STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team is preparing for an invitation to the 2013 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Multiple sources close to the program confirmed to The Dispatch that MSU (6-6) anticipates returning to the bowl game at 3 p.m., Dec. 31 in Memphis, Tenn., for the first time since 2007.
Liberty Bowl Executive Director Steve Ehrhart declined to comment to The Dispatch about MSU’s prospects to be invited. He said the bowl committee is still evaluating potential Southeastern Conference teams before the final pairings for all of the games are announced Sunday. MSU won’t begin bowl practice until finals exams are completed.
The conference tie-ins for the Liberty Bowl will feature a SEC school against the Conference USA champion. The Conference USA championship game between Marshall (9-3) and Rice (9-3) will be at 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPN2) at Rice Stadium in Houston.
The Dispatch learned this week that the Liberty Bowl committee gave a presentation to MSU officials Oct. 12 that was based on its hope of selecting MSU based on its desire to honor the 50th anniversary of the 1963 MSU team that defeated North Carolina State in the Liberty Bowl.
“Mississippi State has a great tradition and history with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, and it would just complete the loop here and come full circle that 50 years later it would be so fitting to have Mississippi State playing in the game,” a source close to the bowl committee told The Dispatch. “To (the bowl committee and executives) history is just so very important.”
The MSU ticket office began pre-selling tickets for the Liberty Bowl, Advocare V100 Bowl in Shreveport, La., or the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala.
“We really think those three bowls are the most in play for us after this win,” Stricklin said after MSU defeated Ole Miss 17-10 on Thanksgiving night in the Battle for the Golden Egg.
MSU’s ability to draw crowds to bowl games apparently is helping its cause. The Liberty Bowl committee has referred to the 2007 ‘Paint Memphis Maroon’ marketing campaign that led to a record announced crowd of 63,816 as a fact it will consider when it evaluates candidates.
MSU has qualified for a bowl in four straight seasons for the first time in program history. MSU had claimed six or more victories in four consecutive campaigns for the first time since 1997-2000.
After beating Ole Miss, Mullen began campaigning in the postgame media conference for a better bowl for the Bulldogs.
“We finished ahead of the school up north (Ole Miss),” Mullen said. “Not overall but conference record (we were) both 3-5 and we won the head-to-head, so I hope the league looks at that,” Mullen said. “Hopefully the league gives us the nod and we get the higher bowl game.”
Sources have told The Dispatch that barring any late developments or involvement by the SEC office in Birmingham, Ala., Vanderbilt will play in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Jan. 4 due to a mutual understanding between the school administration, the Liberty Bowl, and the Music City Bowl.
According to statistical data provided by the MSU Alumni Association, the state of Tennessee has the third-highest number of MSU alums in the country behind Mississippi and Alabama. Most of that alumni base is concentrated in the Memphis area.
MSU defeated Central Florida 10-3 in the 2007 Liberty Bowl. Most valuable player Derek Pegues had two interceptions in the game.
MSU last competed in the Liberty Bowl in 20011, when it defeated Memphis 59-14 before an announced crowd of 33,990.
Follow Matt Stevens on Twitter @matthewcstevens.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
