9.26.15 - GAMEDAY DAWGS

Are we focused enough?

Can our defense perform at a high enough level?

Can we execute on offense?

Will we ignite a fire in our belly today?

Can we galvanize ourselves in the crucible of Jordan-Hare?

Can we always remember that Cam Newton wore maroon and rang a cowbell before he got #paid?

Does our team desire to work hard and give relentless effort?

Can our special teams ever be special consistently?

Can we be aggressive, can we show dominance, can we curl an upper lip and unleash a fury of TEETH in Auburn?

TO OUR KL ROAD DAWGS: Godspeed and our hearts are with you.

I can only hope you and our team are listening to Run This Town on repeat.  

I'll leave you with a verse:

"...Walkin' tall against the rain 

Victory's within the mile,

Almost there, don't give up now 

Only thing that's on my mind

Is who's gon' run this town tonight 

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, heyy

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, heyy, 

Is whos gon' run this town tonight?...."

WE CAN.  WE WILL. WE ARE GOING TO.  TEETH.

9.21.15 - LSU Timelapse

Courtesy of Adam's GoPro

VERY COOL ADAM.  Very cool.

9.18.15 - #FADEorFOLLOW

It's another week and that can only mean another opportunity to drink from the deep wells of wisdom that call themselves 20k and JGF.  TIME TO #FADEorFOLLOW

Left: Thomas Payne aka "Tommy" alias '20k' ; Right: Conway Craig alias 'JGF'

From 20k:

Hey gang. 

Just finished up my Friday morning milk bath and I'm ready to attack this day with the heated passion of a 1,000 hot suns.

"But 20k, what are you doing taking milk baths???" 

Well if you had a gambling weekend like I did you'd be taking milk baths too, using $100 bills as wash cloths, and brushing your teeth with silver dollars.

In two of my respective pick 'em leagues I went a collective 17-3.  Straight....cash....homie.

Now lets get down to brass tacks....We are riding Kentucky again at home against Florida, and we are riding them large. It's rare for 20k to go back to back picks. But this is where the Wildcats get their big home win they've been looking for. Commonwealth will be hype. 

Kentucky +3.5. Lock it in.

-20k

#FADEorFOLLOW

9.17.15 - LSU Recap + ICYMI

Tough loss.

But not because of our effort.  The new and improved KL 2k15 was in mid-season form.  TEETH everywhere: leading, showing resiliency, building relationships, making new ones, appreciating the moment, living in the moment, and being downright grateful.  I could feel it.

And sharing the workload.  Special, SPECIAL thanks to those Alphas that joined forces in The Junction on Friday to stake our claim.  I won't list them out for fear of missing a name, but you know who you are.  I'm glad the tailgate gear is back at home in Starkville so our paid labor can now race for us.

To the recap:


FRIDAY SETUP:

Tent race domination, 800 uninterrupted sq. ft. secured:

okay I'll list one person:  Beth Ann Fedric.  Teeth don't get any sharper than tent racing on Friday in The Junction while pregnant.  BA you are da best:

SATURDAY UNLOADING

And thanks to our Saturday morning setup team.  Sidenote: I appreciated getting first tracks on the fresh dew of The Junction on Saturday morning so much I might just turn this into a tradition.  So peaceful.  I would recommend it.  I mean just LOOK AT IT:

CREW:

OPPORTUNE PHOTOSHOOT

Need more arch in the back I think.  I'll work on it:

GAMEDAY:

 Pictured above: Sydney Rhea and Tommy Payne.  

Love, love, LOVE this picture of Syd and 20K.  I mean, you'd probably have to be a terrorist not to. It's what the tailgate is all about and it's why we love it.  Because it's worth the work when your with FRANDS.

CLEANUP

Y'ALL: I can't say how proud I am of all of us for the respect we paid to our campus and The Junction on Saturday.  Our neighbors trashed it, by and large, but on our 800 sq. ft. plot we left no trace.  I know this was a HUGE collective effort throughout the day and pitching in at the end, so I want to thank everyone for doing their job.  True Leaders.  

