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#1 Re: Southern Miss » 22,761 - WTF? » 2017-09-06 08:22:36

In the above league the schools are at least close enough to cut down on travel costs and build a few rivalries. Might even get us back to 28k if we market it right.

#2 Re: Southern Miss » 22,761 - WTF? » 2017-09-06 08:20:17

beagle wrote:

I've been clamoring for a new league for about 2 years now. I'd rather play ULL and USA over Charlotte and UNT, but I don't think that gets the average South Mississippian excited.

East: WKU, Marshall, App, MTSU, UAB, Georgia Southern
West: USA, USM, LaTech, ULL, Rice, Arky State

I think you are under rating the average USM fans dislike for CUSA. This conference sucks, it's associated with our down fall. A region League like yours or say USA ULL Ark State Mid Ten WKU UAB Troy USA Tech USM would be much better.

#3 Re: Southern Miss » 22,761 - WTF? » 2017-09-06 07:05:47

AEIOUSometimesWhy wrote:
Cyc46 wrote:

What reason is there to go to a game? Entertainment? The product? everything about USM football from stadium, food, the scoreboard audio is horrible, etc it's em brass if. Winning a CUSA championship is like winning a race at fat camp. There is absolutely nothing about our program that generates a lick of excitement.

Stadium-- It's old. It needs revamping. We're poor. There's not enough funding to do much other than put bandaids, chewing gum, and paper clips on pipes.

Food-- Aramark (Eagle Dining) is one of the worst things at USM. They have a monopoly on almost every campus in the southeast/nation. Every school they are at they ruin whatever food or concession is there. I was at Bobby Dodd over the summer for an Atlanta United match, and Aramark runs their concessions as well- not as bad as ours, but still rundown and lackluster (though having chick fil a in the stadium was nice). They've promised to re-do concessions, add food places on campus, and upgrade their menus at all venues and have all fallen through. 

Scoreboard Audio-- This is actually something that can be changed. However, what there are varying opinions on how the scoreboard and game time atmosphere should be ran. You may be upset by it, but others think that it's okay. I think losing a lot of good minds in the athletic department is still hurting any innovation that could take place. Also, I think the people who are there are afraid of change or innovation or if they do make changes it's terrible (aka Karaoke with the coaches)

The Conference-- It is what it is. It's the result of so many different factors that explaining them feels like a broken record player. Judy is terrible. It's a bunch of FBS startups and G5 retreads. But what's sad is everyone on here seems to think that we're so much better than this conference and that we need out, well why haven't we won a conference championship since the last conference reorganization. We have to win first to be able to criticize the teams in our conference (agreeing with your lackluster product comment). We have to generate excitement about matchups with LA Tech or UTSA (yes, I know this sounds like crap). You can't talk crap if you don't have anything recent to back it up.


You and what beers said above is correct. Be it right or wrong so many people in this region see the team they support as an extension to their life/family. I got friends that if something bad happened at LSU or MSU etc they are distraught. We don't have that on people. I think we did to some extent in CUSA 1.0 or 2.0. I think we need to look to a few region schools form a 10 team conference and rebrand. We've got to get rid of CUSA even the name is a joke these days.

#4 Re: Southern Miss » Attendance Not Just USM Issue » 2017-09-06 06:50:15

Also I know the free tickets/discounts rub some fans wrong. That is why I'd offer them free to everyone in whichever group we are targeting. If you already have season tickets you aren't getting ripped. Also keep in mind that's a fairly large group, we can space that over 5 years (30 games or 10 years). I'd also come up with a pricing strategy that is fair to season ticket holders, nothing ticked me off more when I'd shell out for my season tickets and then at the season paid more than I would have if I just hit the discount ticket sales. Anyways all this is, is an exercise in futility. The new AD isn't really interested in most of us. So there you go.

