I first saw the Dogs, and heard the cow bells, in the mid 60′s, at the Houston Astrodome. My oldest brother went to UH as a QB, and we would go down for a couple of games each year. We went one year, I think it was ’65, and the Dogs were tough, and the Coogs weren’t. Went back in ’67, and didn’t hear the cow bells much that night, as the Coogs and their new Veer offense, along with the time traveler, “Wondrous” Warren McVea, were too much for the Dogs…and a whole bunch of people for a few years.
My blocking mate in high school went to MSU a year ahead of me, and put in a good word with the coaches, and they sent my coach a questionnaire before my senior year, but never called. My neck and shoulder were too banged up. So, except for one high school injury, I might have a cow bell hanging in my house, too.
Always hope the Dogs do well, unless they are playing LSU or OU.

http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/?p=1167

I even keep some Mississippi State stuff in my cubicle at work including a cowbell I obtained post-MSU graduation:

http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/?p=1186

Last night while watching the Liberty Bowl, I was wearing a game worn MSU jersey (I picked up via ebay) for Bulldog pride.

Monday afternoon is the Music City Bowl in Nashville where the second team I root for, Florida State University, is playing. Fortunately since most people at work are out for the holidays, my supervisor is allowing me to adjust my schedule at will and Monday, I’m doing the day shift (7am-3pm) so I can get home and watch most of the game. I’m rooting for FSU but realistically with many players suspended for academic and grade-rigging reasons I think it’s going to be extremely hard for FSU to win it.

The third team that I normally root for, Florida A&M University doesn’t have a post-season game to play because they sucked this year and the head coach & AD were fired at the end of the season. Two prospective coaches from Grambling (head coach) and U. of Georgia (ass’t. coach) were offered the job but turned it down. Latest news is that Joe Taylor, the head coach at Hampton University is going to be the new head coach at FAMU but nothing official has been announced and prior news reports had the two previous candidates as “done deals” as well. So we will wait and see.

Anyway, I am very happy the Dawgs won the Liberty Bowl and I hope they improve next season. To be honest, I didn’t have a lot of expectations for a decent season from Crooms and I think next season will show whether the improvement was genuine (which I am hopeg for) or just a fluke (which I don’t hope for).