HATTIESBURG -- Southern Miss athletic director Jeff Hammond has been on the job for a little over a year now, and it's unlikely that many Division I administrators have had a busier 12 months than the former Army major general.

From coaches being hired and fired to his efforts to shore up the athletic department's financial standing, Hammond has juggled a variety of issues at USM.

On Wednesday, Hammond took the time during a media roundtable to discuss his future as athletic director and where USM fits into the conference realignment picture.

SUN HERALD: Hammond sees bright days ahead for Southern Miss

I don't know if Hammond is our answer for AD, but no one can question his work ethic and his love for the university. I hope he is given a fair chance by the new president and the boosters.

(01-17-2013 09:27 AM)GCEagle Wrote:  I don't know if Hammond is our answer for AD, but no one can question his work ethic and his love for the university. I hope he is given a fair chance by the new president and the boosters.

He has earned the opportunity to continue forward.

(01-17-2013 09:52 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 09:27 AM)GCEagle Wrote:  I don't know if Hammond is our answer for AD, but no one can question his work ethic and his love for the university. I hope he is given a fair chance by the new president and the boosters.

He has earned the opportunity to continue forward.

Unless your Andre.. then you think he needs to be buried 6 feet under and RG needs to be brought back..

I'd love to see our financial statements right about now...

I have a lot of respect for JH, he came on board at a difficult time, took charge, made decisions and moved forward. He deserves to continue as AD, at the University he truly loves.

It can only be win from here....he will do this job with passion just like
AKL has taken the interim president job to heart.

To have someone with his leadership credentials AND bleed black and gold is fortunate for USM.

We have already seen what a guy like RG will do when the going gets tough.

I see GH busting a knee, then your nuts, and finally giving the death punch blow if things don't work out as planned....is the way it should be....

(01-17-2013 09:27 AM)GCEagle Wrote:  I don't know if Hammond is our answer for AD, but no one can question his work ethic and his love for the university. I hope he is given a fair chance by the new president and the boosters.

I do. If he isn't given a new contract then someone doesn't want us to succeed.

I called and expressed my support for Gen. Hammond when RG retired. I know the man is capable and he loves the University. He was a leader as a player and he has taken a situation at USM that many would have shunned just because there was so much on the plate, but he knew where his heart was and he has had nothing but the University's future in his thoughts. I say give him the job and time to show his talents, which I assure you he has. Nobody raises to the rank of 2 stars in the military without being talented and able to inspire people.

(01-17-2013 09:58 AM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 09:52 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 09:27 AM)GCEagle Wrote:  I don't know if Hammond is our answer for AD, but no one can question his work ethic and his love for the university. I hope he is given a fair chance by the new president and the boosters.

He has earned the opportunity to continue forward.

Unless your Andre.. then you think he needs to be buried 6 feet under and RG needs to be brought back..

I'd love to see our financial statements right about now...

That's a severe exaggeration. I've got no problem with the man personally. In fact, I respect him. He could turn out to be good. I'm just noticing a bit of a rough start, some extremely creative thinking that may be too far outside of the proverbial box, and a lack of relevant experience. If he works out, all will be forgotten and forgiven. I've eaten crow many times on this board and elsewhere and I very much prefer being wrong to losing.

(01-17-2013 12:59 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 09:58 AM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 09:52 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 09:27 AM)GCEagle Wrote:  I don't know if Hammond is our answer for AD, but no one can question his work ethic and his love for the university. I hope he is given a fair chance by the new president and the boosters.

He has earned the opportunity to continue forward.

Unless your Andre.. then you think he needs to be buried 6 feet under and RG needs to be brought back..

I'd love to see our financial statements right about now...

That's a severe exaggeration. I've got no problem with the man personally. In fact, I respect him. He could turn out to be great. I'm just noticing a bit of a rough start, some extremely creative thinking that may be too far outside of the proverbial box, and a lack of relevant experience. If he works out, all will be forgotten and forgiven. I've eaten crow many times on this board and elsewhere and I very much prefer being wrong to losing.

FIFY

Hammond has done a great job & i think he should be allowed to keep going. Maybe Jeff Bower needs to be an associate ad

(01-17-2013 02:15 PM)eagleriffic Wrote:  Hammond has done a great job & i think he should be allowed to keep going. Maybe Jeff Bower needs to be an associate ad

I have always been a supporter of Bower, and personally appreciate his contribution to the program in the past. I remember when his tenure was in the last months though, that people close to the program told me Bower had some problems that would come out if he was to continue and it would be a major problem for the program. I don't know how true (I won't say what it was because I really don't believe the charges, but the ones who told me were in a position to know enough that I can not ignore them either) and so for Jeff's sake as well as the university maybe Jeff should just stay away from such a position. Like I said, I can't confirm these stories and would rather they just stay in the past.

