In my last article I focused on will our dawgs be top 10? Or maybe even top 5? But, at the end, there were a few questions left in the air.
"Will they keep up their winning streak? Will they prove to Mullen that he left when he had so much potential to work with? Will they be able to pull up the ranking for the team?"
The weeks leading up to the MSU vs. Florida game, you could feel the excitement throughout Mississippi State's campus. The students had come together to support our beloved football team. Our old coach, Dan Mullen, would be returning to our stadium after he left in a cowardly manner.
Gameday came faster than we expected. SEC nation had arrived for the game of the season. Tailgates were going, tents were up and cowbells were ringing. Two hours before kickoff, the student section was filled. The atmosphere in the student section was one I've only felt before when we had Alabama here last season.
The game started off rocky and finished with the worst possible outcome an MSU fan could have thought of. The halftime score coming in at 6-3 State. Mississippi State having gained two field goals, one in the first quarter and one in the second. Florida only having one field goal in the second quarter. With either team not gaining a touchdown the game was still up in the air but in the third quarter, Florida gained the only touchdown of the game. The feeling of disappointment could be felt across the stadium but the fans didn't give up.
When the game was finally over, Florida winning 13-6. The sadness could be felt and the mocking screams of the Florida fans were just the cherry on top. Nick Fitzgerald only obtaining an 11 to 28 pass completion, this giving a few people doubts. By the next morning, State students began to sell their tickets to the MSU vs. Auburn game. Having no need to watch our team already out of the rankings, not wanting to watch the team lose again.
Even after the crushing defeat of the previous game, MSU fans don't give up. Again the tents were up, grills were being lit and everyone was getting ready for the game. The first quarter, Fitzgerald was still in his funk from the game before. The teams were tied at 3-3. After the second quarter was started, you could see the fire in the boys being re-lit. Some students had something to say, Mackenzie Mitchell, a part of the Odyssey at Mississippi State had a few things to say.
"I thought it was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Fitzgerald." said Mitchell, "He snapped out of whatever funk he was in, but I don't know why."
The second quarter, Mississippi State gained the first touchdown of the game after a long battle against the Auburn defense. The boys went for a field goal and got it, bringing the game 13-3 MSU. Third quarter Auburn tried to gain on the points gaining a three-point field goal. MSU coming right back to gain another field goal. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the score being 16-6 MSU. Auburn again gaining a three-point field goal, even after these points our boys were still winning. In the last few minutes of the game, our Dawgs gained the second touchdown of the game. This bringing the final game score to 23-9 MSU.
This upset game bringing our boys back into the rankings and proving that they haven't lost their touch. I wonder if the students that sold their tickets wish they hadn't? Did our boys prove that they are still ready for sellout stadiums? The next game being against LSU, we are 4-2 right now, can we keep it up?