Blake Thompson daht NetI'm just saying….

Yep, football to bring me back to the blog. But tonight is when MSU fans are always the most optimistic. If you go read much on the MSU message boards then it seems that almost all know it won’t be an easy game vs. the Gamecocks, but definitely a winnable one. But I’m listening to the Southern Sports Tonight and I only heard ONE SINGLE GUY predict a Bulldog victory.

But tonight is the first game of the season…for us or anyone. And optimism is always at its height. But I think we’ve got a chance at a good season. I’ll admit that I always think that at the outset. But we’ve got a defense that was top 30 in the country and returns 8 or 9 starters. And an OL that is much improved and a WR corps that is much improved.

So as I leave to go find a tv (still no cable here at the house), I’m hoping that the Bulldogs send Steve home 0-3 on his visits to Starkville.

The days used to be when I’d look at the news paper the day before, the day of, and the day after National Signing Day and get my fix for recruiting. Then the internet boomed and there are rumors and articles and quotes and commitments and decommitments flying everywhere. Today is one of the most frenzied days in college football.

Mississippi State is supposed to sign a decent class. One that will meet some needs, but leave some future ones a little more needy for next year. I plan to try to be close to a computer today to get the latest. But of course it’s a Wednesdy and I’ve gotta do actual “work” work too. Curses!

In less than 2 hours The Bulldogs kickoff the SEC schedule. They had a fairly easy time last week with Murray State. The first quarter started to worry me. Murray is One-Double-A and they were picking up yards and first downs easily at first. But we shook the rust off and played a good game. I was impressed. Of course it was a lesser opponent. This week we play Auburn. Much better. We’re favored to lose by 14 or so. I doubt that happens. But I thought we’d win more than 3 games last year too.

Last night was our first Junior High Dance of the 2005 football season. It was my first ever. But apparently it is quite the tradition in these parts. And sometimes it’s reputation isn’t the best. Some booty music has produced some booty dancing and the like. But I think things went fairly well. We had door prizes and even a game (Chubby Bunny).

Around the middle of the dance, someone said they smelled a bit of gas in the kitchen. I caught the slightest whiff, but thought nothing of it. But it got stronger. The kids left. The policeman called the fire dept who said we needed to call Mississippi Valley Gas. But it could be up to 2 hours…or more since they’re in a state of emergency because of the hurricane. So they were going to come later. But I realized I needed to turn the alarm off.

So I go to the main office to do that. But I’ve only bypassed the alarm BEFORE it is armed before. So I was going in thinking I knew what to do. But I set it off. It’s going nuts. But the policeman is still there. So he radios the Station and tells them to disregard. I get it turned off. And go home. Then I find out that Edward got called anyhow and actually went up to the church at close to 1am. I bet we have an interesting conversation.

I am not writing this to gloat. But the Mississippi Rebels lost last Monday to Texas to finally end their run in baseball. I’m glad of it. But I guess I’m a bit jealous too because MSU had been out of it for a week already.

I make no appologies for being a Bulldog fan and always hoping UM loses. But I got a funny voice message on my phone. One of my greatest friends who is a Bulldog is married to a Rebel. He asked me if I was pulling for Texas as much as he was. He said he and his wife were sitting on the couch watching the game and she was yelling for Mississippi and he was yelling for Texas. He thought it was too funny. I laughed just as much myself.

After not being assured of a spot in the Tournament to being with, and then some things falling just right for us we go on and win the darn thing. Yes, we were the #7 seed and zoom through the tournament with a 4-0 record. Not a single loss. Everyother team had two losses. And we beat our rival Mississippi Rebels in the Championship game. They thought the game was theirs. They had beaten us 4 times this year already and thought #5 was in their pocket.

But with pitching that was better than normal. Bats that found the holes better than any other weekend this year. And a grit and determination that was quite impressive…we brought home the trophey.

Now the team travels to Coral Gables to play in the Miami Regional. Tough. Not easy at all. Though Miami has lost their last 6 games. But if we make it out of there we match up with the Nebraska regional. They’re a #2 National Seed. Uh-Oh.

After getting into the tournament by the skin of their teeth, Mississippi State really stuck it to rival baseball team LSU in the first round of the SEC Tourney. Many people thought we didn’t deserve to be there. Many people had some convincing arguments. But with a little (or a lot) of help the last weekend of regular SEC play, we are the 7th seed.

After besting LSU, we get to play South Carolina today at 5. Here’s to hoping we can keep it up. The bats need to come alive to help out the pitching. This team has talent. It’s young too. Many people say we need a different coach. Ours used to be the best, they say, but now he’s only good. I’m not so sure, but I think there might be a small twist of truth in there.