Interim head coaches rarely get the actual job unless they perform miracles. Just the way it is. He was smart to take the sure thing at AP. USM will attract a solid coach with the money they are offering combined with their history of fb success.

[quote='ElectroEagle' pid='17060553' dateline='1603817157'

This is also how they look to be offering more than 900,000 base salary to the next head coach (vs the 500,000 Hopson was getting). Also rumor is Hugh Freeze wants to come back home and if the assistant coaching salary is where he wants he would do it for the amount USM is talking of offering.
[/quote]

Freeze is not coming to USM, Liberty is a better job right now.

(10-27-2020 12:56 PM)TTT Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:53 AM)DogsWin1 Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:45 AM)ElectroEagle Wrote:  This is also how they look to be offering more than 900,000 base salary to the next head coach (vs the 500,000 Hopson was getting). Also rumor is Hugh Freeze wants to come back home and if the assistant coaching salary is where he wants he would do it for the amount USM is talking of offering.

Walden could have been had for $500K or less. Once word was out that they were going to pay $900K+ to the next HC it was obvious it wouldn't be Walden. No surprise in all of this. I wish we had a coach with that level of energy, it may be off-putting to some fans, but it's also very contagious for football players on a sideline.

That "word" came out yesterday...there's no way in hell Walden read that article yesterday morning, called Austin Peay, put his hat in, interviewed, got offered, accepted, all in the matter of a few hours.

Sounds to me like Walden was in talks w/ Austin Peay for a week or longer (Walden was out of practice all last week due to an alleged covid+ test, at least that's what we're supposed to believe)...this would explain WHY Jeremy McClain would actually come out and make the $$$ figures publicly known. My first thought when I read the article yesterday was, "well, I guess they have made their mind up about Walden"...meanwhile, I'm sure McClain has known about Walden interviewing for AP for a while now....the timing of all of this all makes complete sense now.

Again, this is only a tough look if you haven't looked closer at the USM situation. The devil is in the details.

This seems reasonable. Memphis DC said he interviewed the week following the SMU game (Oct 3). Although, Mike Macintyre didn't say when he turned the job down, it's very likely others were interviewed during that time period as well. MM is available, and there will be some happy Tiger fans when he leaves. For USM's sake, I hope sights are set higher.

(10-27-2020 11:16 AM)TTT Wrote:  We're on our 3rd interim coach of the year, Tim Billings. Per Pete Thamel/Twitter.

https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/13...59080?s=20

Walden was like:

(10-27-2020 11:49 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:48 AM)Saint Greg Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:45 AM)TTT Wrote:  It's only a "bad look" for people who haven't followed USM or bothered to do a little research...

Everyone and their mama knew 30-year old Scotty Walden (w/ zero FB head coach experience) wasn't getting offered the HC position at the end of the year. This is why he went ahead and accepted the AP position.

If he's too young and inexperienced to be HC he shouldn't have been named interim HC.

He was the only man with previous head coaching experience (not at D1) that we had, so it fell on him. He was given a shot, but he's won like one game so far. When administration is trying to excite an apathetic fanbase, they aren't going to hire the guy who took over and lost. It fails at what they're trying to accomplish.

Billings has been a HC, but doesn't want that again and may not even coach after this year. He'd have retired already if not for his relationship with Hopson. Scotty wanted the job and a lot of USM fans have wanted to see what he can do since he got here, but so far he hadn't dazzled.. A lot of people here still think he'll be a great FBS HC one day.

(10-27-2020 12:06 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:49 AM)usm99 Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:33 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:26 AM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:16 AM)TTT Wrote:  We're on our 3rd interim coach of the year, Tim Billings. Per Pete Thamel/Twitter.

https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/13...59080?s=20

That is a bad look Southern Miss. You should not be losing your acting coach to an FCS program.

That's silly. Anyone who knew they would in all likely hood be out at USM altogether next year when a new HC comes in and brings their staff would have taken an FCS head coaching job.

