Yeah, I don't get the negativity. Hopson is as good a choice as anyone in the legitimate candidate pool.

(01-31-2016 12:30 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Seriously get off of Sadler already. The guy was dealt the worst hand ever and is probably over achieving with this ragtag bunch.

Amen. The people whining about Sadler evidently don't keep up with what his team is doing this year. They are getting better, much better. Many, including myself, didn't think they would win any games this year. The man inherited a dumpster fire and it is still burning bright. The same people b#tching about Sadler were the ones kissing Tyndal's a## nonstop. You want to criticize a coach, aim it at that fat little waste of human flesh Tyndal. He, not Doc, is the one that deserves the attacks.

As for Hopson, I am ok with it. Jay will work hard, work smart and his players will love him. Given the timing of this coaching change, this was not going to be a hire that wowed people. Hop can coach and he is from the Bower coaching lineage. I like that.

(01-31-2016 11:38 AM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  What Hopson did at Alcorn is nothing short of amazing. There were games in the past where Alcorn didn't even have 600 people in the stands and now over the past few seasons they've a few 30,000+ crowds. In the past nobody invited Alcorn for anything. Since Hopson they've been invited to the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis, invited to the Delta Literacy Classic in Little Rock, and just received an invite to play in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Hopson revived the fan base. For years most people would travel to Lorman and would outnumber Alcorn in their own stadium. That hasn't been the case lately and Alcorn has now gained a reputation as a very good traveling fan base. They've traveled in droves to support their team wherever the team has gone. This wasn't the case before Hopson. For a few years Alcorn only had purple jerseys. Since Hopson alumni contributions are up to the highest in school history and the team now has multiple uniform combinations and helmets. The Jay Hopson effect has helped Alcorn increase overall student population and now Alcorn feels like more than just a homecoming opponent for other SWAC schools. If Hopson did all of that at Alcorn State just imagine what he could do at Southern Miss.

Good info especially coming from someone in the know, thanx...I'm excited about the hire.

(01-31-2016 12:37 PM)usmbacker Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 12:30 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Seriously get off of Sadler already. The guy was dealt the worst hand ever and is probably over achieving with this ragtag bunch.

Amen. The people whining about Sadler evidently don't keep up with what his team is doing this year. They are getting better, much better. Many, including myself, didn't think they would win any games this year. The man inherited a dumpster fire and it is still burning bright. The same people b#tching about Sadler were the ones kissing Tyndal's a## nonstop. You want to criticize a coach, aim it at that fat little waste of human flesh Tyndal. He, not Doc, is the one that deserves the attacks.

As for Hopson, I am ok with it. Jay will work hard, work smart and his players will love him. Given the timing of this coaching change, this was not going to be a hire that wowed people. Hop can coach and he is from the Bower coaching lineage. I like that.

agree with both assessments....it's shocking how some in this town have dogged Doc....that man has done one helluva job....after watching the MEM game followed by the william carey loss, I didn't think we would win 1 game in conference....am looking forward to him having a chance to recruit after the cloud of sanctions are gone...

my only concern with Hop is how he manages the asst coaches and player response....that's why I loved how Monk did his job....Elllllllllllloss was a loser b/c he was a shiTTTy business manager with a shiTTTy attitude....hell, Hop may end up being a gold mine....

we'll find out as this progresses and against KY jelly in the opener....

(01-31-2016 10:54 AM)southernmiss4ever Wrote:  My point is this.
He is coming from a school with LESS fan support than USM, with LESS facilities-wise than USM, with LESS tradition than USM, etc.
We've never had that with a HC. We always get these OCs from bigger schools who come in and say "I need this, I need that, give me this and we will be good."
I don't see Hopson as that guy.
I don't think you truly realize how bad Alcorn had been. And it was more than just 6-7 years. They hadn't been any good since Steve McNair left from there.
Pretty sure one of the games Alcorn played against us they had to wear their home uniforms because they only had one set of uniforms or something along those lines.
This is a guy that understands where we are, and where we need to go.

Spot-on post. Nailed it.

(01-31-2016 12:55 PM)AtlantaEagle Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 10:54 AM)southernmiss4ever Wrote:  My point is this.
He is coming from a school with LESS fan support than USM, with LESS facilities-wise than USM, with LESS tradition than USM, etc.
We've never had that with a HC. We always get these OCs from bigger schools who come in and say "I need this, I need that, give me this and we will be good."
I don't see Hopson as that guy.
I don't think you truly realize how bad Alcorn had been. And it was more than just 6-7 years. They hadn't been any good since Steve McNair left from there.
Pretty sure one of the games Alcorn played against us they had to wear their home uniforms because they only had one set of uniforms or something along those lines.
This is a guy that understands where we are, and where we need to go.

