Tomorrow is the most important MSU football game in years

[Quaoarsking]

I've talked to enough people with a semblance of "inside knowledge" that I'm pretty certain Lebby gets a Year 3 no matter what. There just isn't anywhere close to a critical mass of boosters and administrators coming together to talk about making a change.

But if Lebby loses tomorrow, he's basically a lame duck. We would probably finish 0-8 on the season, almost certainly not make a bowl even if we do pull an upset in the last 3 games, and he'll lose critical fan support. Are the people who funded this year's team going to think it was a good investment? No, NIL funding will probably go down, attendance will go down, recruiting will go down, and the schedule is only a little bit easier next year. It ends with Lebby getting fired next November without having ever making a bowl game, and possibly without having ever won an SEC game.

On the other hand, if we win tomorrow, especially if Lebby doesn't have any brain farts and (for example) ices the game in the 4th quarter with good clock management and smart playcalling, you could see the opposite effect. After "getting close" 2 weeks in a row, he gets the job done, people start to #believe he's turned the corner, there's optimism in the fanbase that we're headed back to a bowl game, NIL funding increases, etc.

Our fanbase desperately wants to have a winner, and we deserve to have one too. I hope Lebby can show us that he is that winner tomorrow. A lot of our fans were OK with just keeping in close with Florida and Texas, but tomorrow he's got to get the W.

[viverlibre]

Yes, tomorrow is the ultimate test. After three inexplicable loss, the last one being extreme coaching malpractice at home, if Lebby can keep the team focused and ready, it will show the fans a lot. No one would blame the team for not trusting him.

[Maroon Glasses]

Good post. Completely agree

[archdog]

Lebby should get year 3 no matter what. I want to see how much of a jump we can make this off season.

Tomorrow is important, but in reality this season really has nothing to do with losses. I wanted to see us get better. And we have. We should be 7-1 right now. That is good. Now, tomorrow I want to see us finish a game. Or any of the last 4 games. I wanted two games FINISHED.

[Todd4State]

We're almost in a win/win situation either way. Much like Lemonis the key for MSU is managing the situation properly. Firing him after this year isn't handling the situation properly. The people (who are some of the same ones that handled the Lemonis situation and hired O'Connor) understand this.

If he doesn't work out, we'll go get a new coach for 2027 that likely has a good amount of experience and we'll give the new coach a lot of NIL because our fans are starting to understand (I think) it's more about money than the coach. If he does work out, great. If he doesn't it's basically the same scenario as when Jackie took over for Felker.

[Coach34]

This game is just the next game and not all that important.

Its a road SEC game and we are the underdog. Hopefully we show up and play well. Lebby will have support next year regardless. NIL is here to stay and money has to be there. There is no choice at this point. If you dont fund it you are going to suck. So there is no choice for next year- we have to fund NIL

[Todd4State]

This game is just the next game and not all that important.

Its a road SEC game and we are the underdog. Hopefully we show up and play well. Lebby will have support next year regardless. NIL is here to stay and money has to be there. There is no choice at this point. If you dont fund it you are going to suck. So there is no choice for next year- we have to fund NIL

It's also a really bad look for MSU if our boosters don't give in NIL. The only logical conclusions potential new hires would have is they either don't have the money, their fans don't care, or they stopped giving because they are petty and sabotaged the coach so he would fail.

The truth is if Lebby sucks, he won't win no matter how much we give so there is no reason not to give money.

[Coach34]

I expect a shootout tomorrow and hope to win

[bulldawg28]

This game is just the next game and not all that important.

Its a road SEC game and we are the underdog. Hopefully we show up and play well. Lebby will have support next year regardless. NIL is here to stay and money has to be there. There is no choice at this point. If you dont fund it you are going to suck. So there is no choice for next year- we have to fund NIL

I wouldn't go that far. Winning and losing tomorrow will determine if this team packs it on for the year. I've been close with a couple of defensive starters and they're tired and on a tethering edge. Lebby needs to be at his best tomorrow.

[msstate7]

I wouldn't go that far. Winning and losing tomorrow will determine if this team packs it on for the year. I've been close with a couple of defensive starters and they're tired and on a tethering edge. Lebby needs to be at his best tomorrow.

Of course winning matters. If this team goes 0-8, the guys with options are gonna have to be overpaid to stay. Same deal with getting guys here. Hard to build when a player cost you 125% of what he cost the competition

[Dawgface]

The truth is if Lebby sucks, he won't win no matter how much we give so there is no reason not to give money.

Say what? This is the exact reason why many won’t give money.

[Quaoarsking]

HE DID IT! Now we as fans need to make this scenario happen.

On the other hand, if we win tomorrow, especially if Lebby doesn't have any brain farts and (for example) ices the game in the 4th quarter with good clock management and smart playcalling, you could see the opposite effect. After "getting close" 2 weeks in a row, he gets the job done, people start to #believe he's turned the corner, there's optimism in the fanbase that we're headed back to a bowl game, NIL funding increases, etc.