Especially Chelsea Boothe, who I was told stepped up as showed major TEETH while most of us we're inside the stadium leading the effort. Razor sharp teeth, Chelsea.  Fine work.  

I want to thank the many others who I know stepped up in a big way on Saturday that I don't know about and that we can't specifically recognize.  I appreciate you, the tailgate appreciates you, your campus appreciates you, and your team appreciates you.

Y'ALL KEEP KILLIN IT, KL!

Now.....IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

1. Your KL DAWG Austin Golding's Prediction Wednesday (source: Austin's Facebook Page....friend him):

"*Prediction Wednesday*

Well we know what we have as a football team now. Saturday night was very eye opening with regard to this years team and yet we saw more of the same fatal coaching flaws that have shown up in years past. In our last three big losses we have tried to establish the running game between the tackles early in the game and it's cost us. I'm talking about at Alabama, at Ole Miss and of course Saturday night against LSU. In all three games we have fallen behind and it's been to late to come back. If we had come out throwing the football instead of forcing the issue between the tackles it would have been a different ballgame. Our offensive line is average at best. We can't expect them to be road graders. The delay of game penalty speaks for itself. No need to even address that mistake.

I am at a loss as to why we don't go to De'Runnya Wilson until we have no other choice. Does Dak not like him? Does Dan not like him? He has to become a bigger part of our offense early in games if we want the running game to open up. His impact also makes life easier for Fred Ross and company. The only thing holding #1 back is him not getting the ball thrown his way more.

I am normally not the type of fan to think the answer to our problems is always the next hyped backup but I really think by the end of the year we are all going to wonder why Dontavian Lee and Aeris Williams didn't play more. Shumpert is a good RB but not good enough to be a featured back. Holloway is dynamic but you have to use him in spots.

Our defense has surprised me. The Bulldog defensive line is one of the best in the SEC. Manny Diaz has again proven to be a very good in game coach. His adjustments kept the LSU game from getting out of control. I think the future is bright on that side of the ball, but we have to recruit better in the defensive backfield. The effort is there but outside of Will Redmond we don't have anyone who can run step for step with the SEC's elite wideouts.

Mississippi State - 45 Northwestern State - 7

Northwestern State comes into this game 0-2 having lost to Southeastern Louisiana 20-34 and UL Lafayette 17-44. This is not a very good football team. I hope we get some of the young guys in the game early and play a clean game. This contest is a confidence builder and the Dawgs need it after last week.

The season isn't lost but I think we need to face facts and start playing toward our strengths. If we continue to try and be a team we aren't and not get our best players more involved we will be fighting to get bowl eligible.

‪#‎HailState‬"

2. *NEW* Episode for this week: The Backporch Podcast (with a short KL recap by Tommy, Jack, and Brian):

http://the-back-porch-podcast.madewithopinion.com/

3. NORTHWESTERN STATE KL GAMEDAY LOCATION:  KL is planned to be setup in the same area for Northwestern State (and hopefully all season).

DAWGS FOREVER

HAIL STATE

and 

TEETH,

KHH

p.s. On a more personal note, I want to thank the entire tailgate for showing my friends from New Orleans Lon and Mary (LSU fans) a good time Saturday.  Both first-timers to Starkville.  I really appreciated how y'all were quick to #establishdominance with them but then allowed them to join freely and playfully (but SUBMISSIVELY) with us throughout the day.  They had a great time in Starkville the whole weekend, and for what it's worth, they loved The Junction.   Thanks y'all. 

9.11.15: Member Spotlight: Thomas Payne [aka "Tommy", alias: "20k"]

Meet your fellow tailgate member Tommy Payne.  Tommy got to Starkville in the Fall of 2007 and left in the Summer of 2012.

Tommy co-hosts The Backporch Podcast and in the latest episode they graciously asked me to be their guest to talk all things Kang's Landing.  It's a must listen on your way to Vegas this weekend. 

I had so much fun on their show this week.

