South Carolina football fans are among the most ravenous in the country. This is something that Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett is trying to prepare his team for as they get ready to travel to Columbia for this weekend’s game.
In his weekly press conference in Starkville, Arnett spoke to reporters about the message he had for his team about the Gamecock Faithful. The Bulldog headman described the Williams-Brice crowd as “electric,” “energetic,” and “great,” highlighting the fact that South Carolina football fans turn up the volume even more at night (kickoff is set for 7:30 on Saturday).
Adding to Arnett and Mississippi State’s misfortune was the expected news that, once again, Williams-Brice Stadium would be sold out to watch the Gamecocks play. If Bulldog fans were hopeful that a Gamecock loss to the other Bulldogs of Georgia would dampen the environment for Saturday’s contest, they were sorely mistaken.
Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks have been anywhere from a 4-point to 7-point favorite this week over MSU, and many pundits feel confident that South Carolina will bounce back with a victory. Mississippi State is 2-1 with a nice win over the Arizona Wildcats, but they also experienced a humiliating beatdown at the hands of the LSU Tigers this past Saturday.
In a new offensive system under offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay, the Bulldogs have not looked quite as crisp as in previous years when The Pirate Mike Leach was at the helm of the program. The defense in maroon and white hasn’t been spectacular either, and that was supposed to be the strength of Mississippi State’s team.
Both South Carolina and Mississippi State are middle-of-the-pack SEC programs in 2023, and the outcome of Saturday’s game could go a long way in determining whether each team will be toward the top of the league’s middle class or if they will be flirting with Vanderbilt near the cellar.
Carolina fans will be ready to do their part to contribute to some continued struggles for Arnett’s squad.
The game will be broadcast on the SECNetwork and the ESPNApp at 7:30 on Saturday.