LSU senior linebacker Lamin Barrow can still hear the chorus of clanging cowbells in his head, two years after last playing at Davis Wade Stadium.
Following a 19-6 Thursday night victory during the 2011 season, Barrow walked away unsure if he would ever face that obnoxious noise again.
The No. 10 LSU football team travels to Starkville, Miss., to take on Mississippi State, and if the Tiger defense is as porous as it was against No. 6 Georgia, it will be hearing the cowbells all game long.
Starting in 2010, the Southeastern Conference adjusted its rule against artificial noisemakers to allow the Bulldog faithful to ring their beloved instruments during pregame, halftime, timeouts and whenever Mississippi State scores. This marked the first time in 36 years the tradition was endorsed by the SEC.
Although cowbells are prohibited during gameplay, Barrow said the unique sound hung in the air throughout the Tigers’ last trip to Starkville, making for an intimidating environment.
“I just remember how loud they were,” Barrow said. “They kept saying before the game that they wouldn’t let them bring the cowbells in … but by the second half, I swear every fan in the stadium had a cowbell just ringing. It’s something that sticks in your head.”
LSU sophomore guard Trai Turner said he hadn’t given much thought to the cowbells, and isn’t concerned about them affecting the Tigers’ play. LSU coach Les Miles said cowbells may be mixed in with blaring music that is played to simulate hostile crowds during the Tiger’s practices in anticipation of the trip to Starkville.
Starkville lays claim to not only the noisiest tradition in the SEC, but also boasts the most tongue-in-cheek nickname: Starkvegas.
Former LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman has a history of disdain towards Starkville. Bertman once said Starkville was the Indian word for “trailer park” and that he always asked for a room without a view whenever he stayed there, according to SEC Sports Quotes.
While the name is intended to jab at the town’s lack of sex appeal, some have come to embrace it. Adidas featured the name prominently in advertisements for the Bulldog baseball team’s trip to the College World Series in June.
“I’ve heard [the Starkvegas] nickname here and there for a while now,” long-time Starkville resident Stacey Colbert said. “Personally, I think it is just a little bit of fun. We don’t have a whole lot of bells and whistles, and that’s OK by me.”
According to the 2010 U.S. census, Starkville is the second smallest city in the SEC with just over 20,000 residents. But despite its tiny population, Mississippi State regularly sells out the 55,000 seats in Davis Wade Stadium, according to the attendance figures posted by the Bulldog athletic department.
LSU junior left tackle La’el Collins said the Tigers will only get a look at the parts of Starkville along the bus route from the hotel to the stadium, and thus don’t have much information about the source of the nickname.
But after hearing it for the first time, Collins was clearly not a fan.
“Starkvegas?” Collins said, “Man, that sounds creepy.”
Getting to know the foe: Mississippi State
Player to Watch: Dak Prescott
Sophomore quarterback
6’2, 230 pounds
709 passing yards, 215 rushing yards
Bulldog stats
Passing
Prescott: 47-85, 709 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Damian Williams: 11-18, 152 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Prescott: 215 yards, 37 carries, 5 TD
Ashton Shumpert: 128 yards, 29 carries, 2 TD
Recieving
Jameon Lewis: 248 yards, 12 catches, 2 TD
Robert Johnson: 158 yards, 10 catches, 0 TD
Team Stat Comparison
Total and Scoring offense
MSU: 136 points, 34.0 PPG
LSU: 214 points, 42.8 PPG
Rushing offense
MSU: 825 yards, 206.2 YPG, 13 TD
LSU: 961 yards, 192.2 YPG, 14 TD
Passing offense
MSU: 1,030 yards, 257.5 YPG, 4 TD
LSU: 1,409 yards, 281.8 YPG, 13 TD
Total and scoring defense
MSU: 59 points, 14.8 PPG
LSU: 122 points, 24.4 PPG
Rushing defense
MSU: 481 yards, 120.2 YPG, 3 TD
LSU: 741 yards, 148.2 YPG, 8 TD
Passing defense
MSU: 759, 189.8 YPG, 4 TD
LSU: 993 yards, 198.6 YPG, 5 TD
The Real Starkvegas: LSU heads to Mississippi State
By Cole Travis
October 3, 2013
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