STARKVILLE — If you browse through Mississippi State football’s social media, you’ll likely come across a recurring phrase: “Starkville vs. Everybody.”
This slogan began circulating among fans ahead of MSU’s surprising 24-20 victory over then-No. 10 Arizona State at Davis Wade Stadium on September 6, and it’s only gained momentum since.
Starkville, often the target of jokes in the world of college athletics, has used this mantra to rally against the narrative. After the Bulldogs’ biggest win under second-year coach Jeff Lebby, the phrase has grown into more than just a catchphrase. It’s now a hashtag, featured on graphics, mentioned on TV, and even printed on T-shirts.
As Mississippi State prepares for its second of four consecutive home games against Alcorn State (0-2) on September 13, the buzz around “Starkville vs. Everybody” continues to build.
Lebby believes the phrase resonates because Starkville has often been unfairly misjudged. “There’s this rap we get that’s not true,” he said. “We talk to our guys nonstop about no comparisons. We don’t compare ourselves to anybody. We’re doing what’s best for Mississippi State, our program, university, and community.”
Why has Starkville become a target on social media?
Starkville often finds itself ridiculed because of its small size. With a population of just 25,241 — the smallest in the SEC, according to World Population Review — it frequently faces criticisms. People often point out the lack of certain chain restaurants or complain about the travel difficulties to get there.
The cowbells at Davis Wade Stadium also tend to stir up frustration from opposing teams. Mississippi State is one of the few schools with an exception that allows fans to use them as noisemakers, and when the stadium is full, as it was against Arizona State, the atmosphere is deafening.
The phrase “Starkville vs. Everybody” was further fueled after Arizona State’s coach, Kenny Dillingham, made a comment during a news conference on September 1. He said the Sun Devils had to stay more than an hour away from Starkville due to the lack of hotels that weren’t associated with casinos. Starkville doesn’t have any casinos, and as Visit Starkville later pointed out in a social media video, there are actually four hotels within two miles of Davis Wade Stadium.
That evening, Lebby posted on social media asking fans to buy tickets for the Arizona State game, tagging “Starkville vs. Everybody.” The phrase quickly gained traction, spreading across social media, including the official MSU football accounts.
Dillingham later clarified that he hadn’t meant to take a jab at Starkville, but by then, the damage had been done. Fans were offended, and even some Ole Miss supporters saw it as a slight against the entire state.
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