(01-17-2013 02:27 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 02:15 PM)eagleriffic Wrote:  Hammond has done a great job & i think he should be allowed to keep going. Maybe Jeff Bower needs to be an associate ad

I have always been a supporter of Bower, and personally appreciate his contribution to the program in the past. I remember when his tenure was in the last months though, that people close to the program told me Bower had some problems that would come out if he was to continue and it would be a major problem for the program. I don't know how true (I won't say what it was because I really don't believe the charges, but the ones who told me were in a position to know enough that I can not ignore them either) and so for Jeff's sake as well as the university maybe Jeff should just stay away from such a position. Like I said, I can't confirm these stories and would rather they just stay in the past.

Bower wont ever work again. He is financially set even without coaching or his wife's mary kay $$$. He is doing what he wants to, fishing and playing golf.

(01-17-2013 02:27 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 02:15 PM)eagleriffic Wrote:  Hammond has done a great job & i think he should be allowed to keep going. Maybe Jeff Bower needs to be an associate ad

I have always been a supporter of Bower, and personally appreciate his contribution to the program in the past. I remember when his tenure was in the last months though, that people close to the program told me Bower had some problems that would come out if he was to continue and it would be a major problem for the program. I don't know how true (I won't say what it was because I really don't believe the charges, but the ones who told me were in a position to know enough that I can not ignore them either) and so for Jeff's sake as well as the university maybe Jeff should just stay away from such a position. Like I said, I can't confirm these stories and would rather they just stay in the past.

I heard Bower got into one of those "Tastes Great / Less Filling" arguments with Gene Carlisle, it got ugly, and that pretty much sealed his fate. Not sure who was on which side...

(01-17-2013 03:34 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 02:27 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 02:15 PM)eagleriffic Wrote:  Hammond has done a great job & i think he should be allowed to keep going. Maybe Jeff Bower needs to be an associate ad

I have always been a supporter of Bower, and personally appreciate his contribution to the program in the past. I remember when his tenure was in the last months though, that people close to the program told me Bower had some problems that would come out if he was to continue and it would be a major problem for the program. I don't know how true (I won't say what it was because I really don't believe the charges, but the ones who told me were in a position to know enough that I can not ignore them either) and so for Jeff's sake as well as the university maybe Jeff should just stay away from such a position. Like I said, I can't confirm these stories and would rather they just stay in the past.

I heard Bower got into one of those "Tastes Great / Less Filling" arguments with Gene Carlisle, it got ugly, and that pretty much sealed his fate. Not sure who was on which side...

Where is Ellery Queen when you need him?

I like Hammond but he sounds like a RG clone when it comes to conference changes.

I don't care who the AD is as long as they are growing the fan base, increasing the budget, and making sure all our programs are as successful as they can be within the regulations of the NCAA.

I support Jeff Hammond so far, but I'm only willing to give him maybe a two year contract. He has made some good moves, but at the same time, he's made some questionable ones also. Then again, he's human, just like the rest of us. As for RG, he did do some good things, but I can safely say that I will not miss him at all!!! If some other program wants to pick up RG, that's fine by me.

(01-19-2013 11:50 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  I support Jeff Hammond so far, but I'm only willing to give him maybe a two year contract. He has made some good moves, but at the same time, he's made some questionable ones also. Then again, he's human, just like the rest of us. As for RG, he did do some good things, but I can safely say that I will not miss him at all!!! If some other program wants to pick up RG, that's fine by me.

I was not that impressed with RG. He certainly was no Reed Green or Roland Dale.

(01-17-2013 12:59 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 09:58 AM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 09:52 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 09:27 AM)GCEagle Wrote:  I don't know if Hammond is our answer for AD, but no one can question his work ethic and his love for the university. I hope he is given a fair chance by the new president and the boosters.

He has earned the opportunity to continue forward.

Unless your Andre.. then you think he needs to be buried 6 feet under and RG needs to be brought back..

I'd love to see our financial statements right about now...

That's a severe exaggeration. I've got no problem with the man personally. In fact, I respect him. He could turn out to be good. I'm just noticing a bit of a rough start, some extremely creative thinking that may be too far outside of the proverbial box, and a lack of relevant experience. If he works out, all will be forgotten and forgiven. I've eaten crow many times on this board and elsewhere and I very much prefer being wrong to losing.

it's easy to throw rocks. what "experienced" and "non creatively thinking" candidate would you put in there? I've noticed that most if the anti JH folks don't have the stones to call for a return of RG, but also don't specify who they would replace him with.