I've never been one to pay any attention to post counts of anyone much less my own but was looking at the members list here this evening and saw my own name with 999 next to it. I decided to recognize this post and reflect a bit.
I really thought since the inception of this site 2 or 3 years ago, I had posted 400 or so times maybe. I see that it's 1000 now and it made me think of what time period I harbored enough excitement to give a shit about discussing USM sports. I say that because for the better part of 6 months after the dismal 2018 football season, I really didn't visit here. I have a membership at the 24/7 site that I've had since that site consisted of about 8 regular posters but during that same period last year, I mostly lurked there.
The NFL abandoned me about 6 years ago now and has proven time and again that it is a rigged pile of shit. NASCAR has sucked dick for at least 10 years now. Pro baseball is meh...I fall asleep trying to watch. NBA has been a ME sport for 4 decades now. So I've really focused the last 18 years on USM football mostly and a few games of hoops or diamond sprinkled in. But my support financially over the past 15 has grown every year. I said at one point after last season that I would yield to the "rational" folks that said they are giving Hopson the benefit of the doubt until after his 4th full season. I did the same and kept "writing the checks". At this point, I'm beginning to feel like a damn fool for continuing to support the train wreck that has become USM sports, football and basketball in particular.
President Bennett is a fucking moron on the scale with AKL, Fleming, and Saunders when it comes to understanding leadership in his hires. Bennett has now hired 3 ADs and this latest one is beginning to make me think he ain't got it either. Most presidents hire 1 AD if they are lucky but this guy has lacked vision in every instance. It's like he finds a guy dumb enough to take the job and says,
"awesome, here's $400K a year on a max length contract....go get 'em big guy"! BDR predicted and coined the SUNWACUSA moniker probably 8-10 years ago on Eagle Post and many called him out for it. After a couple years, more people began to recognize it. A few more years and getting passed by one more time by the AAC, he was dead-on in his prediction. If a goofy ass Ole Miss grad that spent some of his workdays rowing a boat in a shit pond (and we thank you for your service to the school sir) could see what was coming, why the hell couldn't our past/current administrations even remotely catch a glimpse of what was to come for USM??
At this point in time, I will continue only because I'm not sure about Hop's contract and realize the university is too fuckin poor to pay 1 million bucks (or even 500K) to fire a guy and then replace him while providing the necessary funds to assemble a better staff. As a business owner, I say cut your losses, limit further destruction, and get immediately on track to raging success. That is obviously not a prevailing thought with any of the warm bodies we have making decisions at USM. What is crazy is that at this point next year, depending upon who is named OC or DC this year, we may well win 8 games. But that's not anywhere near my expectations. I expected Hop to win the conference in year 4 or move on. Back to winning 8 games...Bower 2.0 will probably return to USM with complete mediocrity (except Bower would at least win the league from time to time) and Hop will retire here in 10 years. Even if we win 8, I am gone. Year 5 = exponential success. No exceptions. The only way me and my money stay is if the whole thing is scrapped and we make a good hire. Bad hire and I'm gone.
So I guess I'm saying that I'm gone from here too ahead of time. I'll stop the cash flow first and delete all message board links the next day. I know a few who have done it already and I'm left to realize that's where everyone that used to be so energized about discussing USM sports has gone...to peace and happiness somewhere else! I really hope I'm here next year at this time but my faith is down below 1% in the administration.
SMTTT!
Still sleeping with a Dixie Darling!