(01-24-2013 03:38 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  OK, guys, thanks.

The budget thing is big... it's one of those chicken / egg dilemmas, though. I have a feeling that if USM just arbitrarily bumped its budget up to, say, $35 million per year, we'd be sitting around trying to figure out what to do with it. Sun Belt sports just don't cost that much, even when done right. The budget thing is nebulous... tell me where we should spend more money. We're already pretty close to the top in coaches' salaries. Our facilities are, I think, competitive (and that's not operating money anyway). I guess we could have kept the Nebraska game if we'd had a couple million lying around... but we're talking about a bigger gap than that. We're talking about where a school in rural MS can shove $15 million per year just so that it's income statement looks more like that of schools in much more urban areas. I'm not sure there's a good answer to that. Advertising perhaps...?

I'm not really trying to beat anyone up over it...especially not a USM program I respect the hell out of. However, it is one of those things that probably gets looked at and it's pretty remarkable how consistently the higher budget non-power conference teams are the ones that get looks.

(01-24-2013 04:50 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:19 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:02 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  The BE would be stronger with Southern Miss and Tulsa moving up.

I think that it's a question of time... but I'm also not sure how much time we have before bad schedules and bad publicity damage us irrevocably.

I don't think it will be very long. My personal feeling is less than 2 years for sure, maybe WAY less.

I wish there were a creative alternative to just cooling our heels waiting for Memphis and Tulane - of all people- to decide they're worthy of us again. It's completely unjustified. If our AD were to come out and say we're going independent, going to the SBC, or even just dropping FB and going to a conference like the A10 or the MVC, I wouldn't even bat an eye. The status quo is just completely unacceptable.

(01-24-2013 05:04 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:50 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:19 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:02 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  The BE would be stronger with Southern Miss and Tulsa moving up.

I think that it's a question of time... but I'm also not sure how much time we have before bad schedules and bad publicity damage us irrevocably.

I don't think it will be very long. My personal feeling is less than 2 years for sure, maybe WAY less.

I wish there were a creative alternative to just cooling our heels waiting for Memphis and Tulane - of all people- to decide they're worthy of us again. It's completely unjustified. If our AD were to come out and say we're going independent, going to the SBC, or even just dropping FB and going to a conference like the A10 or the MVC, I wouldn't even bat an eye. The status quo is just completely unacceptable.

With so many FBS programs in Texas, going independent might be necessary for Houston in a worst case scenario in order to create a different identity that's separates us from the states less established programs. At least S Miss doesn't really have to deal with that in-state issue. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised at all if S Miss played 2013 in the nBE. Not saying that's very likely, but it wouldn't surprise me either. I think 2014 is VERY likely, mainly because I have little belief that UConn or Cinci will be around in 2014.

(01-24-2013 04:41 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:33 PM)Billy Free Wrote:  What I don't understand is a few months ago C-USA is being laughed at for adding D-1 start ups Charlotte and Old Dominion now I see alot of big east fans clamoring for these schools to be added. Same goes for Rice for their academics and UAB for their market. Who knew all this time USM was holding everyone back and we are the worst addition to anyone's conference. The hypocracy is sickening sometimes.

Well, we hired three leaders who shouldn't have been in charge of anything bigger than a fry station (EJ, Shelby Thames, and Hammond).

(Actually, Hammond's supposedly a really good infantry officer... I'm just not "feelin'" the AD thing though.)

Bull Andre.. what does those three have to do with whom other conferences call up. Get off this "blame" Thames/Hamnond bit, Andre. We've been dealing with this for a LOT longer than just one year.

I do agree with the What would we do with the extra $15 if we had that kind of budget.. (honestly, I'm not sure the Athletics boards at USM would honestly know right off...)

