Is it time to fire Zach Selmon?

[gtowndawg]

So to answer the original question: No. It's not even close to time to have the discussion of do you need to fire Selmon. He has done incredible with what he was provided, which was a bloated athletic dept with a bunch of lifelong staffers just collecting a check. He took a year to observe the dept and then started handing out pink slips and bringing in his people. That's what has happened with the hires of Joe Bailey, Tom Greene, Josh McCowan, and Terry Prentice. He has brought in more people but those were the main ones. I don't think some of y'all realize how bad it was under Cohen. Selmon has had to completely rebuild that dept basically from the ground up. I think he kept like one main person, Bo Hemphill, and he has really kept him on the outside.

Now on to his handling of coaches, we interviewed more than just Lebby. I know that for a fact. The Chadwell stuff was overblown because he was never coming here with that buyout. Odom did want the job, but I know there was hesitation of how much of his UNLV success was Barry and how much of it was the OC Brendan Marrion. The thought was that UNLV would just promote Marrion to HC and then we would be left with Barry trying to find an OC, which was a 50/50 shot. On Kinne, he lobbied hard for the job but he had been a FBS HC for one year and zero years outside the state of Texas. A lot of people believe when McGuire is let go at TTU or Arranda at Baylor that Kinne would crawl on broken glass to have a P4 Texas HC job. Same as Jeff Traylor. Lebby wanted the job, presented a comprehensive plan for how he woud BUILD AND MAINTAIN us, what he learned from Kiffin, etc. We bought the plan.

On facilities, I mean he's trying to get us up to snuff on that. Unfortunately when all your funds were put towards baseball and the sports that don't turn a profit , it's a bit difficult to get some of that back. So we've had to push MUCH NEEDED projects. Selmon is still pissed about The Hump "renovation" Cohen greenlit. The House Settlement has also thrown a wrench into things because if the Universities have to start funding NIL that is 15-20 mil PER YEAR MINIMUM that will need to go towards that.

Bottom Line: Is Selmon perfect? No and he'd tell you that. But I can promise you he is working his ass off to get us going again. Hell his work with Charlie and the NIL stuff is incredible. He's really helped build that up.

Good info and I'm willing to hold judgement for a while longer. But I do think he needs to communicate vision better to the average fan out there. Especially since we are headed into some dark days in football.

[TrapGame]

Well you are hindsighting some with the 3-0 this year. Where has he been HC before? I can?t remember. And for as Mullen, I?m just saying I think everyone wanted an ?offensive? guy and wanted some kind of excitement on the field. But boy it?s been an awful start and there is not much we can do to change it now. Got to play with who is on the team. I cant say it?s a scheme problem yet on offense because the OL is so horrible no offense could be successful. Defense may be another story, although the players on D are playing awful too.

He was Mizzou's head coach after Pinkel. We gave Lebby a pot full of shit and told him to make lobster bisque. It's gonna take at least three seasons for him to get rolling.

[BB30]

It's simple, more fans in seats regardless of the outcomes of games and more money donated if we want to be competitive. Selmon isn't the problem, it is in large part on our fans.

I remember the Mullen years many posters ragging on the students for poor attendance or leaving early. Now the only part of our stadium that looks full is the student section. If you have other interests that are more important than going to games that is understandable and fine. That being said, don't bitch/complain when we aren't competitive. Our stadium looks like USM's on Saturdays and our program is looking more like USM and less like an SEC team. We will be USM lite in 10 years if nothing changes within our fanbase.

Want better players put butts in the stands so when they are here on recruiting weekends it looks and feels like an SEC program. Nothing about the game felt like SEC football saturday, I know we were playing Toledo but everything just feels second rate including the fanbase.

[StarkVegasSteve]

It's simple, more fans in seats regardless of the outcomes of games and more money donated if we want to be competitive. Selmon isn't the problem, it is in large part on our fans.

I remember the Mullen years many posters ragging on the students for poor attendance or leaving early. Now the only part of our stadium that looks full is the student section. If you have other interests that are more important than going to games that is understandable and fine. That being said, don't bitch/complain when we aren't competitive. Our stadium looks like USM's on Saturdays and our program is looking more like USM and less like an SEC team. We will be USM lite in 10 years if nothing changes within our fanbase.

Want better players put butts in the stands so when they are here on recruiting weekends it looks and feels like an SEC program. Nothing about the game felt like SEC football saturday, I know we were playing Toledo but everything just feels second rate including the fanbase.

It comes down to the fact that everyone is not rowing in the same direction. We have one subset of fans, and not enough, that know what it takes to be competitive so they give what they can and let the NIL folks and recruiting folks do the work. There is another subset that is vehemently against NIL so they very proudly proclaim they are not giving but bitch and complain every time we lose and say we do not have enough talent or our talent sucks. The last subset are folks who do not even know what the Bulldog Initiative is. They come for the tailgate and the social aspect of things. We have a factioned and fractured fan base. You have more people that care about a damn logo from the 90s than NIL.

