February 06, 2010
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Call them the first rites of spring in Starkville.
Friday marked the official opening of season-long parking in MSU's famed "leftfield lounge", and the event was toasted by fans of Mississippi State baseball with the fourth Dudy Gras parade.
And Saturday, MSU's Diamond Dogs visited neighborhoods throughout the Starkville community, hand delivering many of the baseball season tickets ordered by local fans.
"This is the second year we've had the guys deliver season tickets here in Starkville, and the response from all involved has been great," said head coach John Cohen. "It's a great way for our players to connect with the Starkville community. We have the greatest
fans in college baseball, and by knocking on doors and shaking hands our guys get an opportunity to personally thank them for their loyal support of our program."
Cohen first implemented the ticket delivery program four years ago during his successful coaching term at the University of Kentucky.
With sales continuing and nearly two weeks until the season-opener, Mississippi State is creeping up on a new baseball season ticket sales mark. The MSU Athletic Ticket Office has distributed 5,361 baseball season tickets, the fifth-highest ticket sales total for MSU baseball. State fans purchased 5,559 season tickets in 2009, just 37 short of the record 5,596 tickets sold in 2002.
Neither occasional drizzle nor chilly temperatures could deter Bulldog Baseball revelers at the annual Dudy Gras parade in Starkville Friday. With former Bulldog and Major League pitching star Jeff Brantley leading the way as grand marshal, the Mardi Gras-style event celebrated the opening of the outfield parking area at Dudy Noble Field. Some of the vehicles destined for parking in college baseball's largest in-stadium tailgating zone took part in this year's parade, organized by Starkville businessmen Chip Carley and Hobie Hobart.
Starkville Major Parker Wiseman, players and staff from the MSU baseball team along the MSU Diamond Girls, an MSU pep band and Bully were on hand as the entourage winded its way through Starkville on its way to Dudy Noble Field.
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Former Diamond Dog great Jeff Brantley and his wife, Ashley, during Friday's Dudy Gras parade.
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"It was our best Dudy Gras parade yet," said Hobart. "We were thrilled to have Jeff Brantley on hand to serve as our grand marshal and it was great having the baseball players, the coaches and the Diamond Girls there representing Mississippi State Baseball. We're thinking Dudy Gras to Omaha!"
This year's Dudy Gras celebration continues next week and includes a first-ever Dudy Gras Ball Feb. 12, with proceeds from the event benefitting the Oktibbeha County chapter of the American Red Cross. For additional information on the Dudy Gras ball, contact Hobie Hobart (662-769-1715 / delidog18@yahoo.com).
Ticket sales also continue for the upcoming "First Pitch/Meet the Team" baseball celebration Feb. 18 at the Palmeiro Center. A trio of former Bulldogs now working as professional baseball scouts --- Dave Klipstein (Red Sox), Joel Matthews (Marlins) and Jim Robinson (Red Sox) will share the podium as guest speakers for the event. Members of the 2010 MSU baseball team will be formally introduced at the celebration, which begins with a 6 p.m. buffet meal and concludes with a post-program autograph session. Tickets for the event are $32 each and available online (www.MStateAthletics.com) and through the MSU Athletic Ticket Office (662-325-2600) in the Bryan Athletic Administration Building.
Courtesy: mstateathletics.com
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