.....before you start throwing stones. I've lived in Baton Rouge since 1969 (except for the 4 years I spent in COMO) and have been inundated with SEC sports for 50 years. It's a different culture and different mind-set. The recruiting is different and the fans generally support their team--win or lose.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be a member of the SEC, but it's for a selfish reason. When I started following Mizzou, there was no internet or 150 cable channels. The only way I could follow the Tigers was with a line score in the Sunday paper. Now they're reported on all the time in my local news outlets (plus the fact I can read about them 24/7 on the internet).
When we made the move, I warned people that we would be bottom dwellers in football--even in the weaker SEC East. And except for a couple of years, we have. Our record in the SEC is 26-29 (please check my math) which is hardly anything to crow about. This year looks like it will play out like most SEC years--in the bottom 1/3 of the conference.
Like many, I'm disappointed in HCBO and looks like it may be time for a change. But for those who think we can attract a big name coach, forget about it. We are not a coveted job by "name" coaches. I'll reiterate the stats I posted a few weeks ago. I started at Mizzou in 1972, since that time we are 280-271-7 (153-192-1 in conference). We've been to 16 bowl games in the last 47 years and have played in 4 Conference Championship games. Not a very impressive pedigree. We don't recruit the state well, and our fan base is average at best--and that's being generous.
So for those that think we can just throw a pile of money at someone ("make them say no"), it's not going to happen. Accept what we are--an average football team that every decade or so we'll play in the "big game". Granted, we've had more success in the last 20 years, but this is my experience with Mizzou football. Back in my day, we were a basketball school--of course that was with Norm, Stipo, and Sundvold.
It's a nice day here in south Louisiana, so I'm headed to the links. Start the knife fight......
Now don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be a member of the SEC, but it's for a selfish reason. When I started following Mizzou, there was no internet or 150 cable channels. The only way I could follow the Tigers was with a line score in the Sunday paper. Now they're reported on all the time in my local news outlets (plus the fact I can read about them 24/7 on the internet).
When we made the move, I warned people that we would be bottom dwellers in football--even in the weaker SEC East. And except for a couple of years, we have. Our record in the SEC is 26-29 (please check my math) which is hardly anything to crow about. This year looks like it will play out like most SEC years--in the bottom 1/3 of the conference.
Like many, I'm disappointed in HCBO and looks like it may be time for a change. But for those who think we can attract a big name coach, forget about it. We are not a coveted job by "name" coaches. I'll reiterate the stats I posted a few weeks ago. I started at Mizzou in 1972, since that time we are 280-271-7 (153-192-1 in conference). We've been to 16 bowl games in the last 47 years and have played in 4 Conference Championship games. Not a very impressive pedigree. We don't recruit the state well, and our fan base is average at best--and that's being generous.
So for those that think we can just throw a pile of money at someone ("make them say no"), it's not going to happen. Accept what we are--an average football team that every decade or so we'll play in the "big game". Granted, we've had more success in the last 20 years, but this is my experience with Mizzou football. Back in my day, we were a basketball school--of course that was with Norm, Stipo, and Sundvold.
It's a nice day here in south Louisiana, so I'm headed to the links. Start the knife fight......