Exactly. He had been the interim for 6 weeks or so and was still interim. We are 1-4, multiple players opted out and the weekly loss of Covid players being out is there so the prospects of him being promoted to Head Coach weren't looking good. He took a guaranteed job that will pay him for at least the next 4 years instead of just the next 2 months. I hate it and it is a bad look but I don't blame him one bit and wish him the best.

I totally understand why he did it. I just can't believe USM didn't ensure he would finish his interim gig before actually leaving for a new job. It just looks bad.

Austin Peay's season starts in February.

(10-27-2020 12:06 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:49 AM)usm99 Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:33 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:26 AM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:16 AM)TTT Wrote:  We're on our 3rd interim coach of the year, Tim Billings. Per Pete Thamel/Twitter.

https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/13...59080?s=20

That is a bad look Southern Miss. You should not be losing your acting coach to an FCS program.

That's silly. Anyone who knew they would in all likely hood be out at USM altogether next year when a new HC comes in and brings their staff would have taken an FCS head coaching job.

Exactly. He had been the interim for 6 weeks or so and was still interim. We are 1-4, multiple players opted out and the weekly loss of Covid players being out is there so the prospects of him being promoted to Head Coach weren't looking good. He took a guaranteed job that will pay him for at least the next 4 years instead of just the next 2 months. I hate it and it is a bad look but I don't blame him one bit and wish him the best.

I totally understand why he did it. I just can't believe USM didn't ensure he would finish his interim gig before actually leaving for a new job. It just looks bad.

In a typical year he probably would have stayed the rest of the year - after all, November is basically here. However, as we all know, this is not a typical year. Austin Peay is FCS and will be playing a delayed season in the Spring. He needed to leave to put a staff together and get ready for the season. This is really no big deal - he wasn't getting the Southern Miss job. I appreciate him stepping in, and I wish him the best. Everyone needs to quit pissing on themselves over ridiculous stuff. Wait until the admin f***s up the hire, then go hysterical.

(10-27-2020 03:28 PM)Sideshow2313 Wrote:  [quote='ElectroEagle' pid='17060553' dateline='1603817157'

This is also how they look to be offering more than 900,000 base salary to the next head coach (vs the 500,000 Hopson was getting). Also rumor is Hugh Freeze wants to come back home and if the assistant coaching salary is where he wants he would do it for the amount USM is talking of offering.

Freeze is not coming to USM, Liberty is a better job right now.
[/quote]

Freeze has ties to USM and Mississippi. "better job" is subjective. Right now, Liberty is a much better football team. No doubt about that. The school definitely has a lot more money that USM as a whole, but football-wise at the end of the day they are still independent and because of that their ceiling is constrained in some respects.

1/2 of us think he won't take a pay cut to come back here.
The 1/2 of us think he absolutely would and per super secret sources, he's expressed interest because he's not concerned about money for him, but rather for assistants...

Who knows. I'd love to have Freeze...but I'm not holding my breath. Based on what our AD stated yesterday, we'll be paying around 1 million for our new HC. This is a huge improvement from the 500k Hop was making. Being able to offer a top-5 CUSA competitive salary should attract muuuuuuuuuuuuch better quality coaches than the 500k we were offering 4-5 years ago after Monken left.

There was a lot of smoke around Freeze from numerous directions, but apparently Hugh has told USM "no thanks" to the head coaching gig.

(10-27-2020 04:03 PM)TTT Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 03:28 PM)Sideshow2313 Wrote:  [quote='ElectroEagle' pid='17060553' dateline='1603817157'

This is also how they look to be offering more than 900,000 base salary to the next head coach (vs the 500,000 Hopson was getting). Also rumor is Hugh Freeze wants to come back home and if the assistant coaching salary is where he wants he would do it for the amount USM is talking of offering.

Freeze is not coming to USM, Liberty is a better job right now.

Freeze has ties to USM and Mississippi. "better job" is subjective. Right now, Liberty is a much better football team. No doubt about that. The school definitely has a lot more money that USM as a whole, but football-wise at the end of the day they are still independent and because of that their ceiling is constrained in some respects.

