Bulldogs4

But even when we were up 7 I did not feel comfortable. Georgia just had our number this year. Simple as that. We were also down a nickel in game two and fought our way back into it. Georgia used up all their energy and good karma to beat us and I think it definitely affected their performance in Omaha.

I will put more of it on the pitchers. Coach can prepare them but it is up to the pitcher to perform. Too often, wildness and inconsistency were our bullpen problems. I think we will see an improvement there next year.

2027 should be another good year with a more realistic shot at going to Omaha. With Coach O’Connor and the staff (except Parker who was already here) having a year under their belt, the continuity of the staff and players will be better. If you look at the beginning of the season, our lineup was quite different from what it was later in the year. Next February, I believe that we will have a more settled lineup, though with the depth we will have, it will give Coach the luxury of playing more guys situationally. As I mentioned previously on different occasions, we were a top fifteen team this year. Next year I think we can be a top ten team with the potential of winning it all. But we know how difficult that is to accomplish.

Yep. As I mentioned hopefully he will be able to reset that after this year’s rotation is complete. That will make for a tough schedule this year but with Coach Tony Vance, I believe the team will be much better disciplined wise, organizationally, fundamentally etc. on the field this year. I don’t really care about wins/losses this year, I just want to see a functional team on the field. And only three Friday night home games as well. The last home game is on a Thursday night.

Shaping up as a year of transition for Ole Miss and USM with new HC’s. Obviously a different stratosphere with each program. USM trying to establish their identity in the Sunbelt and Ole Miss trying to sustain the recent success of the program. Both could be difficult. I do believe Ole Miss has plenty of talent but the rest of the SEC does as well. And football gods can be very cruel in this league. I can see Ole Miss going 9-3/10-2 if every thing goes correctly. But I can also see 7-5/6-6 if things go South. You just never know. As was mentioned, hopefully for Ole Miss the LSU game does not tarnish the season if it is a loss. But that game is going to be tricky. All the pressure is on Ole Miss win that game. But before that is a test against Louisville in the season opener. That is no gimme. I think Ole Miss is the better team but that doesn’t guarantee a win. State is really a wild card. I do think we have a better team in place but I am not sure how that translates into wins and losses. I am never an advocate for firing coaches as I think a coach deserves 5-6 or even 10 years in place. But in our microwave society of the current time, that is not realistic. So we are coming to the ULM game September 5th. Hopefully we will look good that night and start the season right. Beyond that we will see what happens. USM is kind of a mystery right now. Hard to get a read on the team but hopefully they will have some success this year.

I am not sure how the 6-4/4-6 split happened with Meridian. Hopefully, they can reset that to 5-5 in 2027. Possibly, it was just one of those things that Cheyenne was not able to balance out prior to the 2025 schedule. I know there are a lot of moving parts when you are putting together a football schedule.

Absolutely not, the schools would remain in place. But one singular district could administer the schools and all the duplicated staff could be streamlined. Each school has plenty of students but one district office would allow more money to go into each school. Now in the two District Offices, there are two of everyone starting with the Superintendent and going down the totem pole. But I know that is hot potato nobody wants to touch but at some point money or rather the lack of money is going to dictate that these things will happen. Not advocating closing schools but consolidating districts.

You are absolutely correct about district consolidation. There are way too many school districts in the State. Right here in Meridian, you have the city and then Lauderdale County has its own school district. Completely ridiculous. And the County District is so bloated with Administrative positions it is laughable. They have a good track record of creating positions for people when they fail at their post out in one or more of the schools. Combined the two districts have maybe 10-12K students. One school district could easily cover that and the money saved could go into the classroom where it is sorely needed.

SL, I remember talking to a couple of friends that work at MHS and they said he is a great guy and super nice. And I thought to myself later on when the football team was struggling that those are good qualities but they don’t make you a good football coach. I would agree that administration would be the best place for him. Football coaches need to have some junkyard dog in their personalities because nice just doesn’t cut it.

Oklahoma for the win. When the 64 teams were selected, I don’t think too many people had them on their Bingo Card and certainly not for a trip to Omaha and most certainly not to win the whole shablang!!!! But they did it!!!

That was the key. They threw very few mistake pitches over two games.

I don’t think the stadium was the issue for Georgia. Texas & Oklahoma’s pitching was outstanding and then I do think some frustration set in with Georgia. But I think it was more great pitching than anything else. Those pitchers were mixing and matching their pitches, changing speeds and hitting the corners to almost every batter. They kept Georgia’s hitters off balance all four games. And OK may ride this momentum all the way to the championship. That is very possible. But I think it is also possible that this crest of a wave that they are on could crash. And overall UNC is a better ball club. We will see.

Yes. SoCal had them beat until they didn’t. Speaks to the strength of the SEC that the 11th place team is playing for a Natty. Honestly, I don’t have much interest in watching OK and UNC. I thought Georgia would get it going tonight but they did not. Gut feeling says UNC will win it all.

Oklahoma eeks out a win over Georgia in a great game. Still think Georgia can come back through the losers bracket. Big game with Texas but I think they will win it and I absolutely believe they can beat Oklahoma twice. OK is playing well but they were very fortunate tonight. But have to give the Sooners credit. Got the big outs when they needed them.

Bama headed home. No surprise there. Georgia-Oklahoma tonight could be interesting. Okie has been hot but Georgia has been able to fend off all comers over the last month. Just don’t see that changing until someone breaks that mold.