Threadgill casts glow on Bulldogs' fortunes

y ‘ By BOBBY HALL 'A Tf Mississippi State's football team was one to -believe in omens the Bulldogs might have lost hope early last night at' Memphis Memorial Stadium "When the lights came on at the stadium a huge bank of 90 bulbs directly behind Mississippi State's bench remained dark Arid before the first period was over Memphis State was out in front 7-3 But just as the second period began the lights suddenly beamed brightly And on the first play of the period Bulldog linebacker Ray Costick recovered a Tiger fumble Seven plays - later Mississippi State took a 10-7 lead and never trailed again in claiming a 17-7 season-opening victory V i'-t Perhaps the Bulldogs never even no-' ticed the problem with the lights which was attributed to a breakdown just east of thfe stadium Because- the Dogs were too busy generating power of their own ' ’ -v 'Wi 1 : State finished the night with 260 yards in total offense most of it generated by sophomore quarterback Bruce Threadgill The spunky lefthander figured on both Bulldog touchdowns passing to sophomore wide receiver Gavin Rees for a 17-yard six-pointer and sweeping right end for seven yards and a tally of his own -“Boy Pm sore” said an exhausted Threadgill as' ' he trudged out of the ' shower in a quiet but obviously pleased Bulldog dressing room “Everybody just did a good job to help me out" - " But Threadgill who had problems with ' his neck once and an ankle later drew much of the praise from Coach'Bob Tyler j“He stayed with it” Tyler said “He - might have been a little nervous at first but it wasn't enough to notice” Bulldog running back Ternr Vitrano was a little more descriptive could get the ‘job done said Vitrano preadgill’s roommste-He knew whathe had to do and he went out there and did jji - However the Tiger defense wu rugged --J- - 2StS AjlOyr? Fortunes r-f ‘V -'? : '- — a rough test for an untested sophomore “Memphis State was well-prepared" said Tyler whose Bulldogs will pot play again until Sept 20 at Georgia: “I was proud of bur boys for hanging in there w ' sticking with it It was just another good Memphis l Stat e-Mississippi - State ! football game" : ' ‘ Of the touchdown pass ' to Rees Threadgill said “I saw him slide behind 'the linebacker "and theri I got knocked down I don't know what happened after that" A loud clanging of cowbells (yes Bulldog fans brought their bells) provided Threadgill with the answer to what had happened Touchdown! The bells rang fre- quently but never loud enough to disrupt the game Action was stalled twice however by crowd noise from Memphis State loyalists T The Bulldogs presetted the game ball to junior Larry Brooks the player who re- ceived a broken neck in spring practice last February Brooks mewed about on crutches' on the sidelines as he watched the on-the-field action “Great isn’t it? Just great” Brooks kept telling his teammates once they'd opened tip a lb-7 lead : Actually the game ball was presented to Bulldog Sam Nichols who in turn presented room Brooks in the dressing s 7 MtmMU HP Mlu SL— FG Jordan H - MtnqilSt— RIvm J7 run tWIWim kick) Mil stvi-RMi 17 pm Own Thrwdgill (Jordan kick) Mb St— Thrwdgm ni (Jordan kick) A-A7I STATISTICS Flntdowna 4MJ 4J c: § Rakirn yard Fwtfl t M7 Fumklat lot i i-- 1-1 "PanamM-vardi 747 ‘rushing iTwaiAVAM whsm £ MamN s( riv ml Funrman i-n wngnt i-7- MMwipplSlalRa 1-17 SWMI 1-7 RECEIVING AiampkH SMa Brawn U-4-43 SMfr abalppl SMa Thraadplll PML’ r

The Commercial Appeal

Threadgill casts glow on Bulldogs' fortunes

Threadgill casts glow on Bulldogs' fortunes

The Commercial Appeal