Or Obama:

The Internet gives you an unlimited opportunity to communicate your position. The question, should you do it on a message board?

Recent actions on the board have made it necessary to create a Politics and Religion forum.  And the discussions have continued in this new container.  Both sides of the argument are speaking out.  Glad everyone is getting things off their chests, but are they changing opinions?  Probably not.

Sports fans, particularly the ones on this site, are very set in their ways.  There are other forums for you to consider for political discussion.  But then, if you must, we now have a place for it.

It is important to have goals. One of the things that is very different about Coach Fedora is that he obviously has goals. Some would argue they are too ambitious, but they really don’t get the bigger picture. Aiming for the moon will give you the best shot at getting beyond the Earth’s gravity. Coach Fedora is doing just that and for that reason, Southern Miss is destined for the next level. It is as inevitable as the sunrise tomorrow.

You don’t have to believe for this to happen. In fact, there will be many naysayers. The ones who have to believe are the 65 or so players and his coaching staff. If you’ve heard Coach Fedora speak, then you should have no doubt that he’ll get them believing. And you’ll see it on the field on Saturdays this fall.

August 30th can’t come fast enough for me.

Upon hearing the news of Jeff Bower’s resignation as Southern Miss football coach, Brett Favre expressed sorrow and regret for USM football. As the competition in college football has risen greatly over the past decade, USM’s record has remained stagnant.

I don’t think there is anyone in the Southern Miss family that doesn’t feel some sorrow or regret regarding the end of Coach Bower’s Head Coaching career at Southern Miss. He was a wonderful coach and most of us respect him more than words can express. I’m not sure what Mr. Montague would expect Brett Favre to say regarding the situation but just that.

Stagnant is a very good description. But compared to where the program was at the end of the 1990’s we were clearly on a decline, not a plateau.

BTW, the University prefers that we use Southern Miss and not USM. No biggie…

At times, it was due to coaching and conservative play-calling; other times, it was due to complacent athletes.

No argument there. But consider why we would have or allow complacent athletes on a Southern Miss football team. Attitude comes from the top! It spills down and consumes the team. Those that don’t get with the program get swept aside. This was a coaching issue, period.

So I can understand the need for some change in the culture of USM football. However, a recent decision by Larry Fedora to remove Father Tommy Conway of St. Thomas Catholic Church as the team chaplain leads me to believe that some of his change is counter-productive. No doubt, it will cause him regret and sorrow for our football players.

Yes. I’m sure many of the players have developed personal relationships with Father Tommy. I don’t personally know him, but I’ve heard he’s a great guy and connects with people well. Have you considered that the players could attend mass on their own? I didn’t read that the players were forbidden to seek out Father Tommy on their own time. And given the required separation of church and state, that seems appropriate.

I remember as a child watching Favre, Michael Jackson and Tony Smith run around the field at M.M. Roberts Stadium. They made things happen and carried a contagious, winning energy that reeled in the fan base at Southern Miss. Just as these guys inspired the growth of our fan base, Father Tommy has inspired our football players to be great people.

Leaders tend to be the best inspiration there can be. As I noted above, if inspiration was an issue, the coach should have addressed that. To believe that the players can’t find a path for themselves absent one man is very shortsighted. For those players that need him, I’m sure he’ll be easy to find.

Since childhood, many of my friends and I have poured our souls into supporting Southern Miss athletics. Some of my childhood friends, like Cliff Russum, Jeff Cook, Matt Shepard and Collin Cargill, have worn Golden Eagle uniforms.

That is a good start. We need butts in seats. We need more Eagle Club donors (and higher level donors). It is good to know that Mr. Montague has a solid connection with Southern Miss and the players. It should be an indication that he will do what is necessary to help the program move forward. Even when the decisions made aren’t the ones he would have made.

Also, my family has traditionally invited Southern Miss athletes to dine in our house. Throughout the years, I have had dinner with guys like Favre, Chris Ryals, Michael Tobias, Leo Barnes and Michael Boley.

It has been mentioned in the comments on this article, but I’ll repeat it here. Mr. Montague should be very careful in this area. It could easily be construed as a violation of NCAA rules (especially when alumni/boosters cherry pick the players they spend money on (yes, providing a meal is considered a gift).

I must say, however, because of USM leadership, it is becoming more difficult for me to support a university that drowns itself in dirty politics.

I get lost on the “dirty politics” statement. Just as Coach Bower assigned a Team Chaplin, Coach Fedora has the right to remove and/or replace him. If as Mr. Montague states, he was there for inspiration, then he was functioning a lot like a coach. And I don’t think anyone would fault a Head Coach for replacing a coach when he felt it was needed.

And if Mr. Montague is as good a fan and supporter of Southern Miss, would he pull his support over the replacement of one person?

Just over three years ago, after I graduated from Southern Miss, we made a supposedly positive change away from a Napoleonic administration at Southern Miss. But, based upon Coach Fedora’s decision to fire a priest as our team chaplain, we evidently have not moved away from those dirty politics. Either that or Father Tommy was in charge of the play calling last year.

