State needs to recruit 2-sport athletes....

[Mutt the Hoople.buhoops]

...the only way The Mississippi State University can compete with the LSU's, Alabama's, and Arkansas' of the world is to recruit better athletes. But, how to attract them to come to Starkvegas, the garden-spot of the Golden Triangle, aside from HUGE $$$$$$$$$? One way is to promise 5-* recruits the chance to play two sports.<div>
</div><div>For some reason, tMSU coaches loathe letting their athletes play other sports. Ron Polk was famous for not wanting football players to play on his team. For example, he missed on Adron Chambers, who is now a member of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. No doubt there are other players who would've wanted a chance to play baseball in the spring-football in the fall if we became the school where you could do both.</div><div>
</div><div>I know a lot of you say something to the effect, "They need to concentrate on one sport year-round".....OH, REALLY? If you're a five-* talent, do you HAVE to play one sport year-round? If anything, being a two-sport athlete actually makes them better teammates. Because they're busy year-round concentrating on their sports plus going to class, they have less time to go out at night and get into trouble.</div><div>
</div><div>Now we see Senquez Gholson as the guy making Trent Richardson's Heisman highlight reel. However, this spring he'll become a vital member of their baseball team, the one sport where Ole Miss resembles a Division I school. </div><div>
</div><div>If Dan Mullen and the other coaches would buy into this, it's a win-win for everyone. Mullen finally gets the big-time playmakers our offense desperately needs. John Cohen gets to save his scholarships to recruit SEC weekend starters and a couple of power hitters. Maybe Rick Stansbury gets a speedy combo PG-leadoff hitter.</div>

 

[MaroonedNdaRock]

....with top 10 teams is to become one university. There is just not enough resources for talent and funding. I know it is pie in the sky to entertain that idea. But so is discussing how to State is going to land top 10 recruiting classes. But that is what it is going to take.

I spent alot of time in Arkansas. I can tell you the energy over there is much much more positive for the UofArky than it is here for either university. Over there the media is a cheerleader for the university. Over here the media is looking for dirt under every stone. Then you got just as many Alabama and LSU car flags flying around the state a MSU and OM. The culture has to change over here. That starts by one university. Then you have everyone working together to land recruits (not fighting out in street in front of the recruits house). Also, if cash is really flowing as suggested on here, you can circle the wagons and keep your business quiet instead Of telling on one another. Not to mention creating a much more healthier environment socially. I could go on and on about it.

As for the talent and recruiting, I see the same situation with my kids sports. We play clubs with similar resources as ours. The kids compete well. We play clubs from bigger cities, they have bigger faster athletes. Then all the parents circle up after the game and dissect the coaching as if that was the problem. Ole Miss will hire another coach. He will spend a few years there and leave with a .500 record. Same for Mullen and whoever coaches at State. Then the fans will discuss what's next.

Anyway the point being, recruit three sport athletes....that isn't the answer.

But.....one thing that can happenand needs to is that State and OM compliance office need to work together. If any school is going to come in here and sign a kid (and they will) State and OM should do everything they can to make sure it was a fair recruitment....within the rules. The one university will not happen in our lifetime but working together to ensure fair recruitment in the state could. And if Alabama or LSU wants to point fingers at us....we need to stick together. More pie in the sky, I know....

 

[Mutt the Hoople.buhoops]

I'm not sure we want to be on the same campus as a bunch of bow-tied, swooshed-haired, self-absorbed, gambling-addicted, alcoholic can't-get-a-job-without-diddy's-connections d-bags.<div>
</div><div>I still think my idea is better. What better chance to get a 5-* non-cancer-to-the-team 6' 5", 40" vertical leap shooting guard, than to also give him a chance to go out and catch passes over 5' 7" cornerbacks?</div>

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Just one D1-A university. We should try to convince UM they need to work on that "Harvard of the South" thing and remind them Harvard plays in D1-AA.

 

[Statefan1001]

We had a chance at winning regularly.

 

[Goat Grindin]

nm