One of the main reasons I don't want a rivalry with La Tech is because of perception. When I watched USM play at their stadium a few years ago, no offense, but it kinda looked like a high school game. I saw mainly a congestion of fans in the center of the stadium and that was about it. There really didn't seem to be no atmosphere (granted in the last years it could be said about USM).

But let me say something about their strengths. They play tough. They will go and face challenges much like USM. They have overcome to incredible traveling challenges while in the WAC.

But I do not want to help build another program. I remember sometime back in like 2003 when Cincinnati was in the conference...USM was nationally-ranked and they were a "nobody." They marched into our stadium holding hands seriously knowing it would be a fight. They won the game sadly, however, my point is now they've gone on to win a BCS bowl and so forth. I am tired of USM providing the challenge (or at least in time past) for other schools to rise. I have experienced this many times being in this sorry conference. Now there is LA Tech. Well, I must ask, what does a rivalry with them offer? To me, I just see very few pros that would make a rivalry with them attractive. I remember going into overtime with teams like Louisville and the games were awesome! I was there tearing down the goal post back when we beat nationally ranked TCU. Lee Corso, Kirk, and the gang were at The Rock that night. That was the Thursday night game for the week. Man it was awesome.

To me, La Tech seems to have the mentality "If you build it, they will come." I believe they are improving facilities and so forth and have a commitment to winning, and so much like USM they are trying to prove they are to be respected. But still very small fanbase and tv exposure. Do they play hard, absolutely! Have they struggled and made things work, yes. I've got some love for the dawgs, but I don't want a rivalry. I would be fine with going after some old conference rivals, making new contracts like with Kansas, Arkansas, etc.

I can understand if LA Tech fans say the same things about USM. Ironically, I hope these feelings are mutual because to me, the greater the distance we can create between each other the better. Either way, we are stuck in this Conference U Suck Always. My family continues to give somewhere around $900 for season tickets. We greet visiting team fans and welcome them to Hattiesburg. I wish USM went Indy but I guess we all have the right to dream.

SMTTT

You can always tell a young USM fan that doesn't know the history if the USM Tech rivalry. I thought he was taking about Tulane when he said a few fans in the stands. I leaped for joy when I heard Tech was coming in

(05-02-2014 10:16 PM)nastybunch Wrote:  Eager Eagle is the only Southern Miss fan that could care less. Great addition to our conference.

No - actually they are not the only one that could care less.

(05-02-2014 11:37 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(05-02-2014 10:47 AM)oliveandblue Wrote:  USM vs. Tulane is a good idea, provided both teams are decent.

No reason not to play every year in baseball, MBB and WBB, and every 2 or 3 years in football.

So far there are talks for baseball, a handshake agreement in girls hoops. but tulane has said positively no to football and mens hoops. To me its all or nothing.

(05-03-2014 08:19 AM)nastybunch Wrote:  You can always tell a young USM fan that doesn't know the history if the USM Tech rivalry. I thought he was taking about Tulane when he said a few fans in the stands. I leaped for joy when I heard Tech was coming in

Let me ask you a sincere and honest question hoping you will respond in the same manner. In MY personal opinion a youngster growing up and being introduced to sports will usually follow his friends and become fans of their school, usually at the high school level, and in doing so they are familiar with and accustomed to the rivalry they have with the other local high school. Their interest at the college level is usually limited to the school their folks attended or else the state university but at their age they have not yet matured to point of considering any college foe a rival, usually more interested in the cheerleaders.

Usually, at age 19 or so, they enter college and then become familiar with its rivalries, reasons, etc. Now, in my opinion, since one recognizes rivals at that age I wonder how many La Tech-USM games you attended prior to the series lapsing for such a long time. Since it happened in 1990 or so and needing to be at least 20 to understand a rival that would push it back to about 1970 so how many games did you see PRIOR to that time and tell us what the rivalry was like at that time if you were indeed old enough.

Thanks.

(05-03-2014 09:18 AM)Thegoldstandard Wrote:  

(05-02-2014 11:37 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(05-02-2014 10:47 AM)oliveandblue Wrote:  USM vs. Tulane is a good idea, provided both teams are decent.

No reason not to play every year in baseball, MBB and WBB, and every 2 or 3 years in football.

So far there are talks for baseball, a handshake agreement in girls hoops. but tulane has said positively no to football and mens hoops. To me its all or nothing.

Pretty silly if Tulane isn't going to agree to play southern miss in everything. Maybe it will take a few years to open up OOC schedules in football?

Well eager, tell me who else is out there to generate excitement? La Tech is going to be one of our closest opponents. We have history with them. No one else wants to play us. Complaining about being in C-USA won't help us any either.

And who was joking about going Indy?? Seriously, NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY US, except for schools which you consider beneath us.

(05-03-2014 01:37 PM)USM@FTL Wrote:  Well eager, tell me who else is out there to generate excitement? La Tech is going to be one of our closest opponents. We have history with them. No one else wants to play us. Complaining about being in C-USA won't help us any either.

And who was joking about going Indy?? Seriously, NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY US, except for schools which you consider beneath us.

