The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(10-12-2021 08:37 AM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 07:42 AM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 07:28 AM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 06:30 AM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  After so many years of consistent success, it is very hard to fathom USM struggling like this. They were the standard we were chasing for the first two decades of our program

It is puzzling and frightening. A series of bad decisions regarding new coaches was likely significant in the downward spiral. I am impressed with their attendance last Saturday in spite of a losing record.

They had one bad and a couple of kinda meh hires but the biggest things I see that have hurt Southern Miss are:

1) UAB, South Alabama, Troy, Georgia Southern and Georgia State are now FBS options right in the heart of the recruiting territory that build USM Football. To the west of them, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and Arkansas State were not recruiting threats for much of the 80s and 90s when USM was building its reputation. That is EIGHT programs that weren't gonna beat USM very often for players when Brett Favre and Reggie Collier were running around. Some of them were not even playing FBS football for much of that time. For a very long time, USM was the default best option if you were a prospect in Alabama, Georgia, Florida panhandle, Louisiana and not getting SEC offers. Other than Memphis and Tulane, and to a much lesser extent Louisville and ECU, USM didn't have much competition for those next-tier guys. Now they do.

2) While the spend pretty competitively with peers on football, their overall athletic budget is quite a bit smaller than most. Their facilities don't stack up to some of the shiny new things out there.

These problems are quite a bit deeper than any one coach. They are systemic challenges. But one coach could turn it around for them so that these two things are better addressed, as UAB fans well know.

Very good points. I had not considered all the new competition.

I realized that a long time ago. Their fan base hasn't in general.

Things like the "flagship of CUSA" post and trying to act as if they wouldn't take an AAC invite if offered has made me more than willing to throw more crap on their crappy situation. I still respect their program but I revel in their fans dismay.