickets for the 11th annual “First Pitch/Meet the Team” baseball celebration Feb. 28 at Mississippi State are now on sale at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office in the Bryan Athletic Administration Building. Former MSU pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, who helped pitch the Boston Red Sox to the 2007 World Series championship, will be the featured speaker for the event.

Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased over the counter at the ticket office. Telephone orders for tickets charged to a credit card are also being accepted (662-325-2600). The office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The event is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. with a dinner buffet in the Bryce Griffis Boardroom. MSU players will be available for autographs in the Palmeiro Center prior to the start of the program. MSU skipper Ron Polk, set to embark on his 29th season as head coach at Mississippi State, will formally introduce the players and staff of the 2008 MSU baseball team.

Mississippi State, which opens its 2008 baseball season Feb. 22-24 in Jacksonville, Fla., with a three-game series at North Florida, is ranked as high as 19th in the preseason college baseball polls.

27 future Bulldogs have signed to play at Mississippi State. Here they are listed by name, position, height, weight, city, high school:

John Paul Alford, OL, 6-3, 280, Kosciusko, Miss. (Kosciusko)

Charles Bailey, WR, 6-2, 173, St. Augustine, Fla. (Bartram Trail)

Nick Bell, DL, 6-4, 230, Bessemer, Ala. (Jess Lanier)

Corey Broomfield, DB, 5-10, 157, Palm Bay, Fla. (Bayside)

Arceto Clark, ATH, 5-10, 165, Verona, Miss. (Shannon)

Kendrick Cook, TE, 6-3, 230, Attalla, Ala. (Etowah)

Terrance Davis, ATH, 5-11, 180, Conyers, Ga. (Salem)

Rashun Dixon, ATH, 6-2, 227, Jackson, Miss. (Terry)

Sean Ferguson, DL, 6-4, 225, Miami, Fla. (Norland)

Phillip Freeman, OL, 6-6, 290, Wesson, Miss. (Wesson/Copiah-Lincoln [Miss.] Community College)

Kirkland Gainous, LB, 6-2, 205, Tallahassee, Fla. (Lincoln)

Templeton Hardy, DL, 6-3, 295, Como, Miss. (North Panola)

Antonio Hoskins, LB, 6-2, 215, Water Valley, Miss. (Water Valley)

Mike Hunt, DB, 6-3, 220, Meadville, Miss. (Franklin County)

Nelson Hurst, TE, 6-4, 240, Plainfield, Ind. (Plainfield)

Joshua Jackson, DL, 6-3, 294, Canton, Miss. (Canton)

Devin Jones, DL, 6-2, 240, Olive Branch, Miss. (DeSoto Central)

Shane McCardell, DL, 6-5, 220, Beaumont, Texas (West Brook)

Charles Mitchell, DB, 5-11, 187, Clarksdale, Miss. (Clarksdale)

Montario “ToJo” Patterson, RB, 6-0, 190, Corinth, Miss. (Biggersville)

Delmon Robinson, WR, 5-10, 180, Vicksburg, Miss. (Vicksburg)

Tobias Smith, OL, 6-3, 292, Columbus, Miss. (Columbus)

Trevor Stigers, DL, 6-4, 225, Ridgeland, Miss. (Ridgeland)

Baker Swedenburg, P, 5-10, 175, Columbus, Miss. (Heritage Academy)

Bo Walters, LB, 6-1, 225, Wilsonville, Ala. (Briarwood Christian)

Louis Watson, DB, 5-10, 165, Mobile, Ala. (St. Paul’s Episcopal)

O’Neal Wilder, WR, 6-5, 190, Carthage, MS (Carthage)

Finally, a little football news to report:

Mississippi State fans are encouraged to join other supporters and head football coach Sylvester Croom this Wednesday, Feb. 6, prior to the men’s basketball game against Alabama for a football party on National Signing Day. A reception will begin at 5 p.m. in the Bryan Athletic Building with a program to follow at 5:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres will be served and all fans are welcome.

The cost for the event is $10 per person and $5 for those 18 years old and under.

I have to admit that I didn’t expect the New York Giants to win today’s big game. But the team led by Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning not only won but played a great game.

Even though Eli chose to attend Ole Miss, MSU’s biggest football rival, he does his alma mater proud as well as the state of Mississippi, even though he is from Louisiana.

Congratulations on the win and thanks for the exciting ‘hour’ of football.

The 25th ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs rallied to almost over a near 20 point deficit but fell short with time running out. The mens basketball team lost 76-71 to Tennessee.

Up next for the Bulldogs is the Alabama Crimson Tide (13-9, 2-5) this Wednesday, Feb. 6. Tipoff for the event is set for 7 p.m. at Humphrey Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs were back home last night at the Hump and took on Alabama. The Bulldogs were coming off a lost at the hands or Arkansas and were prepared to win this big SEC game. And so they did.

The Lady Bulldogs won 72-59. The Bulldogs are now 14-7, 2-4 Southeastern Conference.

Mississippi State travels to Auburn Sunday to take on the Tigers at 2 p.m. CT at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs mens basketball team fell a little short, ending their winning streak. Arkansas wins 78-58.

MSU had started off this season with their best start in SEC play since the 1993-1994 season. A win tonight also would have been Coach Rick Stansbury’s 200th career victory.

State returns home to host seventh-ranked Tennessee (18-2, 5-1) on Saturday in a matchup of divisional leaders in the SEC. Hopefully State can return to their winning ways and give Stansbury his 200th win back in Starkville. Tipoff for the event is set for 6 p.m. at Humphrey Coliseum and the clash will be televised by FSN/SUN.

Are you a Mississippi State graduate in need of an alumni decal for your vehicle? It’s super easy to get a Mississippi State decal.

Just fill out the form to request a Mississippi State alumni decal. You can request more than one, so be sure to get one for every vehicle.

The decals are free for alumni.

Today, Tuesday, January 29 is Career Day for Business and Non-technical majors. The event is free.

When Tuesday, January 29th, 12pm-4pm

Where Humphrey Coliseum

Dress Business Casual

Bring Copies of your resume to pass out to potential employers.

Tomorrow, January 30 is Career Day for Engineer and Technical majors. Those who are seeking employment in those fields are encouraged to attend this free event.

Where Humphrey Coliseum

When January 30, 12pm-4pm

Dress Business Casual

Bring Plenty of copies of your resume to hand out.

The Lady Bulldogs were on the road and lost a heart breaker today in Arkansas. The Lady Bulldogs had an early 12-point lead but had double digit turnovers that they couldn’t recover from. The final score: 56-42.

Mississippi State will play at home this Thursday night, Jan. 31 and take on Alabama. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at Humphrey Coliseum.

Baseball season doesn’t begin until next month, but pre-season polls have already been released. The USA/ESPN Top 25 Coaches poll ranks the Mississippi State Bulldogs at 23. It’s the Bulldogs highest pre-season ranking to date.

The Bulldogs will begin practice February 4th to prepare for their season opening three games series against University of North Florida February 22-24.

Three other SEC teams are ranked in the poll: No. 3 South Carolina, No. 6 Vanderbilt, No. 8 Mississippi.

Update to Saturday’s mens basketball game. Thanks to Charles Rhodes scoring 26 points and Jamont Gordon with 13 helped Mississippi State upset No. 17 Ole Miss 88-68 on Saturday.

The Bulldogs remain perfect in the SEC. Up next for the Bulldogs will be Arkansas. That game will take place Wednesday at 7pm in Fayetteville, Ark.

The Lady Bulldogs play Arkansas today at 2pm at Fayetteville.