A while back we asked Tommy a few questions as part of our Member Spotlight series.  Here it is:

"Why is Mississippi State special to you?

Mississippi State is special to me for a few reasons:

1. It's where I learned to love

2. It's where I learned to make love

3. It's where I became a man

What is special about Kang's Landing?

The people and the positive energy.

What is your strongest tooth of the 5 teeth?

The strongest of my 5 teeth is without a doubt building friendships. But I mean it as it relates to our group as a whole. Every single member of this tailgate builds friendships collectively through dance, hugs, hand shakes, heart breaks, triumphs and blackouts. Example; There was a female member (maybe a guest) of the tailgate last year. I did not know her name and I still don't, but what we experienced through Dance after the Texas A&M victory is something that belongs in a text book. Come September 12th, Dance....Oh how we will dance!

What is your weakest?

My weakest unfortunately is sharing the work load. I've had a tendency to let the booze take control of my body during some of our post game victories. While fun, sometimes it's immature and irresponsible. And It's definitely something I'm going to work on.

Do you believe that as a fanbase, we can will a team to victory?

I'll tell you the answer to that and the answer is yes. Two examples, one Kirby I'm going to start with you. Do you think it's any coincidence that we stepped over poor little Rice in Liberty Bowl 2013 when you were wearing the Spirit Mane? None whatsoever. I'm not sure how many times you had worn that beautiful piece of clothing before but the fact is it helped will us to victory. One other example; Egg Bowl 2007. I was sitting at the game with a friend of mine Matt Tyler. The game was hanging in the balance. Tyler couldn't handle the pressure of losing to Mississippi. So he says "Tommy I can't take it any more, I'm out of here," and he starts to walk down the stairs of the SAE section. I scream, "Tyler no! Release!" He caves and comes back. Moments later Derek Pegues runs a punt back 75 yards for an eventual Bulldog Victory. Matt Tyler and myself willed the Dogs to Victory that day...and then we danced.

I'll leave you with a quote:

"Who Run it"- Three Six Mafia."

Be sure to give Tommy a high five this weekend.  THANK YOU Tommy for graciously donating your time for the spotlight.

TEETH

HAIL STATE

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

1. Kang's Landing Member Austin Golding's Prediction Wednesday:

"*Prediction Wednesday*

Last Saturday/Sunday in Hattiesburg Mississippi State ran into a much improved opponent. USM came out ready to play and the Bulldogs came out like they expected USM to lay down in front of them. It felt a lot like we were watching the same team that showed up to Alabama, Oxford and the Orange Bowl. Dak looked rusty but eventually he proved to be the difference in the game like he has been in most of his starts. This week MSU needs Dak to put on a performance similar to the one he broke into the national spotlight with last year.

LSU got to play a few minutes of football last week but not enough to get any kinks out as their game was canceled with just over 10 minutes left in the first quarter. LSU's newly crowned quarterback Brandon Harris did get to throw two passes but only completed one and it was for a loss of 4 yards. All in all it is nearly impossible to take anything away from the few minutes of football that got played. While this doesn't provide MSU with any game film on LSU it also didn't allow the Tigers to work out any flaws or jitters before they match up with the team that embarrassed them in death valley last season. The Bulldogs don't need to watch any film to know what LSU wants to do. Their game plan is to run the ball and use short passes to set up the deep strike to its two stud receivers Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural. Stopping Leonard Fournette running the football for four quarters is going to be tough for everyone this season. This week I am more concerned with MSU being able to keep Dupre and Dural out of the endzone than I am our ability to slow Fournette down.

Mississippi State - 33 LSU - 31

I have honestly gone back and forth on this all week. Leaving Hattiesburg I was firmly convinced LSU was going to roll this week. The more the USM game got broken down the more it became clear we held back and overcame our mistakes as the game went on. Dak was obviously being protected and told not to run to start the game. Once he was allowed to play his game he looked like a different player.

The two biggest things that concerned me and still do are our pass defense and the guys who seemingly went missing we had heard all about this spring/summer.