(01-24-2013 05:26 PM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:41 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:33 PM)Billy Free Wrote:  What I don't understand is a few months ago C-USA is being laughed at for adding D-1 start ups Charlotte and Old Dominion now I see alot of big east fans clamoring for these schools to be added. Same goes for Rice for their academics and UAB for their market. Who knew all this time USM was holding everyone back and we are the worst addition to anyone's conference. The hypocracy is sickening sometimes.

Well, we hired three leaders who shouldn't have been in charge of anything bigger than a fry station (EJ, Shelby Thames, and Hammond).

(Actually, Hammond's supposedly a really good infantry officer... I'm just not "feelin'" the AD thing though.)

Bull Andre.. what does those three have to do with whom other conferences call up. Get off this "blame" Thames/Hamnond bit, Andre. We've been dealing with this for a LOT longer than just one year.

I do agree with the What would we do with the extra $15 if we had that kind of budget.. (honestly, I'm not sure the Athletics boards at USM would honestly know right off...)

The whole Thames tenure was a huge black eye for USM. He dropped us a tier in the USNWR rankings. You can't blame TV, or market size, or anything else for that. It relates directly to the fact that Shelby wanted to put our faculty on a time clock and subject them to random drug testing, and this just destroyed our reputation score in USNWR. If we could, like Houston and ECU, call ourselves a "tier 1 national university, " who's to say what conference we'd be in? Instead, Shelby tried to build a legacy around increasing our Carnegie classification, which is a number no one even looks at any more.

Next to Thames, Gen. Hammond is a saint. But I do think we could do much better at this critical juncture.

(01-24-2013 05:04 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:50 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:19 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:02 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  The BE would be stronger with Southern Miss and Tulsa moving up.

I think that it's a question of time... but I'm also not sure how much time we have before bad schedules and bad publicity damage us irrevocably.

I don't think it will be very long. My personal feeling is less than 2 years for sure, maybe WAY less.

I wish there were a creative alternative to just cooling our heels waiting for Memphis and Tulane - of all people- to decide they're worthy of us again. It's completely unjustified. If our AD were to come out and say we're going independent, going to the SBC, or even just dropping FB and going to a conference like the A10 or the MVC, I wouldn't even bat an eye. The status quo is just completely unacceptable.

your so full of crap. Your one of the biggest whiners around. Either you support your Eagles or you don't. I am tired of hearing Southern Miss fans putting conditions on their support. When we get a new stadium addition, when we fire Bower, when we hire a new young coach, when everyone else joins the eagle club, we we go to the college world series, when we get a 25 million dollar budget, when we get an sec team to come to Hattiesburg etc. Either you love your team or you don't. They got rid of EJ when everyone (including myself) was bitching, quit putting conditions on your support or just quit with your support (if any). I mean DAMN its just college athletics, it doesnt increase the size of your peepee or anything.

I

(01-24-2013 07:19 PM)cyc46 Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 05:04 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:50 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:19 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:02 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  The BE would be stronger with Southern Miss and Tulsa moving up.

I think that it's a question of time... but I'm also not sure how much time we have before bad schedules and bad publicity damage us irrevocably.

I don't think it will be very long. My personal feeling is less than 2 years for sure, maybe WAY less.

I wish there were a creative alternative to just cooling our heels waiting for Memphis and Tulane - of all people- to decide they're worthy of us again. It's completely unjustified. If our AD were to come out and say we're going independent, going to the SBC, or even just dropping FB and going to a conference like the A10 or the MVC, I wouldn't even bat an eye. The status quo is just completely unacceptable.

your so full of crap. Your one of the biggest whiners around. Either you support your Eagles or you don't. I am tired of hearing Southern Miss fans putting conditions on their support. When we get a new stadium addition, when we fire Bower, when we hire a new young coach, when everyone else joins the eagle club, we we go to the college world series, when we get a 25 million dollar budget, when we get an sec team to come to Hattiesburg etc. Either you love your team or you don't. They got rid of EJ when everyone (including myself) was bitching, quit putting conditions on your support or just quit with your support (if any). I mean DAMN its just college athletics, it doesnt increase the size of your peepee or anything.

