From Davis Wade to the National Guard, Honoring former Mississippi State LB Tim Bailey on Memorial Day
By Ben Crumby
Memorial Day is a time to honor members of the United States of America’s Armed Services who have laid their lives on the line day in, and day out, so that we can live freely in this magnificent country of ours.
Within the Mississippi State family there are many brave men and women who have chosen to serve for their countries, including ex-Bulldog linebacker Tim Bailey.
Bailey is a native of Avon, Mississippi, where he attended Riverside High School. Along with being a defensive standout for the Bulldogs, he also led the team in receiving his senior year, and even ran the ball. His versatility and size naturally led to college looks, and ultimately landed him a spot at Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Mississippi.
Bailey made an impact at Delta upon arrival, where he led the team in tackles and was awarded second team Mississippi Community College All-State.
His college football career was forced to take a back seat in 2004 when he was deployed to Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard, where he spent 18 months serving before returning in 2005.
When Bailey returned to Mississippi it was time for him to make a decision. His 4.6 40 yard dash, and 41 inch vertical on a 6’3″ nearly 250 pound frame was very intriguing to many programs, and earned him a 3 star rating on Scout.com. Intriguing enough to earn him scholarship offers from Mississippi State, Alabama and Ole Miss.
Ultimately he chose the Dawgs, and enrolled in 2006 where he saw immediate action, mostly on special teams. Throughout his career he racked up 64 total tackles, seeing significant time at linebacker and defensive end, and getting the starting nod in his final game at the 2007 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
After his time in Starkville, he continued to serve his country in the Mississippi National Guard’s 185th Theater Aviation Brigade, and even holds a recruiting officer position with the Mississippi State University ROTC program.
Captain Bailey found his way back on to the gridiron in November of 2015 during the Mississippi State, Alabama game where he surprised his family on the field after returning home from his second deployment in Kuwait.
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Captain Tim Bailey is one example of the many Americans who fight for our freedom everyday. For that, today and everyday, we thank those who do such, past and present.