August 28, 2009
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Head football coach Dan Mullen set a goal for the Mississippi State fanbase - reach 40,000 season tickets. And with over a week to go before the season opener against Jackson State, the Bulldog faithful has reached the head coach's mark and continues to build upon the record-breaking number.
The athletic department ticket office announced Friday at the close of business that sales had reached 40,186, well beyond the previous record of 38,440 set in 2001. Included in that total is a remarkable first-week total of 10,499 student season tickets, meaning only 501 student tickets remain.
"This is a great testament to the passion of the Mississippi State fans around the State and the support they give our football program and athletic department," director of athletics Greg Byrne said.
Season ticket sales - along with single-game sales for the Jackson State game - will continue through next week. The Bulldogs and Tigers open their season at 2:30 p.m., Sept. 5, and the game will be televised nationally by ESPNU.
"Now we move to the next goal, which is making sure everybody gets into the stadium and makes it as loud as possible for every opponent that comes to Davis Wade Stadium," Mullen said.
On the field Friday evening, the Bulldogs had their second-straight practice under the lights. The focus on the final day of preseason camp was on all game situations. The head coach put his team through a "mock game" over the last several periods of the workout, practicing substitutions, formations and nearly every game situation imaginable.
The team will host its Fan Day on Saturday from 12 noon - 2 p.m. in the Palmeiro Center, meeting fans and signing autographs. Doors open at 11 a.m.
Courtesy: mstateathletics.com
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