The Mississippi State football team had their first home game of the season and claimed a victory against Southern Miss in the process. Our mighty Bulldogs beat the Golden Eagles 38-15, but the win was dimmed by the glaringly obvious elephant in the room- the temperature.
At a whopping 95 degrees, gameday felt like it took place inside a sauna. The heat index was over 100 too, so that wasn't swell either. All that extreme heat led to dozens of people passing out and even more people either skipping out on the game or leaving even before we reached halftime.
Now you might think this was just going to be a one game fluke that we would look back at years from now and laugh at the temperature we had to endure, but unfortunately that's not the case. The next two weekends are home games, Kansas State and Kentucky, and both take place long before the sun goes down. Kansas State will be at 11 AM, and Kentucky will start at 3 PM. Not exactly ideal conditions to cheer on the Dawgs, since chances are it will be just as sweltering then too.
Who do we have to ask to get one measly night game? It doesn't have to be some primetime showdown, but at least near sunset would be much appreciated.
Fans last Saturday lined the concourse of the stadium, out of their seats. Some were sitting against the wall, most were aggressively fanning themselves, and all were drenched in sweat. The bathrooms were full of unhappy bodies, trying to find even a slight breeze to cool them off. The line for the water fountain was its own beast, rivaling the understandably long concession line.
This is all if you made it to the game. Many didn't even try to venture into the heat of the stadium, something that may affect concession sales if they have less butts in the seats the next two weeks. I heard many others, including freshmen experiencing their first college gameday, talking about how they ducked out as early as ten minutes in, because it was literally too hot to handle. After halftime, the student section looked deserted. All that was missing was a tumbleweed, or else that abandoned, scorched area would have fully been a barren desert.
It would be practical for there to be a night game earlier in the season, while it's still technically summer. I know night games are often given to the bigger matchups, but we are burning up at Davis Wade. Fans are packed tight together; their body heat just adding to the misery. The band has to wield their, sometimes, heavy instruments, while standing the whole game and performing two tiring shows. The officials and film crew swamp the sidelines; the heat permeating them like an actual swamp. Lastly, the players have to stay at the top of their game, play after play, against the dizzying heat.
So to whoever decides the game times, whether it be the tv channels, SEC Network, or MSU themselves, we all ask of you just one little thing- a night game. Please. A bunch of Mississippi State fans will still be there supporting the Dawgs the next two weeks and the rest of the season, but would prefer to do that a lot less sweaty.