The Book 2008 Football

[SpreadEagle]

Thanks for the link Spread. If I remember correctly, I remember hearing/reading that you guys spent about $3 Million on those renovations? And construction lasted a little over a year?

Just curious...Plans are in the works to have some work done on our stadium, though nothing final has been announced yet. I'm just trying to get an idea of the scope of USM's project (cost, timing, extra improvements) to have a better idea of what we can expect.

I don't know the answers to your questions. Once again the selling of suites was a revenue source for the upgrade of Pete Taylor park.

[cajun eagle]

_ A question for you , if you happen to know the answer, what sort of funding formula does Mississippi use in distributing funding for higher ed in the state? Roughly how is it divided between UM, USM and MSU? Also are you allowed to charge a student fee dedicated to athletic funding as part of each semester's tuition and fees? If so, how much is that per semester? And finally is there a cap on the amount of the school's budget that can be directed towards athletics?

Just curious about the funding to compare how Mississippi does it versus Louisiana. Since both our schools are mid-majors and are or at least at one time were considered on par and folks (myself included) complain that we have not kept up it would be noteworthy to see the differences in funding mechanisms and any restrictions on funding that could contribute to that failure to "keep up".

Thanks in advance.

Here are a few answers for you:

1. The state funding is mostly pro-rated by number of students and their class load and is considered fair by most. There are additional funds directed toward a specialty situation like the Ole Miss medical school in Jackson which everyone understands it costs more to educate a medical student than most other majors.

2. Schools are allowed to charge either for athletic fees or charge students for tickets. USM elects to charge an athletic fee, dont know the exact amount.

3. The state does not allow USM, Ole Ms, or Ms State to direct any general fund money into athletics. The programs are MANDATED to be self supporting. There might be a nominal amount charged against general fund but that would be to offset expenses incurred by the athletic department on behalf of other entities at the university which were not athletic related.

4. The football stadium upgrades were built with just over $30,000,000 in funds from a bond issue. Those bonds are being retired by leasing the suites, club seats, and donations. Suites leased at up to $35,000 per year (34 suites) and each of the ones leasing them signed on for a long team. Club seats of which there are some 1200 require annual minimum of $1250 surcharge (depends on seat location) for each one with minimum of 3yr commitment. The baseball field upgrade, $3mil, was handled same way, folks leasing the suites signed long term leases which will redeem the bonds (more are planned). The high definition video board installed last year was in excess of $3mil which was a bargain for its size, etc. USM got the good deal since it was handled by an alum. The board was paid for by leasing advertizing space (long term leases). Upgrades in basketball arena are around $3mil and was paid for by fan donations and some state money since part of the structure will be used for classroom and instructional purposes. New field house, finished 2yr ago, cost in excess of $12mil and paid for by donations. New field turf installed as a donation.

In summary, over $50mil has been spent now within past five years with the funds raised entirely from fans and supporters. Frankly, the state ultimatum that USM, Ole Ms, and Ms State operate athletics without state funds was initiated by the legislators favoaring State and Ole Miss. This came at a time just a few years back when USM was surpassing them athletically and they passed the mandate hoping it would knock USM out of the race. They didnt need to worry about their own since State and OM received the SEC distributions exceeding $10mil annually and would not need the state money. USM fans rallied and we did it on our own.
_

[DestinCajun]

"USM fans rallied and we did it on our own."

UL fans CAN do it too.

[Hammer58]

Here are a few answers for you:
1. The state funding is mostly pro-rated by number of students and their class load and is considered fair by most. There are additional funds directed toward a specialty situation like the Ole Miss medical school in Jackson which everyone understands it costs more to educate a medical student than most other majors.

2. Schools are allowed to charge either for athletic fees or charge students for tickets. USM elects to charge an athletic fee, dont know the exact amount.

3. The state does not allow USM, Ole Ms, or Ms State to direct any general fund money into athletics. The programs are MANDATED to be self supporting. There might be a nominal amount charged against general fund but that would be to offset expenses incurred by the athletic department on behalf of other entities at the university which were not athletic related.

4. The football stadium upgrades were built with just over $30,000,000 in funds from a bond issue. Those bonds are being retired by leasing the suites, club seats, and donations. Suites leased at up to $35,000 per year (34 suites) and each of the ones leasing them signed on for a long team. Club seats of which there are some 1200 require annual minimum of $1250 surcharge (depends on seat location) for each one with minimum of 3yr commitment. The baseball field upgrade, $3mil, was handled same way, folks leasing the suites signed long term leases which will redeem the bonds (more are planned). The high definition video board installed last year was in excess of $3mil which was a bargain for its size, etc. USM got the good deal since it was handled by an alum. The board was paid for by leasing advertizing space (long term leases). Upgrades in basketball arena are around $3mil and was paid for by fan donations and some state money since part of the structure will be used for classroom and instructional purposes. New field house, finished 2yr ago, cost in excess of $12mil and paid for by donations. New field turf installed as a donation.

In summary, over $50mil has been spent now within past five years with the funds raised entirely from fans and supporters. Frankly, the state ultimatum that USM, Ole Ms, and Ms State operate athletics without state funds was initiated by the legislators favoaring State and Ole Miss. This came at a time just a few years back when USM was surpassing them athletically and they passed the mandate hoping it would knock USM out of the race. They didnt need to worry about their own since State and OM received the SEC distributions exceeding $10mil annually and would not need the state money. USM fans rallied and we did it on our own.
_ _

Thanks. And congratulations on defeating the attempts to strangle your program. It always amuses me how those entities with favored status write the rules and set the bar low enough that they need not worry but high enough to make it difficult if not impossible for others. We hear much the same in Louisiana where one school was showered with money and resources for decades and now they look at the rest of us and scornfully ask why we can't be as successful as them?

