"I'm not going to worry what fans think!"

[Neo]

http://www.sectalk.com/boards/images/logos/Mississippi_St.gifMSU head football coach makes it clear to the team and fans.


By: Neo
SECTalk.com Admin/News Writer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z-M4ZQMVV8

In all the years I've been following college football, I have NEVER heard a coach be as frank as Coach Croom during his postgame (Auburn) press conference. When asked about the back to back shutouts his team has endured, this comment must have pushed a button or turned a light on.

Croom fired back and stated clearly that "I could care less about what anyone else thinks about what we're doing."

Some things we all know to be true, but are better left unsaid. If Coach Croom thought it was so important to be preparing and coaching this team, why did he give the team three (3) yes, three days off instead of preparing for Auburn? Now he thinks that he needs the prep time for Tulane? Is that a contradiction or did I sleep through something?

I have a feeling that Croom won't be at MSU too much longer at this rate. If MSU loses to Tulane, he could find himself out the door that weekend and this could turn out to be very nasty. Under no circumstances do you say....

"YOU DONT CARE ABOUT THE FANS!"

I have a feeling that this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better and I personally think the MSU AD had better get a hold of the situation before it gets any worse. This is definitely SportsCenter material here.

As for the firing of coaches, Croom was quoted as saying "I'm never firing a football coach." Consider that remark "Strike 2".

I believe that Coach Croom is in fact, isolating himself from the MSU fan base/alumni and that my friend, is a game of Russian Roulette with a semi-automatic pistol.

[GamecockDieHard]

Yep, kinda like that guy that commited suicide. Shot himself 7 times in the head with a 6 shot revolver.

[msgadawg]

I can tell you , it is not making fans and alumni happy, You need to have a winnig program before you enen think about saying something close to that,and then you would have to be crazy to say anything remotely close! But when you slap your fan base? Give me a break,,,Jackie had several frustrating years but never did he let his mouth get him this kind of publicity! Anxious to see what Foglesong and Templeton have to say about all this,,, Bet there will be a packed stadium for Tulane! Yeah right!

[Neo]

I can tell you , it is not making fans and alumni happy, You need to have a winnig program before you enen think about saying something close to that,and then you would have to be crazy to say anything remotely close! But when you slap your fan base? Give me a break,,,Jackie had several frustrating years but never did he let his mouth get him this kind of publicity! Anxious to see what Foglesong and Templeton have to say about all this,,, Bet there will be a packed stadium for Tulane! Yeah right!



For once we can agree on something MSG! This guy has the tact of Ron Jeremy and your AD had better handle his business before he gets put out of business. Statements like this are irresponsible and uncalled for. He's the head coach so the buck stops with him. :mellow:

[msgadawg]

Exactly right, I have supported him and his staff from day one, Hey I am an MSU fan, But this goes beyone me.. Man it Sucks! Love my school and my team but He will have to mend a lot of fences after this,, Stay Tuned,, Hey tough loss Saturday,, I watched.. Know it was painful,, Hang in there,,,

[Neo]

Exactly right, I have supported him and his staff from day one, Hey I am an MSU fan, But this goes beyone me.. Man it Sucks! Love my school and my team but He will have to mend a lot of fences after this,, Stay Tuned,, Hey tough loss Saturday,, I watched.. Know it was painful,, Hang in there,,,



I would love to see what my cousins have to say about this. (Both of them are MSU grads) I bet they're having a &^%$ fit now after seeing that press conference.

See, I have family that graduated from almost each and every school in the SEC so our family reunions are almost like full blown riots.

Walt and Jim love MSU from the bottom of their hearts and I firmly believe that this is going to almost kill them and the bulldog nation. :mellow:

[Neo]

The fans deserve better than this......

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/7541/2jpegnu7.th.jpg (http://img122.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2jpegnu7.jpg)

[AUChamps]

The fans deserve better than this......

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/7541/2jpegnu7.th.jpg (http://img122.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2jpegnu7.jpg)
Can they fire the 1st Black Head Coach hired in the SEC? Ya have to imagine how big the fallout from all this would have to be in order to have Croom fired.

