100 Day Bulldog Countdown: Looking back at former Bulldog coach Ralph Sasse
Jeff Lebby’s era of Mississippi State football has arrived.
The Bulldogs are on their third coach in as many years as Mike Leach’s tragic passing opened the door for defensive coordinator Zach Arnett’s debut as head coach last year. That experiment failed before the year even ended for State and now it’s Lebby’s turn to take the wheel.
While there is always a risk in hiring first time head coaches, Lebby brings to Starkville an exciting offensive scheme that has been productive everywhere he’s been. The coach has also brought with him some swagger that has the fanbase ready to see what’s next.
Over the course of the next 100 days, we will take a look at Lebby’s roster and even some fun historical rewinds that will bring back memories for Dawg fans of all ages.
Today, we go back 89 years to one of the first good runs in State’s football history.
100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 89 Days – Looking back at former Bulldog coach Ralph Sasse
89 years ago, State was preparing for a new era of football.
From the program’s inception in 1895 to that point in 1935, the Maroons had 17 head coaches. Along with the turnover came struggles for the football team. After two losing seasons in 1933-34 by Ross McKechnie, the Maroons got a coach with a pedigree in Sasse.
A native of Delaware, Sasase was a decorated Army officer. In college, Sasse attended the United State Military Academy in West Point and would go into service with the US. Sasse first fought in WWI in 1919 and earned Major status before becoming a professor for USMA.
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In 1929, Sasse was appointed the head coach of the football Cadets and he led the team to a 9-1 record in year one. Through three seasons, Sasse went 25-5-2 before leaving to coach and science professor in Starkville. Sasse led the Maroons to an 8-3 record in year one. The biggest win of the season came against Sasse’s Alma Mater as the team went on the road and knocked off Army 13-7. The eight wins the most wins for a coach in school history.
That season, Sasse also delivered the school its first live Bulldog mascot. Early in the season, Sasse traveled to Memphis and picked a bulldog named Ptolemy to represent the University. The next Bulldog that season would carry the name “Bully” and it stuck.
Sasse finished his career with a 20-10-2 record with the Maroons including leading the team to the first bowl game in school history as they went to the Orange Bowl. After three seasons, however, Sasse’s health came into question and he left the coaching ranks.
He returned to Army as an Athletic Director and also served his country as a Major again in WWII. He would die at the age of 65 in 1954.
