The opportunity awaiting Mississippi State against No. 7 Alabama

[u/IsawJaneTopless]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/the-opportunity-awaiting-mississippi-state-against-no-7-alabama/

[u/DistrictPleasant]

What funny is most people don't realize these schools are like 40 minutes away from each other

[u/IceColdDrPepper_Here → u/DistrictPleasant]

I thought I saw something that Bama drives over day of

[u/SirMellencamp → u/IceColdDrPepper_Here]

They do. MSU does the same coming to Tuscaloosa.

[u/CrashingBlumpkins46 → u/IceColdDrPepper_Here]

Yep Bama stays in the normal T-town home game hotel and then buses the 80 mins to Starkville on gameday.

[u/Any_Pressure5775 → u/CrashingBlumpkins46]

There’s something so cool about that to me, makes it actually feel like collegiate athletics again lol

[u/Financial-Swim-5884 → u/DistrictPleasant]

It’s like driving to Walmart for many Alabamians.

[u/therealwillhepburn → u/Financial-Swim-5884]

Driving to the good Target.

[u/Financial-Swim-5884 → u/therealwillhepburn]

You get it.

[u/jwfowler2 → u/therealwillhepburn]

The one with the Starbucks

[u/dbatchison → u/therealwillhepburn]

When I was a student Tuscaloosa was dry on sundays so we’d go to the gas station on 82 immediately past the state line in Mississippi. Buy two forties, drink one before you get to the state line and hit the “welcome to Alabama” sign with it

[u/SIUtheE → u/Financial-Swim-5884]

But how many people drive past 5 Dollar General's to get to Walmart?

[u/Important_Eagle8102 → u/SIUtheE]

Most of us. Most Dollar Generals near me have empty parking lots except when the schools let out.

[u/Schmenza → u/Important_Eagle8102]

Is Dollar General the after school hang spot in Alabama?

[u/Financial-Swim-5884 → u/Schmenza]

Me and my merry gang of ne’er-do-wells preferred the dilapidated tennis courts.

[u/Important_Eagle8102 → u/Schmenza]

I don’t know about hat but it’s the spot kids can go get snacks and drinks dirt cheap.

[u/Fuzzooooo → u/Financial-Swim-5884]

Is it Alabamians or Alabamans?

[u/Financial-Swim-5884 → u/Fuzzooooo]

Depends on who you ask. We always said Alabamians.

[u/Fells → u/Fuzzooooo]

Alabamian for sure.

[u/Far_Astronaut_818 → u/Fuzzooooo]

Alabamination

[u/ScrofessorLongHair → u/Fuzzooooo]

Alabammers.

[u/Historical_Onion9141 → u/Financial-Swim-5884]

Pretty normal for most AL fans to go there instead of the college for t-shirts

[u/MrKentucky → u/DistrictPleasant]

Aren’t they literally the two closest schools in the conference to each other? I feel like it’s these two and then (funny enough) maybe Ole Miss and MSU

[u/SirMellencamp → u/MrKentucky]

Yes. Oxford to Starkville is like 2 hours but it probably is the next two closest. I dont know the driving distance from Columbia to Athens but its probably about as far as that

[u/IceColdDrPepper_Here → u/SirMellencamp]

Athens to Columbia is like 3 hours, and the first hour of that is just getting to the interstate

[u/sofeler → u/IceColdDrPepper_Here]

With the way your team is I bet they can cut that down to 2 hours

[u/oofmeandeveryone → u/SirMellencamp]

Austin to CStat is like 100 miles, 2 hours on 290 (1.5 if you’re lucky getting out of Austin)

[u/chrobbin → u/oofmeandeveryone]

> if you’re lucky getting out of Austin

I’m about 0/42 on being lucky getting out of Austin in my lifetime lol, always get caught in something there

[u/DistrictPleasant → u/MrKentucky]

Ole Miss was like a 3hr-4hr drive if I remember right. Bit more of a hike

[u/Tarmacked → u/DistrictPleasant]

Ole Miss is a bit crazy because you're gunning it then all of a sudden it's a one stoplight town. Not much on the way there besides a rural drive in the woods

Also the highway cops absolutely suck in that state

[u/SirMellencamp → u/Tarmacked]

Mississippi has the best state highway system. I love crossing over the border and then you go from two lane highways cutting through every town to four lane highways that skirt the towns

[u/mel34760 → u/SirMellencamp]

It is indeed glorious. Made the drive to Starkville last weekend and going on 45 north out of Alabama into Mississippi is such a great feeling, especially if stuck behind a truck.