[Neo]

Can they fire the 1st Black Head Coach hired in the SEC? Ya have to imagine how big the fallout from all this would have to be in order to have Croom fired.


Yep....

6-18-0 so far, 5 shutouts in a 2 year period.

It would be enough for me.......

I think Tulane may be the last straw..... :mellow:

[Neo]

Yep, kinda like that guy that commited suicide. Shot himself 7 times in the head with a 6 shot revolver.


LMFAO!!! :laugh:

[Dawgfish]

I've gone on record as saying it before but it apparently fell on deaf ears the first dozen times so I'm gonna say it again. You must build a team around your offensive line if you trully wish to compete in the SEC. You can have a buttload of top recruits at QB, WR, and RB however if you do not have an offensive line to keep the QB from running for his life on nearly every play or moving folks off the ball to establish some sort of running game then you are absolutely myopic in the ways of football. I got tired of hearing about the way MSU practically put out an APB for receivers but totally ignored the recruitment and/or signing of offensive lineman. Well now I'm just gonna say it loud and clear. . . I TOLD YA SO!!!!!
Now if coach Croom doesn't go out and make that issue our #1 priority then I'm gonna get off his bandwagon and be happy to show him the door.
The West coast offense of which he speaks still looks an awful lot like typical middle America small town football to me, with the exception of much imagination and passion.

[scunyon]

Croom is gonna get the broom before too soon!

[GatorHunter]

I have to say...I like Croom...I could care less what color he is. He's old-school and I respect that. He got rid of all the "dead-beats" on the team...and it's gonna take 4-5 years of descent recruiting before MSU is a competitive team. Unfortunately for him, the sign of the times is "what have you done for me lately"....I sure hope MSU gives him another couple of years...he's good for the SEC...not because of his color, but because he brings integrity to the sport...wins aren't everything.

[azamugg]

I have to say...I like Croom...I could care less what color he is. He's old-school and I respect that. He got rid of all the "dead-beats" on the team...and it's gonna take 4-5 years of descent recruiting before MSU is a competitive team. Unfortunately for him, the sign of the times is "what have you done for me lately"....I sure hope MSU gives him another couple of years...he's good for the SEC...not because of his color, but because he brings integrity to the sport...wins aren't everything.

this was a sensible post.................all the others are discussed in my post.
give Croom a friggin break...........why do you think he was upset? his team just got shut out for the 2nd week in a row....sure, but mainly because he was brought in to clean house and rebuild and you can't do that w/fans who have their panties up their ass whining and crying ....they aint sweating and getting beat up and watching film and lifting weights and going through two a days but they can whine with the best of 'em......Croom is an old school guy whose tact in this modern media/fan sissy era gets fed up sooner than most so forgive the guy FOR BEING A MAN AND SPEAKING HIS MIND WHILE VERY EMOTIONAL AFTER A LOSS

[Neo]

w/fans who have their panties up their ass whining and crying ...


Pot....Meet Kettle...

I seem to remember a LOT of Tiders whining that the NCAA is out to get them. :whistle: Those of you know exactly who you are.

The simple fact is, he overstepped his bounds plain and simple. The buck stops with him and he has to be held accountable.

Now for once, pretend to be an MSU fan......

You haven't been to a bowl game since 2000 and you haven't won more than 3 games a season since 2000.

Then your coach (Croom) comes up and publicly states that this team is ready to turn the corner and seriously comptete 2 weeks before the season opener with USC.

Now you look at your schedule and you're 0-2 with no and I do mean NO improvement on offense for 3 years? Puhleeze! Some of you Tiders amaze me sometimes. You all were screaming for Shula's head after going 6-6 with a visit to the Music City Bowl. Even though he was dealing with scolly reductions and probation. MSU is in the same boat, but it seems that according to your logic, the same standard doesn't apply here.

Do MSU fans deserve less? :unsure: Most MSU fans are ticked because of a lack of improvement. Not necessarly the wins. They just wanna see some life in that offense and I don't think that's too much to ask. :mellow:

End Rant...

[TigerFanatic]

Dr. Coach Croom,

enclosed is a 9mm with 1 bullet in the chamber, empty mag. please aim down, yes, thats toward the floor, and shoot yourself in the foot.

thank you, enjoy whats left of your 15 minutes of fame and get the hell out so we can replace you with someone who won't embarass the SEC week in and week out.

