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OKLAHOMA CITY — Throughout the NCAA Softball Tournament, Mississippi State's use of broccoli has been limited to the players in the dugout.
However, that will change at the Women's College World Series. Although outside food is on the list of prohibited items at Devon Park, the NCAA is making an exception for fans bringing in broccoli.
Donny Faircloth, the grandfather of MSU pitcher Alyssa Faircloth was one of the first fans to discover this, bringing in a bag of florets for the Bulldogs' (43-19) opening matchup vs. Texas Tech (57-7) on May 28 (11 a.m. CT, ESPN).
"We were hoping that they'd let us through the gate. ... We were bringing it on the chance they did," Donny Faircloth said. "They looked at it, nodded, said, 'Cool.'"
Broccoli has become Mississippi State's good luck charm since a fan known as Broccoli Guy showed up to the Eugene Regional, dancing with the vegetable in the stands.
When Mississippi State won the regional final over Saint Mary's they had a surplus of florets in the dugout. It was the same for their super regional wins over No. 3 seed Oklahoma.
Even though, the amount of broccoli is the stands is limited on Day 1, Dean Goold, pitcher Peja Goold's father, says the players have plenty after he took a trip to Homeland grocery store and cleared an entire shelf of broccoli.
Even though, he didn't have any for himself, Goold was glad to hear that he and the other parents and fans would be able to join in on the fun.
"This is supposed to be fun," he said. "It's not supposed to be a business. It's not supposed to be high pressure. It's supposed to be a game. So, I think the spirit of positivity, positive energy and just keeping it what it's all supposed to be about is very important right now."
Whether with or without broccoli, the Mississippi State parents also plan to show up in broccoli t-shirts.
Outfielder Gretta Grassel's mom Penny helped commission the black shirts that read "Team Broccoli" with three smiling florets pictured on the shirt. The parents will wear them for MSU's second game of the weekend.
"Once we won super regionals (Game 1), I was like, 'Oh, we've got to get broccoli shirts," Penny Grassel said. "... And so, I had a couple shirts made and shipped them to our Airbnb. ... I just think it's so cool."
Even without their own broccoli, Mississippi State's fans enjoy watching the Bulldogs rally around the vegetable and are hoping it keeps their energy high during the program's first trip to the WCWS.
"I just think it's cool that everybody's jumping on the whole broccoli thing," Penny Grassel said. "It's just a fun thing to do. ... It's cool that the (Women's) College World Series has just allowed that to happen and just let these girls live out their dream and have fun with the broccoli."
All times CT
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: NCAA changes rule, allows Mississippi State to bring broccoli to WCWS
Continue reading...
However, that will change at the Women's College World Series. Although outside food is on the list of prohibited items at Devon Park, the NCAA is making an exception for fans bringing in broccoli.
Donny Faircloth, the grandfather of MSU pitcher Alyssa Faircloth was one of the first fans to discover this, bringing in a bag of florets for the Bulldogs' (43-19) opening matchup vs. Texas Tech (57-7) on May 28 (11 a.m. CT, ESPN).
"We were hoping that they'd let us through the gate. ... We were bringing it on the chance they did," Donny Faircloth said. "They looked at it, nodded, said, 'Cool.'"
Broccoli has become Mississippi State's good luck charm since a fan known as Broccoli Guy showed up to the Eugene Regional, dancing with the vegetable in the stands.
When Mississippi State won the regional final over Saint Mary's they had a surplus of florets in the dugout. It was the same for their super regional wins over No. 3 seed Oklahoma.
Even though, the amount of broccoli is the stands is limited on Day 1, Dean Goold, pitcher Peja Goold's father, says the players have plenty after he took a trip to Homeland grocery store and cleared an entire shelf of broccoli.
Even though, he didn't have any for himself, Goold was glad to hear that he and the other parents and fans would be able to join in on the fun.
"This is supposed to be fun," he said. "It's not supposed to be a business. It's not supposed to be high pressure. It's supposed to be a game. So, I think the spirit of positivity, positive energy and just keeping it what it's all supposed to be about is very important right now."
Whether with or without broccoli, the Mississippi State parents also plan to show up in broccoli t-shirts.
Outfielder Gretta Grassel's mom Penny helped commission the black shirts that read "Team Broccoli" with three smiling florets pictured on the shirt. The parents will wear them for MSU's second game of the weekend.
"Once we won super regionals (Game 1), I was like, 'Oh, we've got to get broccoli shirts," Penny Grassel said. "... And so, I had a couple shirts made and shipped them to our Airbnb. ... I just think it's so cool."
Even without their own broccoli, Mississippi State's fans enjoy watching the Bulldogs rally around the vegetable and are hoping it keeps their energy high during the program's first trip to the WCWS.
"I just think it's cool that everybody's jumping on the whole broccoli thing," Penny Grassel said. "It's just a fun thing to do. ... It's cool that the (Women's) College World Series has just allowed that to happen and just let these girls live out their dream and have fun with the broccoli."
2026 Women's College World Series schedule
All times CT
- May 28
- Game 1: Mississippi State vs Texas Tech (11 a.m., ESPN)
- Game 2: Tennessee vs Texas (1:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Game 3: UCLA vs Alabama (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- Game 4: Arkansas vs Nebraska (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
- May 29
- Game 5: Game 1 loser vs Game 2 loser (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- Game 6: Game 3 loser vs Game 4 loser (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
- May 30
- Game 7: Game 1 winner vs Game 2 winner (2 p.m., ABC)
- Game 8: Game 3 winner vs Game 4 winner (6 p.m., ESPN)
- May 31
- Game 9: Game 5 winner vs Game 8 loser (2 p.m., ABC)
- Game 10: Game 6 winner vs Game 7 loser (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- June 1
- Game 11: Game 7 winner vs Game 9 winner (11 a.m., ESPN)
- Game 12 (if necessary): Game 7 winner vs Game 9 winner (1:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Game 13: Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- Game 14 (if necessary): Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
- June 3
- Finals Game 1 (7 p.m., ESPN)
- June 4
- Finals Game 2 (7 p.m., ESPN)
- June 5
- If necessary, finals Game 3 (7 p.m., ESPN)
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: NCAA changes rule, allows Mississippi State to bring broccoli to WCWS
Continue reading...
