This morning, during the open line Friday segment of the Rick & Bubba radio show (which also appears live on TurnerSouth television), a caller called in and said "Fire Jeff Bower" over and over. Rick and Bubba pointed out that they often get this call, and had already received it a few times this morning. Bubba went into a discussion of how stupid it is given Bower's record at USM.
More USM fans thinking that (mythical) "next level" is possible. More cogent analysis from the community "supporters."
Wow-I missed it. Glad Rick and Bubba got his back. I don't understand all the Bower Bashers. I question some of his game decisions, but overall, he is doing an outstanding job. However, I think the "next level" is possible and something USM should be striving for. Who would have though Louisville would get where it is 10 years ago?
Didn't Louisville win the 1991 Fiesta Bowl and finish 11-1? Isn't this probably better than any bowl/performance they've seen since.
Yes the did. I don't remember where they finished in the polls after that bowl, but I think they finished higher this year. Also, they are a pre-season top ten in almost every poll so far. I don't remember them ever being so widely respected/regarded in the past. They have made major progress.
Question: How many ranked teams has a Bower team beaten that finished the year with a winning record?
Big-name teams he beat: Auburn in 1991 (Auburn finished with losing record), LSU in 1994 (LSU finished with losing record), Georgia in 1996 (Georgia finished with losing record), Alabama in 2000 (Alabama finished with losing record), Nebraska in 2004 (Nebraska finished with losing record).
Don't forget we also swept BCS teams Illinois and Okla. State (in regular season meetings, not counting the Houston Bowl loss) under Bower. The second win over Illinois was when they were defending Big Ten Champs (though they wound up being stinky that year)
Don't forget we also swept BCS teams Illinois and Okla. State (in regular season meetings, not counting the Houston Bowl loss) under Bower. The second win over Illinois was when they were defending Big Ten Champs (though they wound up being stinky that year)
then they werent really any good - he's never beat a good team, period.
I believe we beat East Carolina one year (at their place) when they were ranked, and they finished with a winning record....it was the year ECU beat both Miami and South Carolina, and I think ECU had to remain on the SC campus to practice for part of the week leading up to the game with Miami because of a hurricane that hit NC. Not certain about the year...late 90s I think. But that may be the only ranked team we beat that wound up with a winning record.
Memories wrote: Don't forget we also swept BCS teams Illinois and Okla. State (in regular season meetings, not counting the Houston Bowl loss) under Bower. The second win over Illinois was when they were defending Big Ten Champs (though they wound up being stinky that year) then they werent really any good - he's never beat a good team, period.
What about 2003 when then undefeated TCU came to Hattiesburg ranked #10 in the nation. Officials from the Orange and Fiesta Bowls were at the Rock to see TCU play and were considering offering them an at-large bid. The Golden Eagles defeated the Horned Frogs something like 40-28 and it was TCU's only loss that year, and they still finished in the top 20.
ABD wrote: Wow-I missed it. Glad Rick and Bubba got his back. I don't understand all the Bower Bashers. I question some of his game decisions, but overall, he is doing an outstanding job. However, I think the "next level" is possible and something USM should be striving for. Who would have though Louisville would get where it is 10 years ago?
I am a Bower supporter. But, compairing USM to UofL is not exactly compairing apples to apples:
Athletic Budget:
UofL - $38.8M
USM - $15.4M
For Illustration Purposes
MSU - $19.8M
OM - $22.5M
It's really amazing that USM accomplishes what they when you look at what they have to work with. Bower probably dose more with less than any coach in the nation.
stats wrote: Memories wrote: Don't forget we also swept BCS teams Illinois and Okla. State (in regular season meetings, not counting the Houston Bowl loss) under Bower. The second win over Illinois was when they were defending Big Ten Champs (though they wound up being stinky that year) then they werent really any good - he's never beat a good team, period. What about 2003 when then undefeated TCU came to Hattiesburg ranked #10 in the nation. Officials from the Orange and Fiesta Bowls were at the Rock to see TCU play and were considering offering them an at-large bid. The Golden Eagles defeated the Horned Frogs something like 40-28 and it was TCU's only loss that year, and they still finished in the top 20.
TCU lost the Ft. Worth Bowl a few weeks later for their second loss. But, you're right, it was a quality win for USM since it was a win over an 11-2 team.
ABD wrote: Wow-I missed it. Glad Rick and Bubba got his back. I don't understand all the Bower Bashers. I question some of his game decisions, but overall, he is doing an outstanding job. However, I think the "next level" is possible and something USM should be striving for. Who would have though Louisville would get where it is 10 years ago? I am a Bower supporter. But, compairing USM to UofL is not exactly compairing apples to apples: Athletic Budget: UofL - $38.8M USM - $15.4M For Illustration Purposes MSU - $19.8M OM - $22.5M It's really amazing that USM accomplishes what they when you look at what they have to work with. Bower probably dose more with less than any coach in the nation.
Where did you get these numbers? I would like to see a large list myself.
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Up the Middle, Up the Middle, Up the middle -- Punt
Do not forget that the victories that Bower is lauded for (Louisville, East Carolina and TCU) are all against teams that achieved their sterling records by beating up on second rate Conference USA opponents. If you do not win against the likes of Houston, Army, Tulane (most years) and the rest -- well watch out.
Seeker wrote: ABD wrote: Wow-I missed it. Glad Rick and Bubba got his back. I don't understand all the Bower Bashers. I question some of his game decisions, but overall, he is doing an outstanding job. However, I think the "next level" is possible and something USM should be striving for. Who would have though Louisville would get where it is 10 years ago?
I am a Bower supporter. But, compairing USM to UofL is not exactly compairing apples to apples:
Athletic Budget:
UofL - $38.8M
USM - $15.4M
For Illustration Purposes
MSU - $19.8M
OM - $22.5M
It's really amazing that USM accomplishes what they when you look at what they have to work with. Bower probably dose more with less than any coach in the nation.
And this is the reason USM is probably going to have to drop down a division unless something spectacular happens to the budge.
Typical, Ole Piss, MSU Who? logic. You have been saying, wishing that for years.
Sports fan wrote:
Seeker wrote: ABD wrote: Wow-I missed it. Glad Rick and Bubba got his back. I don't understand all the Bower Bashers. I question some of his game decisions, but overall, he is doing an outstanding job. However, I think the "next level" is possible and something USM should be striving for. Who would have though Louisville would get where it is 10 years ago? I am a Bower supporter. But, compairing USM to UofL is not exactly compairing apples to apples: Athletic Budget: UofL - $38.8M USM - $15.4M For Illustration Purposes MSU - $19.8M OM - $22.5M It's really amazing that USM accomplishes what they when you look at what they have to work with. Bower probably dose more with less than any coach in the nation. And this is the reason USM is probably going to have to drop down a division unless something spectacular happens to the budge.
Typical, Ole Piss, MSU Who? logic. You have been saying, wishing that for years. Sports fan wrote: Seeker wrote: ABD wrote: Wow-I missed it. Glad Rick and Bubba got his back. I don't understand all the Bower Bashers. I question some of his game decisions, but overall, he is doing an outstanding job. However, I think the "next level" is possible and something USM should be striving for. Who would have though Louisville would get where it is 10 years ago? I am a Bower supporter. But, compairing USM to UofL is not exactly compairing apples to apples: Athletic Budget: UofL - $38.8M USM - $15.4M For Illustration Purposes MSU - $19.8M OM - $22.5M It's really amazing that USM accomplishes what they when you look at what they have to work with. Bower probably dose more with less than any coach in the nation. And this is the reason USM is probably going to have to drop down a division unless something spectacular happens to the budge.