[azamugg]

Pot....Meet Kettle...

I seem to remember a LOT of Tiders whining that the NCAA is out to get them. :whistle: Those of you know exactly who you are.

The simple fact is, he overstepped his bounds plain and simple. The buck stops with him and he has to be held accountable.

Now for once, pretend to be an MSU fan......

You haven't been to a bowl game since 2000 and you haven't won more than 3 games a season since 2000.

Then your coach (Croom) comes up and publicly states that this team is ready to turn the corner and seriously comptete 2 weeks before the season opener with USC.

Now you look at your schedule and you're 0-2 with no and I do mean NO improvement on offense for 3 years? Puhleeze! Some of you Tiders amaze me sometimes. You all were screaming for Shula's head after going 6-6 with a visit to the Music City Bowl. Even though he was dealing with scolly reductions and probation. MSU is in the same boat, but it seems that according to your logic, the same standard doesn't apply here.

Do MSU fans deserve less? :unsure: Most MSU fans are ticked because of a lack of improvement. Not necessarly the wins. They just wanna see some life in that offense and I don't think that's too much to ask. :mellow:

End Rant...

pot meet kettle? first off the probation thing was a different animal then the subject of these posts.........second of all I have never asked for Shula's head and if other Bama fans have then they fit the people Ive described as sissy fans w/their panties up their ass.....................reread my post, then reread it again and finally it might make more sense

[Neo]

Posted on another site....


Defiant Sly fighting a battle he can't win

STARKVILLE — There might be a day when Sylvester Croom lines up against the likes of Auburn and the football game is considered a fair match.

That wasn't the case Saturday, when Croom's woefully over-matched Bulldogs lost 34-0 to the fourth-ranked Tigers, becoming the first Mississippi State team in more than a century to open a season with consecutive shutouts.

But what Croom did after the game wasn't smart and won't make his job any easier. He picked a fight he really can't win - against his own fans.

Two years and two games into the biggest rebuilding project this side of four-laning Highway 25 from Jackson to Starkville, Croom is already showing signs of the pressure that comes with such a massive job.

Croom said he's tired of fans griping. About play-calling. About his West Coast offense. About offensive coordinator Woody McCorvey. About everything.

He said that anyone who plans to call his radio show Monday night and gripe about the offense better save their cell minutes.

"People are going to call in about that, and I'm going to answer their questions, but nothing's going to change," Croom said. "We're going to try and get better at what we're doing.

"I don't want to hear about the play-calling. I don't want to hear about getting rid of my coaches, because I'm never going to fire a football coach. I'm not. If it comes to that, I'm going to fire me.

"I want to get that clear before that call-in show."

Then Croom added the real zinger, the one he's probably wishing he would have left out.

Said Croom: "I don't even want to do that show anyway. I need to be working and trying to get our team better instead of sitting around and listening to those questions."

Ouch.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Croom gets paid some $900,000 a year to coach the Bulldogs. About $180,000 of that comes from state funds. The rest comes from a personal services contract that requires him to endorse products, make speaking engagements and do radio and TV shows.

For many of the fans who buy the tickets and make the donations and listen to the commercials that produce the cash that make that $900,000 salary possible, calling Croom's radio show and asking questions is their only way to feel like they're part of the program.

It's a fan's prerogative to gripe - especially when their favorite team's offense matches a 102-year-old record for impotence.

The last thing Croom needs to do is listen to all the complaining. At least not now, just two games into the season.

He says he doesn't care what the fans are saying - and on Internet message boards and radio talk shows many of them are saying a lot - but by acknowledging their complaints he's gone into the fray.

A FEW TDS WOULD HELP

Croom inherited a program in shambles, one facing NCAA sanctions, with a fractured fan base.

