Actually, it has everything to do with your post because it all goes back to tribalism. I was like 4 or 5 when Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro played at Mississippi State and have minimal if any recollection of watching them play before Will played for the Giants and Palmeiro played for the Rangers. Outside of my father telling me about them or reading their bios on the back of their baseball cards, I would have seen them as just another good ball player, but them playing at Mississippi State before going pro made them special.
You can think tribalism is 'goofy', but that doesn't stop it from existing and frankly being somewhat prevalent. I know it sounds hokey and overly idealistic, but I really do believe in the 'family' part of the Mississippi State fanbase. We may bicker and fight, but I would still root for any of you bastards over some jackass from Ole Miss.
For example, I don't particularly care for the few Hardy songs I've heard, but I root for him and want him to do well because he's 'one of us'. I don't know if he ever set foot on campus outside of partying or watching sports, but he's one of us. I don't know Steve personally, but I know a lot of folks on this board have a their opinions about him, good or bad, but whatever he does, I want him to do well because, for better or worse, he's 'one of us'. I don't have a kid playing baseball or softball right now, but I did go to the Warstic store in downtown Dallas (which is really cool, btw) and bought some t-shirts because the co-founder, Ben Jenkins, is 'one of us'. Dak - 'one of us'. Papelbon - 'one of us'. McCowan - 'one of us'. The guy that started Mossy Oak - 'one of us'. The guy that started Bryan foods - ' one of us'. Buck Showalter - 'one of us'. WWE Superstar Lash Legend - 'one of us'. CochiseCowbell - 'one of us'. GOAT - 'one of us'. Maroon Eagle - 'one of us'. PooPops - 'one of us'. Ron Polk and ronpolk - 'one of us'. You, mstateglfr, God help us, are one of us and I root for you to do well in your life simply because of that fact.
As far as who is actually 'a Bulldog', well.. I am and I never actually attended Mississippi State. I was born in Starkville while both of my parents were enrolled at State. My father graduated from State, but my mother dropped out when I was born (she went to another school later to finish her degree). I grew up being a Mississippi State fan and I grew up hating Ole Miss. I lived most of my childhood with the intention that I was Starkville bound, but life happens and I ended up at Southern Miss. I 17ing LOVE Mississippi State and always have and always will. It is, in many ways, one of my defining characteristics. I never attended a class at Mississippi State, but I'm a Bulldog and I've literally been a Bulldog since birth.
