Wednesday’s loss in the 2014 Orange Bowl was the latest of many losses while wearing special white uniforms for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Why does this happen? To start with, it’s harder to win on the road than it is at home. But two of the examples of this phenomenon took place in neutral-site bowl games. What gives?
This started in the 2012 season, when the Bulldogs unveiled special white uniforms for the Snow Bowl reunion vs Texas A&M and the Egg Bowl vs Ole Miss. The Bulldogs lost both games, as well as Gator Bowl that year, in which they wore the snow bowl jerseys with gray pants. That season, the Bulldogs posted an 0-3 record in special white unis.
This started in the 2012 season, when the Bulldogs unveiled special white uniforms for the Snow Bowl reunion vs Texas A&M and the Egg Bowl vs Ole Miss. The Bulldogs lost both games, as well as Gator Bowl that year, in which they wore the snow bowl jerseys with gray pants. That season, the Bulldogs posted an 0-3 record in special white unis.
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Jump forward to 2014, when the Bulldogs started the season 9-0, with most of their success coming in the maroon DWS 100 uniforms. After losing to Alabama in their regular white uniforms, the Bulldogs finished the season on the road in the Egg Bowl, once again wearing special white with gold jerseys. Just as they had two years prior, the Bulldogs lost, dropping their record to 0-4 in special white unis.
Two weeks before playing in the 2014 Orange Bowl, the Bulldogs unveiled white versions of the DWS 100 unis, to an overwhelmingly positive response from fans, and for good reason. The jerseys, paired with matte helmets, provided possibly the best look in Mississippi State history. However, they didn’t stop the Georgia Tech triple action attack, so despite Dak Prescott’s record setting performance, the Bulldogs again fell victim to the special white uniforms curse, dropping to 0-5 in them.
Two weeks before playing in the 2014 Orange Bowl, the Bulldogs unveiled white versions of the DWS 100 unis, to an overwhelmingly positive response from fans, and for good reason. The jerseys, paired with matte helmets, provided possibly the best look in Mississippi State history. However, they didn’t stop the Georgia Tech triple action attack, so despite Dak Prescott’s record setting performance, the Bulldogs again fell victim to the special white uniforms curse, dropping to 0-5 in them.
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The Bulldogs haven’t had the same problem in special maroon uniforms. In fact, they are undefeated in them. They are 2-0 in Egg Bowl uniforms at home, and 6-0 in the maroon DWS 100 unis. So in the end, it really comes down to home vs road. There are some exceptions to that rule, however: the snow bowl reunion loss vs Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M was at home, and the Bulldogs beat LSU on the road wearing the maroon DWS 100 unis.
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As a result of this record, I would propose that MSU limit the Egg Bowl unis to home games only; nothing is more embarrassing than walking out of Vaught-Hemmingway as a loser, wearing stupid gold numbers. Plus, who doesn’t want to see the white DWS 100 unis vs the Rebels’ red uniforms (even better with the powder blue helmets). Ole Miss’ road uniforms aren’t great, so we’re not missing out on an outstanding uni-matchup in Starkville with the gold-numbered unis.
More than likely, the DWS 100 unis, or a version of them, will become the regular uniforms next year. Hopefully, that will take the curse off of the white DWS 100 unis. With a road game to Southern Miss to open next season, it seems likely that the white DWS 100 unis will be worn in a win there. Other road games next year include games to Texas A&M, Auburn, Arkansas, and Missouri. If we are to wear special white uniforms at any time, I’d suggest Southern Miss so that the curse is sure to be broken. You don’t want uniforms to be the deciding factor in any of the other, tougher games (sarcasm, of course).
UPDATE: The curse WAS broken in 2015, as the Bulldogs debuted new white helmets to create a full stormtrooper look in a win at Missouri. However, when they wore the white helmets again at home, this time with the maroon jerseys and white pants, they were dominated at home in the Egg Bowl. The curse lives on?
More than likely, the DWS 100 unis, or a version of them, will become the regular uniforms next year. Hopefully, that will take the curse off of the white DWS 100 unis. With a road game to Southern Miss to open next season, it seems likely that the white DWS 100 unis will be worn in a win there. Other road games next year include games to Texas A&M, Auburn, Arkansas, and Missouri. If we are to wear special white uniforms at any time, I’d suggest Southern Miss so that the curse is sure to be broken. You don’t want uniforms to be the deciding factor in any of the other, tougher games (sarcasm, of course).
UPDATE: The curse WAS broken in 2015, as the Bulldogs debuted new white helmets to create a full stormtrooper look in a win at Missouri. However, when they wore the white helmets again at home, this time with the maroon jerseys and white pants, they were dominated at home in the Egg Bowl. The curse lives on?
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In 2016, the Bulldogs again wore white alternate uniforms, this time in the style of the Patriots uniforms as they are playing UMass at Gillette Stadium. The curse appeared to be active once more as the Bulldogs trailed at halftime, but a 34 point second half lifted the Bulldogs to victory. Still, you could say that the curse lives on as what should have been a very easy win was a hard fought one.
The All-White combo was worn twice in 2016; the updated white jerseys and pants made for what was easily the best All-White combo the Bulldogs had worn since the flying M uniforms. The curse took hold as the Bulldogs lost to Kentucky for the first time since 2008, snapping a 7 game win streak over the Wildcats. In the Egg Bowl, however, the Bulldogs won 55-20, winning their first Egg Bowl in All White since 1970, and first in white helmets since 2007.
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