Interesting comments from former Southern Miss coach

Harry · June 3, 2013

Johnson, a longtime defensive coordinator in the SEC, has served as a head coach three times in his career. The job at Southern Miss, however, was his biggest opportunity. He coached there as the defensive coordinator in 1988 and 1989, when the Golden Eagles were an independent team in the NCAA. "We could get some players in school that could not be admitted to the Southeastern Conference schools," Johnson recalls. "We probably had a dozen players on our football team that were big-time SEC players."

Times have changed, but that didn't stop the Eagles from finishing 12-2 in 2011. The success led to Larry Fedora leaving Southern Miss for the North Carolina job after four seasons in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Still, Johnson felt his team was young in 2012 -- and there were other obstacles he didn't quite expect.

"They probably have more money than they had then, but what's happening in college football today, sadly, is the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer," Johnson says. "The conferences that are not automatic BCS schools, they're just struggling to be competitive, if you will, on a week-in, week-out basis. It was a very, very different environment, obviously. I should have realized -- some of it I did realize -- but on a grander scale I should have realized how different it was."

Read more: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/06/what_went_wrong_ellis_johnson.html

UNT90 · June 3, 2013

That's all fine and good, but he didn't go 0-12 against all Big 5 teams. 8 of his losses were against CUSA competition.

So... maybe float out another excuse?

PlummMeanGreen · June 3, 2013

This huge financial gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" has been going on for quite awhile now.

In fact, it seems the elite of the NCAA are trying to close all future membership to their club.

GMG!

SHOSS · June 3, 2013

This huge financial gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" has been going on for quite awhile now.

In fact, it seems the elite of the NCAA are trying to close all future membership to their club.

GMG!

They have been doing this for years. If we were a part of the elite, we would likely do the same thing.

Harry · June 3, 2013

My favorite saying when I hear about the rich getting richer in the BCS:

Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.

We know there are heavy obstacles. They are not insurmountable, ask La. Monroe etc...

UNT90 · June 3, 2013

My favorite saying when I hear about the rich getting richer in the BCS:
Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.
We know there are heavy obstacles. They are not insurmountable, ask La. Monroe etc...

Exactly.

Stop crying and get to work.

untjim1995 · June 3, 2013

My favorite saying when I hear about the rich getting richer in the BCS:
Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.
We know there are heavy obstacles. They are not insurmountable, ask La. Monroe etc...

What's really amazing about his quote is that Southern Miss for decades has been known for their attitude of playing anyone, anywhere, anytime. NO wonder they fired him after this past season. Going 0-12 is awful by any definition, but if you are building from the ground up, then it makes the investment worth it. To go from 12-2 with a giant-killer reputation for decades to 0-12 and making lame excuses is just pathetic. Southern Miss did the right thing--even if it was expensive.

glick1980 · June 3, 2013

What's really amazing about his quote is that Southern Miss for decades has been known for their attitude of playing anyone, anywhere, anytime. NO wonder they fired him after this past season. Going 0-12 is awful by any definition, but if you are building from the ground up, then it makes the investment worth it. To go from 12-2 with a giant-killer reputation for decades to 0-12 and making lame excuses is just pathetic. Southern Miss did the right thing--even if it was expensive.

I don't think USM had a losing season in almost two decades before this guy. Clearly he was the problem, and not the school.