Twins Nick and Nathan Lewis knew when they visited Mississippi State as recruits for the university's track team that they wanted to run with the big "Dawgs" instead of being big fish in a little pond.
"We had been recruited by seven or eight smaller colleges, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity to run in the SEC," Nathan said.
Brother Nick actually was the first to visit the Starkville campus, and after the trip he called home and said, "Mom, this is where I'm going."
Literally having been together since birth, Nathan followed his brother to Mississippi from their hometown of Cullman, Ala., where they were both superior athletes and students at Cold Springs High School.
While Nathan seems to have the faster legs in most races, edging out his brother by only tenths of a second, Nick usually comes out on top academically, again by the slightest of margins.
As a senior, Nathan won the individual state championship in cross country, and the 800, 1600, and 3200 meter races. Together, they won the 4 X 800 relay. Nick is Cold Springs' valedictorian, with his brother right behind him as salutatorian.
"One of our differences is that Nick will stay up late to make sure he makes the 'high A' on a test, and I'm willing to settle for the 'middle-of-the-road A,'" Nathan said.
Both are MSU freshmen in athletic eligibility, but academically they are closer to being juniors, having been dually enrolled in community college honors courses while in high school. Nick is majoring in biological sciences (pre-medicine), and Nathan is a horticulture major.
For twins who had so many higher education options from which to choose, both said they are glad to be Bulldogs. "We couldn't imagine being anywhere else," Nathan said.