Topic: Missouri State

[herdinphilly]

I got a text that we have a football home and home with Missouri State.  Not impressed.  Is this the big scheduling announcement that Spears has be touting?  If so, I guess he has decided to go ahead and surrender to it.  Our best times are behind us...!

You're just realizing that? It's been over 20 years!

[whf]

You're just realizing that? It's been over 20 years!

IF folks quit support the program, then you're correct; our best times may very well be behind us.  That will be up to the fans.  We play in a very good league, we wanted that for ever. Now we have it, and we bitch, bitch, bitch.  IMHO, our best days lay ahead, just like the rest of our lives. We get to choose, I'm hoping more and more will see the future for opportunity and success; but everyone makes up their own mind.

Spears has corrected MANY conditions at MU, I've sure that he and President don't intend for the past to be our best, and I'm hoping others will team with that to make sure it isn't so.

[svherd]

Marshall faces some big hurdles in the future. Shrinking and aging fan base. An area that's not growing and starved for good career type jobs. A younger generation that isn't as interested in sporting events as we were. To my knowledge, the BG hasn't grown much in the last decade or so.
Frankly. Marshall needs to learn the demographics of the area, cater tix prices to that. I think a new BG director would infuse from much needed excitement and fresh ideas on that front - in an attempt to grow membership. Football will never be what it was in the MAC, just too much change and working against us. Gotta be tough for coaches and staff everywhere - with the exception of the big boys.

I don't blame the fans at all. Sports is entertainment and if the product on the field and overall experience isn't good, people aren't going to attend. Men's soccer is a great example. The product is outstanding, exciting and fun. The tix prices are very reasonable and the environment fun as well. Thus, attendance has swelled the last few years and will again this season.

[MUther]

IF folks quit support the program, then you're correct; our best times may very well be behind us.  That will be up to the fans.  We play in a very good league, we wanted that for ever. Now we have it, and we bitch, bitch, bitch.  IMHO, our best days lay ahead, just like the rest of our lives. We get to choose, I'm hoping more and more will see the future for opportunity and success; but everyone makes up their own mind.

Spears has corrected MANY conditions at MU, I've sure that he and President don't intend for the past to be our best, and I'm hoping others will team with that to make sure it isn't so.

That's what I was calling crying.  I haven't seen Spears do anything that he wasn't made to do that would be detrimental to the athletic department.  Yet people are quick to blame him for every single little thing that doesn't go our way.  Dude puts out a lot of fires and seems quick to get it done, imo.  I think people have forgotten some of the ADs and Presidents we've had in the last 2 1/2 decades.  Some of them were actively working against us, it seemed.  This is not the case now.  There have been setbacks but they've been handled to the best of their ability and in a timely fashion.  I feel like we're moving forward for the first time in a long time.  And the last of the dinosaurs are outta here.  Notice how many sports seem relevant after never having been in the past.  Not great, necessarily, but you can tell someone gives a damn about them.  Like to see volleyball get some love and I think we're just waiting on breakout seasons in a few more sports.  Everything is in place.

[coalherd]

Marshall faces some big hurdles in the future. Shrinking and aging fan base. An area that's not growing and starved for good career type jobs. A younger generation that isn't as interested in sporting events as we were. To my knowledge, the BG hasn't grown much in the last decade or so.
Frankly. Marshall needs to learn the demographics of the area, cater tix prices to that. I think a new BG director would infuse from much needed excitement and fresh ideas on that front - in an attempt to grow membership. Football will never be what it was in the MAC, just too much change and working against us. Gotta be tough for coaches and staff everywhere - with the exception of the big boys.

I don't blame the fans at all. Sports is entertainment and if the product on the field and overall experience isn't good, people aren't going to attend. Men's soccer is a great example. The product is outstanding, exciting and fun. The tix prices are very reasonable and the environment fun as well. Thus, attendance has swelled the last few years and will again this season.

