This post is sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.

When you go to particular school or grow up a around college football you are more than just a fan. It's who you are. We thought we could leverage this pride in your roots and show that ‘where you come from' is more than just a statement about geography. By positioning NCAA Football 11 as a game that understands this pride and is authentic to these traditions, the takeaway should be that anything that is in college football is in NCAA Football11.

And this doesn't just include game play (though that's a huge part of it). It's rivals and mascots; it's legends and stories. It's those things that are at the very fabric of the game itself. Of course the game is great this year as well. With authentic entrances, mascots and specific offenses for each team the term "where I come from" takes on a much larger meaning.

While playing NCAA Football 11 is ultimately a great sports sim, it should also give you a sense of the pride and emotion one has for being a fan of a team they will never not be a part of.

As we get ready to kick-off the 2010 football season, everyone has their own set of expectations of Coach Mullen as he enters his second year at the helm. He exceeded expectations in his first year and set the bar high for years to come. We are losing key players on both sides of the ball, but there are plenty of freshmen and sophomores ready to step up and contribute to the team.

On offense, I expect Chris Relf will get the starting nod. His running ability came in handy last year, and it will do even more this year to fill the void left by Anthony Dixon. Tyler Russell will get some looks, but I think he still needs to grow into the system a little bit more and we need more receivers for him to throw to as he is more of a pocket quarterback.

On defense, everyone is ready to see what the D will look like under first year coordinator Manny Diaz. Diaz is high energy like Mullen, and his defenses at Middle Tennessee were well respected.

I expect us to improve on our 5-7 2009 record and possibly go to a bowl game. Anything less than 6-6 or 7-5 would be a disappointment to most fans.

Here are some of the most memorable moments in Mississippi State football. Add yours or comment on my selections in the comments.

Alabama vs. MSU, 1980

Alabama rolled in to Jackson in the midst of a 28-game winning streak, undefeated on the season, ranked #1 and looking forward to another National Championship. When the last 2 minutes of the game rolled around, Alabama found themselves trailing Mississippi State 3-6, but they were marching down the field. On their last play of the game, Alabama quarterback Don Jacobs takes a snap, rolls to his right and is hit by MSU defender Tyrone Keys, forcing a fumble that was recovered by State's Billy Jackson. On the following play, QB John Bond actually fumbled the ball on his way to take a knee to end the game. Here is video of the last 2 minutes of that game. It's great to hear Jack Cristil's voice in such fine form as well.

It would be 16 years before the Bulldogs beat the Tide again, this time in Starkville with Jackie Sherrill coaching against Gene Stallings.

An honorable mention goes to Anthony Dixon's over-the-top TD at the 2007 Liberty Bowl, only because I was there and captured video of it from the stands. The sound of the cowbells erupting as he lept into the endzone brings tears to my eyes every time.

Throughout the history of the Mississippi State football program, there have been some remarkable athletes that have donned the maroon and white: Shorty McWilliams, Hoyle Granger, Jackie Parker, Billy Stacy, D.D. Lewis, John Bond, Walter Packer and more.

I am going to focus on one of my favorite players from the current era of Bulldog football: Jerious Norwood. Norwood was an All-American at Brandon HS. He was named Mississippi's "Mr. Football" and the Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior.

Jerious carried the offense on his back over his 3 years at State. Who can forget his touchdown run in the 4th quarter against Florida in 2004. Along the way, he set multiple records for rushing that were only recently broken by Anthony Dixon.

Who are some of your favorite players that have worn the maroon and white? Let us know in the comments below.

Because of travel and work, I have not really attended too many games outside of my time in Starkville. That will change this year since we purchased season tickets for the first time in almost 10 years. We will be creating our own tailgating traditions this year with great friends that we don't get to see nearly enough.

Over the past 10 years, we have attended single games here and there, and we always have things we have to do when we are in Starkville. The town has changed dramatically since I was in college with new restaurants and stores opening up where there used to be nothing. But we have a few standards that we always turn to when we are in the Golden Triangle.

1. Oby's Probably our favorite place to eat from when we were in college. The atmosphere, the food, the decor...its a must for us to eat here whenever we are in Starkville.

