On Oct.20, 2024 ESPN’s Pete Thamel released news that Southern Miss was planning to part ways with Coach Will Hall. By 7:30 that evening, the news broke that Coach Hall was indeed fired.
Coach Hall leaves Hattiesburg just over halfway through the 2024 season with a 1-6 record on the year, with a 14-30 record overall.
You know, when people look at Southern Miss’s 2024 schedule, they might say “Dang that’s a tough schedule.” But that’s only for Southern Miss as we see it. In the 1980s and 1990s, local journalists hated schedules like this and even went against their own team for playing, as said in a 1980s article from The Student Printz, “such candy schedule.”
But here we are in 2024, hoping our team can show up against Southeastern Louisiana, an FCS team.
The Golden Eagles have suffered tremendously in the past few years. Even big rivalries like “The Battle for the Bell” and the UL rivalry have taken a turn, as they have not been very competitive. The Golden Eagles have fallen off severely.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Southern Miss played between three to five SEC teams a year, winning at least one of the games. Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State were among these yearly rivalries. Southern Miss also played classic opponents like Tulane, East Carolina and Louisville. There is not a year between 1980 and 1999 when Southern Miss played their annual rivals that they lost. It was football. It was tough no matter what.
But why can’t we be competitive now? Why does Ellis Johnson’s 2012 season and the 2020 season dictate how good we are?
Louisiana-Monroe is one of the worst teams in FBS. They have been an FBS team since 1994, and have been to only one bowl game. However, they’re currently 5-1, looking to be bowl eligible for the first time in 12 years. How can a traditional name like Southern Miss not do this?
This is not all on Will Hall.
Did the man deserve to be fired? Probably so. When you’re not doing good at your job, you’re out. Two years after a bowl season in a “rebuild year” and you’ve only won one game, something is not working. Half of Hall’s wins all came from that one bowl season.
I wish the best to interim head coach Reed Stringer. He has been an assistant under successful coaches such as Steve Campbell at Delta State, Jackie Sherrill at Mississippi State, and Mark Hudspeth at Louisiana. Southern Miss is a daunting job, especially in SEC country.
Southern Miss needs to jump out there for a new hire. I thought Will Hall had a great formula. He didn’t. It’s time to move on.
Here are my favorites to hire for the job:
Interim Head Coach Reed Stringer: If he wins enough, there’s a great possibility he is retained.
UNLV Offensive Coordinator Brennan Marion: Runs what’s known as the “Go-Go Offense,” a very aggressive offensive style that has UNLV sitting atop the Mountain West.
Oklahoma State Offensive Coordinator Kasey Dunn. Jeff Bower, Larry Fedora, and Todd Monken were all the OC at OSU before USM hired them. It’s a style that works.
Former Boise St and Auburn Head Coach Bryan Harsin: After the disaster at Auburn, Harsin will be looking for a claim back to fame.
Indiana Offensive Coordinator Mike Shanahan: Has served under Curt Cignetti for many years and has a proven offensive scheme, with Indiana being undefeated for the first time since 1938.
Florida Head Coach Billy Napier: Napier has a proven record at this level, and if he does not make it at Florida, Hattiesburg needs to give him call.
Former USM & UNC Head Coach Larry Fedora: I really think this may be our best bet. Fedora is an all-time great in USM football, and is known for his explosive offense.
So, as the editor of the Student Printz, I leave it to the athletic department and the search firm they hired to find us a great coach who will lead the Golden Eagles back TO THE TOP!