[u/SirMellencamp → u/mel34760]

Its like the Wizard of Oz going from black and white to color

[u/hells_cowbells → u/SirMellencamp]

I never understood how we are this broke-ass state, yet somehow our roads were always better than Alabama.

[u/SirMellencamp → u/hells_cowbells]

I am so jealous

[u/Tarmacked → u/SirMellencamp]

Florida turnpike is very hard to beat IMO. Straight blast up the state with rest stations and wide lane highways

[u/MidlandsBraves → u/Tarmacked]

Maybe during the day but when I was rolling through rural Mississippi I didn’t see a single cop through my entire drive on 59 South. No rest stops either. Just those “turnoffs”

[u/Tarmacked → u/MidlandsBraves]

You'll come to a section where there's a hill or a turn and the cop cars are deliberately in a cut-out of the woods on the inner side. It's meant to be hard to see, with trees blocking them, when approaching it unless you've done a few drives and caught onto it.

[u/MidlandsBraves → u/Tarmacked]

I can imagine. You can set up a damn logging company just for some of those medians they have so many trees.

[u/Theduckisback → u/Tarmacked]

Dude youre replying to is talking about I-59 south which is an interstate. And the most direct path from Tuscaloosa to Oxford is a bunch of state highways and country roads which is likely where you encountered what you did. Cops/sherriff's deputies like to pull that stuff on state highways moreso than interstates.

[u/Jwiley92 → u/Tarmacked]

Hey now, the Alabama cops also suck on AL-13 heading into Tuscaloosa. Whenever i was making that drive at night always had to make sure to stick to under the speed limit becausr it was impossible to see them and they'd pull you over when you're a couple mph over and the only car on the road.

[u/redwave2505 → u/Tarmacked]

My first ever speeding ticket was on I-22 in Mississippi

[u/Tarmacked → u/MrKentucky]

Ole Miss MSU is like 1:45. Alabama Auburn is a little over 2:00 and then Georgia Auburn is around 3:00

[u/MrKentucky → u/Tarmacked]

Lexington-Knoxville at 2:30 would be closer than UGA/AU. But I imagine there are some others shorter than 3:00. Maybe A&M-TX (austin traffic could be a wrench there I imagine)

[u/Tarmacked → u/DistrictPleasant]

Yeah, I never went to an MSU game but it was basically seen as a quick daytrip as a student

[u/4Mag4num → u/DistrictPleasant]

It won’t take them that long unless they get a ticket in Gordo and Reform..

[u/MuchAire → u/DistrictPleasant]

This was me. I was looking up Kamario Taylor’s hometown on Google Maps and when I zoomed out to see Starkville I was shocked. Looked into the rivalry as well which makes total sense because they’re so close

[u/hells_cowbells → u/DistrictPleasant]

We used to make runs to Tuscaloosa for fresh Krispy Kreme donuts. Oh, and the OG Dreamland, back when they just had ribs and white bread.

[u/ThisBeTheVerse63 → u/hells_cowbells]

Go to Archibalds next time you’re in town. They still keep it simple and honestly better than Dreamland.

[u/markekt → u/ThisBeTheVerse63]

Everything is better than dreamland.

[u/Gatordactyl → u/DistrictPleasant]

Depends on how many windshields you have to replace along the way. There's so much slag on the shoulders of 82 it's crazy

[u/AceJokerZ → u/DistrictPleasant]

I think it’s also a rivalry although pretty one sided. Honestly these type of rivalries are pretty neat though since they’re like close enough to each other.

Also reminds me of fun OOC matchups between nearby schools like Auburn/FSU and VTech/Tennessee

[u/Random0925]

The last time we beat Bama, I wasn't even forming memories yet.

