<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Omewq_0w5iNgqa00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Omewq_0w5iNgqa00" width="1200" height="628" >He has two college starts now under his uniform belt, Both in super-charged campus environments, too. So Michael Van Buren has some instant seasoning in his favor.This Saturday afternoon though brings the next New Thing for Mississippi State's new quarterback. He is about to call a literal first-first snap on Scott Field. "It's very exciting," Van Buren said."It's going to be my first home start. So hopefully the fans should pack out Davis Wade."The revised hope percolating around Bulldog Country is in large part fanned by Van Buren himself. In the two games since his unexpected promotion to starter the true freshman has been more than a new facemask in the offensive lineup. Van Buren's game and grit is catching the imagination of fans who hope they are getting a good look at a better future.And his closing comment post-Georgia game about filling the home stadium for this weekend's visit by Texas A&amp;M? As soon as it hit social media fans were responding on their own accord and urging others to come for the show.This is welcome word to Dogs who will be on field and sideline Saturday. They are coming off trips to <a href="https://247sports.com/college/texas/">Texas</a> and <a href="https://247sports.com/college/georgia/">Georgia</a>, classic college venues with fervent fans of their own. It's all very impressive, linebacker <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/branden-jennings-46049721/">Branden Jennings</a> agreed."But it's definitely going to be great to be at Davis Wade and shoot our guns.""I know we're all looking forward to getting back to Davis Wade," <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/jeff-lebby-1384/">Jeff Lebby</a> agreed. The head coach has more reasons for anticipation now than before, too. While his team is still yet to score a FBS matchup win, Lebby has seen <a href="https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/">Mississippi State</a> making improvements all around the gameplan since sometime late in the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/florida/">Florida</a> game.This, despite making change at the most critical spot in the lineup. When senior <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/blake-shapen-46051801/">Blake Shapen</a>, specifically signed as a transfer to speed installment of Lebby's offense in year-one, went out with shoulder injury and surgery young Van Buren stepped in.Now he's trying to step up. "I felt the progress," Van Buren said at Georgia. "I got way more comfortable in my second start."He got far more productive in his second quarter there, too. Though the Bulldogs did score first, converting a picked pass into a field goal, first period offense was just about absent while Georgia gained a 13-3 advantage.Then…it happened. If Van Buren goes on to become a Mississippi State fixture in time all can point to a second quarter instant in Athens as the take-off point. Facing 2nd-and-12 on the (visiting) Bulldog 23, the Georgia defense surely expecting a pass, Van Buren took the snap, looked downfield longer than anything earlier in the game, and just unloaded.Wideout and classmate <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/mario-craver-46128632/">Mario Craver</a> had a little edge on his defender as the ball arrived around UG's thirty-yard line. Freshman Craver not only made the catch but almost scored, brought down on the five.With his sixth throw of the day Van Buren became a different Dog entirely. "I feel like I just started off slow. I've got to do better with that. Once I got that first long throw in it was just ball at that point."When the ball ended Van Buren had thrown for 306 yards and three touchdowns. Oh, and the score after the big hit wasn't so simple. A dubious offensive interference call erased a scoring catch by <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/kevin-coleman-46058557/">Kevin Coleman</a>, but with second-and-goal way back at the 24-yard line Van Buren was able to stick it to <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/kelly-akharaiyi-46117269/">Kelly Akharaiyi</a> for the TD that counted.So this wasn't simply a case of good numbers. Van Buren had many more chances to show his mental toughness after poor choices, bad throws, and tough luck. Most times he came back with a better play.Just as teammates expected, in fact. "He's just got to calm down," said Akharaiyi, who would have another Van Buren throw for his other touchdown catch. "He's a young man playing in a big game. Once he calms down he can do anything."Van Buren doesn't downplay the missed connections he saw at the time and re-saw Sunday on a screen. There were more big plays for the taking and making.Instead of what-if'ing about it all Van Buren is thinking, next time…next time he will look for his receivers running those routes into openings and trust them."It's very important to know if I put it up my guys are going to go make the play. It helps me to keep doing it over and over again." What also helped as an offensive line keeping the kid officially clean as in zero credited sacks. "It's great to know I've got an O-line that's going to strain for me."These two starts have certainly strained a freshman. Lebby expects dividends in development from it all. "These last two weeks for Mike have been monumental for his growth. I can't imagine it being any tougher in his career. So I'm excited about that."In turn, Van Buren and all Dogs are excited to bring their new look to a friendly field. "Ain't nothing like a home game," Akharaiyi said. Especially now that Mississippi State sees potential again."We'll be back in the building, we've got a lot of things to clean up," said Van Buren. "We're going to build on that and get ready for Texas A&amp;M."</div></body>

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Van Buren, Bulldogs hoping 'the fans should pack out Davis Wade' for Aggie visit

He has two college starts now under his uniform belt, Both in super-charged campus environments, too. So Michael Van Buren has some instant seasoning in his favor. This Saturday afternoon though brings the next New Thing for Mississippi State's new quarterback. He is about to call a literal first-first snap on Scott Field. \"It's very exciting,\" Van Buren said.

He has two college starts now under his uniform belt, Both in super-charged campus environments, too. So Michael Van Buren has some instant seasoning in his favor. This Saturday afternoon though brings the next New Thing for Mississippi State's new quarterback. He is about to call a literal first-first snap on Scott Field. "It's very exciting," Van Buren said.

Van Buren, Bulldogs hoping 'the fans should pack out Davis Wade' for Aggie visit

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