That is the difference between us and The School Up North. They get it. They understand this is the new way of college athletics. They are not waiting for the NCAA to do something or waiting for their big boosters to do something. They are all giving. They are all rowing in the same direction. It is not an administration issue. It?s a mindset issue. They are operating like SMU in the 80s and we are operating like TCU.

[gtowndawg]

It comes down to the fact that everyone is not rowing in the same direction. We have one subset of fans, and not enough, that know what it takes to be competitive so they give what they can and let the NIL folks and recruiting folks do the work. There is another subset that is vehemently against NIL so they very proudly proclaim they are not giving but bitch and complain every time we lose and say we do not have enough talent or our talent sucks. The last subset are folks who do not even know what the Bulldog Initiative is. They come for the tailgate and the social aspect of things. We have a factioned and fractured fan base. You have more people that care about a damn logo from the 90s than NIL.

That is the difference between us and The School Up North. They get it. They understand this is the new way of college athletics. They are not waiting for the NCAA to do something or waiting for their big boosters to do something. They are all giving. They are all rowing in the same direction. It is not an administration issue. It?s a mindset issue. They are operating like SMU in the 80s and we are operating like TCU.

There's a video going viral this morning on social media from an Arkansas TD club meeting. No idea who was talking but the guys said (paraphrasing) "we all hate Ole Miss but they have 5,000 (people) in their NIL and we only have 1,000"

So if Ole Miss has 5,000 and Arkansas has 1,000 any clue what we have? I'm in it and I have no idea.

[StarkVegasSteve]

There's a video going viral this morning on social media from an Arkansas TD club meeting. No idea who was talking but the guys said (paraphrasing) "we all hate Ole Miss but they have 5,000 (people) in their NIL and we only have 1,000"

So if Ole Miss has 5,000 and Arkansas has 1,000 any clue what we have? I'm in it and I have no idea.

We have more than 1,000. I know that much. But it's nowhere near the amount they have. And the kicker with their number is that is 5,000 members donating MONTHLY. That doesn't count the one time donations. Arkansas can have 1,000 members because they have people like John Tyson, John Conner Jr., the Waltons, the Stephens, the Hunts, etc. that can foot those big payments and not bat an eye. Having MULTIPLE BILLIONAIRES that you can hit up for donations is something we don't have. We don't have a billionaire alum. Neither does OM anymore. But they have Dickie Scruggs and David Nutt along with Jerry Hollingsworth to help them out. They supplement those big payments with their 5,000 members giving anywhere from $20/month to $2,000/month. That's where we fall flat. We have the Oscar Miskelly's, Richard Rula's, Richard Adkerson's, Billy Howard's, Heath Jenkins', etc. of our fan base giving big donations, but we don't supplement it well at all.

[Cooterpoot]

Around 3500ish but I'm sure it fluctuates

[BankerDog]

VegasSteve also forgets that one of the richest families in Arkansas (top 5) is connected to State. Vegas you know who I am talking about.

[StarkVegasSteve]

VegasSteve also forgets that one of the richest families in Arkansas (top 5) is connected to State. Vegas you know who I am talking about.

That I do. And since he's out of state I doubt our sit on their hands and appease the farmers Alumni Assc. or Bulldog Club has even reached out to him or know about him. All their money is going towards Arky. If we could get 15% of their annual Arky donation we'd be in the ballgame.

[BankerDog]

Per Brett McMurphy-Tennessee will add a 10% ?talent fee? on all football tickets, starting next season. This fee will go to the players, helping fund the proposed revenue share w/the players. UT estimates per-seat price increase averaging 4.5% for entire stadium.

Vegas-I told you just last night this what Selmon and Charlie needed to be doing. We need to tie seating priorities to NIL contributions and not BDC. Buy some players that can win some games and their budget will be flush again..keep losing and the pockets get tougher and tougher to get to. Heck just split the contributions for seating priority between the bdc and NIL and we?d be better off than we are. Are we better off with a broke bdc and a decent team or a terrible team and rich bdc?

[Cooterpoot]

Per Brett McMurphy-Tennessee will add a 10% ?talent fee? on all football tickets, starting next season. This fee will go to the players, helping fund the proposed revenue share w/the players. UT estimates per-seat price increase averaging 4.5% for entire stadium.

Vegas-I told you just last night this what Selmon and Charlie needed to be doing. We need to tie seating priorities to NIL contributions and not BDC. Buy some players that can win some games and their budget will be flush again..keep losing and the pockets get tougher and tougher to get to. Heck just split the contributions for seating priority between the bdc and NIL and we?d be better off than we are. Are we better off with a broke bdc and a decent team or a terrible team and rich bdc?

I "think" NIL and BDC are basically going to somewhat merge to an extent once the ruling comes down and revenue sharing starts. But nobody knows what the ruling is going to be, so everything is a wait and see.
We've already seen some of the NIL people move over. Not sure how that Cristil Club is going operate though.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I think NIL and BDC are basically going to somewhat merge to an extent once the ruling comes down and revenue sharing starts. But nobody knows what the ruling is going to be, so everything is a wait and see.

And therein lies our problem. We can't wait and see. We have to play by the rules as they are now or we are going to die as a program.