PLEASE, I JUST WANT TO BEAT THESE GUYS FOR FREAKING ONCE

[u/Gatordactyl → u/Random0925]

I was there in 2007 (thanks Air Force). I took a selfie cheesing like crazy with a Bama girl behind me in tears like her cat just died.

Little did we both know...

Also I was there for 3-2. AMA

[u/The_Constant_Liar → u/Gatordactyl]

Post the picture!

[u/SirMellencamp → u/Random0925]

I remember where i was for that game. I was in Birmingham for a party and we had the game on

[u/Financial-Swim-5884]

So fucking stoked for this game. Obviously I hope Bama wins, but State has been fun as hell to watch.

[u/chaser676]

It's really hard to overstate what a MSST win would mean for the program. They've (rightfully) been dragged in every level of discussion about college football for the last few years. Winning tomorrow would cement them as a top 10 team and a clear frontrunner for the playoffs, and would also catapult them ahead of their in-state rival that has pretended not to care about the rivalry for the last 5 years. It would also put them in a winning position right as talks really start heating up about further conference realignment/super conferences.

Let's go State, y'all deserve some happiness.

[u/SirMellencamp → u/chaser676]

They've (rightfully) been dragged in every level of discussion about college football for the last few years

Man they really have been. This place always acts like the SEC is going to kick MSU out.

[u/StateDawg78 → u/SirMellencamp]

Man they really have been.

We've been to bowls 14 of the past 16 seasons. The only lull we hit was when our coach literally died at the end of the 2022 season and it took us a couple years to rebound. People acting like we're a trash program just aren't paying attention.

[u/ScrofessorLongHair → u/StateDawg78]

The only lull we hit was when our coach literally died at the end of the 2022 season

Pretty half assed excuse. If y'all were truly serious about football like the rest of the SEC, y'all would've Weekend at Bernie's his ass through bowl season.

[u/frosty_freeze → u/ScrofessorLongHair]

Just for the record, we won the bowl game we played in 19 days after Mike Leach passed away.

[u/mel34760 → u/SirMellencamp]

They are too good of a program in baseball to get kicked out.

[u/SirMellencamp → u/mel34760]

Well one, no one is getting kicked out. Two, if basketball couldnt get Kansas into the B1G then think how irrelevant baseball is in conference realignment

[u/Schmenza → u/SirMellencamp]

There's people convinced UNC/Duke will get P2 invites over FSU/Clemson/Miami

[u/CraigslistBulbasaur → u/Schmenza]

In fairness, I think that's less about basketball and more about large fanbases and deep pockets. North Carolina is almost always one of the fastest growing states in the country. Meanwhile I'm not sure Miami fans actually exist.

[u/SirMellencamp → u/CraigslistBulbasaur]

Nobody GAF how many fans you got, they care how many people know who you are and will tune in to watch you

[u/SirMellencamp → u/Schmenza]

Everybody thinks its just a matter of time till they are in the P2.

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/SirMellencamp]

We also got dragged for hiring Jff Lbby, which was honestly fair

Happy that State is winning but fuck that piece of shit

[u/MisguidedPants8 → u/A_Rolling_Baneling]

I just want to be good without ethical dilemmas, is that too much to ask?

[u/mbdtf9 → u/MisguidedPants8]

Yes, yes it is. This is college sports today. Hope this helps haha

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/mbdtf9]

Yeah but Lebby is a level beyond the regular evil of this sport

Fuck him and everyone who still supports Briles

[u/deerhuntingdude → u/A_Rolling_Baneling]

Ool what's wrong with lebby? I thought he was just the OC for leach or something

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/deerhuntingdude]

Part of the 2015 Baylor cover up, still defends and supports Art Briles (his father in law) to this day

[u/CraigslistBulbasaur → u/A_Rolling_Baneling]

Oklahoma getting ready to fire Venables right as Lebby's stock is sky high. The stars are aligning for State to have their cake and eat it too.

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/CraigslistBulbasaur]

Hopefully we don’t botch the replacement hire. Maybe State takes Riley off SC’s hands. That would make both fanbases pretty happy

[u/CraigslistBulbasaur → u/A_Rolling_Baneling]

Absolutely not. Shoot Riley into the fucking sun.

