Cowbell: the ultimate symbol of Mississippi State pride. Legend has it that a wandering jersey cow became a good luck charm after strolling on the field during a victorious home football game. Later, students started bringing the cow’s bell for luck and the tradition continues today!
Located at the center of the MSU Campus, the Drill Field is a popular gathering place for students. When Mississippi A&M was founded in 1878, it was founded as a land grant institution. Early ROTC cadets would have morning and evening drill in this area of campus, which earned it the name of the Drill Field.
Bully, an English Bulldog, is the official mascot of MSU. He can be found cheering on the Bulldogs all across campus along with his costume-clad counterpart also named Bully!
The Maroon and White tradition dates back over a century to the very first football game ever played by the school's student-athletes on November 15. 1895, and current students still wear their maroon and white with pride! Be sure to listen for the Maroon & White Cheer on game day!
Hail State was penned as the Mississippi State fight song in the 1930s and is still chanted proudly in the land of Maroon and White today!
Hail dear ol' State!
Fight for that victory today.
Hit that line and tote that ball,
Cross the goal before you fall!
And then we'll yell, yell, yell, yell!
For dear ol' State we'll yell like H-E-L-L!
Fight for Mis-sis-sip-pi State,
Win that game today!
Homecoming is a Southern family reunion wrapped in maroon and white! Alumni and friends travel back to campus each Fall to watch the bulldogs play and celebrate their love of MSU, Starkville, and the Bulldog family.
Super Bulldog Weekend is an MSU sports fan’s paradise. The spring homecoming celebration is full of baseball games, the Maroon and White football scrimmage, Old Main Music Festival, the Cotton Districts Arts Festival, and so much more!
MSU Cheese is one of our tastiest traditions! It is manufactured and sold on campus as a part of teaching and research programs. Our famous Edam Cheese, the three-pound cannon ball, was the first, but the store also sells Jalapeno cheese, Cheddar cheese, juices, jams, meats, and so much more!
The Junction is the heart of Bulldog tailgating. The Bulldog family gathers here in excitement on game day to watch the team enter the stadium during the Dawg Walk, to hear the Famous Maroon Band warm up, and to fill up on their favorite tasty tailgating treats!
The Drill is the official kick-off to the school year and is held on the first day of class day of the Fall semester. This is the official welcome for new students to both the academic year and the Fall athletic season.
The Cowbell Yell pep rally kicks off football season with a clang! Fans pack Davis Wade Stadium as coaches, players, spirit groups, the Famous Maroon Band, and even special guests pump up the maroon spirit.
Dawg Days is an exciting collection of activities and events held to welcome new freshmen & transfer students to Mississippi State. Students enjoy two weeks of food and fun, music and movies, and countless new friends!
Bulldog Bash is the largest free outdoor concert event in the State of Mississippi. The festival draws around 35,000 visitors and is held on a Friday night before an SEC home football game. Past performers include Jason Mraz, Third Eye Blind, Gavin Degraw, Sister Hazel, Big Daddy Weave, Eric Church, Bobby Valentino, and many more.
The Bulldog family shows off our pride and passion for MSU by wearing maroon on campus, at home, at work, and around the world every Friday, 52 weeks a year!
