Mississippi State has the rep as being the haven of racial tolerance in a sea of white-sheeted, tobacky-spit-droolin, cross-burning racism. We're the ones who heroically went to play Loyola in 1963, when the Ole Miss Legislature put up road blocks and landmines to keep the basketball team in the State. MState was the one to hire a black head coach. MState has the only Southern tradition (cowbells) that hasn't been banned by the 14th Amendment.
Remember, this is only the perception, but as we've learned 90% of all perception is true.