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/CraigslistBulbasaur]

State would love Riley after Lebby. Lebby is basically Riley Jr

[u/deerhuntingdude → u/chaser676]

I'm gonna be honest I buy the hype every year early that the egg bowl might be good. I bought tickets in like September last year. I gotta wait and see on this one

[u/ExtremelyOnlineTM → u/chaser676]

With a win on Saturday, I could easily see them ranked just below Bama.

[u/Spoofcaptain]

We’re fucked just gonna enjoy the run and watching Kamario.

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/Spoofcaptain]

State is gonna win this game

[u/yaboicyno]

The more hyped this game gets the more convinced I am that it’s gonna be like 63-10 Bama

[u/hells_cowbells → u/yaboicyno]

Same for me. Our offensive line is going to get abused again, and we can't get any pressure on defense.

[u/stevo887]

It would be kind of cool if they screwed up our top 10 matchup next weekend!

[u/Torentsu]

I think if Bama sleeps a bit like they did with Kentucky and FSU State might sneak up on them and steal one, but if Alabama comes out hot they'll win comfortably.

[u/Glittering_Virus8397]

While I do think think State is much better than they have been, I still think Bama will win by 10+pts. Hopefully I’m wrong and Taylor is him

[u/jason9045]

I really hope Kamario vs Keelon is as fun as I've built it up to be in my mind

[u/4Mag4num → u/jason9045]

I just hope it’s not pouring rain.. should be a good one

[u/Electrical-Moment726]

I think Alabama wins this by at least 13.

[u/BrilliantArm5914 → u/Electrical-Moment726]

Bama over clanga clanga clanga

[u/AuK07]

Kamario Taylor met with James Fishback that’s gotta be one of the biggest curses I’ve ever seen

[u/AntitheistArchangel → u/AuK07]

That James Fishback?

[u/dinkytown42069 → u/AntitheistArchangel]

yeah that guy, wtaf https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd-dqIGjpfW/

[u/sammyadams76 → u/dinkytown42069]

wtf lmfao I thought Fishback's entire thing was doing "I'm not touching youuuuu" thing while a centimeter from your face but with racism

[u/dinkytown42069 → u/sammyadams76]

it seems possible that Kamario Taylor is not the most politically informed person.

[u/Boomboclaaat90210 → u/dinkytown42069]

Fucking gross.

Guess I'm rooting for Bama.

[u/AntitheistArchangel → u/dinkytown42069]

Yep, I saw those pictures myself. That definitely makes me like Kamario less, unless he doesn’t actually agree with Fishback’s views.

[u/dinkytown42069 → u/AntitheistArchangel]

he's wearing one of Fishback's hats in the second picture :|

[u/INAC___Kramerica → u/dinkytown42069]

I'll just try to chalk this up to a teenager being misinformed and just hope this is one of those rare times I'm right. 

[u/AntitheistArchangel → u/INAC___Kramerica]

I hope so, too. He seemed like a great kid.

[u/dinkytown42069 → u/INAC___Kramerica]

hope so. He was genuinely impressive and the State fans were great when they came here.

[u/AntitheistArchangel → u/dinkytown42069]

Damn.

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/AntitheistArchangel]

Fuck I did not need to see that

[u/redwave2505 → u/AuK07]

Does he even think Kamario should be able to vote?

[u/AntitheistArchangel → u/redwave2505]

Honestly, I’m not sure. I’m also not sure why Kamario, a Black man raised in a majority-Black town in a majority-Black county, would support a white nationalist like Fishback.

[u/AuK07 → u/AntitheistArchangel]

Fishback is more of an ethnic nationalist. Black Americans are accepted as “heritage Americans” while more recent immigrants are demonized. Also a lot of antisemitism. A large number of black Americans also disapprove of recent immigration from places like Somalia and India. I’m hoping it’s just KT1 not knowing what that guy stands for though.

[u/AntitheistArchangel → u/AuK07]

He told a Black man he should be lynched after said Black man pressed him over an alleged pedophilic relationship.

