Cleveland's article today

[saddawg]

http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/COL0504/804240381/1177/SPORTS

Here's the part that pisses me off.

"Ugly fans had nothing to do with why State quit playing USM in football; ugly losses did."

Fans did have nothing to do with it. But it wasn't ugly losses either. Ole Miss had quit playing them years before. It made no sense for us to play them if the Rebs didn't. And our last 2 against them were wins. With some guy named Favre QBing them. Stick that tired **** up your ***, Rick.

 

[saddawg]

http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/COL0504/804240381/1177/SPORTS

Here's the part that pisses me off.

"Ugly fans had nothing to do with why State quit playing USM in football; ugly losses did."

Fans did have nothing to do with it. But it wasn't ugly losses either. Ole Miss had quit playing them years before. It made no sense for us to play them if the Rebs didn't. And our last 2 against them were wins. With some guy named Favre QBing them. Stick that tired **** up your ***, Rick.

 

[saddawg]

http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/COL0504/804240381/1177/SPORTS

Here's the part that pisses me off.

"Ugly fans had nothing to do with why State quit playing USM in football; ugly losses did."

Fans did have nothing to do with it. But it wasn't ugly losses either. Ole Miss had quit playing them years before. It made no sense for us to play them if the Rebs didn't. And our last 2 against them were wins. With some guy named Favre QBing them. Stick that tired **** up your ***, Rick.

 

[saddawg]

http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/COL0504/804240381/1177/SPORTS

Here's the part that pisses me off.

"Ugly fans had nothing to do with why State quit playing USM in football; ugly losses did."

Fans did have nothing to do with it. But it wasn't ugly losses either. Ole Miss had quit playing them years before. It made no sense for us to play them if the Rebs didn't. And our last 2 against them were wins. With some guy named Favre QBing them. Stick that tired **** up your ***, Rick.

 

[saddawg]

http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/COL0504/804240381/1177/SPORTS

Here's the part that pisses me off.

"Ugly fans had nothing to do with why State quit playing USM in football; ugly losses did."

Fans did have nothing to do with it. But it wasn't ugly losses either. Ole Miss had quit playing them years before. It made no sense for us to play them if the Rebs didn't. And our last 2 against them were wins. With some guy named Favre QBing them. Stick that tired **** up your ***, Rick.

 

[saddawg]

http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/COL0504/804240381/1177/SPORTS

Here's the part that pisses me off.

"Ugly fans had nothing to do with why State quit playing USM in football; ugly losses did."

Fans did have nothing to do with it. But it wasn't ugly losses either. Ole Miss had quit playing them years before. It made no sense for us to play them if the Rebs didn't. And our last 2 against them were wins. With some guy named Favre QBing them. Stick that tired **** up your ***, Rick.

 

[ShrubDog]

GaToR!!!

 

[dawgstudent]

but their baseball expansion is horrible. It looks like 2 double wides stacked on top of each other.

Yea, that's all I got because we suck in baseball.

 

[saddawg]

Looks like they used left over FEMA trailers. I guess they could always put the wheels back on and haul *** out of the path of a tornado or hurricane.

 

[Stormrider81]

Gold and Black through and through.

Rick, the reason we don't play USM in football is it makes no sense. For one thing, we play in the SEC. If we play a tough OOC opponent I'd rather it be a BCS team, but if I had my choice we'd play no tough OOC opponents. Secondly, we gain nothing by playing USM. We already recruit that area well. The only thing that we could possibly gain would be bragging rights, but who wants to brag to an instate CUSA team? I can't think of one good reason from our perspective to play USM. Of course USM wants the game, much like UAB wants to play Bama, but in both cases it makes no sense for the SEC school to take part.

 

[Stormrider81]

I wonder if they put screen doors on the expansion. Tacky doesn't begin to describe that hideous addition.</p>

 

[skydawg1]

.

 

[STATEgrad04]

Not too shabby, Not too shabby at all!</p>

 

[TR.sixpack]

because of selfish reasons. They want another big story to cover in-state. And they probably miss not having to leave the city of Jackson to cover that game.