1/2 of us think he won't take a pay cut to come back here.
The 1/2 of us think he absolutely would and per super secret sources, he's expressed interest because he's not concerned about money for him, but rather for assistants...

Who knows. I'd love to have Freeze...but I'm not holding my breath. Based on what our AD stated yesterday, we'll be paying around 1 million for our new HC. This is a huge improvement from the 500k Hop was making. Being able to offer a top-5 CUSA competitive salary should attract muuuuuuuuuuuuch better quality coaches than the 500k we were offering 4-5 years ago after Monken left.
[/quote]

Liberty has more than $, they have facilities and proven commitment. Not a Liberty fan but they are committed. USM AD saying it will be top 5 is talk, USM has 20 years of being cheap. One statement is not going to change history.

Can I coach Southern Miss in two week?

(10-27-2020 12:06 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:49 AM)usm99 Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:33 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:26 AM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(10-27-2020 11:16 AM)TTT Wrote:  We're on our 3rd interim coach of the year, Tim Billings. Per Pete Thamel/Twitter.

https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/13...59080?s=20

That is a bad look Southern Miss. You should not be losing your acting coach to an FCS program.

That's silly. Anyone who knew they would in all likely hood be out at USM altogether next year when a new HC comes in and brings their staff would have taken an FCS head coaching job.

Exactly. He had been the interim for 6 weeks or so and was still interim. We are 1-4, multiple players opted out and the weekly loss of Covid players being out is there so the prospects of him being promoted to Head Coach weren't looking good. He took a guaranteed job that will pay him for at least the next 4 years instead of just the next 2 months. I hate it and it is a bad look but I don't blame him one bit and wish him the best.

I totally understand why he did it. I just can't believe USM didn't ensure he would finish his interim gig before actually leaving for a new job. It just looks bad.

Id worry about how bad North Texas looks if I were you. Usm will be just fine and have a great hire. Im not worried at all and am confident in our AD. Best one we have had in decades.

(10-27-2020 11:31 AM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  What in the hell is going on in Hattiesburg?

mandatory mask masturbation...

MMM = TTT

Southern miss has had almost as many head coaches as home games this year

If Billings get Covid, who is coach #4? We are already at Speaker of the House replacement level.

clt says the natural coaching evolution is emerging

Usm
Austin peay
Charlotte

What would be the chances you get jeff bower to come out and coach the final few games just to stop the bleeding? It’s not unprecedented, Barry Alvarez has done it for Wisconsin in the past.

(10-27-2020 10:08 PM)Thewavefan Wrote:  What would be the chances you get jeff bower to come out and coach the final few games just to stop the bleeding? It’s not unprecedented, Barry Alvarez has done it for Wisconsin in the past.

as crappy as the Phoenix Suns are I don't think their VP is going to leave for a temp head coaching gig at USM

I think the call to make to finish the season is Jim Grobe or John L. Smith

and Huge Freeze would be a HUGH hire if they can get him

and USM has a two game winning streak over the big mean green spendas (of student funds) at north Texas state so everyone can laugh at the side slow joe comments about doing things on the cheap......because spending $28 million in students money has really brought the wins

(10-27-2020 09:17 PM)everyone Wrote:  If Billings get Covid, who is coach #4? We are already at Speaker of the House replacement level.

Don't worry. We have that covered. We have a fan promotion planned...a fan in attendance will be drawn randomly to coach each game missed.

Once Hopson stepped down, the season was largely in question. Between transfers, players sitting out, injuries, and COVID cases, there was no way that anyone expected things to turn out well. Walden moving on is really a blessing in disguise. It was clear he wasn't going to get the job and he got a HC opportunity. He should have taken it and the way the OVC did their football season, AP has finished their OOC schedule and will play conference schedules in the spring. It makes sense for him to get there ASAP to get install his offense, build his staff, etc. because he has another season starting in three months. This removes a distraction. Players who love him will accept that he moved on and embrace the new coach (whoever it may be). And we will be a whipping boy for the remainder of the season, which was already the case. I have faith that the AD will make a good hire and we will be back on track in short order.