http://www.clarionledger.com/misc/blogs/ssalter/sidblog.html

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Toyota-Ole Miss connection: No conspiracy visible

Many of my fellow Mississippi State University alums are hot under the collar today regarding the aspect of the Toyota announcement that establishes an automobile engineering program at Ole Miss when State already has a very effective, well-respected auto engineering program in place that's less than 90 miles from the Wellspring site where the plant will be located.

Several of those Bulldogs see an Ole Miss conspiracy to undermine MSU in the Toyota deal. They see former Ole Miss administrator and current IHL Commissioner Tom Meredith conspiring with Ole Miss alums Haley Barbour, Trent Lott, Thad Cochran, Roger Wicker and others to slight MSU's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems that's already established a strong working relationship with the state's first auto plant — Nissan.

The conspiracy theory also holds that MSU President Doc Foglesong was somehow too weak or servile to Meredith to stand up to the supposed Ole Miss cabal.

That's the conspiracy theory. Here's what I see as the reality of the situation....