Maroon Friday Update: June 20

Happy Maroon Friday!

It's a great day to be a Mississippi State Bulldog!

Did anyone watch the NBA Finals last night? Call me partial, but I love seeing two teams from smaller markets in the Finals. It seems to mean so much more to these franchises, players and fanbases. There's something so pure about it. Of course, I love the game itself, but as I'm watching, my mind is constantly churning with ideas we could apply in our venues. I can't help but study the seating layout, the visibility of team benches, the sponsorships, fan experience elements, TV production and more.

As we prepare to enter a new model of college athletics, I've also been paying close attention to how NBA teams build their rosters. I'm especially intrigued by how they identify talent early, develop players and foster deep connections between athletes and their communities. We've been planning for this shift in college athletics for some time and have clear plans, but there's still much to learn from those who've found ways to compete with giant brands and seemingly unlimited resources. One organization I've long studied is the Oklahoma City Thunder. In many ways, we are similar: we both compete in powerhouse leagues, yet represent smaller markets driven by big-time passion and high expectations - no exceptions.

That's why in Fall 2023, I invited Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti to speak with our head coaches via Zoom during one of our scheduled meetings. Sam, recently named the NBA Executive of the Year for 2024-25, shared invaluable insights, including the strategies that have guided their player evaluation and development. The Thunder's rise to the NBA Finals is no accident. The intentionality, internal clarity and long-term investment in player development that Sam spoke about nearly two years ago is now on full display on the sport's biggest stage.

It's fun to see their success, maybe because in many ways, we can relate. We continually seek to learn from leaders in their craft, and we're committed to bringing in voices like Sam's to help our coaches and staff grow. I also think it speaks volumes about Sam's leadership that he said "yes" to our invitation. His willingness to invest time in helping others navigate new challenges is a mark of true leadership. Tough loss for the Thunder last night, but I'm looking forward to Game 7 on Sunday.

Speaking of professional sports, earlier this week, one of our own – Kendrell Daniels – traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 2025 Kennedy Center Access/VSA Emerging Young Artists Program. This year's theme, Catalyst, explored how artists express their disability identities through art. On Tuesday night, the Washington Nationals welcomed Kendrell to Nationals Park for their series opener against the Rockies. He even got a shoutout on the big screen! While there, he saw Mississippi State's own Nathaniel Lowe blast a solo homer in the eighth inning and exchanged some baseball wisdom with Nationals GM Mike Rizzo. The Nats may have lost, but Kendrell was cheering until the final out. Grateful to our Bulldog advocates in D.C. who made that moment possible!

Closer to home, we had the honor of welcoming Mr. Billy W. Howard, Sr., and members of the Howard and McCoy families to the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex. Alongside our student-athletes, we celebrated Mr. Howard's impact on Mississippi State and the state of Mississippi. We also shared a preview of some of the planning that has been done up to this point with the new Billy W. Howard Sr. Indoor Practice Facility. It was a special day, and we're deeply thankful for the Howard Family's generosity and leadership.

If you missed our announcement about the Billy W. Howard Sr. Indoor Practice Facility, click here to learn more.

Finally, this week I had the chance to teach a portion of a summer school class focused on leadership, courage and discovering purpose. Many of our student-athletes were in attendance, and it was fun to see them in a different element. I will say, some of our football guys looked a little wiped out… turns out they had a tough workout just before hustling over to class. Hey, I love it – builds toughness!

We also continue to be amazed by the performances of our Track & Field program. Peyton Bair added another chapter to his legendary season last week, claiming the NCAA decathlon national title and becoming just the seventh man in NCAA history to sweep both the heptathlon and decathlon in the same year. His 8,323-point performance shattered two collegiate records and ranked as the 14th-best score in NCAA history, earning him USTFCCCA South Region Field Athlete of the Year honors for both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Just as impressive, Peyton was named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for both seasons. A Dean's List student, he is pursuing a Bachelor of Biological Sciences with concentrations in pre-medicine and physical therapy. He continues to set the standard by excelling both in competition and in the classroom. He wasn't alone on the podium: Sam Navarro earned First Team All-America honors in the 800m in his NCAA debut, while Jessicka Woods, Abdullahi Hassan and Rémi Rougetet picked up Second Team All-America honors. Bulldog excellence was on full display, with our student-athletes representing Mississippi State with purpose, poise and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines being a Bulldog.

Wishing all of you another great weekend. I hope you're proudly rocking your best Maroon today. Whether you're across the country or right here in Starkville, thank you for representing Mississippi State with pride. Let's keep pushing forward together.

Hail State!
Zac
Zac Selmon Signature Left

Mississippi State University Athletics

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