Spot-on post. Nailed it.

I'm spinning my wheels trying to understand how any of that is a positive....all I see is projected hopefulness and not having the ability to go after a more experienced coach...

buckley and battery boy were outstanding during their short stay....sigh....

I hope the guy is the second coming.....

(01-30-2016 09:27 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Not a huge name or an up and coming OC, but a solid hire imo.

He coached at Marshall back in the late 90s

(01-31-2016 09:43 AM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 01:30 AM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 11:34 PM)southernmiss4ever Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 11:16 PM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  I don't believe that you can put much of anything into what he did at Alcorn. The SWAC is on par with D2 in terms of quality of play. Hopson has had nothing to work with in Alcorn, true. But he's also competing against schools who have nothing to work with. Take a look at who he is competing against, in terms of the schools and coaches.

You're discounting one thing. The fact that those schools that Hopson was beating in the SWAC were the same exact SWAC schools that Alcorn went 10-22 against in the three prior seasons to him becoming HC there.

I watched a couple Alcorn games this year. They were fun to watch.

The two coaches before Hopson: One was fired after one year and I can't find that he's currently coaching anywhere. The guy before that is currently at Northern Colorado with a stellar record of 15-41. We aren't exactly comparing him to successful coaches.

Trying to find a history of other successful coaches in the SWAC recently. The guy who turned around Prairie View went to NC Central (a MEAC school) and was fired after two years. Have there been coaches who have been successful after coaching in the SWAC recently?

I get that he turned Alcorn around after six or seven really bad years. But the SWAC is bad. Really, really, really, really bad. And the coaching seems to be really bad. From what I see, it isn't unusual for SWAC programs make turnarounds.

I think his less than stellar resume as an assistant coach at the FBS level is more significant than head coaching experience in the SWAC. That's my opinion, though.

I'm going to stop there. I don't want to **** on the hire. If you guys are excited, good. I don't want to spoil that. I'm just putting in my two cents.

Most SWAC coaches when successful usually stay in the SWAC unfortunately. Rod Broadway left Grambling and has been very successful at NC A&T. The other successful coaches such as Pete Richardson, Houston Markham, Eddie Robinson, and ext ultimately retired instead of getting other jobs.

And Alcorn had about 20 very bad years not 6 or 7. Jay Hopson COMPLETELY revived Alcorn's program. Alcorn's attendance and fan support was in the dumps along with their program and Hopson changed all of that. Alcorn fans were back, the program was back, and there was excitement back down on the Reservation. Alcorn has a very critical decision to make about who replaces Jay Hope on because they have a few highly rated recruits who are committed to the program and several FBS transfers who've recently enrolled. Fred McNair will be key to what happens there.

Alcorn had six winning seasons in a row in the 2000's. That's not great or anything but it isn't "very bad."

I'm sorry. I just don't buy that success in the SWAC translates to success anywhere else (other than the comparable MEAC).

(01-31-2016 01:01 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 12:55 PM)AtlantaEagle Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 10:54 AM)southernmiss4ever Wrote:  My point is this.
He is coming from a school with LESS fan support than USM, with LESS facilities-wise than USM, with LESS tradition than USM, etc.
We've never had that with a HC. We always get these OCs from bigger schools who come in and say "I need this, I need that, give me this and we will be good."
I don't see Hopson as that guy.
I don't think you truly realize how bad Alcorn had been. And it was more than just 6-7 years. They hadn't been any good since Steve McNair left from there.
Pretty sure one of the games Alcorn played against us they had to wear their home uniforms because they only had one set of uniforms or something along those lines.
This is a guy that understands where we are, and where we need to go.

Spot-on post. Nailed it.

I'm spinning my wheels trying to understand how any of that is a positive....all I see is projected hopefulness and not having the ability to go after a more experienced coach...

buckley and battery boy were outstanding during their short stay....sigh....

I hope the guy is the second coming.....

when was the last time Southern Miss hired a proven winner as a head coach? I don't have any information on coaches before 1931 but not one coach hired after 1930 had a winning record as a head coach when he was hired. You hired a proven winner stop bitching

(01-31-2016 02:11 PM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 09:43 AM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 01:30 AM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 11:34 PM)southernmiss4ever Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 11:16 PM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  I don't believe that you can put much of anything into what he did at Alcorn. The SWAC is on par with D2 in terms of quality of play. Hopson has had nothing to work with in Alcorn, true. But he's also competing against schools who have nothing to work with. Take a look at who he is competing against, in terms of the schools and coaches.

