We expect great things this year from the Bears football team.
After a successful season in 2021, the team had a fruitful off-season and recruited several exciting new student athletes.
The team is ranked high nationally — 5th in the STATS Perform Top 25 Poll and the Athlon Sports Top 25, 6th in the Hero Sports Preseason Top 25, and 8th in the AFCA Preseason Top 25.
Five Bears earned Hero Sports Preseason All-America honors.
Come to the home opener
Our first home football game is Thursday at 7 p.m. against UT Martin.
Bearfest Village will open at 4 p.m. Beverages will be available for purchase at the Beargarden in Bearfest Village near the endzone. The Beargarden will also have free food for the first 500 guests.
Classes will continue to meet as scheduled on gameday (even if they are evening classes scheduled during the game).
We have a plan to accommodate parking and classes happening during the tailgate and the game.
- Doors to Temple Hall, Kemper Hall and Pummill Hall will be locked at 3 p.m.
- Doors to Strong Hall, Carrington Hall, McDonald Arena, Kings Street Annex and Meyer Library will be locked from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Doors to Glass Hall will be locked at 4:15 p.m.
- Someone will be at a designated entrance to each academic facility to allow students in for class. Details about the appropriate entrance to use for each facility are available in the plan.
Our other regular season home games are scheduled on Saturdays throughout the fall.
- 2 p.m. Sept. 24 vs. South Dakota State University
- 2 p.m. Oct. 8 vs. Southern Illinois University
- Homecoming at 2 p.m. Oct. 29 vs. Western Illinois University
- 2 p.m. Nov. 12 vs. Youngstown State University
You can buy tickets online or at the box office. Faculty and staff receive a 50% discount on ticket prices.
Setting up for a great volleyball season
Bears volleyball will also be exciting to watch this fall.
The team returns four starters — one of whom made an All-MVC team last year as a freshman — and added two Division I transfers during the off-season.
The team opened regular season play two weeks ago with the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational Tournament at Hammons Student Center. Their next home matches are at 6 p.m. Sept 30 vs. University of Northern Iowa and at 5 p.m. Oct. 1 vs. Drake University.
Please come out and support our high-action, hard-hitting volleyball team.
Get ready for fall sports
Other fall sports are also underway.
Our men’s soccer team continues in their outstanding winning tradition.
United Soccer Coaches ranked the Bears men’s soccer team 19th in the country in their preseason poll. The organization also named two Bears players as “Players to Watch.” The MVC coaches poll picked the Bears as the preseason favorite to win the conference.
The men’s soccer team began regular season play two weeks ago. They have a home game at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The women’s soccer team began regular season play three weeks ago. They have a home game at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Cross country began their season last week at an invitational in Columbia, Missouri. Men’s golf begins their season on Sunday with a tournament in Louisiana. Women’s golf begins their season next Monday and Tuesday with a home tournament at Payne Stewart Memorial golf course here in Springfield.
Check out performances and activities
We have an array of other campus events that I would encourage you to participate in this week as well.
Blue Man Group will be at Hammons Hall tonight, tomorrow night and Thursday night.
Tent Theatre’s final production of this season — “Crazy For You” — starts Sept. 9 and continues through Sept. 17.
Staff Senate will host a social hour — open to all MSU staff and their guests — at 5 p.m. Friday at Tie and Timber Beer Co.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils will perform with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra this weekend.
Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!