STARKVILLE — With the start of college football season a little more than three months away, Mississippi State learned the time for its first game time Monday.
MSU will open its season at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, against Southern Mississippi at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg. Fox Sports 1 will televise the game.
The announcement was made Monday by FS1 and Conference USA.
The game will mark MSU’s first visit to USM since 1989, when it escaped with a 26-23 win. The teams renewed their series last season, meeting for the first time in 24 years to open MSU’s newly expanded Davis Wade Stadium. MSU earned a 49-0 victory.
Southern Miss leads the series 14-13-1, but MSU has won the last three meetings.
Former Bully sues ESPN, MSU
The young woman who suffered injuries while serving as MSU’s Bully mascot during the 2013 Egg Bowl is suing ESPN and the university for damages.
Michaela Mills, who was dressed as Bully and suffered an injury after her leg was run over by an ESPN camera cart, filed paperwork in federal court in Aberdeen on Monday. She is seeking $75,000 in damages.
The injury occurred during the fourth quarter of the annual rivalry game, which MSU won 17-10 in overtime. The accident resulted in a compound fracture of Mills’ left leg, and she had surgery on the injured leg immediately after the game.
According to the lawsuit filed Monday, Mills’ visibility was limited due to the mascot suit that night, and she said she still experiences pain from the injury.
The lawsuit also alleges negligence on the part of the ESPN camera cart operator and claims Mills received no warning due to lack of attention being paid by ESPN’s spotter.
Five Bulldogs on Steele All-SEC list; three on All-America projection
National analyst Phil Steele released his annual All-America and All-Southeastern Conference lists Monday, and MSU players figured prominently in both. Five Bulldogs — quarterback Dak Prescott, defensive tackle Chris Jones, defensive back Will Redmond, punter Devon Bell and receiver De’Runnya Wilson — were named to Steele’s All-Southeastern Conference team, while Prescott, Jones, and Redmond received All-America recognition.
Prescott, who accounted for nearly 4,500 yards and 42 touchdowns last season, was named a first-team All-SEC selection and a third-team All-American.
Jones, the former five-star prospect from Houston, was named to Steele’s All-SEC Second Team and was a third-team All-American. Jones had three quarterback sacks as a sophomore.
Redmond, who shared MSU’s team lead with three interceptions in 2014, joined Prescott as a first-team All-SEC pick, and he picked up fourth-team All-America honors.
Wilson, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound receiver who led MSU in receptions (47) and touchdown catches (nine), was named a third-team All-SEC performer and Bell was added to the fourth team.
Former Noxubee County standout Bradley recognized
Former Noxubee County High School standout Dylan Bradley, a junior on the Southern Miss football team, was one of six Golden Eagles named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-C-USA team
Bradley, a 6-1, 265-pound defensive end, was named to the second team. He joined wide receiver Michael Thomas (first team), offensive lineman Cameron Tom (second team), offensive lineman Rashod Hill, defensive back Kalan Reed, and punter Tyler Sarrazin (fourth team). Thomas also was selected to the fourth team as a kickoff returner.
Bradley played in eight games (four starts) before missing time due to an injury. He had 29 tackles, including 12 solo stops, and 17 assisted tackles. Bradley had five tackles for loss, including three sacks. He was credited with two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
n In related news, Conference USA announced four USM football games will be broadcast nationally this fall.
In addition to the season opener against MSU, USM’s game at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Marshall will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
USM’s home game against UTEP on Saturday, Oct. 31, and its season finale against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Nov. 28, will be broadcast on a Fox Network that hasn’t been decided as of yet. Times for those games will not be announced until 12 days out from each respective game.
Staff Reports were included in this story.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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