Final candidate names being thrown around twitter/social media:

Will Hall (Tulane OC)
Bret Bielema (ex. Wisconsin/Arkansas HC, current NY Giants LB Coach)
Kane Wommack (Indiana DC)
Ron Roberts (Baylor DC)
Blake Anderson (Ark. State HC)

Unlikely names, but still thrown around are Miami OC Rhett Lashlee and CCU HC Jamie Chadwell.

11/30/20 update
There's buzz that Bret Bielema is one of the serious finalists. I think at this point, I'd be okay with this hire. He had some rough, some solid years at Arkansas. The positive around him is that he's got HC experience, he's got a lot of coaching connections, he's a proven winner, and more importantly he'd stabilize USM football.

12/1/20 Update
USM has hired Tulane OC Will Hall as it's Head FB Coach.

clt hopes for the best

now rumors circulating about Blake Anderson again. That would be disappointing to say the least.

Going after Bielema shows the administration is at least trying, but could we get the kind of recruits he needs to run the power run offense? Womack would be a good hire, but was hoping we would get an offensive guy. We need to get someone soon to try and salvage this recruiting class.

(11-30-2020 04:13 PM)Eagleholic Wrote:  now rumors circulating about Blake Anderson again. That would be disappointing to say the least.

Forgot to add his name.

We'll trade you Seth Littrell for 20 bucks and a Mississippi pot roast.

No way we would get that lucky.

Are y'all seriously on the Bielema train? Gah, just kill the program at that point. Expect Gore Jr. to have 35 carries a game for 96 yards because that's the style offense Bielema loves. Fan interest will drop even further into non-existence as a guy with zero motivation and desire takes over a program he doesn't actually care to see succeed because no P5 school is giving him another opportunity.


Just take Old Yeller out back at this point. Need an entirely new group of leadership in Hattiesburg if he's the one they choose. I'm sure the 60 year olds in Petal and Oak Grove would love to have that Bower Ball back though. "Real football". The one that doesn't sell tickets, excites no one, and leaves us 1-AA.

(11-30-2020 05:18 PM)EagNBran Wrote:  Are y'all seriously on the Bielema train? Gah, just kill the program at that point. Expect Gore Jr. to have 35 carries a game for 96 yards because that's the style offense Bielema loves. Fan interest will drop even further into non-existence as a guy with zero motivation and desire takes over a program he doesn't actually care to see succeed because no P5 school is giving him another opportunity.


Just take Old Yeller out back at this point. Need an entirely new group of leadership in Hattiesburg if he's the one they choose. I'm sure the 60 year olds in Petal and Oak Grove would love to have that Bower Ball back though. "Real football". The one that doesn't sell tickets, excites no one, and leaves us 1-AA.

It's not that I want Bielema...it's that, given those options above, I'd take him.

The reality is, this has been a very tight lipped interview process. All done inhouse by AD McClain. I wouldn't be surprised if someone is named that no one even thought of or knew about. That being said...all the names that have been thrown out have been lackluster. But of the ones that have been, Bielema would be my choice for reasons I stated above.

Between Hall, Bielema, Roberts, and Anderson who would you pick?

Bielema would be fine with the rest of CUSA-West. Put the pen to paper!

(11-30-2020 05:18 PM)EagNBran Wrote:  Are y'all seriously on the Bielema train? Gah, just kill the program at that point. Expect Gore Jr. to have 35 carries a game for 96 yards because that's the style offense Bielema loves. Fan interest will drop even further into non-existence as a guy with zero motivation and desire takes over a program he doesn't actually care to see succeed because no P5 school is giving him another opportunity.


Just take Old Yeller out back at this point. Need an entirely new group of leadership in Hattiesburg if he's the one they choose. I'm sure the 60 year olds in Petal and Oak Grove would love to have that Bower Ball back though. "Real football". The one that doesn't sell tickets, excites no one, and leaves us 1-AA.

Not sure if serious? We aren't getting him but if we did it would be a steal vs the other options. Proven winners at the highest level do not stroll through South Central MS very often.

(11-30-2020 05:10 PM)Magic95Fan Wrote:  We'll trade you Seth Littrell for 20 bucks and a Mississippi pot roast.

This sounds nasty....

(11-30-2020 05:31 PM)8BitPirate Wrote:  

(11-30-2020 05:10 PM)Magic95Fan Wrote:  We'll trade you Seth Littrell for 20 bucks and a Mississippi pot roast.

