STARKVILLE — This weekend, record breaking numbers of Mississippi State fans, alumni and visitors flocked to the city for the 37th Super Bulldog Weekend, which was focused mostly on the Maroon and White spring football game and the Bulldogs’ three-game baseball series against Ole Miss.
But for many, the sports were just an excuse to be together with the people they love, as they celebrated the spring version of homecoming. On Saturday, walking from Davis Wade to Dudy Noble felt like stepping into reunion after reunion.
Jim White from Newton, Mississippi was tailgating in the Junction with old friends from Acacia fraternity before the Maroon and White football game. Though the fraternity disbanded shortly after White graduated in 1970, he said the group has been using Super Bulldog Weekend as a way to get together ever since.
“We’ve been here since the… early 70s,” White said. “We like to get back together every Super Bulldog Weekend that we can. It’s just a day to come back to State and relive memories and make new ones.”
White said his friends have been at almost every Super Bulldog Weekend since he graduated in 1970, though they missed the past few years because of COVID. This year, they all returned, traveling from Florida, Georgia, and all over Mississippi to tailgate together.
Between Davis Wade and Dudy Noble, there was another tent overflowing with a family who were also using Super Bulldog Weekend to get back together. But upon closer inspection, their tent contained more than an average tailgate. Instead, the family was hosting a wedding shower.
Jeremiah Dumas, a Starkville resident and former alderman whose family has been on the Mississippi State campus “in some form” since 1958, said Super Bulldog Weekend is an integral part of their family traditions, and seemed like the perfect time for the shower.
“We’re big tailgaters for football, which means a lot to us,” Dumas said. “And the couple actually… their first date was a football game, so it felt fitting to have a tailgate in their honor.”
Dumas said relatives from all over the state and Tennessee would be driving to the campus to celebrate a wedding shower for Stella Binson and Riley Bennett. They would also be going to the baseball game afterwards, which felt like a natural combination.
“My niece is getting married, so we’re doing a shower for her, and then obviously between the football game and the baseball game, it’ll be a great time to celebrate them and hopefully celebrate some wins today.” Dumas said.
Outside of Dudy Noble, Rachel Claus from Ohio was waiting in line to get into the game. She and her family were camped out hours before the game, starting before 11 a.m. But Claus said the line was worth it, for the sake of her grandmother, Claudia Allday.
“We’re celebrating some family time,” Claus said. “It’s Nana’s 76th birthday today, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at her.”
“First time at The Dude,” Allday said. “Perfect way to celebrate.”
Allday was also looking forward to the concert after the baseball game, saying she is a huge Brett Eldredge fan. Though she may not have attended the baseball game alone for her birthday, she said she didn’t want to miss the concert.
But even off campus, families continued to use Super Bulldog Weekend as a way to spend time together. Starkville businesses, flooded with customers who were looking for places to eat, shop and rest between games, experienced the love as well.
Darin Veall, owner of Starkville Cafe, estimated his staff served at least 500 people before noon. Though these crowds are good for business, Veall also said he enjoyed getting to see the families who return annually for Super Bulldog Weekend.
“We’ve been here for… 76 years,” Veall said. “Just this morning, we had people who were saying they haven’t been back here in 40 or 50 years since they graduated from college… We had one table today that had four generations sitting at one table who all went to Mississippi State and all ate at the Cafe.”
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