Good morning! What a difference 72 years makes. Check out what MSU’s campus looked like back in the 50s compared to now.

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

🎙️ Jim Ellis announces his retirement
⛳️ Four men’s golfers ranked in the Top 130
🐶 And much, much more!

🎙️ DEAR OL’ STATE

Dear Ol’ State: Offensive Line Great Gabe Jackson. He's one of the very best to ever play along the Mississippi State offensive front. Bulldog great Gabe Jackson joins Joel Coleman and Logan Lowery in the studio to talk about his path – from high school to Mississippi State to the NFL – on the latest episode of Dear Ol' State.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Going Out On Top. MSU alum and legendary broadcaster Jim Ellis announced on Wednesday his retirement after 46 years as the play-by-play voice of the Mississippi State baseball program. The Voice of the Diamond Dawgs has described and interpreted countless magical moments in the Bulldog’s baseball history, broadcasting 33 NCAA Regional appearances, seven SEC Tournament titles, five SEC championships, 11 trips to the College World Series and a national title.

🗣️ "It's been a total pleasure being part of Mississippi State baseball and serving this incredible university that I love for the past 46 years. I have nothing but fond memories of all the players, coaches and fans of Mississippi State. They're the best in the country. They've made it an absolute joy to tell the extraordinary stories of Mississippi State to the Bulldog family. They're what makes this place so special.” - Jim Ellis

🎥 Watch this video honoring the great Jim Ellis

🔼 Rolling In The Deep. As Bulldog men’s golf prepares for its spring schedule, the team will officially roll into 2025 as one of seven programs with four players in the Scoreboard Top 130. Drew Wilson, Garrett Endicott, Josep Serra and Ugo Malcor will tee it up next year as four of the top 130 Division-I golfers in the nation.

🔼 Until Zero. Having the Bulldog mentality encompasses so much more than just suiting up in the Maroon and White and performing on the court; it requires undeniable grit, determination, and a never-give-in demeanor. Sam Purcell saw that mindset again benefit his team as the Bulldogs put together a fourth-quarter comeback victory against Belmont in which his team scored 32 points in the final period to erase an eight-point deficit and rally for the victory.

🗣️ "Never give up. As long as we stayed together, stayed as one and made sure our defense was all together on one page, the momentum [would] come on our side." - Jerkaila Jordan

📚️ Read more about the mindset behind each player within the Bulldog women’s basketball program

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

The MOP. Today’s trivia question…who was named the Most Outstanding Player following Bulldog baseball’s national title in 2021?

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

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📆 CLOSING OUT 2024

Friday, December 20
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Maryland Eastern Shore @ 11 a.m. in Princess Anne, MD | Listen

Saturday, December 21
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Memphis @ 11:30 a.m. in Memphis, TN | Tickets | CBS | Listen

Sunday, December 29
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. South Carolina State @ 2 p.m. in Starkville, MS | Tickets 

Monday, December 30
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Bethune-Cookman @ 8 p.m. in Starkville, MS | Tickets | SECN

🐶 Click here to see the full Mississippi State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Will Bednar!

During game three of the 2021 College World Series, Bednar pitched six innings and allowed just three walks and zero hits while striking out four, subsequently being named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. For the 2021 College World Series, Bednar pitched to a 1.47 ERA over 18 and a third innings.

🐶 Have a great Thursday, y'all!