With a great weekend ahead for the Mississippi State baseball team, let’s look back at the last time we celebrated the champions: when they returned to Starkville from Omaha in early July.
Tens of thousands of State fans have been waiting their whole lives to see a Bulldogs team win a national championship. I myself have been impatient - and I’m not even 20 years old. Over the past decade, MSU has finished as the national runner-up in baseball once and women’s basketball twice. This summer, when Diamond Dawgs reached the finals of the College World Series, something felt different. When the last one was recorded and the confetti flew through the air, it was a relief that was forever in the mold.
My boss was kind enough to let me take a few days off to travel to Starkville because he realized it was a once in a lifetime experience. Based on the crowds in the city during those days, it seems everyone took some “sick days” for himself.
It could not have been a more perfect day for a celebration. It was a beautiful Friday afternoon and everyone was so full of excitement and joy. The streets were full of people, young and old, decorated in maroon to show their school spirit. I’m still not sure how I managed to get a good place to see everything in the crowds.
Then the fire trucks came rolling down the street. The baseball players sat on top and hoisted the coveted trophy and obviously had the time of a lifetime. There were many people in the cars that followed - Bully, Mark Keenum and Governor Tate Reeves to name a few. When the parade passed, the audience decided to march down the street behind the fire trucks and the cars to get to the stadium. I joined the crowd and was amazed at what I saw. People continued to sign up along the entire route until it looked like a sea of maroon followed the team.
It was a mistake to get into Dudy Noble Field. Some fans had skipped the parade and instead chose to get to the stadium early to have the best seats, so everyone else tried to take what was left. I could not find a seat to save my life, but I managed to get up near the top of the stadium. It had a great view, which was all that mattered.
When the team took the field, the audience went crazy. Each player had their moment to stand out and wave to the audience, which was very special. The talks began, with mostly university and government officials speaking to get started. There were plenty of statements, and the new sign on the field wall acknowledging the team’s national championship was revealed. Finally, coach Chris Lemonis went up on the podium. His speech was heartfelt and meaningful, and it showed that there was no better coach to lead the Bulldogs. After he finished, some of the players - including Tanner Allen and Riley Self - gave the final speeches. It was bittersweet to know that the seniors were both leaving the program, but their jokes about their hatred of Ole Miss kept it happy.
There’s no telling where everyone went after the Dude ceremony ended, but I can assure you that the party did not stop all weekend in Starkville.
When the team gets their rings on Saturday, it will be the last big celebration before the 2022 season starts. Although the focus will shift to the future, the 2021 team and their achievements will never be forgotten in Mississippi State.