[BankerDog]

I "think" NIL and BDC are basically going to somewhat merge to an extent once the ruling comes down and revenue sharing starts. But nobody knows what the ruling is going to be, so everything is a wait and see.
We've already seen some of the NIL people move over.

We should go ahead and strike first. What?s the NCAA gonna do? Dock us some visits and a scholarship or two? Ha okay..

[Cooterpoot]

We should go ahead and strike first. What?s the NCAA gonna do? Dock us some visits and a scholarship or two? Ha okay..

TN can't give money to players until it's all settled either. The wait and see part is just applying to the actual settlement. Things could be ruled against that prevent things or it could open up other avenues. Nobody knows because it's a damn sandwich maker who has no clue about college athletics making that ruling.

[StarkVegasSteve]

We should go ahead and strike first. What?s the NCAA gonna do? Dock us some visits and a scholarship or two? Ha okay..

Second thought...I'm with Bank on this one. Keep the money in a fund so we have it when this stuff is put on to the universities to pay for kids.

[Coursesuper]

We should go ahead and strike first. What?s the NCAA gonna do? Dock us some visits and a scholarship or two? Ha okay..

We already kind of are, the $$ are not in the same place but there is overlap. Our problem is going to continue to be if one is being funded the other is not.

[BankerDog]

We already kind of are, the $$ are not in the same place but there is overlap. Our problem is going to continue to be if one is being funded the other is not.

That?s why I?m saying the seat priority needs to not be tied to BDC donations but NIL donations with an extra fee for ?talent fee?.

[BB30]

It comes down to the fact that everyone is not rowing in the same direction. We have one subset of fans, and not enough, that know what it takes to be competitive so they give what they can and let the NIL folks and recruiting folks do the work. There is another subset that is vehemently against NIL so they very proudly proclaim they are not giving but bitch and complain every time we lose and say we do not have enough talent or our talent sucks. The last subset are folks who do not even know what the Bulldog Initiative is. They come for the tailgate and the social aspect of things. We have a factioned and fractured fan base. You have more people that care about a damn logo from the 90s than NIL.

That is the difference between us and The School Up North. They get it. They understand this is the new way of college athletics. They are not waiting for the NCAA to do something or waiting for their big boosters to do something. They are all giving. They are all rowing in the same direction. It is not an administration issue. It?s a mindset issue. They are operating like SMU in the 80s and we are operating like TCU.

Absolutely, my favorite is people explaining what our big donors should do while also bitching about those big donors getting involved. Just shut your mouth and either pony up or don't bitch when the product is terrible it is that simple. I don't understand how dense someone has to be to not understand the concept.

This is the way the game is played now, is what it is.

If you don't like it you don't have to partake but you also can't bitch when we look like a G5 team and have a G5 fan experience. We have fans that expect our big boosters to keep the facilities up to date, cover NIL, and everything else without lifting a finger to do anything to help much less actually attending a game (heaven forbid you don't get to watch it on TV in the comfort of your living room) and then we complain about those big boosters for being too "involved". If it weren't for those "too involved" we wouldn't have a program at all.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Absolutely, my favorite is people explaining what our big donors should do while also bitching about those big donors getting involved. Just shut your mouth and either pony up or don't bitch when the product is terrible it is that simple. I don't understand how dense someone has to be to not understand the concept.

This is the way the game is played now, is what it is.

If you don't like it you don't have to partake but you also can't bitch when we look like a G5 team and have a G5 fan experience. We have fans that expect our big boosters to keep the facilities up to date, cover NIL, and everything else without lifting a finger to do anything to help much less actually attending a game (heaven forbid you don't get to watch it on TV in the comfort of your living room) and then we complain about those big boosters for being too "involved". If it weren't for those "too involved" we wouldn't have a program at all.

It's a double edged sword. I do agree that our older boosters are far too involved and want to stick their nose in too many things, but I know I myself can't give the money they are giving. I have been talking with a few people trying to get some sort of out of state/younger alumni 120 club going because trust me, there's mega money for MSU outside the walls of MS that we just have refused to tap into. We also do a shit job with younger alumni so if we can combine those forces together, we may have something.

[BB30]

It's a double edged sword. I do agree that our older boosters are far too involved and want to stick their nose in too many things, but I know I myself can't give the money they are giving. I have been talking with a few people trying to get some sort of out of state/younger alumni 120 club going because trust me, there's mega money for MSU outside the walls of MS that we just have refused to tap into. We also do a shit job with younger alumni so if we can combine those forces together, we may have something.

It's a double edged sword to an extent simply because we have people not wanting to contribute to offset the amounts given by the big boosters. I agree that we do a horrible job of tapping into younger money state grads out of state etc. But if it weren't for the big donors that may be too involved we wouldn't have a program at all. Until we are matching what they do for the university nobody should bitch about how the big boosters spend their money with our programs.

Unfortunately, I don't see a current path for us to bring in more NIL from out of state as we are terrible at the social media game and other than an email once a month we don't get the word out on anything.

I get more OM NIL propaganda on social media and regular mail than I do State and I graduated from State.