There’s a renewed energy in Starkville as the Brian O’Connor era at Mississippi State has finally happened. It’s been years in the making, but the timing was finally right for both parties to make the move and join as one mighty force in the world of college baseball. Sunday’s announcement delivered a shockwave across the country as programs quickly realized the days of beating Mississippi State were likely over, as they hired a proven winner with more resources at Mississippi State than Coach O’Connor had at Virginia.

Four years removed from winning the 2021 National Championship, Mississippi State Baseball has fallen on hard times by the Bulldogs standard; they haven’t reached Omaha since winning the National Championship, but those times are long gone as Coach Brian O’Connor brings a winning pedigree back to Starkville with a background fit for the program he’s taking over.

Outside of LSU, there is not a baseball program with the same amount of resources and a rabid baseball fan base that sticks with the Bulldogs as that of the Mississippi State program. Mississippi State isn’t a program for everyone; it’s the program Coach Ron Polk built. It’s a program with a fan base as knowledgeable as they come. The Bulldogs play in the Carnegie Hall of College baseball; they have the facilities, the most NIL, and all the intangibles that lead to multiple trips to Omaha with chance after chance to win National Championships. In many ways, Mississippi State is that program —the program that stands the test of time. Coaches and players might change, but the maroon and white still stand for everything pure about the game of baseball. When Mississippi State is good, college baseball is better, and under the leadership of Coach O’Connor, the Bulldogs will return to their rightful position of playing baseball late in June.

Once the hiring was complete, Mississippi State went to work planning a welcome celebration that resembled a typical game day at Dudy Noble Field. Fans will be allowed to fire up the grills, arrive early, and enjoy the start of the new era of Mississippi State baseball. Over the next several months, we’ll start to see the roster build, and excitement for Mississippi State baseball will reach heights never seen before in college baseball; in all reality, the Bulldogs are likely to put together a fall ball slate at Dudy Noble Field that’ll sell out within minutes. For Mississippi State, Coach O’Connor, on the surface, is that guy to take Mississippi State back to glory and add more championship trophies to the trophy case at Dudy Noble Field.

Fans have the chance to welcome Coach O’Connor and his family to Starkville on Thursday night at Dudy Noble Field starting at 7:00 with the gates opening at 5:30.