It's going to take, svherd, some BACKBONE by the leadership at MU, to stand up to those Huntington Southside, Ritter Park "bluebloods" who still look up MU as, and want it to continue to be, "the HUNTINGTON School"!  Sadly, those folks, many of them the "leaders" of the city, remain stuck in the 50's, and can't see, or refuse to see, that the Huntington remains in decline, stagnating, failing to grow, no prospects of any significant population growth on the horizon, etc., etc.  MU CANNOT continue on such a course and needs to start vigorously acting like a "Regional State University.  Work vigorously to establish more presence and visibility in a much larger region of SW and Southern WV!!  Stop ceding, without any resistance and with a whimper, everything in the realm of Higher Education in this State in about 51 or maybe more of the State's 55 counties to WVU!!!!  Marshall is in a real, ongoing "battle" to survive, grow and eventually thrive as a quality institution of Higher Education.  Alternative prospects are dire and gloomy, IMO.   Either eventually cease to exist or just morph into a nondescript campus and a ho hum entity known as "WVU-Huntington"!!

[carolinaherdfan]

It's going to take, svherd, some BACKBONE by the leadership at MU, to stand up to those Huntington Southside, Ritter Park "bluebloods" who still look up MU as, and want it to continue to be, "the HUNTINGTON School"!  Sadly, those folks, many of them the "leaders" of the city, remain stuck in the 50's, and can't see, or refuse to see, that the Huntington remains in decline, stagnating, failing to grow, no prospects of any significant population growth on the horizon, etc., etc.  MU CANNOT continue on such a course and needs to start vigorously acting like a "Regional State University.  Work vigorously to establish more presence and visibility in a much larger region of SW and Southern WV!!  Stop ceding, without any resistance and with a whimper, everything in the realm of Higher Education in this State in about 51 or maybe more of the State's 55 counties to WVU!!!!  Marshall is in a real, ongoing "battle" to survive, grow and eventually thrive as a quality institution of Higher Education.  Alternative prospects are dire and gloomy, IMO.   Either eventually cease to exist or just morph into a nondescript campus and a ho hum entity known as "WVU-Huntington"!!

You are on track Coal.
The problem is: we who have experienced so much over many years like those who before us demanded nothing short of being the best.
Over the past quarter century we have succumbed due to lack of leadership...for the 20th straight year...Marshall needs a college of law...

[carolinaherdfan]

I recall in 2005, the Missouri State fans were zealous over desiring to move up. They wanted CUSA then; when we got in.
We need to be prepared. They will play us tough.

[whf]

With all due respect to everyone on this board, it is quite clear that many of you haven't been aware of the evolution, almost revolution, of Huntington in the last 5 to 7 years. While you may find it hard to believe, the city is a vibrant place with a huge cadre of 25 to 50 years old, investing their hearts and time into the city and its offerings. 

The young, intelligent, energized population would blow you away if you ever participated yourself.

While Marshall will probably always be the mainstay of Huntington, it is FAR from all the city offers.

[MUonium]

always glad to play somebody new.  i know nothing about them except what you guys have said and that they're in the process of moving up to FBS.  i know how i felt moving up to 1A and it felt great, so, congrats to them.  they're likely to be on cloud 9 right now.

we have a good schedule this year, in 2026, 27 and 28 if nobody else backs out.  it'll be difficult to get next year rounded out with quality opponents on short notice, but it's possible.

but no matter the outcome in OOC this year, i'm glad to get a shot at Tech and OState because in the mid to long term, we may not get those shots anymore, who knows

[herd2win]

With all due respect to everyone on this board, it is quite clear that many of you haven't been aware of the evolution, almost revolution, of Huntington in the last 5 to 7 years. While you may find it hard to believe, the city is a vibrant place with a huge cadre of 25 to 50 years old, investing their hearts and time into the city and its offerings. 

The young, intelligent, energized population would blow you away if you ever participated yourself.

While Marshall will probably always be the mainstay of Huntington, it is FAR from all the city offers.

