So to give a quick portal status update

[Seinfeld]

We came into the offseason desperately needing DT/CB/OL, and it's been abundantly clear that Lebby also wants a QB

Since then, we've lost
- Six 4* and 90+ rated players
- Two QBs
- Essentially our entire WR room
- Three CBs
- In total, 24 guys with an average rating of 87.8

Meanwhile, we've landed
- Zero 4* 90+ rated players
- Zero QBs
- Zero DTs
- Zero OL
- An edge rusher that hasn't played in a year
- A WR that caught 19 passes last year
- In total, 6 guys with an average rating of 86.7

After a year in which we went 2-10 and complained all year about not having talent, by all objective measures, our coaching staff has somehow managed to downgrade the roster after the first week of the portal.

In all my years, this has to be the most inept combination of a MSU admin and coaching staff that I've ever witnessed

 

[ckDOG]

Let me know when rock bottom arrives.

 

[Howiefeltersnstch]

Hard to argue with that post

 

[aTotal360]

Our NIL is just fine. Just have patience. Trust the process. **

 

[HotMop]

Saving NIL money to pick up a key piece for our Womens Soccer team.

 

[HailStout]

No one tell my wife that I just can’t with state football anymore. Every Saturday I am going to act like I am making a huge sacrifice for her to miss the game.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Nice job arsehole, you just shattered every pair of maroon colored glasses in the country**

 

[ckDOG]

No one tell my wife that I just can’t with state football anymore. Every Saturday I am going to act like I am making a huge sacrifice for her to miss the game.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

 

[HailStout]

You know, I’ve seen a lot of bad times as a state fan. We all have. Now I know some of you guys will pipe up about the 60’s and the 80’s, but looking at relatively modern state history (90’s until now), this feels different. This feels like we are heading down a path of becoming completely insignificant in the college football landscape and that we are going to be there for a long time. I hope I’m wrong, but I have been saying “I hope I’m wrong” for a while now. Thus far I have t been wrong

 

[peewee.sixpack]

You know, I’ve seen a lot of bad times as a state fan. We all have. Now I know some of you guys will pipe up about the 60’s and the 80’s, but looking at relatively modern state history (90’s until now), this feels different. This feels like we are heading down a path of becoming completely insignificant in the college football landscape and that we are going to be there for a long time. I hope I’m wrong, but I have been saying “I hope I’m wrong” for a while now. Thus far I have t been wrong

I don’t think you’re wrong.

 

[Howiefeltersnstch]

I hate to admit it but I don't think you are wrong either. We got guys leaving that are probly better than our incoming. Creed in particular.

 

[40 acres and a mule]

So, when will it get to where we can't even field a team? Players over a 2* don't want to come here, any one good is purchased away, Selmon seems to wish he wasn't here, Keenum makes pitiful AD hiring decisions and is probably short timing it to retirement, and our fans don't have the cash or the desire to pay 18-to 22 year-olds 1.5 million a year, the kind of money most of them will not earn in their entire lifetime. No need to criticize Lebby and staff. Too many things against him or beyond his control. (Not that I think he has done such a great job that he is beyond criticism.)

 

[Called3rdstrikedawg]

So, when will it get to where we can't even field a team? Players over a 2* don't want to come here, any one good is purchased away, Selmon seems to wish he wasn't here, Keenum makes pitiful AD hiring decisions and is probably short timing it to retirement, and our fans don't have the cash or the desire to pay 18-to 22 year-olds 1.5 million a year, the kind of money most of them will not earn in their entire lifetime. No need to criticize Lebby and staff. Too many things against him or beyond his control. (Not that I think he has done such a great job that he is beyond criticism.)

And there in lies the problem. We have message board heroes who think we are going to build Fort Knox in Starkville with our base fans who have never averaged more than $60,000-$75,000 a year in their lifetime. The Funding of our program is going to come from the wealthy alumni who have here-to-fore given 90% of their donations to the academic or infrastructure side. We don't need to build more dorms and name them after the donor. We need to build the money making program into a perpetual winner to grown the interest in the school!

 

[OopsICroomedmypants]

It isn't over yet. If we can get a few more of these guys in the boat things will look up. Of course, we may be a good bit better next year and still only be able to win 3 or 4 with schedule.

