OF ALL THINGS MAROON

As we have said many times, the great thing about intercollegiate athletics is the passion associated with what we do.  Passion from the players and coaches, the athletic administrators, and the fans and boosters alike.  The last 24-48 hours have given us another friendly reminder of that passion.

From Sunday evening until yesterday, we had an advertising agency on our campus proposing a campaign around which to build our season ticket sales drive, marketing plan, and promotional activities for 2010-11.  In our conversations with this company in the months prior to their visit, we really only gave them a few parameters around which to build that campaign.  We wanted them to push the envelope, to be edgy.  We wanted something fast-paced, hard-driving, something with energy.  We wanted them to build on the excitement of last year.  As we have said many times, we must be different at Mississippi State to compete in the Southeastern Conference.

The ad agency pitched their proposal.  We had various groups from different demographics on our campus review their materials.  The presentation was made to Dr. Keenum and two different groups of the university's top level administrators.  We also had the agency present to the university's honor students and leadership society, our athletic senior and executive staffs, as well as Coach Mullen and about 25 football players.  A parade of other sport athletes also came through the Bryan Building and saw the video.  Each group had their thoughts, but by and large, the response was very favorable.

But the bottom line is, what the agency presented was not the final product, just an early draft.  Nonetheless, emails and message boards lit up across Mississippi with the thoughts and opinions of folks who have never seen the campaign.  Many of those individuals responded to a simple tag line, without seeing the accompanying video, audio, and print presentations.

But, as we have said, that is the great thing about what we do.  In early February, people across this great state were talking about Mississippi State football - and it wasn't just about signing day - and that's not a bad thing at all.

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BASKETBALL SEAT HOLDERS: DRESS THE HUMP IN MAROON

Our men's basketball team embarks on a critical three-game home stretch starting next Thursday night that could go a long way toward determining how the rest of the season will play out.  Coach Stansbury's team plays home games against Ole Miss (next Thursday), Auburn (a week from Saturday), and Kentucky on Feb. 16.

Obviously, we need you in the Hump those nights to cheer our team to victory.  But if you can't make it to Starkville for one reason or another, please make sure your tickets get in the hands of our fans.  Log into your Dog Tag account and click on "Ticket Advance" under the "Mississippi State Ticket Office" menu. 

Click here for information that explains the Dog Tag.

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IT'S EVEN MAROON FRIDAY AT DISNEY WORLD

Tracy, Ethan and Lamar Conerly.

Are you in the Maroon?

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We appreciate what you do for Mississippi State Athletics and want to encourage you to get others involved. There are three things you can do to help Mississippi State reach its desired goals -

1.  Buy Season Tickets
2.  Financially Support the Bulldog Club
3.  Get Others To Do The Same

Thanks for taking the time to read this update.

Go Dawgs!

Greg Byrne
byrne@athletics.msstate.edu
Follow me on Twitter (@Greg_Byrne)