You're discounting one thing. The fact that those schools that Hopson was beating in the SWAC were the same exact SWAC schools that Alcorn went 10-22 against in the three prior seasons to him becoming HC there.

I watched a couple Alcorn games this year. They were fun to watch.

The two coaches before Hopson: One was fired after one year and I can't find that he's currently coaching anywhere. The guy before that is currently at Northern Colorado with a stellar record of 15-41. We aren't exactly comparing him to successful coaches.

Trying to find a history of other successful coaches in the SWAC recently. The guy who turned around Prairie View went to NC Central (a MEAC school) and was fired after two years. Have there been coaches who have been successful after coaching in the SWAC recently?

I get that he turned Alcorn around after six or seven really bad years. But the SWAC is bad. Really, really, really, really bad. And the coaching seems to be really bad. From what I see, it isn't unusual for SWAC programs make turnarounds.

I think his less than stellar resume as an assistant coach at the FBS level is more significant than head coaching experience in the SWAC. That's my opinion, though.

I'm going to stop there. I don't want to **** on the hire. If you guys are excited, good. I don't want to spoil that. I'm just putting in my two cents.

Most SWAC coaches when successful usually stay in the SWAC unfortunately. Rod Broadway left Grambling and has been very successful at NC A&T. The other successful coaches such as Pete Richardson, Houston Markham, Eddie Robinson, and ext ultimately retired instead of getting other jobs.

And Alcorn had about 20 very bad years not 6 or 7. Jay Hopson COMPLETELY revived Alcorn's program. Alcorn's attendance and fan support was in the dumps along with their program and Hopson changed all of that. Alcorn fans were back, the program was back, and there was excitement back down on the Reservation. Alcorn has a very critical decision to make about who replaces Jay Hope on because they have a few highly rated recruits who are committed to the program and several FBS transfers who've recently enrolled. Fred McNair will be key to what happens there.

Alcorn had six winning seasons in a row in the 2000's. That's not great or anything but it isn't "very bad."

I'm sorry. I just don't buy that success in the SWAC translates to success anywhere else (other than the comparable MEAC).

success as a head coach translates more than never being a head coach

(01-31-2016 02:31 PM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 01:01 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 12:55 PM)AtlantaEagle Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 10:54 AM)southernmiss4ever Wrote:  My point is this.
He is coming from a school with LESS fan support than USM, with LESS facilities-wise than USM, with LESS tradition than USM, etc.
We've never had that with a HC. We always get these OCs from bigger schools who come in and say "I need this, I need that, give me this and we will be good."
I don't see Hopson as that guy.
I don't think you truly realize how bad Alcorn had been. And it was more than just 6-7 years. They hadn't been any good since Steve McNair left from there.
Pretty sure one of the games Alcorn played against us they had to wear their home uniforms because they only had one set of uniforms or something along those lines.
This is a guy that understands where we are, and where we need to go.

Spot-on post. Nailed it.

I'm spinning my wheels trying to understand how any of that is a positive....all I see is projected hopefulness and not having the ability to go after a more experienced coach...

buckley and battery boy were outstanding during their short stay....sigh....

I hope the guy is the second coming.....

when was the last time Southern Miss hired a proven winner as a head coach? I don't have any information on coaches before 1931 but not one coach hired after 1930 had a winning record as a head coach when he was hired. You hired a proven winner stop bitching

you're misinterpreting my posit....

I'm always in 'wait and see' mode with any new hire and have stated too many times how this is the future of any g5 school that experiences any form of success....

I've stated to ad nauseam how this wasn't a desirable position for our AD and southern miss fans to be in...

so get off your judgmental high ho silver....

ain't no biatchin' comin' from my side....I only call it as I see it....

(01-31-2016 02:11 PM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 09:43 AM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 01:30 AM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 11:34 PM)southernmiss4ever Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 11:16 PM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  I don't believe that you can put much of anything into what he did at Alcorn. The SWAC is on par with D2 in terms of quality of play. Hopson has had nothing to work with in Alcorn, true. But he's also competing against schools who have nothing to work with. Take a look at who he is competing against, in terms of the schools and coaches.

You're discounting one thing. The fact that those schools that Hopson was beating in the SWAC were the same exact SWAC schools that Alcorn went 10-22 against in the three prior seasons to him becoming HC there.

I watched a couple Alcorn games this year. They were fun to watch.