[PR_Eagle]

Aug 30th ain't long now!

See y'all soon.

[HoustonCajun]

Thanks. And congratulations on defeating the attempts to strangle your program. It always amuses me how those entities with favored status write the rules and set the bar low enough that they need not worry but high enough to make it difficult if not impossible for others. We hear much the same in Louisiana where one school was showered with money and resources for decades and now they look at the rest of us and scornfully ask why we can't be as successful as them? _

It sounds like USM faced a similar problem in Mississippi as we have with LSU. In their case, their fans and alumni stepped up and provided the funds and the facility improvements were paid by bonds through suite leasing. That is what we need to do. But, we sat around year after year and complainedal how LSU stifles us and we can't succeed, yet did nothing to raise private funds or finance through bond referendums by leasing suites, etc. Now, under the new leadership of Dr. S, this should all change. In reality, athletics should be self-supporting and not taking education dollars. We need to quit blaming LSU. The situation in Louisiana will not change. We have to take care of ourselves as USM did. They quit blaming Ole Miss and MSU and took care of their own business. It is time for UL to do the same.

[UL_Cajuns]

Not sure if anyone posted this yet, but this looks like some good news. Go to the site, click on watch. It looks like there will be live video via the internet for the game. Hopefully it works at game time.

http://southernmiss.cstv.com/sports/...tbl-sched.html

Geaux LA!!

[cajun eagle]

_ It sounds like USM faced a similar problem in Mississippi as we have with LSU. In their case, their fans and alumni stepped up and provided the funds and the facility improvements were paid by bonds through suite leasing. That is what we need to do. But, we sat around year after year and complainedal how LSU stifles us and we can't succeed, yet did nothing to raise private funds or finance through bond referendums by leasing suites, etc. Now, under the new leadership of Dr. S, this should all change. In reality, athletics should be self-supporting and not taking education dollars. We need to quit blaming LSU. The situation in Louisiana will not change. We have to take care of ourselves as USM did. They quit blaming Ole Miss and MSU and took care of their own business. It is time for UL to do the same. _

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USM made the decision, about 15yrs ago, to pee or get off the pot. They decided to develop and publicize their intentions, let the fan base know of the situation, told everyone the plan and what they needed, and then threw it out for support with everyone knowing full well that if it succeeded then great, if it didnt then face the reality that a few fans can take a program so far and then live and enjoy life at whatever level they decide on. ULL and other state schools should do the same. Present the plan and if everyone buys in the fine, if not settle at an appropriate level and allow the die hard faithful who have worked so hard and for so long to breathe a sigh of relief.

[Hammer58]

_ It sounds like USM faced a similar problem in Mississippi as we have with LSU. In their case, their fans and alumni stepped up and provided the funds and the facility improvements were paid by bonds through suite leasing. That is what we need to do. But, we sat around year after year and complainedal how LSU stifles us and we can't succeed, yet did nothing to raise private funds or finance through bond referendums by leasing suites, etc. Now, under the new leadership of Dr. S, this should all change. In reality, athletics should be self-supporting and not taking education dollars. We need to quit blaming LSU. The situation in Louisiana will not change. We have to take care of ourselves as USM did. They quit blaming Ole Miss and MSU and took care of their own business. It is time for UL to do the same. _

Unfortunately the student fees are still off limits by the state.

[NewsCopy]

  An afternoon rainstorm and a boom of thunder disrupted the timing of the Ragin’ Cajuns scrimmage Wednesday. The location changed several times before lightning quickly forced the team indoors. After relocating from Cajun field, head coach Rickey Bustle lifted his megaphone and kicked off the intrasquad competition, a session with which he was very happy.

“The effort was great, and the way they competed was great,” Bustle said. We just have to straighten up, we had some good hits out there, and I thought by the end everyone was playing better.”

The defense committed several costly errors, drawing flags to dampen the otherwise fine job they had done. One defensive pass interference flag came on third down, 39 yards from the end zone, moving the offense 15 yards closer to the goal on what would have been an incompletion. Michael Desormeaux connected with Jason Chery on the next play for a 24-yard touchdown.

“[The defense] made too many third down penalties,” Bustle explained. “They had some stops, and then would make a penalty that would keep the drive going. Then they got a big turnover that was taken away by a penalty. Those are things that are hard to overcome.”

Despite the miscues, Bustle is convinced that the defense stands well poised to become a sound unit before the regular season begins.

“There is no question that these mistakes can be fixed. It's a matter of being in the right position. I think what happens most of the time when you have penalties is that you're out of position, and we have to focus on that more closely.”

The scrimmage consisted of various situations, including punts, field goals and old live plays.

The brief second half saw three two-minute drills, the team a chance to battle it out in late-game simulations.

Each series began on the offense’s 35 yard-line with 1:10 to go and one timeout left for the offense, trailing by two points. Each offensive squad successfully converted a field goal to make the second half an offensive victory, despite several dropped passes and no-gain runs.

The day’s rushing leader was true freshman running back Yobes Walker, who ran six times for 28 yards.

The sluggish running game forced the offense to take to the air. Five quarterbacks took snaps, including the scrimmage’s leading passer Chris Masson. He was 11-of-16 with 115 yards, but did toss one interception. Desormeaux totaled 72 yard on 6-of-7 passing, striking for a touchdown, while Brad McGuire went 5-of-6 with 67 yards and one touchdown.

Chery was the quarterbacks’ favorite target, with four receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown. Louis Lee caught two passes for 33 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown connection. Pierre Hill added a team-long 52-yard catch.

Fall camp officially ended with the final whistle, and now the team’s focus will shift to the season opener against Southern Miss at 6 p.m., Aug. 30 at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss.

RaginCajuns.com