Todd Monken inherited the biggest dumpster fire in college football and came here and won the division in his 3rd year. Jay Hopson inherited those division champions, hasn’t come within 2 games of winning the division in 3 years, and his year 4 squad just blew a 14-0 lead in a game for the West driver’s seat.

We’ve seen enough.

I drove over for the game today. Haven’t been to one since Alcorn because I’d lost faith in the direction of the program. Hoped Hopson had at least figured out how to beat the gosh awful opponents in our conference this year. Turns out, the answer is no, he hasn’t. And even worse, it’s not fun to watch. Who wants to watch that product? It’s embarrassing, boring, and blatantly untalented. Just awful.

(10-19-2019 06:01 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  Todd Monken inherited the biggest dumpster fire in college football and came here and won the division in his 3rd year. Jay Hopson inherited those division champions, hasn’t come within 2 games of winning the division in 3 years, and his year 4 squad just blew a 14-0 lead in a game for the West driver’s seat.

We’ve seen enough.

Really wanted Hopson to be successful but it's time for a change.

We will drop 2 more, probably 3.

I think we all know that if Hopson finishes the year with a 7-5 record and a New Orleans Bowl invite, he will be given a raise and extension. Even if he finishes 6-6 with a New Orleans Bowl invite, he will be given a raise and extension. I think mediocrity, or even sub-mediocrity, is all the administration expects from the football coach and program. Just bring your pom poms, do your cheers, and enjoy the marching band- and expecting anything more that that is simply the rantings of a delusional fan.

(10-19-2019 07:33 PM)Feral Eagle Wrote:  I think we all know that if Hopson finishes the year with a 7-5 record and a New Orleans Bowl invite, he will be given a raise and extension. Even if he finishes 6-6 with a New Orleans Bowl invite, he will be given a raise and extension. I think mediocrity, or even sub-mediocrity, is all the administration expects from the football coach and program. Just bring your pom poms, do your cheers, and enjoy the marching band- and expecting anything more that that is simply the rantings of a delusional fan.

I dunno, man. McClain’s not the one who hired Hopson to provide stability. Heck, he fired Troy’s basketball coach one year after an NCAA tourney appearance. And don’t forget the whole Briles fiasco. That certainly didn’t endear Hopson to McClain. I think Hop’s on thin ice if we lose to UAB or otherwise manage to finish 3rd in the West again.

Eventually, the dozens of people in the stands are gonna make the decision for them if it comes down to it.

(10-19-2019 07:33 PM)Feral Eagle Wrote:  I think we all know that if Hopson finishes the year with a 7-5 record and a New Orleans Bowl invite, he will be given a raise and extension. Even if he finishes 6-6 with a New Orleans Bowl invite, he will be given a raise and extension. I think mediocrity, or even sub-mediocrity, is all the administration expects from the football coach and program. Just bring your pom poms, do your cheers, and enjoy the marching band- and expecting anything more that that is simply the rantings of a delusional fan.

the word(s) you're looking for is "embrace apathy"....

We shouldn't be too hard on Hop, he is earning his measly $500k. The issue is we need someone who is earning $1M.

The administration that hired him wanted to Bower-like coach who they could pay a Bower-like salary to. The days of paying coaches that type salary in the FBS are long gone, if you expect to win games.

The issues now are:
1. Before, there was a track record of coming to USM and coaching for less money leads to a bigger HC/coaching gig. That view would somewhat be tarnished by firing Hop.
2. Many qualified coaches likely wouldn't show interest just because there is the (rightful) perception that USM won't pay their HC much.

It's not just the HC, we need to bump the coordinators salaries by about $50k as well.

$1M for HC
$225K - $250k for OC/DC

If Hop doesn't win at least 8 regular season games or he loses the UAB game, he should be replaced immediately. If he satisfies the above, he should be on a very short leash next season.

