Another week of Mississippi State football has come and gone, and the enthusiasm for Bulldogs football hasn’t been this high in a few years. Mississippi State continues to make statement after statement as the Bulldogs improved to 3-0 on the season after a dominating 63-0 performance against Alcorn State that added icing to the cake from the stunning upset of Arizona State last week. The swagger appears to be back for Mississippi State as they fully embrace the role of rebuilding the Mississippi State football program into a respected one. 

Since his hiring, Coach Lebby has not only embraced the challenge of rebuilding the program from the ground up, but has also led himself and his family to fully embrace the identity that is Mississippi State football. Mississippi State isn’t for everyone; it’s a blue-collar fan base that lives and dies by the boys in maroon and white, and Coach Lebby has fully embraced that identity, and now Mississippi State reflects that of a program that the fans are proud to be a part of. 

You see, as the final seconds ticked off, the monster upset of Arizona State a little over a week ago, the pride of Mississippi State football had seemingly returned to a fan base and a program that had been wandering in the wilderness for the last three and a half years, wandering in the wilderness and needed a moment in the spotlight not only for validation but for the confidence in the vision that Coach Lebby has for this program. 

Fast forward to this past Saturday, and the Bulldogs put on a clinic as they boatraced Alcorn State 63-0, even implementing the running ten-minute game clock in the second half. Mississippi State did what other high-level programs do at this level by earning a shutout over a lesser program without showing signs of weakness or a hangover from the emotional high of the Arizona State upset. 

As the Bulldogs wrap up non-conference play this weekend with a home game against Northern Illinois, the uncertainty about what’s to come in the conference portion is met with optimism and excitement for the first time since Coach Mike Leach took the sidelines at Davis Wade Stadium. A win over NIU on Saturday, and the Bulldogs would be within striking distance of earning a sixth win, meaning a return to the postseason for the first time since the passing of Coach Leach. 

All in all, through the first three weeks of the season, the Bulldogs of Mississippi State appear to be heading in the right direction with plenty of room to continue the climb while building Mississippi State football back to one of the most respected programs in the country. There’s very little doubt as to the direction the program is heading under the leadership of Coach Lebby; Mississippi State is right there, from taking college football by the horns and running with it. Coming into the season, reaching the postseason seemed like a pipe dream, but the product on the field, combined with the leadership on the sidelines, has revamped Mississippi State football into something special that has the potential to set the standard to follow for generations of Bulldogs to come. 

Photo Credits- Mississippi State Football