The two coaches before Hopson: One was fired after one year and I can't find that he's currently coaching anywhere. The guy before that is currently at Northern Colorado with a stellar record of 15-41. We aren't exactly comparing him to successful coaches.

Trying to find a history of other successful coaches in the SWAC recently. The guy who turned around Prairie View went to NC Central (a MEAC school) and was fired after two years. Have there been coaches who have been successful after coaching in the SWAC recently?

I get that he turned Alcorn around after six or seven really bad years. But the SWAC is bad. Really, really, really, really bad. And the coaching seems to be really bad. From what I see, it isn't unusual for SWAC programs make turnarounds.

I think his less than stellar resume as an assistant coach at the FBS level is more significant than head coaching experience in the SWAC. That's my opinion, though.

I'm going to stop there. I don't want to **** on the hire. If you guys are excited, good. I don't want to spoil that. I'm just putting in my two cents.

Most SWAC coaches when successful usually stay in the SWAC unfortunately. Rod Broadway left Grambling and has been very successful at NC A&T. The other successful coaches such as Pete Richardson, Houston Markham, Eddie Robinson, and ext ultimately retired instead of getting other jobs.

And Alcorn had about 20 very bad years not 6 or 7. Jay Hopson COMPLETELY revived Alcorn's program. Alcorn's attendance and fan support was in the dumps along with their program and Hopson changed all of that. Alcorn fans were back, the program was back, and there was excitement back down on the Reservation. Alcorn has a very critical decision to make about who replaces Jay Hope on because they have a few highly rated recruits who are committed to the program and several FBS transfers who've recently enrolled. Fred McNair will be key to what happens there.

Alcorn had six winning seasons in a row in the 2000's. That's not great or anything but it isn't "very bad."

I'm sorry. I just don't buy that success in the SWAC translates to success anywhere else (other than the comparable MEAC).

Those Alcorn teams still didn't sniff a conference title and was had no where near the success they they've had under Hopson.

As far as coaches transitioning from the SWAC as head coaches that remains to be seen because we haven't had a successful one to do it.

(01-31-2016 03:06 PM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 02:11 PM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 09:43 AM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 01:30 AM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 11:34 PM)southernmiss4ever Wrote:  You're discounting one thing. The fact that those schools that Hopson was beating in the SWAC were the same exact SWAC schools that Alcorn went 10-22 against in the three prior seasons to him becoming HC there.

I watched a couple Alcorn games this year. They were fun to watch.

The two coaches before Hopson: One was fired after one year and I can't find that he's currently coaching anywhere. The guy before that is currently at Northern Colorado with a stellar record of 15-41. We aren't exactly comparing him to successful coaches.

Trying to find a history of other successful coaches in the SWAC recently. The guy who turned around Prairie View went to NC Central (a MEAC school) and was fired after two years. Have there been coaches who have been successful after coaching in the SWAC recently?

I get that he turned Alcorn around after six or seven really bad years. But the SWAC is bad. Really, really, really, really bad. And the coaching seems to be really bad. From what I see, it isn't unusual for SWAC programs make turnarounds.

I think his less than stellar resume as an assistant coach at the FBS level is more significant than head coaching experience in the SWAC. That's my opinion, though.

I'm going to stop there. I don't want to **** on the hire. If you guys are excited, good. I don't want to spoil that. I'm just putting in my two cents.

Most SWAC coaches when successful usually stay in the SWAC unfortunately. Rod Broadway left Grambling and has been very successful at NC A&T. The other successful coaches such as Pete Richardson, Houston Markham, Eddie Robinson, and ext ultimately retired instead of getting other jobs.

And Alcorn had about 20 very bad years not 6 or 7. Jay Hopson COMPLETELY revived Alcorn's program. Alcorn's attendance and fan support was in the dumps along with their program and Hopson changed all of that. Alcorn fans were back, the program was back, and there was excitement back down on the Reservation. Alcorn has a very critical decision to make about who replaces Jay Hope on because they have a few highly rated recruits who are committed to the program and several FBS transfers who've recently enrolled. Fred McNair will be key to what happens there.

Alcorn had six winning seasons in a row in the 2000's. That's not great or anything but it isn't "very bad."

I'm sorry. I just don't buy that success in the SWAC translates to success anywhere else (other than the comparable MEAC).

Those Alcorn teams still didn't sniff a conference title and was had no where near the success they they've had under Hopson.

As far as coaches transitioning from the SWAC as head coaches that remains to be seen because we haven't had a successful one to do it.

No one won conference titles but it wasn't a program that was rock bottom for decades like you implied. As a USM fan...believe me. I know the difference between being "very bad" and being 6-5.

