Why does Mississippi State softball have broccoli? How cruciferous vegetable became rallying cry for Bulldogs

It's not uncommon to see a softball player eating broccoli on gameday. But how often do you see fans waving florets like men at a horse race in an old western?

Well, Mississippi State has turned its season around thanks to broccoli. Broccoli from the crowd. Broccoli as pom-poms. Broccoli during team huddles. It's all broccoli, all the time. 

And it's produced major results. Mississippi State entered the tournament ranked No. 19 in RPI. Since then, the team has taken down No. 12 Oregon and No. 2 Oklahoma twice to advance to the Women's College World Series.

Here's how Mississippi State found this rallying cry that has culminated in a Cinderella run. 

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Why does Mississippi State softball have broccoli?

Doctors might say fiber or Vitamin C, but softball fans know that the Bulldogs have broccoli for a greater reason: unabashed superstition and team camaraderie. 

This tradition began after a man named Jim Stewart Allen came to a regional game in Eugene, dancing with his signature broccoli that he used as a sort of makeshift pom-pom. Mississippi State freshman Ally Supan saw Allen while warming up for the opening regional game against St. Mary's. She began to dance back and forth with Allen, per ESPN. 

The next day, Mississippi State threw a no-hitter against Oregon and the superstition was born. When Allen returned for the regional championship game, a rematch with St. Mary's, Bulldog pitcher Peja Goold had her father buy bags of broccoli at the store. He dropped them off at the dugout and a tradition was born. 

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Who is the Mississippi State softball fan with broccoli?

Jim Stewart Allen is the broccoli-wielding softball fan, though he wasn't even a Mississippi State fan until recently. He actually went to the regional in Eugene to cheer on the Ducks, and even considered leaving when they were eliminated. But he stayed for the final game and the tradition was born. 

This is not a new phenomenon for Allen, who has his broccoli for other sporting events as well. He even held season tickets for University of Washington softball. 

Don't worry... Broccoli Guy is here 🥦#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/4ympCW4kcf

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 22, 2026

"Out of everything I'd ever done with broccoli dancing, softball connected the most with what I do," Allen told ESPN's Jake Trotter. 

But it wasn't always broccoli. It was originally potatoes that Allen would dance with. However, due to his location, among other factors, he settled on broccoli. 

"I wanted to keep dancing and decided on broccoli," Allen said. "They look like natural pom-poms. It's very noticeable. And it's green and a lot of the Pacific Northwest teams have green colors."

Well, now Allen's broccoli is the trademark rallying cry for a Southern team that wears maroon. How quickly things can change.

Mississippi State softball Cinderella run

Mississippi State plays in the SEC, which ranks as the toughest division in college softball. It contains five of the top six teams in the nation by RPI. 

So it was clear that the Bulldogs played a tough schedule, but come tournament time, they were headed to Oregon for the NCAA regional.

Mississippi State was not the favorite to make it out of this regional, but they did so nonetheless. After an extra-innings victory against Saint Mary's, the Bulldogs threw a no-hitter against Oregon and a shutout against Saint Mary's in the regional championships. The Bulldogs went 3-0, allowed only two runs, and advanced. 

BRINGING OUR BROCCOLI TO OKLAHOMA CITY!#HailState || #OKCDawgs pic.twitter.com/HlrJ2GXIEW

— Mississippi State Softball (@HailStateSB) May 24, 2026

Then came the super regional, where Mississippi State had one simple task. Win two out of three games. What made it less simple was the time in the opposing dugout: No. 2 Oklahoma. With broccoli in hand, the Bulldogs took two of three, capped by a 6-0 shutout in Game 3.