This sounds nasty....

Is that the southern version of a Cleveland Steamer?

(11-30-2020 05:28 PM)everyone Wrote:  

(11-30-2020 05:18 PM)EagNBran Wrote:  Are y'all seriously on the Bielema train? Gah, just kill the program at that point. Expect Gore Jr. to have 35 carries a game for 96 yards because that's the style offense Bielema loves. Fan interest will drop even further into non-existence as a guy with zero motivation and desire takes over a program he doesn't actually care to see succeed because no P5 school is giving him another opportunity.


Just take Old Yeller out back at this point. Need an entirely new group of leadership in Hattiesburg if he's the one they choose. I'm sure the 60 year olds in Petal and Oak Grove would love to have that Bower Ball back though. "Real football". The one that doesn't sell tickets, excites no one, and leaves us 1-AA.

Not sure if serious? We aren't getting him but if we did it would be a steal vs the other options. Proven winners at the highest level do not stroll through South Central MS very often.

They didn't stroll through Northwest Arkansas from 2013-2017 either. Bielema was 29-34 overall during those 5 years and a dismal 11-29 in SEC games.

(11-30-2020 05:53 PM)DogsWin1 Wrote:  

(11-30-2020 05:28 PM)everyone Wrote:  

(11-30-2020 05:18 PM)EagNBran Wrote:  Are y'all seriously on the Bielema train? Gah, just kill the program at that point. Expect Gore Jr. to have 35 carries a game for 96 yards because that's the style offense Bielema loves. Fan interest will drop even further into non-existence as a guy with zero motivation and desire takes over a program he doesn't actually care to see succeed because no P5 school is giving him another opportunity.


Just take Old Yeller out back at this point. Need an entirely new group of leadership in Hattiesburg if he's the one they choose. I'm sure the 60 year olds in Petal and Oak Grove would love to have that Bower Ball back though. "Real football". The one that doesn't sell tickets, excites no one, and leaves us 1-AA.

Not sure if serious? We aren't getting him but if we did it would be a steal vs the other options. Proven winners at the highest level do not stroll through South Central MS very often.

They didn't stroll through Northwest Arkansas from 2013-2017 either. Bielema was 29-34 overall during those 5 years and a dismal 11-29 in SEC games.

He picked the absolute worst time to be at Arkansas. Arkansas will almost never beat LSU, Bama, or Aub when those teams are their normal playing level or better. MSU and Ole Miss were going through their best teams in 50 years and were not their normal selves. Tex A &M had Johnny Manziel and a slew of talent like they always do. In most seasons, Ark should be picked to finish no better than 5th in the SEC West division.

I am not a big fan of his style of play, but I would take Bielema at Southern Miss in a heartbeat.

(11-30-2020 05:44 PM)UAB Schnauzer Wrote:  

(11-30-2020 05:31 PM)8BitPirate Wrote:  

(11-30-2020 05:10 PM)Magic95Fan Wrote:  We'll trade you Seth Littrell for 20 bucks and a Mississippi pot roast.

This sounds nasty....

Is that the southern version of a Cleveland Steamer?

Cleveland will never be the same for me .....ever again!

Who knows the validity of it but a few more names being brought up on social media:

Kasey Dunn - OK State OC (was WR coach with Fedora when he was here)
Brian Johnson - UF OC
Nathan Brown - Central Arkansas HC

Usually fans have an idea but this interviewing process has been so tight lipped. I don't think USM has conducted an in-house FB HC search in some time. We've usually used search firms.

Bret Bielema, isnt he the one with the really hot wife that married way way out of his league? While I dont think you will win CUSA with a power running attack....

at least he plays over his head in other areas

edit: looked it up...

hire the man

I can at least say this about Bret Bielema as a Giants fan.

Our new Head Coach Joe Judge is a no nonsense teacher. He wouldn't have Bret Bielema on staff if Joe Judge didn't think he could teach players. Don't believe me? Look up the stories on how he handled our previous O Line coach Mark Columbo. Kicked him out of town mid season.

This is all to say, if he has had any hand in the actual coaching and teaching of linebackers, he's done an amazing job.

Our linebacker core has historical been bad. However, he has Blake Martinez playing at an all-time level. If he has any hand in that growth, I sign off on the hire.

I will say one more thing about Bret Bielema. Don't be shocked if he already has one foot in the door before putting pen to paper. He's already been a subject of multiple coaching rumors before even stepping in NY. He's never had intention on staying where he is...