Monday night continues The Hump's resurgence as House of Horrors
Mississippi State’s Humphrey Coliseum lost a little of its magic when COVID-19 hit in 2020.
Beginning with the pandemic’s emergence and the inability to put fans in the stands, the Bulldog men’s team struggled to make it back into the NCAA Tournament and State’s women tried to find themselves after losing legendary coach Vic Schaefer to Texas. This season, familiar feelings are coming back to the surface.
Chris Jans’ Bulldogs took down No. 5 Tennessee earlier this month and added another top 10 win to the resume last Saturday when they were able to knock off No. 8 Auburn. On Monday night, it was the women’s turn to get in on the action.
For the first time under Sam Purcell, it was a sold-out Hump for the matchup with defending National Champion and No. 9 LSU. For the better part of the ball game, the atmosphere felt every bit as electric as it did just a few short years ago when Schaefer had the Bulldogs in the National Title picture and winning SEC Championships.
9,121 packed inside the Hump to watch women’s basketball. It was a reminder to a nationally televised audience that women’s basketball *still* matters in Starkville. LSU felt it, too, as the Tigers went down 77-73 to the Bulldogs to further shake up the college basketball landscape.
“Dreams come true,” Purcell said. “People thought it can’t be done. There was a support and energy where (the team) felt value. There was a support and energy where they weren’t going to be denied. There was a support and energy where we weren’t going to be denied.”
The stars were out on Monday night as well. Former Bulldog great and Tennessee Titan defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons sat courtside to watch on as the Bulldogs found a way to take down the Tigers while others tuned in from home.
Former quarterback Will Rogers tweeted his support, as did Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones watching from home after his team booked another Super Bowl trip. Even National College Football Analyst Kirk Herbstreit chimed: “Damn this women’s hoops just keeps delivering. Great atmospheres (sell out in Starkville) and competitive games. Congrats HailStateWBK on a massive win tonight. Fun watch!!”
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Jerkaila Jordan has been in Starkville for three years. While fans have still supported the Bulldogs in a way that was not common for most of the SEC, Monday night was a different vibe than she has seen. It was an atmosphere that she once saw as a young girl growing up in New Orleans and it felt good to feel it for the first time.
“It was just surreal. It was unbelievable,” Jordan said. “I’m so proud of this team, this coaching staff and this fanbase. I’m just glad we were able to pull it out in front of them. They were so happy so it makes me so happy.”
It was just what the doctor ordered for Purcell as he pushes to bring women’s basketball back to prominence in Starkville. The Bulldogs (17-5, 4-3 SEC) are now in the hunt for the top four spots in the SEC and will move up the NCAA Tournament projections. Stacking on to this win and keeping the fanbase engaged is at the forefront.
“I’m a man of words but I’m still speechless,” MSU head coach Sam Purcell said after the win. “This is what I dreamed about. This is the moment that I wanted to come here. I told everyone to give me a chance but give us a chance together. This place is special.
“Tonight was the night for people to watch across the country and hopefully a lot of people that had questions about Mississippi State we answered that. Most importantly, to the recruits, talk to me nice. My phone is open.”
