Good morning! Game week is here for Mississippi State, which means quarterback Blake Shapen‘s Bulldog debut is imminent. See what he had to say as the team gets ready for Saturday’s season opener against Eastern Kentucky.

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

🏈 Williams named to national award watchlist
🏐 A certified leader gets ready for her final season
🐶 And much, much more!

🎙️ DEAR OL’ STATE

Dear Ol’ State: Lemonis Talks Summer, Bulldog Additions and More. It's been a busy summer for MSU head baseball coach Chris Lemonis. On the latest Dear Ol' State podcast, Lemonis joins Joel Coleman and Logan Lowery to give an update on his program.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Fresh Fit. Defensive lineman Trevion Williams was named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watchlist, the Maxwell Football Club announced earlier this week. The prestigious award has been presented to the College Freshman Player of the Year since 2018. Williams, who enters his third season in 2024, is a redshirt freshman after earning a medical hardship waiver last season. He has played in six career games, three in 2022 and three in 2023 where he has recorded eight tackles and two TFLs.

🔼 Walking The Walk. For newcomers and veterans of Bulldog volleyball alike, Rebecca Walk treats everyone with the same respect and kindness. Those aspects of her personality have made her one of the most dignified athletes in the history of the program. Since joining State in 2021, Walk has been named to the SEC Community Service Team every year along with CSC Academic All-District selections in 2022 and 2023, which is given to the nation's top student-athletes for their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom.

🗣️ "I think she's truly the face of the program. She's a great role model [and] leader for the younger girls. She's done everything we've wanted and more and I think she's just the ultimate teammate.” - Julie Darty Dennis, head coach

📚️ Read more about Walk’s collegiate career and what she expects for her final campaign in 2024

🔼 Building Towards The Future. Mississippi State Athletics and the Bulldog Club announced Wednesday the formation of the Cristil Society, a philanthropic giving group dedicated to enhancing the student-athlete experience at Mississippi State. The Cristil Society will be a foundation upon which student-athlete and team success is built at Mississippi State. Contributions to the Bulldog Club provide necessary resources for 16 athletics programs and over 400 student-athletes. These key investments can be designated toward areas of focus including the holistic student-athlete experience, facility enhancements and scholarships.

🎥 Learn more with this video introducing the Cristil Society

🤔 BULLDOG TRIVIA

Back On Air. Today’s trivia question…which popular Bulldog fall show made its return last night for the beginning of the 2024 season?

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

Thursday, August 29
⚽️ Soccer vs. Tennessee Tech @ 6:30pm in Starkville, MS | ESPN+ | Live Stats

Friday, August 30
⛳️ Women’s Golf @ Carmel Cup in Pebble Beach, CA
🏐 Volleyball vs. Samford @ 6:00pm in Birmingham, AL | ESPN+ | Live Stats

🐶 Click here to see the full Mississippi State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Dawg Talk!

Mississippi State football's radio show, "Dawg Talk," returns on Wednesday with head coach Jeff Lebby, quarterback Blake Shapen and linebacker Stone Blanton. The show will be broadcast live every week from Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux in Starkville from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The 60-minute program will be featured each week on the affiliates of the MSU Sports Radio Network.

🐶 Have a great Thursday, y'all!