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re: Gus - or - Hugh: Who Will Be Better?
Posted on 10/15/13 at 11:07 pm to GenesChin
Posted on 10/15/13 at 11:07 pm to GenesChin
quote:
You say this as if you should be consistently keeping it even with Auburn
If you're objective about it, there's really not much reason to think the gap between the two is going to be that big looking forward.
Ole Miss has been terrible since the 70's, granted, but what real competitive advantage does Auburn have over Ole Miss? There definitely is one, but it's not as huge as you're making it out to be.
History is overrated as far as recruiting goes, the facilities gap isn't huge and is getting smaller, AU has a better natural recruiting territory, but again it's not a huge gap as Ole Miss has the ability to dominate Memphis and it's own state. Auburn will never be able to dominate it's recruiting footprint.
The biggest gaps between the two that I see are the size of the alumni base and fanbase. Ole Miss has needed massive growth to get where it is now, a small to mid-size university. I think the enrollment in the early 90's was around 3,000. That will be a major handicap for years to come.
One thing to keep in mind is that Ole Miss only really decided to get serious about athletics in the last year and a half, where as it has been win at all costs at Auburn since forever.However, the Good Ole Boy network is still firmly entrenched at Auburn, I'll point to Jay Jacobs as evidence of that. For the time being, the Ole Miss Athletic Department can run more efficiently than Auburn's.
2
Posted on 10/15/13 at 11:42 pm to EC Reb
I want to point out that I am an OM fan when it isn't against AU (and when it isn't dickriding the recruiting class) #frickMSU. So this is more a realistic observation of someone not a diehard OM fan
If Freeze continues to move OM in the right direction, you are right, but it will be a long time before there is not a noticeable gap. I mean in order for OM to both improve and consolidate gains and be considered top tier
1- $
Auburn athletic department revenue accounted for nearly $30million more revenue than OM. Essentially, they had a revenue stream of 1.5x that of OM. Considering that all comes from football and not other sports (namely basketball at OM > AU), that is a huge deal.
Money buys coaches, facilities, bags to put money in and other things
2- Tradition
There is a reason a team like Alabama, that was a dumpster fire really since Stallings left can hire a BCS NC coach like Saban and its like nothing changed
Building tradition takes years pretty much by definition. Auburn has had good years under Tuberville, Chizik (
) and even back to Bowden (undefeated) and Dye (team of the 80s outside The U)
Recruits love tradition. It is a big deal to them.
3- Recruiting
Probably the biggest part of all this.
Recruiting Grounds
Alabama > Mississippi
Auburn is also closer to Georgia and Florida plus we pull a few from Mississippi. Harder to pull kids the farther the distance gets. Kids like their parents/friends/families beinga ble to come and watch them play.
You don't have to dominate your recruiting footprint if the 10th best player in Alabama is as good as the 4th best player in MS. We have better pull into those deep recruiting areas.
4- Fanbase
Auburn compared to OM has a more passionate football fanbase. Also, we have a larger fanbase as you pointed out. We regularly put over 80k people in our seats even against Western Carolina. There is a reason why OM doesn't have the seating capacity for those types of numbers. Auburn fans are more enthusiastic about their program and to build that type of diehard fandom goes back to building tradition that takes time
quote:
there's really not much reason to think the gap between the two is going to be that big looking forward.
If Freeze continues to move OM in the right direction, you are right, but it will be a long time before there is not a noticeable gap. I mean in order for OM to both improve and consolidate gains and be considered top tier
quote:
but what real competitive advantage does Auburn have over Ole Miss?
1- $
Auburn athletic department revenue accounted for nearly $30million more revenue than OM. Essentially, they had a revenue stream of 1.5x that of OM. Considering that all comes from football and not other sports (namely basketball at OM > AU), that is a huge deal.
Money buys coaches, facilities, bags to put money in and other things
2- Tradition
There is a reason a team like Alabama, that was a dumpster fire really since Stallings left can hire a BCS NC coach like Saban and its like nothing changed
Building tradition takes years pretty much by definition. Auburn has had good years under Tuberville, Chizik (
) and even back to Bowden (undefeated) and Dye (team of the 80s outside The U) Recruits love tradition. It is a big deal to them.
3- Recruiting
Probably the biggest part of all this.
Recruiting Grounds
Alabama > Mississippi
Auburn is also closer to Georgia and Florida plus we pull a few from Mississippi. Harder to pull kids the farther the distance gets. Kids like their parents/friends/families beinga ble to come and watch them play.
You don't have to dominate your recruiting footprint if the 10th best player in Alabama is as good as the 4th best player in MS. We have better pull into those deep recruiting areas.
4- Fanbase
Auburn compared to OM has a more passionate football fanbase. Also, we have a larger fanbase as you pointed out. We regularly put over 80k people in our seats even against Western Carolina. There is a reason why OM doesn't have the seating capacity for those types of numbers. Auburn fans are more enthusiastic about their program and to build that type of diehard fandom goes back to building tradition that takes time
Posted on 10/15/13 at 11:47 pm to EC Reb
quote:
the facilities gap isn't huge
Specifically about facilities, you haven't seen the upgrades to general life AU has made have you?
Here are our new dorms
LINK
People I know in the athletic department said this has been just as big a selling point to recruits as our new indoor practice field. The recruits love that shite
Also, we are almost finished building a brand new food court. All healthy options made fresh from chefs and can be portion controlled by the team nutritionist
Priced so high that pretty much only athletes will be able to go as they aren't food prices but provided meals
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