Mississippi State Urges Fans to Turn Davis Wade Into a Nightmare for Arizona State
Mississippi State is pulling out all the stops to create an electric, intimidating atmosphere at Davis Wade Stadium this Saturday as the Bulldogs prepare to host Arizona State. With noise, lights, and a blackout crowd on the agenda, the goal is simple: make life miserable for the visiting Sun Devils.
A Response to Arizona State’s Hype
Last season, when Mississippi State traveled to Arizona State, the Sun Devils made a major effort to pack Mountain America Stadium, hoping to break attendance records. While they didn’t quite hit their goals, they still managed to draw over 10,000 students in back-to-back games for the first time. The energy was high, and it created a tough road environment for the Bulldogs.
“You could feel the energy in that stadium,” Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham said after the 2024 game.
Now, it’s Mississippi State’s turn to return the favor—and the program is determined to make it unforgettable.
Coaches and Players Rally the Fan Base
Just hours after a 34–17 victory over Southern Miss last weekend, the push began to energize the home crowd for Week 2. Wide receivers coach Chad Bumphis was among the first to call on fans via social media to fill the stadium. Since then, head coach Jeff Lebby, athletic director Zac Selmon, and several players have echoed the message.
Lebby addressed the excitement directly during his Monday press conference.
“I think our people are incredibly excited about it,” said Lebby. “My expectation is we walk into the stadium and it’s as special an atmosphere as there is in all of college football. We need that Saturday night at 6:30, in a big way. This is our home opener—it should be electric.”
Historic Crowds and New Enhancements
Davis Wade Stadium officially holds 60,311 fans, but its all-time attendance record is 62,945, set in 2014 against Auburn. Nineteen of the top 20 biggest crowds in Starkville history have exceeded the listed capacity.
With Arizona State coming in as a top-15 team (pending updated rankings), there’s plenty of motivation for fans to show up in massive numbers. Saturday’s game could crack that top 20 attendance list—and even if it falls just short, it’s expected to be one of the most intense environments of the season.
Fans will also experience the benefits of the university’s recent $9 million stadium upgrades. Combine that with the team’s sharp black uniforms featuring the classic script logo, and the Bulldogs are setting the stage for a classic college football upset.
A Scene to Remember
Picture this: the stadium lights dim, LED strobes flash in sync with music as the pregame show builds. Then everything falls silent. The crowd, dressed head to toe in black, becomes one with the darkness. The intro of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” starts to rumble through the speakers. Christopher Walken’s iconic “more cowbell” line plays. Then, Bully the mascot storms the field, followed by the team—and 60,000 cowbells explode into action.
It’s the kind of scene that shakes a stadium—and maybe even a ranked opponent’s confidence.
For fans who haven’t been to a game at Davis Wade in years, this Saturday is shaping up to be a reintroduction to remember. Whether it’s your first game or your 100th, it’s clear: this one’s going to be special.
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