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

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