 

[civildawg88]

We had the worst defense in the entire country and decided to keep all the staff members. Someone wake me up with selmon and lebby are canned

 

[Shmuley]

Let me know when rock bottom arrives.

Look around you, Ellen. We are at the threshold of hell.

 

[85Bears]

Most likely scenario, we run out Shapen to start the year and Taylor levels in the portal after the season. Lebby returns for year theee.

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

"My kind of team, Charlie."

 

[patdog]

Let me know when rock bottom arrives.

We’re here.

Most likely scenario, we run out Shapen to start the year and Taylor levels in the portal after the season. Lebby returns for year theee.

There won’t be a year three for a Lebby.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

 

[patdog]

Dang. People keep bitching about how negative I am. But it’s even worse than I thought.

 

[Seinfeld]

You know, I’ve seen a lot of bad times as a state fan. We all have. Now I know some of you guys will pipe up about the 60’s and the 80’s, but looking at relatively modern state history (90’s until now), this feels different. This feels like we are heading down a path of becoming completely insignificant in the college football landscape and that we are going to be there for a long time. I hope I’m wrong, but I have been saying “I hope I’m wrong” for a while now. Thus far I have t been wrong

And what absolutely infuriates me about all of this is that there are 67 P4 football programs out there, and we are right around 35th in athletic budget, yet all but about 2-3 of those 67 teams are absolutely running circles around us during the NIL era, and another two dozen G5 schools are putting us to shame as well.

As has been said a thousand times, no one here is expecting State to keep up with Ohio St, Bama, or even schools with money like SMU, but come on... We are paying out 7 figure salaries in our athletic department for this? If this is going to be our return on investment, for 17s sake... save the money, let a recent grad run this $hitshow, and put the savings towards NIL.

 

[ronpolk]

 

[patdog]

And what absolutely infuriates me about all of this is that there are 67 P4 football programs out there, and we are right around 35th in athletic budget, yet all but about 2-3 of those 67 teams are absolutely running circles around us during the NIL era, and another two dozen G5 schools are putting us to shame as well.

As has been said a thousand times, no one here is expecting State to keep up with Ohio St, Bama, or even schools with money like SMU, but come on... We are paying out 7 figure salaries in our athletic department for this? If this is going to be our return on investment, for 17s sake... save the money, let a recent grad run this $hitshow, and put the savings towards NIL.

We have a bunch of 17ing amateurs running our athletic dept, NIL & football team. And the think they’re the smartest guys around.

 

[85Bears]

And what absolutely infuriates me about all of this is that there are 67 P4 football programs out there, and we are right around 35th in athletic budget, yet all but about 2-3 of those 67 teams are absolutely running circles around us during the NIL era, and another two dozen G5 schools are putting us to shame as well.

As has been said a thousand times, no one here is expecting State to keep up with Ohio St, Bama, or even schools with money like SMU, but come on... We are paying out 7 figure salaries in our athletic department for this? If this is going to be our return on investment, for 17s sake... save the money, let a recent grad run this $hitshow, and put the savings towards NIL.

i don’t think there’s any doubt Lebby is in over his head and has no idea what he’s doing. contrast that with other schools, even though Arkansas is losing several good players, I have little doubt Petrino will identify talent and have an intelligent plan to bolster that roster. We have no shot of doing that. You’ve got to have experienced people who have built a program and can evaluate talent. leach was excellent at this.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Dang. People keep bitching about how negative I am. But it’s even worse than I thought.

I am well aware of Keenum's position within the college football world but I am really starting to think if something doesn't happen from the top down pretty quick it's gonna be too late.

 

[Shmuley]

I am well aware of Keenum's position within the college football world but I am really starting to think if something doesn't happen from the top down pretty quick it's gonna be too late.

I’m already here. This death spiral won’t get corrected in time unless a change in leadership starts at Lee Hall. Selmon and Lebby are both incompetent and must be replaced. But Keenum CANNOT be involved in replacing them.

 

[Seinfeld]

Dang. People keep bitching about how negative I am. But it’s even worse than I thought.

I knew good and dang well that Arnold wasn't coming here, but I think that him signing with Auburn has finally broken me. I am so sick and tired of this football program dropping deuces in our faces and telling us that they've got it all under control. All we need to do is just keep signing checks

There's a list of around 75 schools out there that were either rolling, they're on an upward trajectory, or else they're making changes. We are the only P4 school in the country that keeps serving up **** week after week while telling fans... don't worry, it'll hopefully smell a little better next week. Either way, it still ****, and I cannot wrap my head around how this is being allowed to continue

 

[PBRME]

 

[GloryDawg]

Lebby is here for a paycheck. He doesn't care. He's going to get his money and smile all way to his next OC job. That's all.