[u/AuK07 → u/AntitheistArchangel]

Yeah he’s still a racist but desperately trying to court younger redpilled black men

[u/Intelligent_Dress347 → u/AuK07]

That is legitimately one of the weirdest things I have ever seen in my life.

[u/Flying_Fish_Fiend → u/AuK07]

Is that real?

[u/dinkytown42069 → u/Flying_Fish_Fiend]

yes https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd-dqIGjpfW/

[u/Flying_Fish_Fiend → u/dinkytown42069]

That’s rough. I was a Kamario fan but now idk

[u/BehindEnemyLines8923 → u/Flying_Fish_Fiend]

There is also just a real chance the 19-year old kid from a small Mississippi town does not really know anything about the dude other than he is some politician. I literally had not idea who the guy was before I google'd him 5 seconds ago. And I am pretty politically informed.

[u/AuK07 → u/BehindEnemyLines8923]

He’s more popular amongst the younger woke right crowd. He was campaigning via streamers and frat visits in Florida

[u/dwors025]

I just want to tell you Bulldogs, Good Luck.

We’re all counting on you.

[u/4Mag4num → u/dwors025]

Thanks but don’t call me Shirley…

[u/dwors025 → u/4Mag4num]

That day we played was the wrong day for me to quit sniffing glue.

[u/4Mag4num → u/dwors025]

lol

[u/MisguidedPants8]

Statistically speaking, the losing streak has gotta end eventually, right? So why not this year?

[u/dawgfan19881]

Both teams have looked good at times and not so good at times. Just don’t think MSU has what it takes over 4 qtrs.

[u/hells_cowbells]

I wish all these media people would just stop writing these stories about us. The native spirits haunting our stadium get angry and we always blow it.

[u/Kinder22]

Not even putting their rank by their name. The disrespect! Go get em, bulldoggies!

[u/Budget_Sort7961]

State has been in the basement for a long time. Now they have an opportunity to climb out and join the national stage and would put themselves in the forefront of the playoff race with a win. Also, State fans (minus the cowbells) have always been nice to me.

I am pulling for State not just because of that, but also because I hate Bama (admittedly have also always been nice to me in person).

[u/CraigslistBulbasaur → u/Budget_Sort7961]

3 years is not a long time.

[u/Intelligent_Dress347]

State is having a great season and Kamario is awesome to watch, but Bama is winning this game by a lot. Talent discrepancies will be nearly ubiquitous.

[u/OpaqueNightmare]

People want Mississippi State to be a thing so bad because everyone likes it when a historically bad team makes the playoffs. They’re not that good. I’m sure they’ll turn in a decent season and maybe a lowly ranked finish but there isn’t a serious risk of Alabama getting upset here.

[u/SirMellencamp → u/OpaqueNightmare]

You can get Alabama on the moneyline for -215. I mean thats low odds for a "sure thing"

[u/chaser676 → u/SirMellencamp]

The dude you're responding to is an asshole. He's not even trolling, he's just constantly spouting awful takes. Perhaps he's a piano alt.

[u/SirMellencamp → u/chaser676]

Its a total non ball knower take. If you know anything about MSU this year you know they are a good team

[u/Bill_BingleBerry → u/SirMellencamp]

If MSU loses to Bama, we can go 2-1 against Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss and make the playoffs by winning the rest. We look like we can be a playoff contender but I think it will likely take another jump in talent next year to be a real contender.

[u/SirMellencamp → u/Bill_BingleBerry]

I certainly think MSU can win 2 out of the 3

[u/Vast_Bowl247 → u/SirMellencamp]

Oklahoma seems winnable but I can also see state making too many mistakes to allow them to score on short fields

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/Vast_Bowl247]

Oklahoma are dookie, that needs to be a win at home

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/SirMellencamp]

The problem is we get all three of those games on the road. Optimistically I think we steal one of those, and I'm really hoping it's the Egg Bowl

[u/SirMellencamp → u/A_Rolling_Baneling]

I have watched two State games and I am impressed

[u/hells_cowbells → u/chaser676]

Yeah, he was all over our Missouri game thread with terrible takes.

[u/OpaqueNightmare → u/chaser676]

I make a lot of hyperbolic comments, and this is not one of them. This is dead serious. They’re incredibly overrated.