STARKVILLE — Jack and Laura Clark felt the need to increase their personal travel budget this year.
The couple owns a business in Jackson. During the 2015-16 school year, they estimate they made roughly 60 trips to Starkville to see their alma mater, Mississippi State University, play athletics.
“It really is contagious,” Laura Clark said. “We haven’t missed a home football game in several years. We also have made a lot of (men’s) basketball games. Now, we make extra trips for women’s basketball. We go to softball games. It’s not about five or six Saturdays in the fall anymore. We make it a year-round thing.”
The Clark family is not alone.
MSU set a school attendance record in five of its 16 sports — soccer, football, women’s basketball, softball and baseball. It is the first time in Southeastern Conference history a member institution saw records set in five sports in the same school year.
Women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer just completed his fourth season with the Bulldogs. MSU advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in program history. The Bulldogs also hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament for the first time.
“You have to be your biggest salesman,” said Schaefer, whose team ranked 15th nationally in attendance this season. “When I was first hired, (Director of Athletics) Scott (Stricklin) and I drove 200 miles to talk to 350 people. We also drove 200 miles to talk to 35 people. I met so many people who had not only never been to a women’s basketball game, but also pretty much had no plans to go to one in the future. We have changed that.
“Our girls are approachable. They never turn down an autograph or a picture,” he added. “The fans really like the brand of basketball we play, too. I know we have made an impact. If we play on the road, people are taking two hours out of their day to watch on television. That means a lot.”
Now in retirement, Starkville residents Tom and Sharon Monaghan have found time to do more things. Women’s basketball is one of those things.
“We have always been big baseball fans,” Tom Monaghan said. “We have held baseball season tickets for a number of years. Now, we are going to more sports. There is something about women’s basketball. It is fast-paced and exciting. Vic has done such a wonderful job with the program. We don’t miss many games. We have mixed in some volleyball and some of the other sports, too.”
Postseason play was prevalent this season. In addition to the victories over Chattanooga and Michigan State in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, the MSU softball team hosted the SEC tournament for the first time, while MSU baseball hosted a regional and super regional at Dudy Noble Field. The baseball Bulldogs finished second nationally in total attendance.
Success on the field helped lead to the record numbers. MSU drew 432,490 football fans to Davis Wade Stadium; 278,450 baseball fans to Dudy Noble Field; 92,914 women’s basketball fans to Humphrey Coliseum; 19,302 softball fans to brand new Nusz Park and 7,940 soccer fans to the MSU Soccer Field. The baseball total was not a new record.
“I think it has a carry-over effect,” said MSU softball coach Vann Stuedeman, who just completed her fifth season. “Fans come to campus. They see the growth and excitement. They come back for more. The family that comes to baseball and stays for softball one day decides later to come back just for softball. You need the other sports to be successful. You need that passion. Then you have to capitalize on it with what you are doing in your own program.”
The women’s basketball program packed Humphrey Coliseum for the first time when 10,626 showed up for a nationally televised January showdown with No. 1 South Carolina. In baseball, MSU’s two super regional losses to Arizona led the nation with attendance figures of 13,452 and 12,913.
“Everything is really headed in the right direction,” Jack Clark said. “We have some really good leadership and some great coaches. As fans, it is easy to do our part. There are some sacrifices but it is well worth it.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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