STARKVILLE — Vic Schaefer walked onto the court at Humphrey Coliseum shortly before tipoff to a round of applause from the Mississippi State women’s basketball crowd.

A few minutes later, Schaefer was again applauded when his name was read by the PA announcer as the Texas coach.

Thursday marked his first game back at Mississippi State, the program he coached for eight seasons and led to two national championship games before leaving for Texas in 2020. His No. 1 Longhorns (28-2, 14-1 SEC) thumped the Bulldogs 68-64 in a contested game to the final minute. 

Schaefer, 63, still owns two farms in the Starkville area. His daughter, Blair, is a former MSU player and now an assistant coach for Texas. She received a round of applause from the crowd too on Thursday. Schaefer took his team to dinner at his farm on Wednesday night.

After the game, Schaefer was emotional describing the experience of returning to face Mississippi State (19-10, 6-9).

“It was hard,” Schaefer said, followed by a 30-second pause with his head down. “It’s hard. Obviously it’s a place that’s near and dear to my heart. I’ll always cherish that time here. Just so many fond memories, so many great friends that we still have.

“Obviously I still have the farm, and I bought another farm, so I think whenever that day comes and it’s time for me to not coach anymore, I’ll be around a lot more. It’s been hard. I won’t lie to you. I haven’t eaten very much. Sleep is just not part of my regimen right now.”

Schaefer added that he wasn’t worried about any possible boos or jeers from fans. None of them came.

“To me, that’s what makes Mississippi State the place that it is,” he said. “It’s just until you live it, you just have no idea how special this place is. People on the outside have no idea. They have no idea. My players have no idea how special this place is.

“I know we are very blessed, and we love being at the University of Texas. Our fans are really special, but this place is so unique. Bulldog fans, they’re just different, and they’re different in the best way you can possibly imagine.”

Vic Schaefer still roots for Mississippi State, attends football games

Schaefer still comes back to his home in Starkville when he can. MSU coach Sam Purcell said he’s been on plane rides back from recruiting trips coincidentally with Schaefer’s wife, Holly.

Schaefer also said he “always want(s) Mississippi State to be successful in anything and everything” and that he even attends one Mississippi State home football game every season.

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“I hope (Jeff) Lebby does a great job and gets it going,” Schaefer said. “I think he will. It’s someplace I always stay in tune with. It’s just part of my DNA.”

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.