They don't give a damn about whether it benefits all parties involved. Or whether the fans want it.

 

[usmsci]

Gold and Black through and through.

Rick, the reason we don't play USM in football is it makes no sense. For one thing, we play in the SEC. If we play a tough OOC opponent I'd rather it be a BCS team, but if I had my choice we'd play no tough OOC opponents. Secondly, we gain nothing by playing USM. We already recruit that area well. The only thing that we could possibly gain would be bragging rights, but who wants to brag to an instate CUSA team? I can't think of one good reason from our perspective to play USM. Of course USM wants the game, much like UAB wants to play Bama, but in both cases it makes no sense for the SEC school to take part.

if you gain nothing by playing USM then i would like to hear what in the world you have to gain by plain Louisiana Tech and Middle Tennessee State and to top it all off it's a home and home deal with both teams. La. Tech's Stadium holds 30,600 and MTSU's stadium holds 31,000.
</p>

 

[dawgstudent]

losing to them does not hinder recruiting as bad as a loss to USM. Some probably disagree with that but I think it's true.

 

[Agentdog]

I agree/understand all the reasons for not playing USM........subsidizing their budget, legitimazing their program. However, the fact of the matter is. They will continue to play other BCS schools to subsidize their budget and legitimaze the program. What difference does it make if the money/media coverage comes from them playing State or Bama or UT? We are playing UAB, LaTech, MTSU and so on. I would much, MUCH rather see us open up at USM rather than La Tech or MTSU.

I don't think we should play USM every year. However, a home and home once or twice a decade wouldn't hurt. </p>

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

I agree that it is absolutely horrible looking.

But, to be honest, given the size of the their AD budget, that is not a bad facility, in terms of the size and ammenities. It looks horrible. But, for them....not too bad.

 

[TR.sixpack]

MSU becomes USM's #1 rival -- the game every Golden Eagle fan circles on their schedule. That doesn't happen at State. USM would be 3rd or 4th on the schedule in terms of who the fans want to see us play. You never want to play a team that's equal or better than you, who is more excited to play you than you are to play them.

We have enough rival games or tough league games. We don't need another.

 

[usmsci]

I agree that it is absolutely horrible looking.

But, to be honest, given the size of the their AD budget, that is not a bad facility, in terms of the size and ammenities. It looks horrible. But, for them....not too bad.

actually it was supposed to be all brick. but the funding to build it wasnt complete when Katrina hit. the final result is that the cost to build it, even as it is now had more than quadrupled in cost. they had to make a decision. cut the brick out of the baseball stadium or do half a decent job on the baseball expansion and the football expansion. they chose to go ahead with the plans and make the new football expansion brick as planned and wait a while on the baseball expansion..that is when they add more press box suites on the other side and chairbacks. just facts.
</p>

 

[Todd4State]

We wouldn't have had to do that if we didn't wait one year before the schedule comes out to do that.</p>

 

[MTNDawg.sixpack]

we would much rather play a team like La Tech or MTSU that is inferior to USM. USM would not help our strength of schedule due to it already being ridiculous. If we lose it is the apocalypse to ignorant fans all around the state, if we win it is the equivalent to beating MTSU or LaTech as far as the polls are concerned.

The last USM game I went to was miserable...maybe 10000 fans by games end. Why would we give you the biggest home crowd in history at Hattiesburg? This is a lose lose to every State fan except the one that brags about us being better. You won't see me on that boat anytime soon.

 

[Stormrider81]

A. They aren't instate and thus don't effect recruiting or anything like that if we lose
B. They are worse than USM but give us roughly the same credit in terms of SOS if we win

As far as the home and home goes, I think most people here are pretty upset that we are engaged in those. You can lay that directly at the feet of our departing AD.

Again, it makes no sense for us to play USM. For sports writers and USM fans it does, but I obviously care more about MSU than those two groups.

 

[OneParticularHarbor]

On the outside, it does have a certain FEMA trailer quality. The reason it's built up the 1st base line only is because there are apartments immediately to the west (3rd base side) of the stadium, and they couldn't get access from the owner to put support pilings on that side of the stadium.

