All things Mississippi State University are looking better than they have in years. Enrollment is steadily increasing, donations are higher than ever and a $75 million stadium expansion project was announced Wednesday.
But the editors at Southern Living Magazine decided the Bulldogs deserved recognition for something else, something natives of The Junction will be very proud of: their tailgating.
On newsstands now, the magazine features MSU and 19 other schools, including, of course, the University of Mississippi, as the best tail-gating destinations in the South.
The magazine will also release a cookbook on August 21 in conjunction with the issue that includes some favorite recipes among Bulldog fans and advice on where to go and what to do in Starkville.
Any kind of ranking associated with football gets a lot of attention in the South, something Rebecca Gordon, Southern Living test kitchen director based in Birmingham, said she knows all too well.
“We kind of knew it could cause a little bit of a controversy to name 20 schools because of course everyone does feel like their school should be on the list,” she said. “It is quite the mix here at the office, and I am probably the ringleader of the smack talk.”
The magazine’s editors selected the 20 schools based on four categories: most spirited, traditions, powerhouses and trend-setters.
MSU was selected for its school its school spirit. Ole Miss was noted in the trend-setter category.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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