Is Media Slowly Starting to Figure Out How Good Mullen Has it at MSU?

[Bothrops]

Arkansas is the toughest place to win in the West, and our weight room is one of the nicest around.

[ShotgunDawg]

Arkansas is the toughest place to win in the West, and our weight room is one of the nicest around.

With Texas A&M going to the SEC, Missouri going to the SEC, & TCU going to the Big 12, Arkansas' recruiting base has been decimated. It is easily the hardest place in the SEC West to win. Arkansas has to go to Dallas, KC, Tulsa, etc to get players. Within the area size of that triangle, MSU recruits it's entire roster.

Since 1990 Ole Miss has been a harder place to win at than MSU as well.

For whatever reason, the media still leans on historical records & not records over the past decade or 20 years. At what point does our success become our history?

[TrapGame]

With Texas A&M going to the SEC, Missouri going to the SEC, & TCU going to the Big 12, Arkansas' recruiting base has been decimated. It is easily the hardest place in the SEC West to win. Arkansas has to go to Dallas, KC, Tulsa, etc to get players. Within that triangle, MSU recruits it's entire roster.

Since 1990 Ole Miss has been a harder place to win at than MSU as well.

For whatever reason, the media still leans on historical records & not records over the past decade or 20 years. At what point does our success become our history?

Dan has been here going nine years. We will go to our 8th bowl game and perhaps finish 9-3. At what point does the sports media start realizing you can win at State?

[Tbonewannabe]

With Texas A&M going to the SEC, Missouri going to the SEC, & TCU going to the Big 12, Arkansas' recruiting base has been decimated. It is easily the hardest place in the SEC West to win. Arkansas has to go to Dallas, KC, Tulsa, etc to get players. Within the area size of that triangle, MSU recruits it's entire roster.

Since 1990 Ole Miss has been a harder place to win at than MSU as well.

For whatever reason, the media still leans on historical records & not records over the past decade or 20 years. At what point does our success become our history?

I think people that don't follow it think Freeze proved it was easier to recruit to Ole Miss even though everyone who knows what was really going on know that is a lie. UM has to overcome the whole Old South slave imagery that they DO NOT want to give up. Also it has been a while since they had any successful people in the NFL. Eli is just hanging around drawing a check.

[WPS]

With Texas A&M going to the SEC, Missouri going to the SEC, & TCU going to the Big 12, Arkansas' recruiting base has been decimated. It is easily the hardest place in the SEC West to win. Arkansas has to go to Dallas, KC, Tulsa, etc to get players. Within the area size of that triangle, MSU recruits it's entire roster.

Since 1990 Ole Miss has been a harder place to win at than MSU as well.

For whatever reason, the media still leans on historical records & not records over the past decade or 20 years. At what point does our success become our history?

We still recruit better than Missouri and TCU. Honestly our Texas recruiting hasn't been what it was in the SWC long before all of that. We still normally have a top 25 class but we aren't going to get any players that A&M or UT want anymore.

[ShotgunDawg]

We still recruit better than Missouri and TCU. Honestly our Texas recruiting hasn't been what it was in the SWC long before all of that. We still normally have a top 25 class but we aren't going to get any players that A&M or UT want anymore.

I agree that you still recruit better than TCU & Missouri, but those program upgrade in status has caused you guys to lose a guy or two a year that you used to get.

Just saying that Arkansas' lack of a local recruiting foot print has made it the hardest job in the SEC West. I'd say it's still better than Kentucky, Vandy, & Mizzou though

[Jack Lambert]

I agree that you still recruit better than TCU & Missouri, but those program upgrade in status has caused you guys to lose a guy or two a year that you used to get.

Just saying that Arkansas' lack of a local recruiting foot print has made it the hardest job in the SEC West. I'd say it's still better than Kentucky, Vandy, & Mizzou though

Arkansas isn't that much smaller then Mississippi and they are the school in that state you would think they could find 25 real good guys out of all their high school each. Not saying your are wrong it just a shame Arkansas can't produce enough talented guys if true.

[ShotgunDawg]

Arkansas isn't that much smaller then Mississippi and they are the school in that state you would think they could find 25 real good guys out of all their high school each. Not saying your are wrong it just a shame Arkansas can't produce enough talented guys if true.

The demographics and football culture are significantly different. Everything west of Little Rock is east TN 2.0 and they lack nearby cities like Memphis, BHam, Mobile, or NO to draw from. It’s apples and oranges compared to us.

[TUSK]

Arkansas isn't that much smaller then Mississippi and they are the school in that state you would think they could find 25 real good guys out of all their high school each. Not saying your are wrong it just a shame Arkansas can't produce enough talented guys if true.

Good points, Jack, however, it depends on "what level" at which one wants to be... eg: if Arkie got the "best 20" out of Arkie, they'd still be a crap program... in small pop states (AL, MS, AR, etc), if ya wanna truly excel, you only want the top 5-10 guys in state... then pilfer elsewhere... pick up 2 in LA, 1 in AR, 1 in MS, etc et al...

My thoughts, anyway....

