Mississippi State kicked off the 2019 football season this morning in New Orleans, Louisiana, taking on the "home" team Ragin Cajuns. The game marked Penn State graduate transfer Tommy Stevens's first start at quarterback for Mississippi State. Stevens had previously played under Joe Moorhead, who began his second season as Mississippi State's head coach with today's game, at Penn State; his familiarity with Moorhead's offensive system was a major factor in his winning the starting QB job.
With all of the Penn State connections between Moorhead and Stevens, it seems only fitting that the Bulldogs would suit up in all-white uniforms for the season opener. Matched up with Louisiana's all-red, the game had a bit of a color rush aspect to it. Despite it being a solid uniform matchup, the game itself was even sloppier than you'd expect from a Week 1 game; turnovers and bad defense were common themes for both teams. However, Mississippi State's offense looked improved, with Stevens finding connections with a variety of Bulldog receivers and Kylin Hill continuing to be a force in the running game. Behind the improved offense, State pulled out a 38-28 victory to start the 2019 campaign 1-0.
With all of the Penn State connections between Moorhead and Stevens, it seems only fitting that the Bulldogs would suit up in all-white uniforms for the season opener. Matched up with Louisiana's all-red, the game had a bit of a color rush aspect to it. Despite it being a solid uniform matchup, the game itself was even sloppier than you'd expect from a Week 1 game; turnovers and bad defense were common themes for both teams. However, Mississippi State's offense looked improved, with Stevens finding connections with a variety of Bulldog receivers and Kylin Hill continuing to be a force in the running game. Behind the improved offense, State pulled out a 38-28 victory to start the 2019 campaign 1-0.
| As detailed in the season preview, Mississippi State is retaining their same standard uniform design in 2019, albeit with a few small changes. In today's season opener, we got a look at those small changes on the white jerseys for the first time. |  |
As seen on the maroon jerseys at fan day and in the team photo, the Bulldogs' white jerseys have an updated, more traditional collar design, as well as a new, serif player NOB font. As opposed to the aforementioned fan day and team photos, at which only some players had the updated maroon jerseys with these changes, the entire team had the updated white jerseys in today's game. That's a big win for cohesiveness. Both of these changes, especially the more traditional collar, are in my opinion improvements on what was an already great look.
Other changes included the addition of the CFB150 patch to the upper right chest, above the SEC patch; it is being be worn by all NCAA D1 teams this season in recognition of the sport's 150th anniversary. Additionally, the helmet bumper logo on the white helmets has been changed from the "Mississippi State" banner logo to "STATE" in block lettering. Last year, the new matte maroon helmets featured "STATE" on the bumper; it appears that it is being expanded to the Bulldogs' other helmets this season.
With today's win, Mississippi State extended its perfect record against the Ragin Cajuns. The Bulldogs are now 5-0 against the Lafayette-based team, with wins in 1940, 1945, 1987, 2018, and 2019. In the 1987 win, the Bulldogs wore their then-standard home look of Maroon/Maroon/Gray. In 2018, State debuted new matte maroon helmets against the Cajuns, pairing them with maroon jerseys and white pants. And now in 2019, the Bulldogs played the Cajuns in the State of Louisiana for the first time ever, winning in white from head-to-toe.
After being worn in today's game, the Bulldogs' current white helmet design has now been worn in 5 consecutive seasons; no other single helmet design in the Adidas era has been worn in more than 3 different seasons. At 5 seasons, the current white helmets are now State's longest tenured helmet design since white helmets were the Bulldogs' only helmet design under Croom for 5 seasons from 2004 to 2008.
The white helmets have now been worn 11 times over the past 5 seasons, to a 6-5 record. Of those 11 games, 8 of them have been in an all-white combination, with a 5-3 record. Throughout its first four seasons (15,16,17,18), the white helmet has finished each season with a .500 record. When combined with the white helmets worn as alternates from 2000 to 2002, as well as the ones worn in the 2003 Egg Bowl and 2012 "Snow Bowl", the Bulldogs now have an all time record of 8-12 in alternate white helmets.
Other changes included the addition of the CFB150 patch to the upper right chest, above the SEC patch; it is being be worn by all NCAA D1 teams this season in recognition of the sport's 150th anniversary. Additionally, the helmet bumper logo on the white helmets has been changed from the "Mississippi State" banner logo to "STATE" in block lettering. Last year, the new matte maroon helmets featured "STATE" on the bumper; it appears that it is being expanded to the Bulldogs' other helmets this season.
With today's win, Mississippi State extended its perfect record against the Ragin Cajuns. The Bulldogs are now 5-0 against the Lafayette-based team, with wins in 1940, 1945, 1987, 2018, and 2019. In the 1987 win, the Bulldogs wore their then-standard home look of Maroon/Maroon/Gray. In 2018, State debuted new matte maroon helmets against the Cajuns, pairing them with maroon jerseys and white pants. And now in 2019, the Bulldogs played the Cajuns in the State of Louisiana for the first time ever, winning in white from head-to-toe.
After being worn in today's game, the Bulldogs' current white helmet design has now been worn in 5 consecutive seasons; no other single helmet design in the Adidas era has been worn in more than 3 different seasons. At 5 seasons, the current white helmets are now State's longest tenured helmet design since white helmets were the Bulldogs' only helmet design under Croom for 5 seasons from 2004 to 2008.
The white helmets have now been worn 11 times over the past 5 seasons, to a 6-5 record. Of those 11 games, 8 of them have been in an all-white combination, with a 5-3 record. Throughout its first four seasons (15,16,17,18), the white helmet has finished each season with a .500 record. When combined with the white helmets worn as alternates from 2000 to 2002, as well as the ones worn in the 2003 Egg Bowl and 2012 "Snow Bowl", the Bulldogs now have an all time record of 8-12 in alternate white helmets.
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Next week, the Bulldogs will take on Southern Miss in the 2019 home opener at Davis Wade Stadium. If tradition holds, the Bulldogs should be in shiny maroon helmets, maroon jerseys, and white pants as they take on the Golden Eagles. I for one can't wait to dust off my cowbell and get back to Davis Wade next weekend. Hail State!
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