Good morning! Former Bulldog and current CEO of DLU checked in at No. 6 on the NFL Top 100 list — the second year in a row he’s been ranked in the top ten.

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

🏈 Coach Lebby is off and running in his first season
⚾️ Update from the Diamond Dawgs in the big league
🐶 And much, much more!

🎥 THE DUDES

The Dudes: Ring of Honor. The Ron Polk Ring of Honor recognizes the very best to come through the Mississippi State baseball program. This year, former pitcher Bobby Reed and current radio announcer Jim Ellis were inducted for their achievements and had their names enshrined at Dudy Noble Field. Hear from both Jim and Bobby as they reminisce on their careers and reflect on what this honor means to them.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Stacking Days. On a beautiful summer morning in Starkville on Thursday, new Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby led his Bulldogs through the first few practices of the 2024 preseason. On his first day, there was of course no scoreboard and no pads, but Lebby couldn't help but come off the field encouraged by what he saw.

🗣️ "Our guys had great energy [and were] just being intentional. They worked their butt off this summer to get us to this point. We have so much work to do and so much to clean up, but again, our guys' energy, our effort, our focus and our want to get better is what it's all about on day one." - Jeff Lebby

Soon enough, August 31 will arrive and there'll be an accurate way to measure victories and losses when the games begin. For now, it’s time to focus on the little things that build into big wins between now and then.

🎥 Get pumped up with Coach Lebby

📚️ Read more about Lebby’s first week at the helm of the Maroon and White

🔼 Ready To Throw. Mississippi State is responsible for two of the three former collegiate javelin throwers who will compete at the Olympic Games this year. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Curtis Thompson of the United States will represent the Bulldogs in Paris after both competing in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. State’s duo will begin their Olympic journey on Tuesday, Aug. 6 with the qualifying rounds at 3:20 a.m. and 4:50 a.m. CT, which is 10:20 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. in Paris.

🔼 State To The Show. It’s time for the weekly check-in on the Diamond Dawgs playing in The Show.

⚾️ Brent Rooker continues to rake after finishing the month of July with a .391 batting average and blasting 11 home runs and 30 RBI.

⚾️ Hunter Renfroe is hitting .346 with the red-hot Kansas City Royals, and in his last seven games, has hit two home runs and driven in seven.+——

⚾️ Rowdey Jordan is leading the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, a New York Mets affiliate, in RBI (42) and is second in stolen bases (15).

📚️ See which other former Diamond Dawgs are balling out in the big leagues

🔼 Do It For The Fam. Offensive linemen are often unsung heroes. It seems fitting then that standing behind one of the country's best has been a strong family shining outside the spotlight. Ethan Miner knows how blessed and fortunate he has been and continues to be to have the support of his wife. Family is important to Ethan. After all, it's also the biggest reason he's at State.

🗣️ "I felt it in the spring. We'd go out to practice and for the first time in five years, I was looking forward to getting better. A lot of times, practice gets monotonous and is just not fun. It's still a grind and you're going to be tired, but I genuinely enjoy getting out here and getting better and you can tell the coaches actually care about making us better." - Ethan Miner

📚️ Read more about Miner and how his family, on and off the field, are his biggest motivation

🔼 Dear Ol’ State. Football is back! On the latest edition of Dear Ol' State, Joel Coleman and Logan Lowery celebrate the arrival of a new campaign as preseason camp starts in Starkville. Plus, hear post-practice thoughts from head coach Jeff Lebby.

🎧️ Listen to Dear Ol’ State: First Dady of Camp and Lebby’s Impressions

🤔 BULLDOG TRIVIA

Back in Maroon. Today’s trivia question…which Mississippi State athletics program played in their first exhibition of the season over the weekend?

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

🤝 SHARE THE BREW

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🥇 BULLDOGS AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS

Tuesday, August 6

👟 Men’s Javelin Qualifying (Anderson Peters & Curtis Thompson)

Wednesday, August 7

👟 Men’s 800m First Round (Navasky Anderson & Marco Arop)

📆 LOOKING AHEAD

Thursday, August 15

⚽️ Soccer vs. Baylor @ 6:30pm in Starkville, MS

Sunday, August 18

⚽️ Soccer vs. Northwestern State @ 1:00pm in Starkville, MS

Thursday, August 22

⚽️ Soccer vs. Charlotte @ 6:00pm in Charlotte, NC

Saturday, August 24

🏐 Volleyball vs. Memphis @ 4:00pm in Memphis, TN

Saturday, August 31

🏈 Football vs. Eastern Kentucky @ 5:00pm in Starkville, MS

🐶 Click here to see the full Mississippi State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Soccer!

Bulldog soccer had its first match day of the season in their exhibition against Kennesaw State. State came out on top 3-1 with goals from Aitana Martinez-Montoya and Zoe Main.

🐶 Have a great Monday, y'all!