First on defense we gave up a lot of intermediate passing yards. This puts an incredible amount of pressure on guys to tackle in the open field. I get that Manny Diaz is willing to give up some yards in the middle of the field as long as we get stout in the redzone but guys like Dupre and Dural will make a fool out of most DB's in college football if they get free in open space. Our pass rush was impressive and I think that continues this week. Not only do we have the talent but this is a hallmark of a Diaz defense. I hope we play Braxton Hoyett and Cory Thomas this week instead of Torrey Dale. Being that USM was in catch up mode I am hoping that he was only in there to provide pass rush. It's going to take more than Chris Jones, Nick James and Nelson Adams to stop #7 for LSU this week.

Secondly I want to see Dontavian Lee and Aries Williams more this game. Brandon Holloway had a great game but we need to pound the football between the tackles this week and that's not what Holloway is best suited for. He had 51 yards on 7 carries but 35 of those came on one play. The 16 yards he gained on his other 6 carries showed some of his limitations. We need to see Donald Gray this week and get De'Runnya Wilson the ball more. Gray could be a wrinkle LSU hasn't paid any attention to and Wilson is our best WR no doubt about it. I think we open the playbook up more this week and get those guys the ball. At least I hope we do.

I see this game coming down to the wire. The difference in QB is so great I think it's going to be to much for LSU to overcome. Brandon Harris will make mistakes. In his only other SEC start he was flat out horrible. He went 3 of 14 passing for only 58 yards and LSU lost 41-7. I expect him to play better than that this week but he is still the same guy playing for the same bad offensive coach in Les Miles. Dak will be the difference this week in a classic.

‪#‎HailState‬"

2. Episode 2 of 'Relentless' has DROPPED:  http://www.hailstate.com//mediaPortal/player.dbml?&&DB_OEM_ID=16800&DB_OEM_ID=16800

3. Weather Forecast for the weekend: sublime with winds of awesome out of the SSW

TEETH

HAIL STATE

9.10.15: #FADEorFOLLOW (your weekly picks)

Meet tailgate members Tommy Payne (alias '20k', pictured left) and Conway Craig (alias 'Jackson Godfather' aka 'JGF').  These two spend countless hours in the #lab handicapping games and will be providing us with their EXCLUSIVE picks.

Without further hesitation here's the much anticipated advice passed along to me from Conway aka Jackson Godfather aka JGF:

"Week 1 Recap:  we had a pathetic first week going 3-1 and netting around $32k.  Although I'm sitting here fanning myself with $100 bills I'm still f$*king pissed I lost a bet.

But good news for all you morons out there because there's no chance in hell I'll lose again for the remainder of the season.  I've got one guaranteed teaser for this week:

Louisville -2.5

Clemson -7

Georgia -9.5

Please move NOTHING LESS THAN $20k on this play.

"But JGF I don't have $20k I just wanna bet a cute little $20 bill..."

No.  You move $20k and you pay me $5k after you win.  More plays to come in the following weeks.

#fadeorfollow

#GL

#BOL

#imliterallyprintingmoney

JGF"

Well y'all heard the man.  #FADEorFOLLOW #GL #BOL

9.8.15: GAME WEEK REMINDERS

OUR HOME OPENER GAME WEEK IS FINALLY HERE!

Reminders and notes:

1. It's a White Out.  which means you can wear white, regardless of Labor Day rules.

2. Bring your bell, bring your voice, bring the #pain into the Torture Chamber.  Ring responsibly, and remind others to do the same (e.g. me) no matter how good the pregame gets.  Let's keep the cowbells in Davis Wade.

3. Game times around the nation:   I combed through the National TV list and highlighted some games of interest this Saturday that we might want to tune into while we're in The Junction.  They are:

2:30pm:

**Georgia at Vandy

Fighting Irish at Virginia

Fresno State at University of Mississippi (d/b/a "Ole Miss")

3:00pm:

Middle Tenn at Alabama

5:00pm:

Oklahoma at Tennessee

6:00pm:

Missouri at Arkansas St. (that's correct, Mizzou is playing at Arky St., and we play in Columbia, MO this year on a Thursday night.  Will be interesting to watch them play to see what they got)

6:30pm:

**Kentucky at South Carolina

8:15pm:

**LSU at Mississippi State

("**" denotes conference battles)

Moral of the story:  get to The Junction no later than 3pm on Saturday.