Dr. Saunders and Coach Fedora are the leaders we’ve sorely needed at Southern Miss. You can see it in their faces when they speak. Its called intensity. They were both hired to shake things up. To change Southern Miss for the better.

Coach Fedora has been around since December (completing his first Spring drills and scrimmages). He has had an opportunity to evaluate the talent on the field and elsewhere. If he feels it is time to remove/replace Father Tommy, that is his prerogative. No politics to it from my point of view. Just managing the program the way he sees fit.

Around five years ago, Bower recruited Father Tommy to be the team chaplain. Primarily, Bower brought in Father Tommy because he is a well-respected, beloved religious figure in our community. Also, he did it because Father Tommy brings a positive and energetic atmosphere to the locker room.

Yes, he did. And is the program better off for it? The players may be had another positive role model in their lives. An opportunity to seek a higher purpose. But it didn’t show on the field.

Three years ago, I invited former USM football stars Eric Scott, Michael Boley and Antoine Cash to have dinner with my family. Before dinner we talked about two subjects. One, their future dreams of playing in the NFL. Two, the contributions and the impact of Father Tommy on USM football.

Again, I must caution Mr. Montague to consider his actions in regards to gifts under the NCAA rules.

While it makes perfect sense to me that a conversation with any of these players would involve some discussion of their NFL aspirations, I’m not sure how Father Tommy would come up. Three years ago, Southern Miss was embarrassed by Utah in the Liberty Bowl and went on to have a terrible 2004 season. I could think of a hundred other things I’d have asked about at that time.

I remember Scott saying “between the players and Father Tommy, there is nothing but love.”

I could say the same thing, and I don’t even know the man.

And that sentiment includes the Pine Belt community. We all support Father Tommy.

Yes. As I understand it, he won’t be the Team Chaplin. But he still has a congregation and I assume he holds mass and is available for counsel as most priests are.

Coach Fedora has not even coached a real down of football at Southern Miss and he feels entitled to make such radical changes without the approval of the community or our players.

He was brought in to effect radical changes. Southern Miss needs radical changes. I am quite confident this was not a kneejerk decision as Mr. Montague implies. How Coach Fedora manages the football program does not require community or player approval. We want growth in our program. He is doing what he feels is necessary to make that happen.

College football is very competitive and getting more so each season. If Mr. Montague expects Coach Fedora to seek community and player approval for every decision he’s going to make, well, tough luck. I fully support Coach Fedora and I am looking forward to his first real down as a Southern Miss Head Coach.

Quite frankly, I don’t think he’ll need any help inspiring the players. I spoke to McGrath not long ago and he was stoked about the new program. The excitement and enthusiasm in his eyes told me all I needed to know. Saturday’s at the Rock are going to be special this year.

This demonstrates that Coach Fedora is about as cognizant of how our players love, respect and appreciate as he is of what kind of a relationship Father Tommy has with Brett Favre.

I’m not really sure what Mr. Montague means here. But Brett Favre isn’t playing for Southern Miss right now. I don’t know that I’ve heard any comments from Favre regarding Father Tommy. He seems to be implying that Favre might not support Southern Miss because Coach Fedora removed him at Team Chaplin. I seriously doubt that.

Brett Montague is a Hattiesburg resident.

Allan Misner is not a Hattiesburg resident. But that doesn’t mean he cares less or gives less.

I upgraded my Eagle Club membership and re-upped for four season tickets. I know that that we are fast approaching the Summer and that tends to be a slump for the board. But it is hard to sit still and wait for August 30th!

One other news, the baseball team is fast approaching the end of their regular season and hopes are high that we’ll host a Regional. Good luck Eagles! Time to churn and burn through the post season!

And board related… I will be looking to upgrade the board’s software likely some time in June. Some of the features will change and yes, some will go away. It won’t be an easy upgrade because we are moving to a new generation and it is structurally and functionally very different. I’ll be working diligently to have the board back to full function by the beginning of August. My apologies ahead of time for any downtime we experience during the upgrade.

Or this one…

I’m back from vacation, rested, well, not so rested, but feeling better about life in general.  Sorry for the short absence.  While I was vacationing in Mexico, I ran into two Boise State fans and the families.  Really nice guys and as usual when a Southern Miss fan meets a Boise State fan, mutual respect.  I’ve invited these guys down for the game.  I hope they can make it!

• Hire Coach Larry Fedora, a young, hungry coach who, as an offensive coordinator featured a high energy, no huddle offense.
• Coach Fedora revamped the entire coaching staff with a strong emphasis on recruiting strength (Coach Hughes).
• A signing day part that filled the Hattiesburg Convention Center.  And thoughts that next year they may have to have it in the Rock.
• Coach Fedora signs the #1 recruit in the State of Mississippi, beating out LSU and having limited opportunity due to a late start.
• A halftime speech by Coach Fedora at the home basketball game featuring #1 Memphis.  And shooting off one liners that speak to his wit and presence.
• Coach Fedora and the administration opt for no weeknight games.  This is a huge step for fan attendance.  Sorry ESPN, guess you can show Rice versus Marshall this year.
• Coach Fedora holds open spring practices and Ray Guy is present to further engage fans.
• Spring game attendance at an all time high of 12K, which is 50% higher than the previous record.
• While I don’t have the numbers, I also understand that our presold season tickets and Eagle Club contributions are at an all time high.