On the inside, it's very well done. Most of the money went to the inside amenities. The press box is especially nice. Each of the suites has a big flat screen.

 

[TR.sixpack]

We're not trying to play our way into a BCS birth, so who cares if our SOS is weakened by a MTSU or a La Tech?

 

[Agentdog]

It makes perfect sense if you want an entertaining game that most State fans would look forward too. Think of the excitement the game would create over the summer with both fans. Also, the game would give south MS recruits and fans another opportunity to see State play. The game would garner a lot of attention in state. Also, it is much more likely to be televised than La Tech, MTSU, Gardner Webb, etc.

There are reasons to play the game.

 

[Stormrider81]

Just like I have zero excitement for Tulane, LaTech, UAB, etc. I don't care about bragging rights over USM. I don't care to try to kickstart another rivalry. We play enough tough teams.

 

[The Lord Humongous]

http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/COL0504/804240381/1177/SPORTS

Here's the part that pisses me off.

"Ugly fans had nothing to do with why State quit playing USM in football; ugly losses did."

Fans did have nothing to do with it. But it wasn't ugly losses either. Ole Miss had quit playing them years before. It made no sense for us to play them if the Rebs didn't. And our last 2 against them were wins. With some guy named Favre QBing them. Stick that tired **** up your ***, Rick.

UMiss and MSU quit playig partially due to losing...no doubt. Having been at a number of both MSU/USM and UM/USM games, I can tell you that the vitriol at those games from USM fans was worse than that b/w UM/MSU fans during the Brewer/Sherrill years...clearly worse. Cleveland's being a huge homer if he can't acknowledge that. </p>

 

[Columbus Dawg]

Because La Tech and MTSU don't treat their game with us like the Super Bowl. USM would.

We already have a tough SEC slate + a rivalry game with UM. We don't need another one that wouldn't prove anything.

 

[usmsci]

Because La Tech and MTSU don't treat their game with us like the Super Bowl. USM would.

We already have a tough SEC slate + a rivalry game with UM. We don't need another one that wouldn't prove anything.

don't flatter yourself. don't put the words into the mouths of how most USM fans really feel, and treating our game MSU would not be like the super bowl, not when we have Kansas, Virginia, and Nebraska all making a return trip to Hattiesburg and a few other named teams that are in the works that just won;t reveal at this moment until the deals are final but they are HUGE games. so don't sit here and try to justify that the reason you wouldn't play us is because we have some sort of idolistic view of MSU.
</p>

 

[Stormrider81]

Most MSU fans could care less about a USM game. The only time we hear stuff about playing the game it is the media and USM fans.</p>

 

[Dawg in a pile]

and a few other named teams that are in the works that just won;t reveal at this moment until the deals are final but they are HUGE games.

A few more huge teams that are going to beat your ***? Have you ever won any of these big games that you brag about playing?

 

[usmsci]

and a few other named teams that are in the works that just won;t reveal at this moment until the deals are final but they are HUGE games.

A few more huge teams that are going to beat your ***? Have you ever won any of these big games that you brag about playing?

what are you talking about? i am merely talking about teams coming to Hattiesburg to play us. not who will win. i am not talking about winning or losing. i am talking about having balls enough to come to hattiesburg and play. and we beat Nebraska in Lincoln, admittedly when they werent very good (but neither were we) so good sense and logic would tell you they wouldn't want to have nothing else to do with us. but they are at least coming to hattiesburg again once more than i know of.
</p>

 

[usmsci]

"Most MSU fans could care less about a USM game. The only time we hear stuff about playing the game it is the media and USM fans."

because its the same group of fair weather fans (on both sides) that still hold on to pride and resentment for all their lives. i can understand the media wanting it so they can justify their existance in the state by reporting on something that would be meaningful in the state, to at least themselves but they really dont have anything in it other than for themeselves.

 

[Dawg in a pile]

Those teams play you for the same reason that we play Louisiana Tech, or UAB. They get out of their own state so they don't get beat by anyone in state, and to show their face in another state for recruiting purposes. You play those teams to try to beef up your incredibly weak conference schedule. It does us no good to play southern. If we win, who cares? If we lose, it's a huge embarrassment and could affect recruiting.

