Mississippi State opened up its 2019 home slate by welcoming its in-state rival Southern Miss to Davis Wade Stadium for the first time since 2014. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 14-0 lead and never looked back, cruising to a 38-15 victory despite starting QB Tommy Stevens leaving the game with an injury in the second quarter.
For the first time since 2008, Mississippi State did not wear its classic glossy maroon helmets in the home opener, opting instead to go with the matte white helmets for the second week in a row. They did, however, maintain tradition by wearing maroon jerseys and white pants for the 12th consecutive home opener.
Since the current white helmets were introduced in 2015, they have been worn 12 times (to a 7-5 record). Saturday's game against Southern Miss was only the second time they had been worn in Starkville and third time they had been worn with the maroon jerseys. The White/Maroon/White combo had previously been worn in the 2015 loss to Ole Miss and 2018 loss at LSU; Saturday's game was the first time that the Bulldogs had won in White/Maroon/White since the 2008 home opener against Southeastern Louisiana, and the first time as an "alternate" combination since the 2001 Memphis game.
From a tradition standpoint, I always want Maroon/Maroon/White to be Mississippi State's primary uniform combination and always be worn in the home opener. That being said, in the current set, White/Maroon/White is a very clean look, and it especially looked good (and cooler) in the bright, hot day that Saturday afternoon was.
I certainly still hope to see the glossy maroon helmets worn multiple times this season (they haven't been worn in over a year at this point, since last year's home opener against Stephen F. Austin); however, with the heat and the fact that it objectively is a very good looking uniform combination, I can't complain about White/Maroon/White being the season opening combination this year.
For the first time since 2008, Mississippi State did not wear its classic glossy maroon helmets in the home opener, opting instead to go with the matte white helmets for the second week in a row. They did, however, maintain tradition by wearing maroon jerseys and white pants for the 12th consecutive home opener.
Since the current white helmets were introduced in 2015, they have been worn 12 times (to a 7-5 record). Saturday's game against Southern Miss was only the second time they had been worn in Starkville and third time they had been worn with the maroon jerseys. The White/Maroon/White combo had previously been worn in the 2015 loss to Ole Miss and 2018 loss at LSU; Saturday's game was the first time that the Bulldogs had won in White/Maroon/White since the 2008 home opener against Southeastern Louisiana, and the first time as an "alternate" combination since the 2001 Memphis game.
From a tradition standpoint, I always want Maroon/Maroon/White to be Mississippi State's primary uniform combination and always be worn in the home opener. That being said, in the current set, White/Maroon/White is a very clean look, and it especially looked good (and cooler) in the bright, hot day that Saturday afternoon was.
I certainly still hope to see the glossy maroon helmets worn multiple times this season (they haven't been worn in over a year at this point, since last year's home opener against Stephen F. Austin); however, with the heat and the fact that it objectively is a very good looking uniform combination, I can't complain about White/Maroon/White being the season opening combination this year.
Just as they did in season opener against Alcorn State, Southern Miss wore their 1980 helmet design in Starkville on Saturday. A really cool throwback design, the 1980 helmet looked really good paired with Southern Miss's white jerseys and gold pants. The Golden Eagles brought their best uniform to Starkville, and it paid off for what was a top tier uniform matchup, easily the best in the MSU/USM series since it was halted in 1990.
It was the first time that Mississippi State had worn white helmets against the Golden Eagles since the 1972 matchup, which was won by MSU and Rockey Felker by a score of 26-7. It was the first time Southern Miss had worn the 1980 helmet design against State since, well, 1980, when they won 42-14 in Starkville.
For more on Southern Miss's recent uniform history, check out the Southern Miss Uniform Tracker, which has records of the uniforms worn by Golden Eagles in each football game since 2003.
It was the first time that Mississippi State had worn white helmets against the Golden Eagles since the 1972 matchup, which was won by MSU and Rockey Felker by a score of 26-7. It was the first time Southern Miss had worn the 1980 helmet design against State since, well, 1980, when they won 42-14 in Starkville.
For more on Southern Miss's recent uniform history, check out the Southern Miss Uniform Tracker, which has records of the uniforms worn by Golden Eagles in each football game since 2003.
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| As detailed in the season preview, there are a few small changes to the Bulldogs' maroon jerseys in 2019; the Southern Miss game was the first time that these changes saw the field. Unlike at the team photo and fan day, at which only some players had the updated collar design and NOB font, the entire team had the updated jerseys for the home opener. The changes, though subtle, improve on what was already a great home jersey look for Mississippi State. |  |
Next week, Mississippi State continues its homestand by hosting the Kansas State Wildcats out of the Big 12. Last season, the Bulldogs traveled to Manhattan, Kansas and won 31-10; hopefully next weekend's 11 AM kickoff will have a similar result!
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