I didn't really do that, but I'm sorry. Also, if people really do what you're saying, that's just a reality that has to be dealt with. It's a free market now and people are going to vote with their feet and their wallets.

(01-24-2013 07:19 PM)cyc46 Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 05:04 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:50 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:19 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:02 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  The BE would be stronger with Southern Miss and Tulsa moving up.

I think that it's a question of time... but I'm also not sure how much time we have before bad schedules and bad publicity damage us irrevocably.

I don't think it will be very long. My personal feeling is less than 2 years for sure, maybe WAY less.

I wish there were a creative alternative to just cooling our heels waiting for Memphis and Tulane - of all people- to decide they're worthy of us again. It's completely unjustified. If our AD were to come out and say we're going independent, going to the SBC, or even just dropping FB and going to a conference like the A10 or the MVC, I wouldn't even bat an eye. The status quo is just completely unacceptable.

your so full of crap. Your one of the biggest whiners around. Either you support your Eagles or you don't. I am tired of hearing Southern Miss fans putting conditions on their support. When we get a new stadium addition, when we fire Bower, when we hire a new young coach, when everyone else joins the eagle club, we we go to the college world series, when we get a 25 million dollar budget, when we get an sec team to come to Hattiesburg etc. Either you love your team or you don't. They got rid of EJ when everyone (including myself) was bitching, quit putting conditions on your support or just quit with your support (if any). I mean DAMN its just college athletics, it doesnt increase the size of your peepee or anything.

I understand both sides of this argument. The fact is, for many fans, voting with thier feet is the only way thier voice gets heard. I wrestle with that same question every time I attend a Houston basketball game right now. Our coach is a nice man, but he is a horrible basketball coach and I dont want him coaching the team. So I kinda feel like me showing up for games makes it less likley he gets fired. On the other hand, the kids on the court deserve my support.

That said, the fact is, voting with your feet can cause change. Would Ellis Johnson be gone right now if every home game had been packed? Im not sure the answer is yes.

(01-24-2013 07:50 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 07:19 PM)cyc46 Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 05:04 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:50 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 04:19 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  I think that it's a question of time... but I'm also not sure how much time we have before bad schedules and bad publicity damage us irrevocably.

I don't think it will be very long. My personal feeling is less than 2 years for sure, maybe WAY less.

I wish there were a creative alternative to just cooling our heels waiting for Memphis and Tulane - of all people- to decide they're worthy of us again. It's completely unjustified. If our AD were to come out and say we're going independent, going to the SBC, or even just dropping FB and going to a conference like the A10 or the MVC, I wouldn't even bat an eye. The status quo is just completely unacceptable.

your so full of crap. Your one of the biggest whiners around. Either you support your Eagles or you don't. I am tired of hearing Southern Miss fans putting conditions on their support. When we get a new stadium addition, when we fire Bower, when we hire a new young coach, when everyone else joins the eagle club, we we go to the college world series, when we get a 25 million dollar budget, when we get an sec team to come to Hattiesburg etc. Either you love your team or you don't. They got rid of EJ when everyone (including myself) was bitching, quit putting conditions on your support or just quit with your support (if any). I mean DAMN its just college athletics, it doesnt increase the size of your peepee or anything.

I understand both sides of this argument. The fact is, for many fans, voting with thier feet is the only way thier voice gets heard. I wrestle with that same question every time I attend a Houston basketball game right now. Our coach is a nice man, but he is a horrible basketball coach and I dont want him coaching the team. So I kinda feel like me showing up for games makes it less likley he gets fired. On the other hand, the kids on the court deserve my support.

That said, the fact is, voting with your feet can cause change. Would Ellis Johnson be gone right now if every home game had been packed? Im not sure the answer is yes.

its different coaches are under the control of the school, nothing we (the fans) can do about conference affiliation. You can't invite yourself.