University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Ragin' Cajuns, Mississippi State Announce Two-Game Football Series
9/15/2016 11:02:00 AM | Football
Teams to play 2018 game in Starkville; will open 2019 season at Mercedes-Benz Superdome
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns and Mississippi State University announced on Thursday a two-game football series that will begin in 2018 and will conclude in 2019 with a Labor Day weekend contest in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
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The home-and-home series will start at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field in Starkville on Nov. 3, 2018. The second game, with Louisiana designated as the home team, is set for Aug. 31, 2019 in New Orleans.
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"We are very excited in scheduling a two-game series against a member of the Southeastern Conference," Farmer said. "To play another game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, one of the great venues in sports and that has become a second home to us, will present our fans and alumni a great opportunity to enjoy an extended weekend in New Orleans while getting the college football season off to a great start."
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The meeting on the gridiron, which started in 1940, will be the first between the schools since 1987 with the Bulldogs holding a 3-0 lead. The schools have met recently in baseball (2014 NCAA Regionals), softball (2013) and women's basketball (2014-15).
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The 2018 game in Starkville will mark the homecoming for Louisiana head coach Mark Hudspeth, a native of nearby Louisville, Miss., and an assistant at Mississippi State from 2009-10 under current Bulldog head coach Dan Mullen.
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"It'll be a great opportunity to take my team back to my home state," Hudspeth said. "It's a place (Mississippi State) where I grew up watching and pulling for, and then eventually coaching at. It'll be exciting to take my team into Scott Field. I just wish that the late, great (MSU broadcaster) Jack Cristil would be there to call the game.
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"To also play a game in one of the greatest venues (Mercedes-Benz Superdome) in sports and in a destination city like New Orleans is an exciting opportunity for our fans to enjoy a great weekend. Our fans love going to New Orleans and we love playing in the Superdome. It's a convenient location for both fans bases to travel to and create a great environment for a great college football game."
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The home-and-home series will start at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field in Starkville on Nov. 3, 2018. The second game, with Louisiana designated as the home team, is set for Aug. 31, 2019 in New Orleans.
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"We are very excited in scheduling a two-game series against a member of the Southeastern Conference," Farmer said. "To play another game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, one of the great venues in sports and that has become a second home to us, will present our fans and alumni a great opportunity to enjoy an extended weekend in New Orleans while getting the college football season off to a great start."
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The meeting on the gridiron, which started in 1940, will be the first between the schools since 1987 with the Bulldogs holding a 3-0 lead. The schools have met recently in baseball (2014 NCAA Regionals), softball (2013) and women's basketball (2014-15).
Â
The 2018 game in Starkville will mark the homecoming for Louisiana head coach Mark Hudspeth, a native of nearby Louisville, Miss., and an assistant at Mississippi State from 2009-10 under current Bulldog head coach Dan Mullen.
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"It'll be a great opportunity to take my team back to my home state," Hudspeth said. "It's a place (Mississippi State) where I grew up watching and pulling for, and then eventually coaching at. It'll be exciting to take my team into Scott Field. I just wish that the late, great (MSU broadcaster) Jack Cristil would be there to call the game.
Â
"To also play a game in one of the greatest venues (Mercedes-Benz Superdome) in sports and in a destination city like New Orleans is an exciting opportunity for our fans to enjoy a great weekend. Our fans love going to New Orleans and we love playing in the Superdome. It's a convenient location for both fans bases to travel to and create a great environment for a great college football game."
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