Mississippi State University football fans are encouraged to join the Starkville Quarterback Club.
The club, which will open its 47th season of weekly meetings on Aug. 30, is devoted to promoting MSU football. Club President Tyson Gair said the club expects a large membership this year with all the excitement that surrounded the team’s 31-3 victory against the University of Mississippi and its 23-17 win against Wake Forest University in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 that helped the team finish 7-6.
If you are an MSU football fan, the Starkville Quarterback Club is the place for you,” Gair said.
Each week, an assistant football coach will give a scouting report on the opposing team and an update on MSU.
“These scouting reports and updates are a tremendous perk to being a member of the Starkville Quarterback Club,” Gair said. “These coaches provide inside information about opposing teams and MSU’s game preparation that is not available through any media outlets.”
Following the scouting reports, the club will welcome a guest speaker for the evening. The club works closely with MSU’s Athletic Department to line up speakers. Gair said football coach Dan Mullen will be the keynote speaker Aug. 30. Other speakers this season will include Rick Cleveland, of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Tony Barnhart, of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Andy Staples, the Southeastern Conference writer for Sports Illustrated, MSU men’s basketball coach Rick Ray, and MSU baseball coach John Cohen.
In addition to the scouting reports and the guest speaker, door prizes will be awarded each week. A helmet autographed by all of the season’s speakers, courtside seats to three MSU basketball games, a set of four passenger tires, and a football signed by former MSU football players in the NFL will be given away at the last gathering of the year.
In addition, a wide variety of MSU Bulldog apparel, accessories, tailgate supplies, and football-related items are given away each week. “We gave away more than $3,000 worth of door prizes last year, and we will do likewise this season,” Gair said.
The club meets Thursday evenings during football season at the Starkville Country Club. Social hour begins at 6 p.m., followed by a meal at 6:30. The distribution of door prizes and the introduction of the guest speaker will begin at 7 p.m.
Quarterback Club dues for 2012 will be $185, which includes a meal of a meat (a weekly rotation of fried catfish filets, fried chicken, hamburger steaks and pork chops), two vegetables, salad, bread, drink, and dessert for each of the 12 meetings. Quarterback Club members don’t have to be members of Starkville Country Club.
Sponsors for 2012 include BancorpSouth, Eye and Laser Center of Starkville, Vollor Law Firm, BankFirst, Clark Beverage Group, Pernod Ricard, CB&S Bank, Dr. Wesley Ferguson, Martin Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Northeast Exterminating, Cadence Bank, Tabor Construction & Development, Buffalo Wild Wings, Starkville Floor Covering, Inc., Security Solutions & Communications, Inc., Crosland Wealth Management, and McAllister’s.
“We are grateful for the support of our corporate sponsors,” Gair said. “They make it possible for our members to enjoy great door prizes, a great meal and quality speakers every week.”
Membership information has already been mailed or e-mailed to last year’s members. Gair urges everyone to return their registration form as soon as possible. Gair encourages football fans who haven’t been members and former members to join this year. Potential members who haven’t received information by mail can go to www.starkvillequarterbackclub.com and print a registration form to mail in.
“The Starkville Quarterback Club meetings are a great way to start the football weekend,” Gair said.
For more information, call Gair at 662-617-0448.
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