Bulldogs set marks in the passing game

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MSU senior receiver Chris Smith (8) celebrates with teammates following Saturday's 45-14 win over Arkansas. (Photo by Kim Murrell, SDN)

The Mississippi State Bulldogs have put together quite an amazing season in the passing department.

Several passing records fell during MSU's 45-14 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.

Junior quarterback Tyler Russell broke the single-season school marks for completions (201), yards (2,523) and 200-yard passing games (seven), and extended his single-season record of 21 passing touchdowns. He kept up his single season school records for completion percentage and passing yards per game.

Russell also moved into second-place all-time for touchdowns responsible for in a single season at 23 and total offense for a single season at 2,553, while moving into third all-time with 333 pass attempts in a single season.

In the Bulldog all-time record book, Russell tied Wayne Madkin for second-most all time in career touchdown passes with 34. Russell is the school record holder for career passing efficiency.

Russell threw for four touchdowns against the Razorbacks, which tied a career high, and he became the first MSU signal caller to throw for four scores in a Southeastern Conference game since Wesley Carroll did it against Arkansas on Nov. 17, 2007.

MSU reaches
eight victories

The Bulldogs have now won eight games for the 16th time in the 113-year history of the program and the eighth time since 1981.

Pouring it
on the Hogs

The 45 points scored against the Hogs marked the highest output ever by the Bulldogs in the series, while the 31-point margin of victory was also the largest for MSU in the series.

Love an interception

The third-quarter interception by MSU sophomore defensive back Jamerson Love was the first of his career.

Attendance figures
also setting marks

With their 23rd-consecutive sellout of 54,836, the Bulldogs finished their 2012 home schedule with a seven-game school-record average of 55.627 fans per home game. A program-best 389,354 MSU fans packed Davis Wade Stadium in 2012, with all seven of the crowds ranking in the top 20 in school history.

The 662,557 fans to see the Bulldogs play in 2012 are the fourth-most in a 13-game schedule.

Bell's memory
alive on Senior Day

Senior Day at Mississippi State included a tribute to the late Nick Bell.
Bell, a former defensive lineman for the Bulldogs, died of cancer in 2010.

There was a short video presentation in memory of Bell during Senior Day recognition. Bell's mother Linda Bell was introduced first and accepted the roses and Bell's framed jersey from athletic director Scott Stricklin and President Mark Keenum.

Many in the crowd wore Nick Bell t-shirts and Bell's name and number were painted in the north end zone.

Hymel recognized
as honorary captain

Mississippi State recognized former linebacker Calvin Hymel as its honorary captain for the Arkansas game.

Hymel played for the Bulldogs from 1972-75. In 1974, he led MSU with 84 tackles and helped it to a Sun Bowl 26-24 victory over North Carolina. The Bulldogs finished with a 9-3 record and a No. 17 national ranking that season.

After his playing days at MSU, Hymel enjoyed a 28-year coaching career in Bogalusa, La.