1979 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

The 1979 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Emory Bellard, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 3–8, with a mark of 2–4 in conference play, and finished eighth in the SEC.

1979 Mississippi State Bulldogs football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record3–8 (2–4 SEC)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorMelvin Robertson (1st season)
Home stadiumScott Field
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
1979 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Alabama $ 6 –0 –012 –0 –0
Georgia 5 –1 –06 –5 –0
No. 16 Auburn 4 –2 –08 –3 –0
LSU 4 –2 –07 –5 –0
Tennessee 3 –3 –07 –5 –0
Kentucky 3 –3 –05 –6 –0
Ole Miss 3 –3 –04 –7 –0
Mississippi State 2 –4 –03 –8 –0
Vanderbilt 0 –6 –01 –10 –0
Florida 0 –6 –00 –10 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

This was the first season at Mississippi State for head coach Emory Bellard, the creator of the wishbone offense.[1]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 8Memphis State*
L 13–1443,500[2]
September 22at Maryland*
L 14–3537,212[3]
September 29Florida
  • Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
  • Jackson, MS
W 24–1038,000[4]
October 6vs. No. 19 Tennessee
W 28–948,820[5]
October 13at No. 9 Florida State*
L 6–1748,701[6]
October 20Marshall*
W 48–025,500[7]
October 27Southern Miss*
  • Scott Field
  • Starkville, MS
L 7–2135,500[8]
November 3at No. 1 Alabama
L 7–2460,210[9]
November 10at No. 16 Auburn
L 3–1459,136[10]
November 17at LSU
L 3–2169,454[11]
November 24vs. Ole Miss
  • Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
  • Jackson, MS (Egg Bowl)
L 9–1446,021[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[13]

Roster
1979 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
C 58 Kent Hull
RB 22 James Jones
WR 88 Mardye McDole
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DE 79 Glen Collins
FS 37 Kenny Johnson
DT 98 Tyrone Keys
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

References
  1. Weber, Bruce (February 10, 2011). "Emory Bellard, Creator of Wishbone Offense, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  2. "Knowlton's TD keys Tigers past Bulldogs". The Commercial Appeal. September 9, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Castro kicks five FG's, Terps romp". The Baltimore Sun. September 23, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Bulldogs upset Gators". The Daily Advertiser. September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Bulldogs swarm Vols". Enterprise-Journal. October 7, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Seminoles shut down Mississippi St., 17–6". The News and Observer. October 14, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Miss. State wallops Marshall". The Courier-Journal. October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "USM lays claim to state crown after 21–7 win". The Clarion-Ledger. October 21, 1979. Retrieved March 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Alabama is still the best". Clarion-Ledger. November 4, 1979. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Auburn flattens Mississippi State". The Commercial Appeal. November 11, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "LSU does it via air ways". Daily World. November 18, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Fourcade passes Rebels over Mississippi State". The Anniston Star. November 25, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "1979 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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