You are correct. We don't know. My concern is that it doesn't. You speculate that it does. I hope I'm telling you how right you were years from now.

(01-31-2016 03:17 PM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 03:06 PM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 02:11 PM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 09:43 AM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 01:30 AM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  The two coaches before Hopson: One was fired after one year and I can't find that he's currently coaching anywhere. The guy before that is currently at Northern Colorado with a stellar record of 15-41. We aren't exactly comparing him to successful coaches.

Trying to find a history of other successful coaches in the SWAC recently. The guy who turned around Prairie View went to NC Central (a MEAC school) and was fired after two years. Have there been coaches who have been successful after coaching in the SWAC recently?

I get that he turned Alcorn around after six or seven really bad years. But the SWAC is bad. Really, really, really, really bad. And the coaching seems to be really bad. From what I see, it isn't unusual for SWAC programs make turnarounds.

I think his less than stellar resume as an assistant coach at the FBS level is more significant than head coaching experience in the SWAC. That's my opinion, though.

I'm going to stop there. I don't want to **** on the hire. If you guys are excited, good. I don't want to spoil that. I'm just putting in my two cents.

Most SWAC coaches when successful usually stay in the SWAC unfortunately. Rod Broadway left Grambling and has been very successful at NC A&T. The other successful coaches such as Pete Richardson, Houston Markham, Eddie Robinson, and ext ultimately retired instead of getting other jobs.

And Alcorn had about 20 very bad years not 6 or 7. Jay Hopson COMPLETELY revived Alcorn's program. Alcorn's attendance and fan support was in the dumps along with their program and Hopson changed all of that. Alcorn fans were back, the program was back, and there was excitement back down on the Reservation. Alcorn has a very critical decision to make about who replaces Jay Hope on because they have a few highly rated recruits who are committed to the program and several FBS transfers who've recently enrolled. Fred McNair will be key to what happens there.

Alcorn had six winning seasons in a row in the 2000's. That's not great or anything but it isn't "very bad."

I'm sorry. I just don't buy that success in the SWAC translates to success anywhere else (other than the comparable MEAC).

Those Alcorn teams still didn't sniff a conference title and was had no where near the success they they've had under Hopson.

As far as coaches transitioning from the SWAC as head coaches that remains to be seen because we haven't had a successful one to do it.

No one won conference titles but it wasn't a program that was rock bottom for decades like you implied. As a USM fan...believe me. I know the difference between being "very bad" and being 6-5.

You are correct. We don't know. My concern is that it doesn't. You speculate that it does. I hope I'm telling you how right you were years from now.

Amen to that!

(01-31-2016 01:47 PM)MU ATO Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 09:27 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Not a huge name or an up and coming OC, but a solid hire imo.

He coached at Marshall back in the late 90s

Were he and Pollard there at the same time?

Is most of Monken's staff staying on board?

(01-31-2016 04:41 PM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  Is most of Monken's staff staying on board?

That's the word, but we shall see.

(01-31-2016 04:44 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 04:41 PM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  Is most of Monken's staff staying on board?

That's the word, but we shall see.

Every one of them deserve to be.

(01-31-2016 01:30 AM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  I think his less than stellar resume as an assistant coach at the FBS level is more significant than head coaching experience in the SWAC. That's my opinion, though.

Ellis Johnson had a terrific resume' as an FBS assistant, and we all know how that turned out.

There's no way of knowing what Hopson will do until he does it, but I'd imagine no small number of Alcorn fans had similar doubts as yours when they hired him. "How's a white guy going to recruit at a HBCU?" "This guy's only worked at schools with big budgets and great facilities, how's he going to survive here?" etc. They took the chance on him anyway, and he delivered beyond their highest hopes.

(01-31-2016 05:22 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  

(01-31-2016 01:30 AM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  I think his less than stellar resume as an assistant coach at the FBS level is more significant than head coaching experience in the SWAC. That's my opinion, though.

Ellis Johnson had a terrific resume' as an FBS assistant, and we all know how that turned out.

There's no way of knowing what Hopson will do until he does it, but I'd imagine no small number of Alcorn fans had similar doubts as yours when they hired him. "How's a white guy going to recruit at a HBCU?" "This guy's only worked at schools with big budgets and great facilities, how's he going to survive here?" etc. They took the chance on him anyway, and he delivered beyond their highest hopes.

....and as fans, this is where we should put our trust in big mac doing his job in evaluating the talent that was available....

his time frame to hire was a 'crippler' in scope.....IMO, I hope it doesn't come back to haunt him....and it may.....and would be unfair if so....