We are used to taking the shots from the rest of the country. It's been happening since my grandfather went to school here. Being from (and now raising a family in Mississippi, it's the same disrespect we get about the state as a whole. Mississippi is the south's best kept secret and I love being here. Here are a few things I know to be true.
1. The disrespect we get from the media and others over the years has made us a stronger, more loyal fan base. It has produced a bond that I'm proud to be a part of. Our fans have stuck to this school through EVERYTHING. We show up, bottom line. Most people realize how dedicated our fan base is and they are correct. We show up and we are loyal and that will never change.
2. Starkville is a great place, and if you actually come and spend a few hours you will see. We have shopping, we have nightlife, we have great restaurants, we have all the interesting and eclectic markers that make it a great college town to attend school or visit. We have everything that people say we don't, but not too much of it. Too much of it would be a bad thing.
3. Most of the media guys who come to Starkville love it.
4. The improvements made during the last 25 years have put the place on the map.
5. During big games, we have one of the toughest places to play in the country. That's a fact and you can ask our opponents.
6. Mississippi has, and will continue to have the friendliest people on earth. That includes State fans not from here.
So keep coming with the disrespect. It has made the people who care about the University a resilient bunch.