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A Year Ago, MSU Beat UConn and I Got a Tattoo. Today, Mississippi State Will Play for a National Title

By Ethan Lee

COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Jazzmun Holmes #10 and Victoria Vivians #35 of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs celebrate with their team after defeating the Louisville Cardinals in the semifinals of the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs defeated the Louisville Cardinals 73-63. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Jazzmun Holmes #10 and Victoria Vivians #35 of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs celebrate with their team after defeating the Louisville Cardinals in the semifinals of the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs defeated the Louisville Cardinals 73-63. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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When Mississippi State Basketball Beat UConn, I Got A Vic Schaefer Inspired Tattoo Because of A Bet I Made with Myself

A little over exactly a year ago, Vic Schaefer and Mississippi State Basketball did the unthinkable. The Bulldogs defeated the UConn Huskies. It was a moment that nobody could have realistically imagined and it launched Mississippi State’s women’s basketball team into the spotlight for all to see. The ending of UConn’s 111 game winning streak was a feat to behold for everyone.

And, before the game happened, I had made a bet. It was a relatively minor bet and it was one with myself. The stakes were simple: if Mississippi State could beat the UConn Huskies, I would get a tattoo.

I knew Mississippi State was a great team a year ago. But, to topple UConn seemed unreal. It seemed to be too far off to be realistic. It seemed to be too arduous of a task. The MSU women’s basketball team thought of the game a bit differently. To them, the game was winnable. They fully believed that UConn could, and would, be beaten.

And it happened. MSU beat UConn in overtime on a buzzer beater. The Bulldogs ended the streak and Vic Schaefer took his team to a national title game.

That was on March 31st, 2017.

The next morning, a year ago today, I got up and drove to West Point, Mississippi. And, as you can read over at For Whom the Cowbell Tolls, I got stabbed. It was by a needle that had ink on it. And that ink never washed off my arm.

And I Got a Tattoo

Vic Schaefer is famous for a few things. For one, he’s a fantastic basketball coach. Throughout his career, he has developed into one of the best in the business. He’s arguably the best coach for any Mississippi State sport in the history of the university. I don’t think that’s much of a hard argument to make.

Another thing that Schaefer is known for happens to be his faith.

At the end of every game, in every interview, Vic Schaefer will say a phrase that many MSU fans are fond of: Praise the Lord and Go Dawgs.

With that bet that I made, it only seemed fitting to get a certain, specific tattoo. One that would recognize the team that beat UConn, the man that led them there, and the faith that Schaefer and I actually happen to share.

I got a tattoo because Mississippi State beat UConn. I have gotten another one since then, but that’s not that relevant. Not to this discussion.

And now, on Easter Sunday, Mississippi State will play for a national title. Much like they did a year ago, the Bulldogs won their Final Four matchup in overtime, but this win came by 10 points. And now Mississippi State will play Notre Dame.

It’s not clear yet how this game will turn out. That’s impossible to determine. Both teams are incredible and talented.

But, regardless of that, it seems fitting in a lot of ways that these two teams meet today. Notre Dame (a school known for its ties to Catholicism) and Mississippi State (a school currently led by a man that proclaims “Praise the Lord and Go Dawgs” at every opportunity) will play for a national championship.

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