Quote Originally Posted by ShotgunDawg View Post
So long as you're OK not competing for anything. I want to build something that can win the West & compete for a playoff spot, but without continuity, it has no chance of happening
As you've noted, we aren't a national brand and so have an inherent uphill battle in recruiting (not to mention MS being a small state with 2 SEC teams in it). So we have to first establish consistent, high level coaching to change that narrative.

But we can't do that without suddenly doubling our booster contributions. We will never be able to do what LSU did and make a DC the highest paid assistant in football. We will never pull an A&M and shell out $9.5M a year for the HC and DC combo. We can't do $20M+ buyouts like Auburn and A&M. And whether it's fair or not, ADs will always like the idea of hiring a guy who's coached under Saban, so if a good DC can pick between us he'll always pick Bama. We've lost assistants to the exact same job at a higher paying schools several times

I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer or a pessimist, I just don't see how we can ever compete with: LSU's easy recruiting and money, Bama's easy recruiting and money, Auburn's easier recruiting and money, A&M's easier recruiting and money, and an Arkansas program that has the Waltons and Jerry Jones, either one of which could easily out fund us at the drop of a hat. Most of these programs have flashier stadiums, a better history, more um, lets call it "booster assistance", and better college town too.

I get you want us to take the next step and I can't fault you for always trying to see a path to get there. I just don't see a way we can consistently hope to get better than a #20-25 recruiting average or a staff that isn't one of the least paid in the SEC. I mean we have like NOBODY involved in our program that has the money these other SEC boosters have