Contact: Sarah Nicholas

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State’s Maroon Edition kicks off a week of baseball-themed activities on Monday [Sept. 10] that will culminate with a presentation by Major League Baseball consultant and nuclear physicist Alan Nathan.

John Grisham’s baseball-themed novel “Calico Joe” is this year’s selection for the 10th anniversary of Maroon Edition. MSU’s common reading program is sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning, and approximately 5,000 copies of the novel were given to incoming freshmen and transfer students who attended MSU orientation sessions this spring and summer.  Grisham was the featured speaker during the university’s recent Fall Convocation.

Jim Dunne, an MSU physics professor who also serves as director for the Center for Teaching and Learning, said the week will provide opportunities that appeal to all students, especially freshmen.

“This is a great way for our students to come together early in the semester and have fun at events built around reading and learning,” Dunne said.

The week will include a variety of activities, from trivia to the discussion led by Nathan, who chaired an MLB committee charged with investigating the recent surge in home runs.

Rick Travis, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said he is “excited to see the college play a larger role” with this year’s Maroon Edition events.

“We believe it provides something for everyone, and most importantly, it builds community throughout the MSU family,” Travis said. “The baseball theme of the common-read book ‘Calico Joe’ by John Grisham provides an excellent framework for us to showcase many of the departments in Arts and Sciences and collaborate with units and programs across campus.”

The slate of activities includes:

Sept. 10 — MVP Monday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Drill Field. The Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Department of Chemistry, Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and other student groups are providing baseball-themed trivia, demonstrations, contests and prizes.

Also on Monday from 6-8 p.m. in Colvard Student Union’s Fowlkes Auditorium, MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen and MSU Head Baseball Coach Chris Lemonis are leading a conversation on the philosophy of baseball. The discussion is hosted by the Department of Philosophy and Religion.  

Sept. 11 — Trivia Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m. at the Union’s Dawg House and 7-10 p.m. on the Drill Field. Baseball trivia and prizes will be available, along with a showing of “42: The Jackie Robinson Story,” sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and Holmes Cultural Diversity Center.

Sept. 12 — Wild Card Wednesday, 6-11 p.m. at the intramural softball fields. Students can sign up for the softball tournament and home run derby by visiting and logging in to the “events” section at https://orgsync.com/home/587. Both events are sponsored by the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education; Department of Geosciences; University Recreation and intramural sports; MSU on the Move; Department of Health Promotion and Wellness; and Department of Housing and Residence Life.

Sept. 13 — Triple Play Thursday, 6-8 p.m. in Old Main Academic Center’s Turner A. Wingo Auditorium. Renowned nuclear physicist Alan Nathan will discuss his research on the physics of baseball, and free ballpark snacks will be available in the lobby after his presentation. Nathan’s talk, “Physics and Baseball: an Intersection of Passions,” will explore the role of the batter’s grip during the ball-bat collision, how atmospheric conditions affect the flight of the baseball, and the recent surge in home runs, among other topics.

Students are encouraged to use social media to “check in” during Maroon Edition events, and those who use #MaroonEdition will be eligible for prizes. 

Ongoing events include the Maroon and Write essay contest, with submissions due Nov. 9. See www.maroonedition.msstate.edu for details. 

Students also are invited to volunteer to help build the Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity house. To register, visit https://orgsync.com/56759/events?view-upcoming.

Maroon Edition is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Center for Teaching and Learning, College of Arts and Sciences, MSU Athletics, Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and Department of Housing and Residence Life.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.