I wish (fill in name) was here to see this.

[Maroon Blood]

I would venture to guess that there are tens of thousands of MSU folks who have lost loved ones that celebrated and suffered many years supporting MSU football and dreamed of seeing all of this transpire. I'd like to present a toast to those who are now enjoying the view from "The Land of Milk and Honey" - like Jack Cristil - but who we miss deeply and wish they could be with us on Saturday.

Mine is my late father, Wiley Carter, MSU Class of 1958. He would absolutely love all that is happening. If you ever get a chance, drop by the Wiley Carter Memorial on campus. It's the fountain that sits on the Drill Field side of Mitchell Memorial Library.

Are any of you missing loved ones, too? Who?

 

[tommyboy1520]

I wish my grandad was here to see this. He sat by his radio every Saturday we played and weathered many disappointments. On the positive side, glad my dad is still here to witness it all.

 

[Col. Forbin]

Gotta say my granddad as well. He spent a lot of time watching, listening to, and cussing the Dawgs. He's got the best view of it now though.

 

[MaroonOldCrow]

My Dad. We lost him in January. If he were still with us, he'd be strutting right now, with the quiet nonchalance that was so characteristic of him. The last thing I was able to talk to him about before he lost his voice was State athletics. He was confident the basketball team would get turned around and was happy with the heart they were showing (he had been recruited by Coach McCarthy) and was excited by the baseball and football outlook for this year.

 

[The Peeper]

Definitely my dad, introduced me to this university almost 50 years ago even though he never attended a class there. I know now that my folks probably didn't need to be spending the $ to do it he somehow always found tickets. We would pack a small cooler with leftovers or sandwiches and find us a shade tree and have a blast. Because of those days I attended MSU, met my wife there, my oldest daughter graduated from there and youngest is a Soph there now.

Now, that said, on a less serious note I would say Matthew Stevens.

 

[drail14me]

My Grandfather and Jack Cristil! Lost my Grandfather during the Sherill era so he missed the best games then. He would go to EVERY game and listed on Jack call it on a headphone radio. I'd love for him and Jack to be there together to see this!

 

[BiscuitEater]

That would be my Dad ...

My Grandfather graduated from Mississippi A&M; my Dad graduated from Mississippi State College and I graduated from Mississippi State University. And, we shared a deep abiding love for that piece of ground.

We lived in Columbus and I grew up playing under the stands of the baseball field and throwing balls while the folks tailgated at the football games. My folks rarely missed any baseball, basketball or football game and it was a great way to grow up.

So many fantastic memories.

 

[MaroonOldCrow]

Didn't your Grandfather have a memorable run during a Spring Game?

ETA: TWO Spring games...


1991:

1992:

 

[Digging dog]

My dad. Lost him this year.
He always said "We may not have won a game, but we never lost a fight after the game". ( in reference to the cowbells). Graduated in 62

 

[DancingRabbit]

I'll just leave this here

 

[drail14me]

Good memories there!!!!!

 

[Shmuley]

Coach 34

 

[tenureplan]

Grandparents and Jack

 

[121Josey]

חג שמח

 

[FallAmericanDawg]

Gotta go with my grandfather

Grandfather on my dad's side was Mississippi born and bred, and a huge MSU fan through and through. He passed before the season started (one of his wishes was to be buried wearing a maroon tie and with his cowbell by his side). I like to think that he and Jack are sending us some divine intervention.

 

[Shamoan]

1a. Evan stone
1b. jack

 

[PineGroveBully]

Keifer McGee and my grandfather Pa Dane

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

Dak's mom.

 

[bulldognation]

^^^^^ Truth

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

My parents and in-laws. Both suffering bulldog fans. It's a crying shame that generations of bulldogs had to suffer when a little bit of forward, progressive out of the box thinking could have taken us to the level of our fellow SEC members. Oh well, water under the bridge, hopefully we can continue to move forward with this thing.

 

[TobaccoDawg]

This is a great thread. I'll throw in Sonny Montgomery. One of the most powerful members of congress, repped MSU all the time in our nation's capitol. He was a very, very proud Bulldog, in spite of our football record. He'd be really proud.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Stevie Wonder**

Okay, in all seriousness, Dr. Z for what all he did for this university.

 

[AFDawg]

Somewhat oddly, my uncle the huge Ole Miss fan, who once stole Bully (so he claimed). He loved harassing my folks (State grads) when they won, and we loved harassing him when they won. It would have been a lot of fun to mess with each other this year.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Both of my grandfathers were die-hard State fans. They'd be loving this, probably still are. I don't think my great uncle ever missed a home baseball game. One of my funniest memories of him was later on in life at DNF. They were playing one of those tracks over the PA you hear at every ball game. He said, "Of all the music in the world, millions of songs, they pick this damn record and play it all the time. It's terrible. Sounds like the Ole Miss coach scratching his ***!" He was embarrassed when our whole section laughed. He didn't realize he was talking that loud (hearing aids).

 

[UncommonDore]

First- congrats from a Vandy fan who grew up in a Bulldog family.

My dad who we lost in April. He listened to every State game until they started televising most of them. Last year he got me to hook his TV up so he could watch all of the ESPN3 games that didn't make the cable outlets.

Good story: My dad ate breakfast every morning at 7am with a group of old friends, most of whom were Ole MS fans. He's had to endure constant banter from that group for the better part of his life. After the Egg bowl last year, he said he was so excited that he woke up early before the alarm went off, got dressed, and headed to town early so he could be there to talk smack. He was almost there when he looked at the clock in his truck- 2am.

As a sidenote, my mother is in Starkville today to endow a scholarship in his memory to the Ag Department.

 

[PhilBrickma]

Eric Smith from Vicksburg

Dude was a huge State fan. I went to countless State baseball games and camps with him when we were kids. Some of you from Vicksburg may remember that he passed away at the age of 15 after his lifelong battle with cancer in 2002.

 

[amcdan2000]

My Dad who always said the dogs are playing like dogs, winston walker, Jack Cristil, Keiffer, Nick and every other Bulldog that is gone.