I get it, $500k isn’t a ton in today’s college football world, but that doesn’t mean he gets a pass. That’s half a million dollars each year. And our coaching salary would be better if fans were excited and coming to games. They aren’t. And when that’s the case, it’s not just ticket sales that go down. Donations fall hard. Just look at the West side on a home game, of how many people who used to be at every game with season tickets don’t show their face anymore. They’re pissed at the direction, and until something changes, they aren’t going to put their money into a black hole.


Meanwhile, you’ve got a small group of fans willing to drive a couple hours to Ruston and support this show, and when they get there, not one university official is in site. No one from Alumni Association, Eagle Club, or Athletic Department coming by to thank fans for support and build some good rapport. You may say it’s unnecessary, that fans don’t need a pat on the back, to which I’d somewhat agree. But it’s called being a salesman and building relationships with your fans, which no one cared to do to those committed enough to drive over. And the reality? Most of those officials were probably chilling in Hattiesburg, watching on tv or mowing their yard.

(10-20-2019 08:16 AM)va-eagle Wrote:  The issues now are:
1. Before, there was a track record of coming to USM and coaching for less money leads to a bigger HC/coaching gig. That view would somewhat be tarnished by firing Hop.
2. Many qualified coaches likely wouldn't show interest just because there is the (rightful) perception that USM won't pay their HC much.

To point #1, that view wasn’t tarnished by Bower being let go after 17 years nor was it tarnished by the Eliis Johnson debacle. It won’t be tarnished by giving up on Hopson. The kind of head coach that looks at us and thinks, “I can do something there. If the last guy didn’t, it was his own fault” is exactly the kind of head coach we need.

To point #2, we’re still one of only 100-ish of these jobs available, and our program’s infrastructure is ahead of most in the G5.

Hell, even if we fired Hopson tomorrow, of our last 4 coaches, one left for a HC position in the ACC and one left to be a coordinator in the NFL. The other 2 came in with no ambition to move on in the first place.

(10-20-2019 09:06 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  Meanwhile, you’ve got a small group of fans willing to drive a couple hours to Ruston and support this show, and when they get there, not one university official is in site. No one from Alumni Association, Eagle Club, or Athletic Department coming by to thank fans for support and build some good rapport. You may say it’s unnecessary, that fans don’t need a pat on the back, to which I’d somewhat agree. But it’s called being a salesman and building relationships with your fans, which no one cared to do to those committed enough to drive over. And the reality? Most of those officials were probably chilling in Hattiesburg, watching on tv or mowing their yard.

Aside from the bus trip to the game arranged by the Eagle Club and the pre-game tailgate hosted by the Alumni Association, you’re absolutely right.

(10-20-2019 09:06 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  I get it, $500k isn’t a ton in today’s college football world, but that doesn’t mean he gets a pass. That’s half a million dollars each year. And our coaching salary would be better if fans were excited and coming to games. They aren’t. And when that’s the case, it’s not just ticket sales that go down. Donations fall hard. Just look at the West side on a home game, of how many people who used to be at every game with season tickets don’t show their face anymore. They’re pissed at the direction, and until something changes, they aren’t going to put their money into a black hole.


Meanwhile, you’ve got a small group of fans willing to drive a couple hours to Ruston and support this show, and when they get there, not one university official is in site. No one from Alumni Association, Eagle Club, or Athletic Department coming by to thank fans for support and build some good rapport. You may say it’s unnecessary, that fans don’t need a pat on the back, to which I’d somewhat agree. But it’s called being a salesman and building relationships with your fans, which no one cared to do to those committed enough to drive over. And the reality? Most of those officials were probably chilling in Hattiesburg, watching on tv or mowing their yard.

Watching an SEC game on TV or mowing their yard.

How 'bout those kickoffs?

I know that nobody wants to wait until Year 5 for conference contention, but I can't imagine Hop gets fired this year, unless the wheels really fall off the rest of this season. With how many returning starters you guys have coming back next year, ya'll have to be the 2020 hands-down favorite in the West division, if not the entire conference.