4.  GAME WEEK NOTES and DEPTH CHARTS have been released!  Find them here:

http://www.hailstate.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1158174

TEETH

HAIL STATE

9.3.15: IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

1. First episode of our weekly series for MSU RELENTLESS dropped today.  WATCH IT.

2. KL member Austin Golding's first Prediction Wednesday came out on 9.2.15.  To get all of Austin's predictions real time, follow him on FB.  Here it is for those who missed it:

Prediction Wednesday 9-2-15

"The wait is finally over and football is back. It's safe to say the way last season ended was not the way we wanted to remember the 2014 run to the top. The way we finished has been all the doubters needed to put the Bulldogs back at the bottom of the SEC West in most preseason polls and predictions. Some of the skepticism has been legitimate and a lot of it has been uneducated assumption.

The biggest mistake most prognosticators have made when assessing the Bulldogs this summer is that we don't return a lot of experience. While the 1A/1B fiasco was hard to watch, it did provide us with plenty of underclassmen who have played meaningful football. This is especially true in the defensive backfield and surprisingly the offensive line.

Many Diaz is going to have to win me back. With change comes hope but I am going to have to see it to believe it with a guy who struggled to find similar success after life with Fletcher Cox and company. Diaz's strength was in game adjustments. This was something Geoff Collins really didn't bring to the table. I think he has some good tools to work with, Chris Jones and Will Remond for example, but it's still wait and see for me.

WEEK 1 - Southern Mississippi

After 49-0 last year it's hard to imagine this game being competitive. USM has brought in a lot of new faces to try and speed the rebuild process up but it won't be enough this weekend. I am sure a 9pm start in Hattiesburg against an SEC opponent will produce the best atmosphere the USM campus has seen in a long time but close to half of the people at the party will be wearing Maroon.

I expect MSU to suspend a few guys for this game. It's been Mullen's modus operandi to use this game to deal with off season issues. Despite missing a few parts this game will be in hand before the evening news is over. Dak and the State offense will be just as good if not better than last season. Keep in mind State's offense was statistically the second best in the SEC last season. The first half of last year Dak had the benefit of being new and relatively unknown. He will have to produce more with his arm and less with his feet this year if the goal is to produce a similar amount of offensive success. Expect us to air it out Saturday night and get the back up QB's some minutes in the second half. With a big game next week coming back from Hattiesburg healthy would be huge.

Mississippi State - 45 Southern Miss - 14

Mississippi State is flat being slept on the preseason. That being said, I question the leadership on this squad. At the end of last year I think some of the key guys started looking at the NFL instead of our next opponent. If things don't go as some have planned this year I think you could see more of that from key guys. I hope I am wrong. This week is a good tune up but next week is everything. A win against LSU to start the year would make anything possible. A loss, especially a bad one, would test this teams leadership and resolve. I'm not sure we survive that test.

Looking forward to this year and seeing if the experts have it right. if you want to share your predictions in the comments go right ahead.

On a side note I encourage all State fans to download the VSporto Bulldogs Sports Radio app and check out Brian Hadad and Bob Carskadon on The B&B Show. It is the best place to get caught up on all things MSU. It's on demand so you can listen whenever you want.

‪#‎Hailstate‬"

3. 2015 Mississippi State Media Guide released:  I would seriously, SERIOUSLY consider printing this out and having a loved one read it to you on your way to Starkville.  Boy oh boy is there some good stuff in there.

http://www.hailstate.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=926902

4. Our first home game is right around the corner.  It is a white out.  For the rookies, this means 

wear WHITE.  I'd like to see our team do the same and force LSU to wear purple.

5. HAIL STATE, GO DAWGS, and TEETH.