Almost 100 Years Ago...

Almost 100 years ago, in the year 1918, my great grandmother, Clara Saxon attended what was then known as Mississippi A & M.  She became a teacher.

Mama Clara, as we knew her, is on the far right in front of the Industrial Building, the year 1918 written on the back.

After World War I, she married Walter McGee and had 6 children, the oldest of them, my Papaw, Walter Saxon "Buddy" McGee.   He attended MSU after World War II in 1948 and lived in the renowned Old Main dormitory.  He married and had 3 boys, the oldest, Walter Lynn McGee, my Daddy.  Dad attended MSU and we have heard tales of his college days in the 1970s  including some about him hitchhiking to and from school.  He and both of his brothers graduated from MSU.

 Jack Cristil's voice over a crackling static radio in a pea green Ford with no air conditioning is a staple of my childhood.  And anytime it is possible my daddy will still watch a game on TV with it muted and listen to it on the radio.  My sister and I grew up believing that if we made the audacious decision to attend the "other" school, not one dime of our tuition would be paid.  Neither of us dared make such a foolhardy choice for undergraduate school.
My sister  graduated with a degree from State before going to law school.   I went to State and later on to UNA for my nursing degree.  My husband, Joe, also graduated from MSU and has memories of many ball game trips with his dad.  After marrying him I realized there were TWO men in the world that recorded and watched MSU games over and over and over again, at times like it was the first time, rewinding the very  best and very worst parts, reliving all the emotion again and again, driving his spouse insane.  "Baby, they don't pull it out this time Ei-ther," I have consoled on more than one occasion.

To say our babies don't have a chance is an understatement.  They have been brainwashed since birth.
They wear maroon and clang cowbells as soon as their fat dimpled fists can clench them.  They learn the cheers and fight song and chant MAROON or WHITE not long after learning bedtime and dinner prayers. They have no idea that universities exist outside of Mississippi State and the "Boo Rebels" team.  No, they've never so much as heard of a  Harvard or Yale. They, like we did at a young age, will grow to believe that it's a good day of State wins, but it's a GREAT day if State wins and Ole Miss gets beat.  




Our family loves the Dawgs!

 Cate at age 2,asleep and holding her ticket in her bed after her first football game at MSU.

Joe and Ava with her cowbell.




A night at Dudy Noble with Cate and Ava.


 Cate and Bully.



Papaw and John Saxon "Jack" Babb, on May 7, 2013.  Jack's first road trip.


I would love for my Papaw  to see this National Championship series. He attended MSU games well into his 80s, until his legs could no longer hold him to walk.  And at the age of 91, on June 7 of this year, he went Home.  For the first time he can remember, my Daddy's telephone didn't ring after a MSU ball game. There was no, "Did you see the game?" on the other end of the line.

My Papaw loved baseball and he loved Mississippi State.  He will be missed, but his legacy lives on.

Hail dear ole State.
Win it all.