But then, no list can do justice to the change in attitude.  THE CHIP IS BACK ON OUR SHOULDERS! Thank you Mark May!

How to Appreciate College Football

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

You wonder what all the hype is about for college football games. It’s similar to the NFL (National Football League), however, because college football comes from universities and colleges, it’s about personal school and individual pride.

Steps

1. Wear school colors or something with their school name, logo, or motto. Whether it’s a shirt, jacket, baseball cap, or a football noodle to carry around - it’s showing support one way or another.



2. Know the players and coach of the team. Feel free to associate players with their numbers.



3. Go to a game in person. Since it’s a college game, there ought to be more supporting students and fans than anyone else. Bring a friend with you and have fun throwing confetti when your team makes a touchdown.



4. Acknowledge the fact that these players have a chance to be drafted in the NFL or AFL. The guys are widely recognized by their statistics and plays.

Tips

• If you’re not a football fan, try to see if you’re interested in becoming a fan or spectator of another sport like baseball or the Olympics.

Warnings

• When visiting an opponent’s state, please be courteous and don’t flash any attire or accessories from your state - especially on game day.

Related wikiHows

• How to Love an Unsuccessful Sports Team
• How to Enjoy Watching Baseball Games
• How to Be a Los Angeles Lakers Fan
• How to Enjoy a Nascar Race
• How to Have Fun at a Penn State Football Game
• How to Throw a Tailgate Party

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Appreciate College Football. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Here are the results:

#10 - Kickingtee

coming from the rock
a runner has a clump of grass
dangling from his azz.

#9 - Golden Evil

How many damn times
Do you guys have to be told
It’s five-seven-five?

#8 - Nugget’s Ghost

Fedoras the man
we will crush, kill and break spleens
you will be amazed

#7 - Tator25

Hardins film on the scoreboard,
Fedora’s offense takes the field,
perfection at the “Rock”

#6 - RockTheRock

Did that old ball coach
He who must never be named
Move to the dugout?

#5 - usmintexas

An era begins
As spring unfolds its glory
Renewed hope now lives…

#4 (tie) - Black Diamond Reb

All hail Fedora
Improve our maths and tacklings
How much to park then

#4 (tie) - killer_eagle

Black and Gold Game Starts
Thirty Thousand Fans Screaming
Southern Miss Attack!

#3 (tie) - UsMmba90

Southern Miss Football
Just who do we think we are?
Prepare to find out.

#3 (tie) - Goldeneagle33

Under the hot lights
Fedora’s offense shines bright
We are Southern Miss!

#2 - USM08

Fedora the Man
Nasty Bunch is returning
Hit’em in the mouth!

#1 - Harbor Pointe

Fedora thinks big
Says there’s no reason we can’t
We settle no more

Patrick Magee makes a good argument.  The best showing we’ve had for a spring game is 8K.  Do we almost quadruple that?  Magee concludes that the best we could hope for is 16K (double our previous best).

It Shouldn’t Happen

The Southern Miss fanbase is an interesting marketing study.  I’ve posted on this several times.  The Southern Miss fan wants more for less.  When things are going well, they stop showing up.  And we’ve only had 30K fans show up when things were really good and the game mattered.

Here are only a few reasons that it shouldn’t happen:

1. This is a spring game.  The results don’t matter.  While mildly entertaining, only the best of fans will show to watch something like this.
2. Teammates playing teammates.  There won’t be any big hits.  I’ll rephrase that, there shouldn’t be any big hits.  And hits are what we go to see.
3. To get to 30K, we’d need a very strong student turn out and a good out-of-towner showing.  The weather is getting nice and for many of the students, the beaches beckon.  With this being a night game, many out-of-towners won’t be willing to fork over the cash for a spring game.

It Could Happen

As I break down the idea in my head, I see the following supporting themes that make 30K achievable:

1. Fedora, Flecher, Nelson, McGrath and Abanikanda.  With new offensive and defensive schemes, many of us are interested in seeing how they put this all together.
2. There is also a baseball series against Arkansas State.  While it would be better if it were a C-USA foe, it makes for a better deal for out-of-towners.
3. Old paradigms lead to standard results.  Would anyone believe a company could accomplish what Google did, before they did?  Giannini and Fedora are pushing for a new day and a new way to approach Southern Miss football.  With the determination and success that Coach Fedora has shown since he arrived, I wouldn’t bet against him.

Will It Happen?

I really hope so.  But I’m just not so confident that it will.  What I do know is that they will blow the old record off the books.  Those who go will have a great time.  And at $5-$10 a pop, the M-Club will get a nice kick in their budget.  Enjoy!