Bulldog Brew 12/12: All Around Excellence

Today, Anderson was named the Academic All-American Player of the Year and Jones Jr. keeps on bringing the energy

Author

Zach Garrett
December 12, 2024

What else did we throw into today’s Bulldog Brew?

⚽️ Anderson named the Academic All-American Player of the Year
🏀 Jones Jr. keeps on bringing the energy
🐶 And much, much more!

🎙️ DEAR OL’ STATE

Dear Ol’ State: MLB All-Star and Diamond Dawg Great Jordan Westburg. As he enjoys his offseason, former Diamond Dawg infielder and current Baltimore Oriole Jordan Westburg chats with Joel Coleman and Logan Lowery about his journey on the latest episode of Dear Ol' State.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 All Around Excellence. Bulldog soccer goalkeeper Maddy Anderson was named the 2024 Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for Division I. This prestigious honor crowns an extraordinary career for Anderson, who has consistently demonstrated excellence both academically and athletically. A Seabrook, Texas, native, Anderson carries a perfect 4.0 GPA while pursuing a master's degree in Kinesiology, having previously earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology, also with a 4.0 GPA.

🔼 Bringing The Energy. College athletics is just different these days; rosters change from year to year, and that of course is no different at Mississippi State. But there remain constants, and for the Bulldogs, Shawn Jones Jr. has been one of those over the last three seasons.

🗣️ "He hasn't said this to me, [but] since we've been here, we go through the offseason and we bring in these new dudes, right? And [Jones] just kind of says, 'Whatever', you know, and he battles and battles.” - Chris Jans, head coach

Jones is a winner. It's all he cares about, and he only knows one way to give his team the best chance to have success.

🔼 Pro Dawgs. Through 14 weeks of the NFL season, many former Bulldogs continue to shine as their teams push for the playoffs.

🏈 Elgton Jenkins continues to be one of the NFL's elite pass blockers after PFF gave the former State standout the highest pass-blocking grade among NFL guards during Week 14 at 87.8, the third-best by any offensive lineman.

🏈 Charles Cross also posted another standout performance in the trenches. Cross started at left tackle for Seattle and played all 64 snaps which garnered a 78.8 pass blocking grade, the best among the Seahawks' linemen.

🏈 Darius Slay made a huge difference in Philadelphia's 22-16 win over Carolina with six tackles and a pair of fourth-quarter pass breakups. The six-time Pro Bowler was targeted 11 times during that contest and surrendered only two catches (39.6 passer rating allowed).

On October 5, 1991, sixteen-year-old Robbie Sullivan suffered a life-changing accident while bow hunting alone on family land. After dislocating his shoulder on an old ten-foot deer stand, Robbie passed out from the pain and fell to the ground, crushing his spine around the T-6 vertebrae and leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Reflecting on the incident, Robbie emphasizes the importance of safe hunting practices, advocating for measures like never hunting alone, wearing a safety harness, using hunter’s orange, and ensuring stands are secure. He regrets not using a safety harness that day, which could have prevented the fall. Despite his injury, Robbie continues to hunt with organizations like Hope Outdoors, which assists individuals with disabilities in enjoying outdoor activities and credits his family for their unwavering support in helping him rebuild his life. “Just keep living, that’s all you can do,” states Robbie.

Now the Chief Financial Officer and Sports Coordinator for the Metro Area Community Empowerment (MACE), Robbie leads programs that promote physical fitness and recreational opportunities for individuals with spinal cord injuries through wheelchair sports. MACE, a grant recipient of the Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund facilitated by the Office of Special Disabilities Programs under The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS), helps people overcome physical limitations and embrace new opportunities in sports, careers, and social life. Robbie encourages others with similar life-altering injuries to seek support, stay active, and remain hopeful. MDRS has also provided Robbie with vehicle modifications to maintain his independence, enabling him to continue his many extracurricular activities. “I know a lot of people think, especially after they get hurt, that it’s the end of their world. It’s not. If you try to get in touch with anybody, get in touch with MDRS. They have connections with organizations whether it’s jobs, sports, or hunting related. They can connect you with others who have lived through life-altering events and would love to talk with you,” Robbie adds. To learn more about MDRS services, visit www.mdrs.ms.gov or call 1-800-443-1000.

🤔 BULLDOG TRIVIA

An Elite Group of Dawgs. Today’s trivia question…how many Bulldogs have been named the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year dating back to 1989?

Think you got it? Scroll to the bottom of the Bulldog Brew to see if you know your stuff!

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📆 THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday, December 9 - Friday, December 13
No scheduled events

Saturday, December 14
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Belmont @ 2 p.m. in Tupelo, MS | Tickets | Listen
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. McNeese @ 5 p.m. in Tupelo, MS | Tickets | ESPNU | Listen

Sunday, December 15
No scheduled events 

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Nine!

Maddy Anderson's recognition makes her the ninth Mississippi State student-athlete to be named Academic All-America Team Member of the Year, joining an elite group that includes Burke Masters (1989, Baseball), Joey Hamilton (1991, Baseball), Kate Jaspers (2004, Softball), Chelsea Bramlett (2010, Softball), and Ford Clegg (2023, Golf).

🐶 Have a great Thursday, y'all!