Good morning! Embrace debate: is pickle juice a tasty drink? Well, according to MSU track and field athlete Aley Woodberry, it’s good all by itself. We might just have to trust her on that one…

What else did we toss into the Brew today?

🎾 Round of 16
⛳️ SEC Honors
🐶 And much, much more!

🎥 HAIL STATE PLUS

In this episode of The Follow, relive the Starkville regional that sent our men’s tennis team to the NCAA Round of 16. Hear from head coach Matt Roberts and players Gregor Ramskogler and Carles Hernandez as they recount the incredible atmosphere around that day, and the victories and celebrations after moving on to the next round.

With HailState+ you get to watch wherever you want to watch. Web, mobile, and (later this year) all major OTT streaming apps like AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, Roku, and Android. We got it all.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Dashing Dawgs. Day one of the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships are in the books, and a couple of Bulldogs made their mark for the day.

• Peyton Bair is tearing it up in the men’s decathlon with 2,529 points after the first day. He set a new personal best in the long jump with a 24’6.25” jump to finish second in the event as well as second place finishes in the 100 meter and 400 meter races.

• Tyriq Horsford earned a bronze medal on the day after finishing third in the javelin with a heave of 235’01”. It’s just the second time in his career he has finished in the top-3 in the SEC Outdoors.

• Zoe Brito-Babapulle set her own personal record with a time of 2:04. 25 in the 800 meter, giving her a fifth place finish, and a spot in the event final tomorrow. Incredibly, it’s the seventh straight race she has set a new personal best in the 800 meter.

The SEC Championship continues today and into the weekend as our Bulldogs will look to take some titles in their respective events. Athletes are fast, but the Dawgs are faster!

🔼 Round of 16. Tomorrow is a big day for MSU’s men’s tennis team. The Bulldogs are heading to Fort Worth, TX to square off against TCU in the NCAA Round of 16. The team is used to the pressure, with this being their fourth trip to the quarterfinals in the last five tournaments.

TCU comes in to the matchup ranked No. 2 in the nation while State ranks No. 15. Petar Jovanovic and Gregor Ramskogler look to keep their momentum going after giving the Bulldogs points in their last match against Middle Tennessee, while Carles Hernandez looks to continue his winning ways as well after clinching the match for MSU last week.

Coach Roberts had this to say heading into the match on Saturday, “At this time of year, we are going to feel pretty loose. TCU will probably have a little pressure on them at home, and we are feeling healthy both mentally and physically.” If one thing’s for sure, our Bulldogs are going to compete their hearts out, so stay up to date on the team’s socials to see if the squad can pull out another win.

🔼 Ring The Bell Jr. More Bell is coming to State basketball in the form of transfer signing Jimmy Bell Jr. Men’s basketball head coach Chris Jans announced his arrival yesterday, and will join the team for next season.

Jimmy Bell Jr. comes to State from the mountains of West Virginia where he played meaningful minutes this on this past season’s Mountaineer NCAA Tournament team. The 6’10” forward has started 98 total games in his collegiate career, and connected on 54.9% from the field this past season. “Jimmy is a very good player, but his intangibles are what sets him apart. We are thrilled [he] he chosen to finish his collegiate career as a Bulldog,” said Coach Jans upon Bell Jr’s arrival.

Bell Jr., and the rest of the men’s basketball team, are going to bring quite the competition to the SEC, and we can hardly wait for basketball season to roll back around again.

🔼 SEC Honors. State’s men’s golf team picked up a couple of SEC Postseason Honors thanks to the play they exhibited all season long.

• Garrett Endicott was awarded a pair of honors including a Second Team All-SEC selection as well as being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Endicott was one of six SEC freshmen with a stroke average below 71 on the year, and accumulated four top-10 finishes on his way to earning his awards this season.

• Harrison Davis was named to the SEC Community Service Team for the second year in a row thanks to his efforts in the local elementary schools, as well as the Student-Athlete Development program.

• Ford Clegg was named the SEC’s Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year for his efforts both on the course and in the classroom all season long.

Both of these players, as well as the rest of the No. 18th ranked Bulldogs, will take these awards and hit the ground running as they head off to their NCAA Regional later next week in Morgan Hill, CA.

🔼 Hitting The Road. The 2023 Road Dawgs Tour is off and running, and you are not going to want to miss a chance to sit down and meet with some members of our Bulldog family.

Athletic Director Zac Selmon and MSU football head coach Zach Arnett are heading off on the Road Dawgs Tour today. The duo will plan to make a stops across Mississippi starting Monday in Gulfport, and then in Vicksburg and Jackson on Tuesday. Thanks to Coastal Mississippi Tourism, you can enter into a giveaway that features dining gift cards, attractions passes, a two-night resort trip, and much more.

The Road Dawg Tour will continue through May 17th, so head on out to see some Bulldogs, and don’t forget to enter into the giveaway for prizes you won’t want to miss out on.

🌴 SPRING INTO SUMMER

Warmer weather is here! And there's nobody better to help plan that vacation getaway than our friends at MSU’s favorite beach vacation provider—Brett/Robinson Vacation Rentals!

Enjoy the famous white sand beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, or take a refreshing swim in the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Family-friendly attractions, fun festivals, and events are always happening in the area. And when you’re ready for some downtime, relax and enjoy the fantastic amenities you will find in a beautiful Brett/Robinson condo or beach house!

Now is the time to plan that getaway vacation you have been waiting to take! Check out the specials and promotions happening right now, visit them online, or call 877-701-7322 to reserve your perfect slice of paradise today!

🤔 BULLDOG TRIVIA

Continued Success. The Bulldogs are taking on TCU in the quarterfinals this weekend, and as you now know, it’s the fourth time in five years the team has reached this stage of the tournament.

Our question today — do you know how many times State has made the NCAA Quarterfinals in total?

Think you know the answer? Scroll on down to the bottom to find out.

📬 STICK WITH US

Did someone send you the Bulldog Brew? Well, the first thing you should do is thank them. The next thing you should do is subscribe here and get it in your inbox every weekday morning just in time for your first cup of coffee!

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 13!

The Bulldogs have had a strong showing throughout the program’s history dating back to their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1965, finishing eighth overall.

Have a great weekend, y'all.