Dawgbreeze, so many topics to discuss here. Let's start with Richard Williams. Considering the shape of the program in the 1980s when Williams took over with average attendance being less than that of baseball, I believe my assertion that he built the program is valid.
I also disagree with the laziness point. You say Williams let Brady and Stansbury bring in talent, but I recall that it wasn't quite as easy. Williams's core recruiting class that later won the 1991 regular season title were for the most part unheralded players in high school with the exceptions being Joe Courtney and Chancellor Nichols both of whom later transferred from MSU.
Additionally, I'd go so far as to say Brady is no Stansbury as far as recruiting is concerned and wasn't as good a recruiter for MSU as is often credited. Of course, a lot of it had to do with the fact that top high school players in Mississippi tended look first to out-of-state colleges.
The shot clock was in effect during Williams's tenure as head coach-- albeit that of the 45-second variety-- so Williams's teams couldn't play as deliberate an offensive style as Bob Boyd's teams, but they could play defense. While the 1990-91 team was a surprise that was a culmination from most of a recruiting class sticking around and gaining experience, Williams had very good teams in the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons.
A lot of schools in the SEC have been going small/quick with their lineups, so I don't know if being undersized is a valid excuse yet, but we will see. We are young though. Like you, I want to see how the team and individual players will progress over the course of the season. I think we mostly agree here.
I also disagree with the laziness point. You say Williams let Brady and Stansbury bring in talent, but I recall that it wasn't quite as easy. Williams's core recruiting class that later won the 1991 regular season title were for the most part unheralded players in high school with the exceptions being Joe Courtney and Chancellor Nichols both of whom later transferred from MSU.
Additionally, I'd go so far as to say Brady is no Stansbury as far as recruiting is concerned and wasn't as good a recruiter for MSU as is often credited. Of course, a lot of it had to do with the fact that top high school players in Mississippi tended look first to out-of-state colleges.
The shot clock was in effect during Williams's tenure as head coach-- albeit that of the 45-second variety-- so Williams's teams couldn't play as deliberate an offensive style as Bob Boyd's teams, but they could play defense. While the 1990-91 team was a surprise that was a culmination from most of a recruiting class sticking around and gaining experience, Williams had very good teams in the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons.
A lot of schools in the SEC have been going small/quick with their lineups, so I don't know if being undersized is a valid excuse yet, but we will see. We are young though. Like you, I want to see how the team and individual players will progress over the course of the season. I think we mostly agree here.