(10-21-2019 09:49 AM)BardDawg Wrote:  I know that nobody wants to wait until Year 5 for conference contention, but I can't imagine Hop gets fired this year, unless the wheels really fall off the rest of this season. With how many returning starters you guys have coming back next year, ya'll have to be the 2020 hands-down favorite in the West division, if not the entire conference.

The flaw in that logic is his most talented team was the one he started with in year 1, and we finished 3rd in the division then.

(10-19-2019 09:11 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  

(10-19-2019 07:33 PM)Feral Eagle Wrote:  I think we all know that if Hopson finishes the year with a 7-5 record and a New Orleans Bowl invite, he will be given a raise and extension. Even if he finishes 6-6 with a New Orleans Bowl invite, he will be given a raise and extension. I think mediocrity, or even sub-mediocrity, is all the administration expects from the football coach and program. Just bring your pom poms, do your cheers, and enjoy the marching band- and expecting anything more that that is simply the rantings of a delusional fan.

I dunno, man. McClain’s not the one who hired Hopson to provide stability. Heck, he fired Troy’s basketball coach one year after an NCAA tourney appearance. And don’t forget the whole Briles fiasco. That certainly didn’t endear Hopson to McClain. I think Hop’s on thin ice if we lose to UAB or otherwise manage to finish 3rd in the West again.

Eventually, the dozens of people in the stands are gonna make the decision for them if it comes down to it.

I agree with everything except the Briles fiasco. McClain was not yet here when that took place. We had an interim AD at that point. It would be interesting to know McClain's thoughts on that situation, though.

(10-21-2019 09:49 AM)BardDawg Wrote:  I know that nobody wants to wait until Year 5 for conference contention, but I can't imagine Hop gets fired this year, unless the wheels really fall off the rest of this season. With how many returning starters you guys have coming back next year, ya'll have to be the 2020 hands-down favorite in the West division, if not the entire conference.

Probably not. The talent we're recruiting is pretty bad when you look at how many actually have offers from P5 schools. Most have their best offer as us or ULM. It's rough.

(10-21-2019 10:02 AM)HarborPointe Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:49 AM)BardDawg Wrote:  I know that nobody wants to wait until Year 5 for conference contention, but I can't imagine Hop gets fired this year, unless the wheels really fall off the rest of this season. With how many returning starters you guys have coming back next year, ya'll have to be the 2020 hands-down favorite in the West division, if not the entire conference.

The flaw in that logic is his most talented team was the one he started with in year 1, and we finished 3rd in the division then.

100% fact.

However, conference play across the board has dropped since that season as well. So, we do have that going for us.

(10-21-2019 11:27 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:49 AM)BardDawg Wrote:  I know that nobody wants to wait until Year 5 for conference contention, but I can't imagine Hop gets fired this year, unless the wheels really fall off the rest of this season. With how many returning starters you guys have coming back next year, ya'll have to be the 2020 hands-down favorite in the West division, if not the entire conference.

Probably not. The talent we're recruiting is pretty bad when you look at how many actually have offers from P5 schools. Most have their best offer as us or ULM. It's rough.

I get it, but with Watkins, Adams, and Abraham all coming back, in addition to everyone else that's coming back, that's a heck of a lot of talent. But I guess I don't remember who all you guys had in Hop's first year, either.

(10-21-2019 11:47 AM)BardDawg Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 11:27 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:49 AM)BardDawg Wrote:  I know that nobody wants to wait until Year 5 for conference contention, but I can't imagine Hop gets fired this year, unless the wheels really fall off the rest of this season. With how many returning starters you guys have coming back next year, ya'll have to be the 2020 hands-down favorite in the West division, if not the entire conference.

Probably not. The talent we're recruiting is pretty bad when you look at how many actually have offers from P5 schools. Most have their best offer as us or ULM. It's rough.

I get it, but with Watkins, Adams, and Abraham all coming back, in addition to everyone else that's coming back, that's a heck of a lot of talent. But I guess I don't remember who all you guys had in Hop's first year, either.

Nick Mullens and Ito Smith are the two big names, but we had others as well that are playing in the NFL now.