#5 Re: Southern Miss » Attendance Not Just USM Issue » 2017-09-06 06:38:53

I have a friend or two who give at a significant level. I get some info from them. The new strategy I hear is to try to cultivate new high level donors. That is great but something we have never done well is mid level donors. I've never understood why we haven't made a big push at that level (1500 to 5k a year). Those are the people that may eventually get to a 10k a year person. You get 20 of those in 5 years at 10k and that is a big boon. I'm getting close (within 10 years) were I am going to have a significant level of yearly disposable income. When I'm 50  both my kids should be out of college (1st kid at 25). My wife and I travel a bit and have a nice middle middle class life. Other than helping the kids get started or some other devastating life event I could go 10k for years at that time and not have it greatly impact my life. I have a lot of buddies who went to USM who will be in a similar position. I get zero out reach from the athletic department because I'm not important today. If I was AD I'd get a list of graduates from say 96 to 06. I'd send them a set of free tickets every few years (even if they are already involved). I'd have a tent setup for them, I'd treat them great. You might get a few to come back and give, and that is great for everyone. I'd sit down and at the beginning of every season I'd send out a facebook twitter etc message about that sports team expectations and I wouldnt be fluff about it. If we were last I'd say we are trying to get to mid level in 3 years and compete for championships in 5 (adjust for actual expectations).

Once I hit those guys I am going after every little guy out there I can. Give 25 you get an EC hat pin. 50 you get a EC hat. 100 for apull over. Make those guys feel special and emphasize how freaking important they are. Promote USM as the great thing it is in our region. I'd have at least one billboard in Memphis MoBile Lafayette oxford Baton Rogue Tuscaloosa auburn and I'd put something like "Eagles we need you for the Sugar Bowl in 2020" and then the number to the ticket office. And if/when our guys/gals call I'd tell them what the fuck our expectations are (to ride this shitty conference like a bitch and get to a New Years Day Bowl and then skip the hell out of town).

But Cyc we po (can't even afford the or) and have limits. Alright those tickets I mentioned earlier are already printed and we can't afford postage so you social media the hell out of it. Here let me help you. Facebook twitter etc. USM alumni who graduated in the fall of 96 give the ticket office a call and get a free pair of tickets and a trip to our athletics tent. And I'd put that damn thing right in the middle of the best tailgating area. I'd use these tickets to fill in the bottom and top middle sections of the stadium not the shitty ends. Give those to the kids (and by no means am I dissing the kids who could come here but this is about money). I'd give the students two sections all their own and encourage the future alumni to come up with great new traditions. I could see a row of kids dressed as mustard buzzards (turn a slight into a strength) have another kid with a flag (make a new flag each year) etc.

Innovation,  ideas, and in most cases  out reach can be free. We don't do any of it. We don't have much if any out reach. Our athletic administration is fat and lazy. I'd be on social media everyday. I'd highlight USM and our tradition everyday on social media and if I didn't have an athletic fact I'd throw out a fact about USM in general to keep people up to date. We got a lot to be proud of and we've been through worse but we sure as hell don't act like we've climbed those mountains before.

#6 Re: Southern Miss » First look: Southern Miss' Jay Hopson well acquainted with Southern Un » 2017-09-05 22:35:29

Let the fact that one of our head coaches biggest accomplishments is beating Southern University twice in the same year.

#7 Re: Southern Miss » 22,761 - WTF? » 2017-09-05 22:33:42

southern miss slacker wrote:
Cyc46 wrote:

What reason is there to go to a game? Entertainment? The product? everything about USM football from stadium, food, the scoreboard audio is horrible, etc it's em brass if. Winning a CUSA championship is like winning a race at fat camp. There is absolutely nothing about our program that generates a lick of excitement.

"the bbq nachos are good."

The bbq nachos are average, fify.

#8 Re: Southern Miss » Attendance Not Just USM Issue » 2017-09-05 22:31:13

When you are a poor school you don't get a guy from a resource rich school and expect him to fix the problems. Whatever the new AD's name is, he is probably just sitting back waiting for the checks to roll in. God knows you haven't heard shit from him since he got here and as bad as many say McG was at least he had somewhat of a feel for marketing and interaction with the fans. I'd probably still have season tickets if he was around because I may have known what he was selling was a pipe dream but at least it was nice to dream. This new AD doesn't even have that.

#9 Re: Southern Miss » The people who are still hanging on over at the gulag, and (?) why » 2017-09-05 22:16:32

I've missed a Southern Miss board like this. Full darksider, it's great to have a forum like this again.

#10 Re: Southern Miss » 22,761 - WTF? » 2017-09-05 22:10:19

What reason is there to go to a game? Entertainment? The product? everything about USM football from stadium, food, the scoreboard audio is horrible, etc it's em brass if. Winning a CUSA championship is like winning a race at fat camp. There is absolutely nothing about our program that generates a lick of excitement.

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