Booster problems at Mississippi State

[Drip]

I wonder if Dan Mullen will comment on this?
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8368424/coach-claims-booster-paid-mississippi-state-bulldogs-recruit

 

[exmediahack]

I hear if you ask Mullen after the booster's artificial hip, he walks out of the media conference.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Mississippi State is one of those places where I can't imagine how you would be able to compete with the other schools in the SEC without cheating...

 

[Michael_ Gee]

It can't compete WITH cheating.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

It can't compete WITH cheating.

Right, because Florida and Auburn are much better at it than they are.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Mississippi State is one of those places where I can't imagine how you would be able to compete with the other schools in the SEC without cheating...

So it's no different than any other SEC program (except for Vandy)?

 

[LongTimeListener]

Cam Newton still didn't take the money at Auburn after turning down Mississippi State's $180K.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Mississippi State is one of those places where I can't imagine how you would be able to compete with the other schools in the SEC without cheating...

So it's no different than any other SEC program (except for Vandy)?

I think it's a question of how good are you at cheating.

Awhile back, I was at a bowl game and a bunch of us were out and we met a couple investigative reporters and we asked them, "What program cheats the most?" and one of them said, without hesitation, "Florida." and the others were nodding. I said, "Why aren't they on probation?" and one of them said, "They're better at it than anyone else..."

I've never gotten the impression that Mississippi State was nearly that good at cheating.

 

[young-gun11]

This whole situation reminds me of Alabama during the Dubose years. Boosters doing anything necessary to make their team relevant, only to hurt them in the long run.

 

[Armchair_QB]

This whole situation reminds me of Alabama during the Dubose years. Boosters doing anything necessary to make their team relevant, only to hurt them in the long run.

You just described every booster-driven scandal ever.

 

[young-gun11]

This whole situation reminds me of Alabama during the Dubose years. Boosters doing anything necessary to make their team relevant, only to hurt them in the long run.

You just described every booster-driven scandal ever.

I understand that, but this is so similar to the Alabama thing with the Memphis player who couldn't even dominate the CUSA. (I'm taking into consideration the Cam Newton scandal, etc. as well)

 

[Liut]

Mississippi State is one of those places where I can't imagine how you would be able to compete with the other schools in the SEC without cheating...

A few years ago, Mississippi State's athletic department budget was basically the same as Alabama's for football.

Might still be the case.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Mississippi State is one of those places where I can't imagine how you would be able to compete with the other schools in the SEC without cheating...

A few years ago, Mississippi State's athletic department budget was basically the same as Alabama's for football.

Might still be the case.

Between Saban's salary and all the upgrades Bama has done, it wouldn't surprise me if it's less...

I've logged my share of time on all of the SEC campuses and I have no concept of how any recruit, with the possible exception of local kids, would go willingly to that school if any other SEC school was interested.

 

[Liut]

Mississippi State is one of those places where I can't imagine how you would be able to compete with the other schools in the SEC without cheating...

A few years ago, Mississippi State's athletic department budget was basically the same as Alabama's for football.

Might still be the case.

Between Saban's salary and all the upgrades Bama has done, it wouldn't surprise me if it's less...

I've logged my share of time on all of the SEC campuses and I have no concept of how any recruit, with the possible exception of local kids, would go willingly to that school if any other SEC school was interested.

You're right.

Reports to the contrary, Tyler Russell (the current QB, FYI) wasn't going anywhere other than Southern Miss, Mississippi or MSU, that is unless he wanted to spend his career on the bench. Yet up the road in Oxford, there's an "allure" Ole Miss sells and it works. UM has a commitment (right now) from an athletic quarterback from Dallas.

It looks like MSU will be competitive until Mullen leaves, then it will sink back from middle of the pack to lower tier.

I compare State in the SEC to Iowa State in the Big 12. The two cannot compete for conference championships. It's simply not a level playing field.

 

[Liut]

This whole situation reminds me of Alabama during the Dubose years. Boosters doing anything necessary to make their team relevant, only to hurt them in the long run.

You just described every booster-driven scandal ever.

I understand that, but this is so similar to the Alabama thing with the Memphis player who couldn't even dominate the CUSA. (I'm taking into consideration the Cam Newton scandal, etc. as well)

Player-Albert Means. Booster-Logan Young.

I was originally skeptical about the circumstances of Young's death but it appears to have been an accident.

 

[trifectarich]

Shocking, I tell ya.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Mississippi State is one of those places where I can't imagine how you would be able to compete with the other schools in the SEC without cheating...

A few years ago, Mississippi State's athletic department budget was basically the same as Alabama's for football.

Might still be the case.

Between Saban's salary and all the upgrades Bama has done, it wouldn't surprise me if it's less...

I've logged my share of time on all of the SEC campuses and I have no concept of how any recruit, with the possible exception of local kids, would go willingly to that school if any other SEC school was interested.

You're right.

Reports to the contrary, Tyler Russell (the current QB, FYI) wasn't going anywhere other than Southern Miss, Mississippi or MSU, that is unless he wanted to spend his career on the bench. Yet up the road in Oxford, there's an "allure" Ole Miss sells and it works. UM has a commitment (right now) from an athletic quarterback from Dallas.

It looks like MSU will be competitive until Mullen leaves, then it will sink back from middle of the pack to lower tier.

I compare State in the SEC to Iowa State in the Big 12. The two cannot compete for conference championships. It's simply not a level playing field.

By "allure" you means "nubile coeds," right?

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Mississippi State is usually only as good as the coach is. They've gotten some good ones, but most of the ones who do well in any sport are either hired away or they're run off by a fanbase that expects more than is realistic.

If you can win eight games at Mississippi State, you're doing pretty well.

If you have to coach at a school like MSU, you basically have to focus on local kids, Juco transfers, people who get booted from the bigger programs and then if a booster buys a kid or two, that can help as well.

I don't envy anyone who has to recruit to that place. Yes, the women are amazing, but they're amazing at most other SEC schools.

 

[Batman]

Mississippi State is usually only as good as the coach is. They've gotten some good ones, but most of the ones who do well in any sport are either hired away or they're run off by a fanbase that expects more than is realistic.

If you can win eight games at Mississippi State, you're doing pretty well.

If you have to coach at a school like MSU, you basically have to focus on local kids, Juco transfers, people who get booted from the bigger programs and then if a booster buys a kid or two, that can help as well.

I don't envy anyone who has to recruit to that place. Yes, the women are amazing, but they're amazing at most other SEC schools.

This.
If Mississippi State (or Ole Miss, for that matter) can get to the level of winning 7-9 games per year, things MIGHT break right for them to win the SEC one of these days. And by that, I mean LSU and Alabama both having down years at the same time State has a great team, gets a few lucky breaks and finds a way to go 10-2 or 11-1.
In other words, pretty much what happened with Auburn in 2010.
As long as Alabama and LSU are good enough to keep fans and boosters invested in their programs, everyone else in the SEC West is playing for third place. You'll get the odd year where a third team breaks through, but no one else is going to consistently win that division.

 

[Armchair_QB]

LSU and Alabama are one bad coaching hire away from going in the ditch. That's all it takes.