2. The Lodge Mississippi State gear is hard to come by in Alabama, especially in Birmingham. So we always hit up the Lodge to stock up on the latest wear and more.

3. Cheese It just isn't a trip to Starkville if we aren't loaded down with MAFES cheese on the way back home. If the MAFES store isn't open, we can always hit up State Fountain.

4. The Band Marching In We used to always watch the band march down from Lee Hall into Scott Field. I guess they still do that, but it is probably different now with The Junction.

5. Old Friends We always bump into old friends when we are in Starkville, and it is always great to catch up.

What are your tailgating traditions? Primo tent spots at the Junction? Favorite foods to eat or cook? Pre- and Post-game activities? Let us know in the comments below.

Mississippi State has had some great teams in its history, but my all-time favorite team has to be the 1999 team. It was the year after a trip to the SEC Championship where the game was taken away from us and given to Tennessee. We went 10-2 on the season, defeated Clemson in the Peach Bowl and finished the year with a #12 ranking - the highest of any football program in Mississippi in 40 years.

That team was special and was bursting at the seams with talent. Wayne Madkin lead an offense that included Dicenzo Miller, Justin Griffith, Justin Jenkins, Donald Lee and Terrell Grindle. it was also the freshman year of Dontae Walker. Leading the way for the running game was "Pork Chop" Womack. While the offense showed some prowess, the power of this team was clearly in the defense.

On the defensive side of the ball, Joe Lee Dunn was a mastermind and rattling the opponents offense. The defense was 2 and 3 deep at just about every position. Guys like Ellis Wyms, John HIlliard, Mario Haggan, Dorsett Davis, Fred Smoot, Pig Prather, Ashley Cooper, Shawn Byrdsong, , Kenzaki Jones....do I need to continue?

That season was special. The games were among the most memorable in recent history. Matt Wyatt's miracle comeback against Auburn after Madkin goes down with a finger injury. C.J. Sirmones wide open to win the Egg Bowl. The win against Clemson in the Peach Bowl. The #12 final ranking.

All-in-all, that is my favorite all-time team, and I am proud to have been there, on campus, during what many consider the "glory days" of MSU Football.

What is your all-time favorite team? Let us know in the comments.

Go Dawgs!

My parents didn't attend college, so I didn't have a team that I was "destined" to root for or even a college I was expected to attend. But I knew I liked the Bulldogs early on. They became my team to root for and I followed them with some interest.

In high school, I started dating a girl (who eventually became my wife) who was a die-hard MSU fan (both her parents attended) and that only increased my love for the team.

Once I got to State, I truly started to bleed maroon and white. I get misty-eyed at the sound of 50,000 cowbells ringing. At the sight of Bully leading the team on the field. At the sound of Hail State being played after a great victory. My blood runs Maroon and White and will for my entire life and my immortal enemy is The School Up North.

While I may not have been born into the Bulldog family, I consider myself a full fledged member and can't wait to pass that on to my son and daughter as we make the trek to Starkville most weekends every fall for some football on the campus of Mississippi State University.

What is your Bulldog story? Share it with everyone in the comments.

Mid July is one of my favorite times of year. Summer is in full swing and college football looms on the horizon. In just a few short weeks, players will be reporting to campus and suiting up for more practice, depth charts will be made clear, and all will be right with the world.

It is also the time of year with EA Sports releases the latest edition of NCAA Football.

EA Sports is sponsoring a series of posts this week all across the SBNation network that will let diehard fans talk about the greatest sport in all the world - college football. So enjoy the posts this week and feel free to chime in with your thoughts on each topic. Here is what to expect:

Monday: My Bulldog Story

Tuesday: All-Time Favorite Mississippi State Team

Wednesday: Tailgating Traditions

Thursday: All-Time Favorite Bulldogs

Friday: Most Memorable Moments

Monday: Expectations for the 2010 Season

Tuesday: Christmas in July

EA Sports and I invite you to jump in the comment section of each post. I look forward to hearing all your own stories and traditions related to maroon and white.

Go Dawgs and Go To Hell Ole Miss!