Ben Howland is trying to take the Mississippi State men’s basketball team to Italy for a nice, fun trip where they’ll take on a bunch of European teams and improve their teamwork. It’s good for such a young team to do this sort of thing. It’ll give them some experience to work together as a unit and learn how to play with one another.
Off to Italy ✈️✈️ #HaitiRepresent #Hailstate
— Schnider Herard34 (@Scutt_herard) August 2, 2025
Italy ✈️
— Quinndary W. (@IAM_QUINN4) August 2, 2025
Boarding the plane to Italy. #HailState #WinToday pic.twitter.com/9lVtngmKqn
— David Deets (@CoachDeets) August 2, 2025
There’s only one problem though. Airlines suck.
First they landed in Atlanta, where they ran into a weather delay.
Just landed in Atlanta, so we're basically halfway there! Right? https://t.co/kTeoWulDh4
— Bob Carskadon (@bobcarskadon) August 2, 2025
Weather delay in Atlanta. Of course ...
— Gregg G. Ellis (@MSUsportsGregg) August 2, 2025
@MSUsportsGregg @bobcarskadon Bob is locked in... However @BrettJRiley just asked about seeing the Eiffel Tower... pic.twitter.com/uT7Zy60A1v
— Michael Moynihan (@CoachMoynihan) August 2, 2025
And then their plane apparently broke.
Pilot - "Folks, thanks 4 your patience but the plane is broken & we're bringing in a new one. I'm just not sure where it is." I kid you not.
— Gregg G. Ellis (@MSUsportsGregg) August 2, 2025
That is probably something nobody ever wants to hear.
So they “fixed” the plane
"Same plane. It's fixed." We're hosed.
— Gregg G. Ellis (@MSUsportsGregg) August 2, 2025
And then they got a new plane
Ok. Update. New plane now. And nicer. This one has USB ports. That's a good trade I suppose. So, let's try this again.
— Gregg G. Ellis (@MSUsportsGregg) August 2, 2025
And then the new plane broke
Now it the cargo door on the new plane is broke and the pilots are no longer eligible to fly. My gosh. I have no words.
— Gregg G. Ellis (@MSUsportsGregg) August 3, 2025
Some hypothesized the root of the problem
Didn't
— The CoonDawg™ (@CopiahDawg) August 3, 2025
Even
Leave
The
Airport https://t.co/JCBPcUjThh
The plane issues for @HailStateMBK astounds me. I think the problem is @MSUsportsGregg. He is the only constant variable in all this.
— Drew Walker (@drewwalker35) August 3, 2025
Ineligible pilots? @MSUcompliance please work your magic and fix this eligibility issue?
— Gregg G. Ellis (@MSUsportsGregg) August 3, 2025
And as of 30 minutes ago, they are finally back on track and headed to Italy
Wait. What? We are moving. Yes! We are moving. I kid you not. Yes, Virginia. There is a Santa Clause. #sixhourslate
— Gregg G. Ellis (@MSUsportsGregg) August 3, 2025
But hey, they got to meet Chris Tucker and that’s a win in everybody’s book, right?
Great talking Basketball with Chris Tucker #Friday pic.twitter.com/GN6JTA7GP2
— David Deets (@CoachDeets) August 2, 2025
Ran in to Chris Tucker in the airport pic.twitter.com/gLRNyzJ75k
— Ty (@Tysoncarter11) August 3, 2025
