USM needs city to care as much as a stranger

By Rick Cleveland

You probably saw the news from Hattiesburg earlier this week. The citizenry there voted down a 1-percent restaurant/hotel tax that would have helped fund improvements to Southern Miss athletic facilities.

Upon hearing the news, I wondered what John Austin Dickey would think were he still alive. We'll get to Mr. Dickey in a moment.

First this: Rejection of the bond issue was in keeping with a long tradition of non-support from a city that thrives off the university. USM, far and away the largest economic provider for Hattiesburg and the Pine Belt Region, long has been taken for granted, almost as if it were an unwanted stepchild out there on the western end of Hardy Street.

USM plays another home game today. Thousands of visitors will pour into Hattiesburg, eat at Hub City restaurants, stay at motels, buy gas and spend money.

Yes, and in pre-game ceremonies, a presentation will be made to the family of John Austin Dickey. His story is one worth re-telling, especially given what happened earlier this week.

<a href='http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041106/COL0504/411060325/1097/SPORTS030104' target='_blank'>CLARION-LEDGER: Hattiesburg needs to embrace USM like stranger did</a>

Props to Rick Cleavland on this! When I read it Sunday I thought he was dead on. I miss living in Hattiesburg, but too many of the residents there take USM for granite(sp).