Bully
Ptolemy's littermate became the first mascot called "Bully" shortly after Sasse's team beat mighty Army 13–7 at West Point that same year, perhaps the greatest victory in MSU football history. But Bully (retroactively named "Bully I") earned other fame the hard way, in November 1939 when he was struck and killed by a campus bus. The students held a funeral for Bully so elaborate that it was covered by LIFE magazine. Bully I was buried under the bench at the Scott Field 50-yard line.
Bully II ("Beau Legg", 1939–1940) was donated by Jayn Legg of Gulfport and served as mascot from 1939 until 1940, even presiding over an Orange Bowl win during his tenure, until he too met a tragic end after being struck by a bus. An elaborate funeral was also held in his honor, and he was interred at Hull Hall facing College Drive.
Bully III (1942) was donated to Mississippi State by J.W. Parker of West Point in March 1942, but little information exists as to his tenure as mascot, as he is never mentioned again after the July 1942 edition of The Reflector.
Bully IV ("Big Dog on Campus," 1942–?), called "B-Dog" for short, was purchased from Webster Kennels (the same kennel that bred Ptolemy and Bully I) in August 1942, but no record exists as to how long he served as mascot.
Bully V was a brindle bulldog purchased in July 1945 from a Greenwood resident by then-student body president David L. Cline. Despite his mascot status, the student newspaper was running advertisements to find him a home by January 1946. He served as mascot through March 1947 and died in 1951 due to "lack of exercise." He ended his tenure with a 14-5 (.736) overall record.
Bully VI was represented by two dogs. Mississippi State Athletics purchased one of the dogs ("Bully VI-A") from Sid Parker of West Point in September 1947 to serve as the mascot for the varsity football team. Similarly to Bully IV, he was named "Big Dog on Campus," but was affectionately known as "BDOC" for short. He was the first Mississippi State bulldog mascot to be "dog-napped"; prior to their game in October 1951, University of Georgia students dognapped Bully, but Mississippi State would persevere and win the football game 6–0. Photos from the Reveille yearbook show this Bully pulling on his leash, lunging toward opponent mascots including LSU's Mike the Tiger, the Baylor bear, and Alabama's live elephant Alamite. The other dog representing Bully VI ("Bully VI-B") was bought from Oklahoma City Kennels and given to the school as a gift in November 1947. This Bully served as the freshman team's mascot until BDOC's death in 1951, at which point Bully VI-B took over mascot duties for both the freshman and varsity teams through May 1952. The overall record for Bully VI (for both dogs) was a combined 19-25-2 (.431).
Bully VII ("Mr. Muggs") was a white bulldog provided in September 1953 by student Billy Underwood, who lived in Philadelphia. Due to repeated dog-nappings by students from rival schools Ole Miss and Southern Miss, he was allowed to return to Philadelphia with Underwood on the weekends as a protective measure. He served as mascot until November 1956.
Bully VIII was a dark brindle bulldog donated to Mississippi State by Alex Dittler of Atlanta through the Mack Trucks company. According to the Reveille, he is said to have lived the "longest, most neglected life of all Bullys." He was dognapped in 1958 by Ole Miss students, who painted him in red and blue lead-based paint and turned him loose at the Ole Miss-Mississippi State basketball game in Oxford. He almost died after being exposed to the lead paint, but he would survive and serve as mascot through 1964. He also presided over the team when Mississippi State College became "Mississippi State University," as well as when the teams officially became known as the "Bulldogs," in 1961. He also presided over the Bulldogs' 1963 Liberty Bowl victory over North Carolina State, which was also the first nationally televised game in school history. Upon his death, he was buried by the MSU Band Hall.
Bully IX ("Joker") was purchased by Lambda Chi Alpha in 1964. After it had been discovered that predecessor Bully VIII suffered a history of neglect, the fraternity assumed responsibility in taking care of the mascot and would oversee these duties until 1974. Joker served as mascot from 1964 to 1966.
Bully X ("Sergeant Mac") was the second mascot to serve under the care of the MSU Lambdas. This brindle bulldog served from 1967 until 1972, when he was fatally struck by a car on University Drive just before 1972 Homecoming.
Bully XI ("Rebel") was borrowed from a MSU alumnus to serve for a few games in 1972 after Bully X's death.
Bully XII ("Teeway's Romeo"), nicknamed "Romeo," was purchased by Lambda Chi Alpha shortly after Bully X's death, but he was "murdered" following the 1972 season. The perpetrators were never identified.
Bully XIII was also served by two dogs, a mother and son duo, both purchased in 1974 in Jackson. Bully XIII-A, named "Trajan," was the son, and he served from 1974 to 1975. He was once dognapped by Ole Miss students, but he was returned unharmed when the UM students discovered that he was undergoing treatment for stomach cancer. He would sire Bully XIV. Bully XIII-B, "Sissy," was Trajan's mother and the only female Bully in Mississippi State history. She too was dognapped by Ole Miss students, but was recovered when a female UM student tried to smuggle her into the Egg Bowl. Sissy served as mascot from 1974 to 1975, but would continue making infrequent appearances on the sideline with her grandson, Champ ("Bully XIV"), through 1977. The dogs that represented Bully XIII presided over State's 1974 Sun Bowl win over North Carolina.
Bully XIV ("Champion Bully of MSU"), called "Champ," was a piebald bulldog sired by Trajan through Molly, a bulldog owned by Mrs. Frazier Thompson, Jr. of Bentonia. He served as mascot from 1976 through 1982. A second bulldog, Bully XIV-B, served from 1985 to 1991. He presided over an upset of then-#1 ranked Alabama in 1980, a trip to the Sun Bowl, and a victory in the 1981 Hall of Fame Classic against the Kansas Jayhawks.
Bully XV ("Little Bully") served during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. He was bred by Dr. Joe G. Martin, owner and veterinarian at Martin Kennels of Ripley. Retired in 1992, Little Bully died in 1994 and was cremated. His ashes were scattered at Scott Field.
Bully XVI ("Replica of Corker"), known as "Corker," was a piebald brindle bulldog bred by Whitley Wilson of Eupora and served as mascot from 1992 to 1994. This bulldog sired the present-day line of Bully mascots.
Bully XVII ("Lucky Be Happy"), called "Lucky," was a fawn-colored bulldog that was sired by Corker and served as mascot from 1995 to 1998.
Bully XVIII ("Dontae") was donated by alumnus Greg Daly of Flowood in 1998. Dontae served as mascot from 1998 until 1999.