 

[Dawg1976]

Lebby is here for a paycheck. He doesn't care. He's going to get his money and smile all way to his next OC job. That's all.

He really had nothing to lose by coming here. Make several million for a few years then return to an OC position when the dust settles. Or just be a beach bum from now on. Nice position to be in as a fairly young person.

 

[Dawg1976]

So how many 2* left in the portal we can pick from? Might be time to sift through the 1* before long. As you can see I’m past the point of caring. Now I’m just looking for a few chuckles.

 

[HWY51dog]

"My kind of team, Charlie."

This sums it up perfectly….

 

[Seinfeld]

He really had nothing to lose by coming here. Make several million for a few years then return to an OC position when the dust settles. Or just be a beach bum from now on. Nice position to be in as a fairly young person.

Which is exactly why I’ve never understood the “if we don’t give Joe Shmo X number of years, no one’s gonna come here” mantra

It’s a no lose situation. Come here and succeed, and you’re about as close to a made man as it gets in college sports. Come here and fail, and you’re going home with $20M

 

[11thEagleFan]

The whole system is insane. Today, for the first time, I was contacted by someone from the Southern Miss collective. They’re pumping sunshine, and arguably rightfully so, I guess. I was told that USM’s collective is Top 4 in the Sun Belt and they’re trying to make a push into the Top 2. I find that hard to believe.

But let’s assume that’s true. I would imagine that State is one of the lower end collectives in the SEC. And I would imagine they probably dwarf the top Sun Belt collective. How much money are we talking about here? There’s zero transparency. I’m sorry, but I have a hard time giving a couple thousand bucks (that’s what USM wants from me) and having someone tell me, “Just trust us.” I know a couple grand isn’t a lot, but to receive zero assurances in return? Pure craziness.

 

[85Bears]

The whole system is insane. Today, for the first time, I was contacted by someone from the Southern Miss collective. They’re pumping sunshine, and arguably rightfully so, I guess. I was told that USM’s collective is Top 4 in the Sun Belt and they’re trying to make a push into the Top 2. I find that hard to believe.

But let’s assume that’s true. I would imagine that State is one of the lower end collectives in the SEC. And I would imagine they probably dwarf the top Sun Belt collective. How much money are we talking about here? There’s zero transparency. I’m sorry, but I have a hard time giving a couple thousand bucks (that’s what USM wants from me) and having someone tell me, “Just trust us.” I know a couple grand isn’t a lot, but to receive zero assurances in return? Pure craziness.

Most of the P4 schools are sitting on billion+ endowments, largely hidden from public view, but lets squeeze mom and pop for 1200 a year to buy a defensive end. ok

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

Okay, the consensus of this thread is that Selmon, Lebby and by association, Keenum are poor leaders or just incompetent to handle the task of rebuilding the football program. Another truism is that State fans are very good at recognizing this fact and are very adept at bitching. Yet, in spite of all the internet bitching and gnashing of teeth by the fans the short bus is still speeding toward the cliff to football purgatory.
What can be done by the fans? First, like any successful organization, we need insider help. We need some evidence besides our own optics of the problem inside State athletics. Do we have this capability?
Second, a fan petition to Keenum requesting answers about the direction of the football program needs to be drafted and presented. The third option is to vote with your pocketbook but this method can do as much harm as good and is akin to shooting yourself in the foot. To be used as a last resort.

Of course, any course of action by the fans has to be truly representative of the whole fanbase and not just a few diehards on an internet message board.

 

[Seinfeld]

We have a bunch of 17ing amateurs running our athletic dept, NIL & football team. And the think they’re the smartest guys around.

I present to you exhibit A



And yes, I do understand that the MSU Foundation and the State Excellence Fund are two different things, but holy hell. Stickers man

 

[85Bears]

I present to you exhibit A

View attachment 719952

And yes, I do understand that the MSU Foundation and the State Excellence Fund are two different things, but holy hell. Stickers man

That’s terrible. I usually throw things like that in the trash as soon as I open the envelope.