[bostondawg]

Arkansas isn't that much smaller then Mississippi and they are the school in that state you would think they could find 25 real good guys out of all their high school each. Not saying your are wrong it just a shame Arkansas can't produce enough talented guys if true.

I made a post about this a while back where I looked at the per-school, per-year production rate of of 4/5* talent of each SEC state. Long story short, while having to split talent from Mississippi with TSUN, we're still in a way better recruiting place than Arkansas or Kentucky. Arkansas might be the only school in the state, but the state produces little talent. That isn't to be confused with LSU, a school that's the only in its state which does produce a lot of talent. LSU has a huge advantage over us. But we're still in a better place than Arky.

[Spiderman]

We still recruit better than Missouri and TCU. Honestly our Texas recruiting hasn't been what it was in the SWC long before all of that. We still normally have a top 25 class but we aren't going to get any players that A&M or UT want anymore.

Doesn't look like yall recruit any where near as well as TCU the last few years to me

[WPS]

Doesn't look like yall recruit any where near as well as TCU the last few years to me

Depends how much stock you want to put into recruiting service rankings. Hard to judge since we have one of the worst coaches in our history while they have the best coach in theirs lol.

They definitely have a lot more speed than we do though, but we beat them last year.

[Todd4State]

Arkansas is the toughest place to win in the West, and our weight room is one of the nicest around.

I think Ole Miss is personally. You basically have to cheat and follow their Network or you are going to end up like Cutcliffe. That is leading to NCAA Investigations which means probation which for a coach can lead to career jeopardy. Ole Miss doesn't have a huge fanbase and it's spread out over the country- and what local fanbase they do have doesn't live in reality and isn't willing to go through a 10 year process to get to the top. They also have enough history to believe that they can and should be an elite powerhouse when the reality is they are in the lower division of the league. Add in racist symbols that they cling to- it doesn't make things any easier. Add in that they have to share Mississippi with a now resurgent MSU football program.

[Hasu Dackds]

Arkansas is the toughest place to win in the West, and our weight room is one of the nicest around.

Arkansas should really join the Big 12 if they truly want to win. Yeah yeah I know they won't give up the money train but it's a better fit and would give that conference more credibility. Then we could go get FSU, and move Mizzouri to the West.

[AROB44]

Arkansas should really join the Big 12 if they truly want to win. Yeah yeah I know they won't give up the money train but it's a better fit and would give that conference more credibility. Then we could go get FSU, and move Mizzouri to the West.

I never understand this line of thinking. Why do we want the SEC to get harder? It's hard enough to win now.

[Hasu Dackds]

I never understand this line of thinking. Why do we want the SEC to get harder? It's hard enough to win now.

I don't WANT it to happen, from my selfish POV. I'm simply saying I could see that as semi-logical for Arkansas, if I was in their position (sans SEC money). Who knows what the next round of alignment brings, the money may dry up.

[BulldogBear]

I never understand this line of thinking. Why do we want the SEC to get harder? It's hard enough to win now.

I think it's been made clear, even if it's "unifficial," that the SEC is not going to consider schools in states where already have representation...at least not until some new paradigm comes along to change how business is done. As long as TV $$$ drives potential expansion there will be no duplicate markets. There is also the fact schools like TAMU, UGA, UF, USCe, and KY would be hurt in recruiting. They want to remain the only SEC option in town. If we ever go to 16 it will likely be with two of VPI, NCSU, WVU. If Arky (less than 1% chance) or Mizzou were to ever leave, then all of those three. I could see Missouri possibly going to B1G if ever they had the shit though still small chance. Big 12 would be a downgrade for either one. And besides if we and the B1G ever went to 16 it would probably be the end of the Big 12 anyway.

[Spiderman]

I think it's been made clear, even if it's "unifficial," that the SEC is not going to consider schools in states where already have representation...at least not until some new paradigm comes along to change how business is done. As long as TV $$$ drives potential expansion there will be no duplicate markets. There is also the fact schools like TAMU, UGA, UF, USCe, and KY would be hurt in recruiting. They want to remain the only SEC option in town. If we ever go to 16 it will likely be with two of VPI, NCSU, WVU. If Arky (less than 1% chance) or Mizzou were to ever leave, then all of those three. I could see Missouri possibly going to B1G if ever they had the shit though still small chance. Big 12 would be a downgrade for either one. And besides if we and the B1G ever went to 16 it would probably be the end of the Big 12 anyway.

Had talks with both Byrne and Stricklin while they were AD here. Both said There was no way Florida or S. Car. would ever allow Fla. St, Miami, and Clemson in the SEC. And they could count on the votes of A&M, Ky. LSU, Ark. and Ga. against it too. The others not wanting another instate school, or close neighbor in ever either.

When we 1st expanded, I thought Clemson was a natural fit more than S. Car. Still do. And Mizzou was still a horrible choice, IMO. They want the St. Louis TV market, but those folks are more vested in the Cardinals and other pro sports.

Va. Tech would have been ideal instead of Mizzou.

[BulldogBear]

Arkansas is the toughest place to win in the West, and our weight room is one of the nicest around.

True, but only for about 3 more weeks.