 

[dogfan96]

Among the USM faithful maybe.. most MSU people I know couldn't give two ***** about playing them and I couldn't either. I'd much rather go to New Orleans to play Tulane or to Houston or even to Birmingham to play UAB.</p>

 

[JimHalpert.nafoom]

don't flatter yourself. don't put the words into the mouths of how most USM fans really feel, and treating our game MSU would not be like the super bowl, not when we have Kansas, Virginia, and Nebraska all making a return trip to Hattiesburg and a few other named teams that are in the works that just won;t reveal at this moment until the deals are final but they are HUGE games. so don't sit here and try to justify that the reason you wouldn't play us is because we have some sort of idolistic view of MSU.

I call ********. The reason that it would be the Superbowl for USM is that we( UM and MSU) have basically refused to acknowledge the existence of your school for the past twenty years. USM can scream for attention all it wants, but realistically, Ole Miss and State fans aren't going to care. As such, if one of us finally agreed to play you, it would be the most exciting game for USM in about twenty years. Hell, I bet y'all would even sell out your stadium.

 

[uhhct1]

don't flatter yourself. don't put the words into the mouths of how most USM fans really feel, and treating our game MSU would not be like the super bowl, not when we have Kansas, Virginia, and Nebraska all making a return trip to Hattiesburg and a few other named teams that are in the works that just won;t reveal at this moment until the deals are final but they are HUGE games. so don't sit here and try to justify that the reason you wouldn't play us is because we have some sort of idolistic view of MSU.

</p>Are you kidding me? Every golden buzzard fan I know would get off knowing that they would get a chance play us or ole miss in football now. They bring it up come every football season and I just continue to explain to them that it does no good to play them nor would any State fan give two ***** about them. Its a lose-lose situation. And for the record, it would not look good if we did play yall in Hattiesburg and 2/3 of the fanbase there would be maroon clad.

 

[Ole Miss Grad]

and a few other named teams that are in the works that just won;t reveal at this moment until the deals are final but they are HUGE games.

A few more huge teams that are going to beat your ***? Have you ever won any of these big games that you brag about playing?

what are you talking about? i am merely talking about teams coming to Hattiesburg to play us. not who will win. i am not talking about winning or losing. i am talking about having balls enough to come to hattiesburg and play. and we beat Nebraska in Lincoln, admittedly when they werent very good (but neither were we) so good sense and logic would tell you they wouldn't want to have nothing else to do with us. but they are at least coming to hattiesburg again once more than i know of.
</p>

</p>Why won't you come to Ole Miss or MSU to play? You've been offered. Does that mean anyone, anytime, any place is BS?

Yea, I think it is.

As for winning, you haven't beaten a ranked team with a winning record in 17 years.

You'd much rather sit at the Rock and watch the next Nugget starve to death.

 

[Jackdragbean]

So USM fans won't make a huge deal out of playing MSU. So why are you on a MSU site talking smack about why MSU won't play USM in football? I'll tell you why. Because most USM fans have a hatred for MSU and UM due to a inferiority complex. You guys feel like you don't get the respect that we do because you have a smaller school with less credentials academically and your conference is one that is loaded with teams that BCS teams play to increase total wins.

I have met very few USM fans that don't have some big damn fit when they find out I'm a MSU alumnus. I have never understood it. Why? I really don't give USM a thought, never have, even when we played you in football.....they were good games, but I never felt like it was a real rivalry. You aren't in our conference, and you don't mean anything to MSU or UM SOS other than to hurt us if we actually lose. Get over it and make UAB your rival or something. Stop whining all the time and saying things like "You guys don't play us cause you're scared." We don't play you because the majority of us don't give a crap about your school or your athletics. Hell, I've always thought that USM was the place to go for people having trouble in junior college.

Oh, and by the way, why don't you ask to see how many MSU fans have actually been to a USM site. I wouldn't even know where to begin to look.