My comments did not concern who might or might not play us, scheduling, conference, etc but directed at this "Rivalry in Dixie" subject that arises from time to time. I was old enough in the late sixties to understand rivalries, attended many USM games, and saw most of the USM-Tech games just prior to the end of the series and I NEVER, either in writing or print, saw or heard of any "Rivalry in Dixie" event. USM fans cared absolutely NOTHING about Tech otherwise you can bet the series would not have been discontinued. I have always sat directly across from the visitors and although some visiting fans scattered themselves about most sat in their assigned area and there were never over 3-400 Tech fans when they came to town. I attended three of the matchups in Ruston and can tell you there were never over 2-300 USM fans in the stands.

So, if anyone else saw anything that could be interpreted or considered a rivalry then come forth and tell us about it. Remember, USM was struggling for games back then too and if this has been such a fabulous event then why was it discontinued.

Most of our fans are depressed at the events that decimated and killed cusa. However, keep in mind we were set aside at a time when USM had exactly NO representation or friends in the Big East. That has changed, or will change soon, so just relax and don't get our panties in a wad. This exit fee situation will be settled in the near future so just hang on for the ride, you will be pleased.

(05-03-2014 03:43 AM)SethManKA1 Wrote:  I can understand if LA Tech fans say the same things about USM.

The difference is, we don't.

I am 63 eager, and would much rather play Tech who has for a linger amount if time been much better than Tulane in major sports. I have probably seen 50 games in all sports with Tech in it. They have much bigger crowds that follow their team.

Most of our fans are depressed at the events that decimated and killed cusa. However, keep in mind we were set aside at a time when USM had exactly NO representation or friends in the Big East. That has changed, or will change soon, so just relax and don't get our panties in a wad. This exit fee situation will be settled in the near future so just hang on for the ride, you will be pleased.

Care to elaborate on this part?

Wave beats USM 3-0 to win series

Congrats and good luck.

(05-03-2014 08:19 AM)nastybunch Wrote:  You can always tell a young USM fan that doesn't know the history if the USM Tech rivalry. I thought he was taking about Tulane when he said a few fans in the stands. I leaped for joy when I heard Tech was coming in

I didn't jump for joy, but I will say as a USM fan, I think La Tech was _THE_ most important addition of any of the new teams for our history.

As for the original post.. USM/Tulane need to do exactly what Georgian said.

OOC games between the two teams _regularly_ in all four of the sports (fb, wbb, mbb, baseball). It doesn't even have to be yearly, but enough to keep the fire kindlin' between the two.

(05-02-2014 07:09 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  USM fans could care less.

It's "couldn't care less." How do people get that wrong? You say I couldn't care less because you already care the least amount that is possible or not at all. Saying I could care less could mean that you care the most possible all the way down to just a very little.

Sorry, pet peave over but that **** only makes sense one way and erks the hell out of me.

(05-05-2014 04:47 AM)MUther Wrote:  

(05-02-2014 07:09 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  USM fans could care less.

It's "couldn't care less." How do people get that wrong? You say I couldn't care less because you already care the least amount that is possible or not at all. Saying I could care less could mean that you care the most possible all the way down to just a very little.

Sorry, pet peave over but that **** only makes sense one way and erks the hell out of me.

What irks me is the misspelling of irk.

Going to be interesting in the off season to see if the administration at USM is satisfied with the mediocrity with the baseball program, or will make a change there.

Will Bill decide to continue treading water or make a change for the good? I bet Berry stays.....as much as I don't want that to happen.

(05-02-2014 01:44 PM)WhyIsTheRumGone Wrote:  

(05-02-2014 10:39 AM)Eagleholic Wrote:  

(05-02-2014 09:34 AM)TTT Wrote:  What does that have to be interpreted as a "butt-hurt" thing?? I mean, I really don't expect ECU or UCF fans to understand it because they are so far away...but what nastybunch said is very true and likely. EVERY TIME Tulane plays USM in football, basketball, and baseball...USM fans outnumber them.

I know for a fact that this is true when the games are in Hattiesburg!

Wait wait wait.... do you mean to tell me that USM fans outnumber Tulane fans at games played in Hattiesburg?!?!?!! Alert the media!

I heard ESPN, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, and Al Jezera were all set to do stories about this topic for the games vs Tulane in H'burg next season. However, they have decided against it due to the uncertainty of games being played against one another since we will no longer be conference mates, and they believe the rivalry will be less intense. The Weather Channel was also considering a broadcast from the Southern Miss campus.

(05-05-2014 09:58 AM)That Guy 2012 Wrote:  

(05-05-2014 04:47 AM)MUther Wrote:  

(05-02-2014 07:09 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  USM fans could care less.

It's "couldn't care less." How do people get that wrong? You say I couldn't care less because you already care the least amount that is possible or not at all. Saying I could care less could mean that you care the most possible all the way down to just a very little.

Sorry, pet peave over but that **** only makes sense one way and erks the hell out of me.

What irks me is the misspelling of irk.

Erk is a kinase and part of a signal cascade in the brain. Irk is to annoy. People these days smh