I visit Huntington on a regular basis as my mother still lives there.  There are many positives around the area and exciting things going on at MU.  Huntington can become that "cool" college town that people come to visit. 

New restaurants and bars and increased shopping are popping up. 

[coalherd]

With all due respect to everyone on this board, it is quite clear that many of you haven't been aware of the evolution, almost revolution, of Huntington in the last 5 to 7 years. While you may find it hard to believe, the city is a vibrant place with a huge cadre of 25 to 50 years old, investing their hearts and time into the city and its offerings. 

The young, intelligent, energized population would blow you away if you ever participated yourself.

While Marshall will probably always be the mainstay of Huntington, it is FAR from all the city offers.

With "all due respect" whf, the statistics don't LIE:  "vibrant" it may be, but "GROWING" it "ain't"!!!  Key could well be who is elected the next Huntington mayor.  City cannot take "another Williams", IMO!!

[whf]

With "all due respect" whf, the statistics don't LIE:  "vibrant" it may be, but "GROWING" it "ain't"!!!  Key could well be who is elected the next Huntington mayor.  City cannot take "another Williams", IMO!!

I don't know where those statistics are coming from; once again it may be a battle of city limits, etc.  But housing studies, employment studies (meaning opportunities), etc. all indicate the opposite.

Maybe because I live in the Cincy metroplex, I see things as a bit more regional than city limits.  Cincy city limits population also is in a decreasing state, but the region continues to grow. 

Anyway, I'm more inclined to think of the 300,000 plus that live in the Huntington media and easy driving distance region.  I know for a fact that folks are coming to Huntington for entertainment from eastern KY, but that is also vice versa.

Anyway, glad the city's opportunities and entertainment, increase in livability, continues to improve.  Its all good for Marshall and those who visit it.

[coalherd]

I don't know where those statistics are coming from; once again it may be a battle of city limits, etc.  But housing studies, employment studies (meaning opportunities), etc. all indicate the opposite.

Maybe because I live in the Cincy metroplex, I see things as a bit more regional than city limits.  Cincy city limits population also is in a decreasing state, but the region continues to grow. 

Anyway, I'm more inclined to think of the 300,000 plus that live in the Huntington media and easy driving distance region.  I know for a fact that folks are coming to Huntington for entertainment from eastern KY, but that is also vice versa.

Anyway, glad the city's opportunities and entertainment, increase in livability, continues to improve.  Its all good for Marshall and those who visit it.

What are you calling the "region"?  The region just South of Columbus?  The area around Lexington?  Cabell County is NOT growing, population stats indicate that!  Neither is Charleston!  Kanawha County's population is down.  Putnam showed little growth in its pop.  None of the WV coalfield counties South of Huntington, Wayne on down, are "growing".  Perhaps there is some growth in and around Ashland, and maybe even Portsmouth, OH.  But I'd venture there isn't enough to appreciably affect Huntington in ANY significant positive way.

[svherd]

Huntington has some great things going on, namely via Brad Smith and Marshall. But until we control the out of control drug problem, address much needed updated housing and bring in career type jobs that pay well; we'll continue to lose population. Downtown is awesome and thriving,  but we have to offer more for people to move here.

[HerdEcon]

Last time I checked, they did play basketball.

Poster said we weren't playing them in football anytime soon.  I responded to and quoted that post.

[bighat]

Growing area.  Nucor biggest corporate investment in WV.

[whf]

It's a media region of around 300,000; that's what I'd call the Huntington metroplex; it includes Charleston down through Grayson, probably.

For the most immediate Huntington region, you're looking at Hurricane/Teays Valley down through Ashland; maybe even Portsmouth IMHO, the Ohio side of the river from Athalia down through Ironton at least.

[herdfan93]

I like to look at it by counties.   

WV.= Cabell,Wayne,part of Putnam and part of Mason.

Oh=  Lawrence, part of Gallia and part of Scioto.

KY= Greenup, Boyd, Carter and Lawrence.