Although he got off on the wrong foot with some of the fans by not leaving his old job immediately after being hired - he continued as a Green Bay Packers assistant for about a month after being hired by MSU in December of 2003 - Croom endeared himself to most of the faithful through a series of public appearances throughout the winter, spring and summer of 2004.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a Bulldogs backer who doesn't like Croom the man. But it's increasingly difficult to find one who likes Croom's offense. And that's a problem. For Croom and the fans, because the fans aren't going to quit complaining until they see some progress, and Croom made it clear Saturday he's not going to change, and that progress is being made.

Said Croom: "I'm totally committed to making this football team better and if there's anybody who doesn't believe this program is not better than when I got here, then you're blind."

So the battle lines have been drawn. No one's budging. There's only one thing Croom and Co. can do now and that's score a touchdown or two next Saturday and beat Tulane. If the Bulldogs don't win that one, Croom sure isn't going to like what the fans are saying.

Wow this could get ugly fast. Thinking about our situation I wish on Spurrier's call in show half the questions were emails to get some good questions to balance out the idiots. I also hope those who do call in realize sometimes coaches lose it. Do you want to be the fan to lose us SOS? Think it can't happen, think about the Redskins situation SOS left quickly. I hope we treasure SOS the grass won't get any greener from here.

[azamugg]

Croom cools off, apologizes to fans
Posted: Monday September 11, 2006 4:34PM; Updated: Tuesday September 12, 2006 1:44AM


Prodded by his better half, Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom has apologized for his harsh critique of Bulldog fans on Saturday.
Marvin Gentry/US PRESSWIRE


JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- A frustrated Sylvester Croom tore into doubting Mississippi State fans after the team's 34-0 loss to Auburn -- the second shutout to start the season.

Then a frustrated Jeri Croom tore into the coach when he got home after Saturday's loss. And she didn't let up until he apologized for losing his typically measured public demeanor.

"I've been chastised severely by my wife," Croom said during his Monday news conference. "I hope the fans understand I've been punished enough, believe me. I promise I have, so I hope I can get a reprieve on that."

Croom expressed frustration during his postgame comments with fans who have begun to question Mississippi State's offensive players and coaches.

Upon reflection, Croom said he can see why fans might be losing their patience.

While the Mississippi State defense has made significant improvement going into Croom's third year, the offense and special teams are struggling to catch up. He felt the defense played well enough to give the Bulldogs a good chance of winning both games, but the rest of the team hasn't followed through on improvement he's seen in practice.

The Bulldogs have failed to win more than three ballgames a season since 2000. And this season is off to a worrisome start following the back-to-back shutouts -- the first time that's happened in Starkville since 1904.

"I tell you I have a hard time looking them in the eye, I really do," Croom said of hopeful fans. "I mean just after the games and walking in here, it's tough because I want so much more for them and I want so much more for our players."

Fans at Saturday's Southeastern Conference game were generally supportive of the team, cheering in all the right places and groaning when forced. There was no booing, but after then No. 4 Auburn's first touchdown of the second half gave the visitors a 24-0 lead, many started to leave.

Croom, whose team takes on non-conference foe Tulane (0-1) on Saturday, wasn't pointing the finger at those fans. He was more upset with letters and e-mails he has received calling for him to make drastic changes in the way he operates his offense. He's also had people call for the firing of assistants, he said.

"I let a couple of them get under my skin, I really did," Croom said. "Then I was really, really frustrated immediately after the game for some things I won't go into and I let it get the best of me. I really did. I should not have said that."

Croom also said he is trying to protect his players from unreasonable expectations -- both from fans and themselves. The offense has several new players, including a pair of freshmen in key positions.

But while offensive players might only make a mistake or two each game, they add up. He used senior left tackle Brian Anderson as an example. The only notable mistake he made against Auburn was allowing a game-changing sack while the team was backed up against its own end zone. Rookie quarterback Tray Rutland fumbled the ball and Auburn scored two plays later.

"Each one of these guys is making one or two mistakes and it's killing the offense," Croom said. "The player says, 'Well, coach, I only made one mistake.' But your one mistake, his one mistake, the other guy's one mistake, you start adding them up and there's 10 mistakes. Ten plays, that's it, that's the game."

[Razorbabe]

Excellent writing, Neo. Reminiscent of Bobby Knight and other coaches who constantly use the one-finger salute to press and fans, it can gain little in the way of positive things for a program. A lot of talented winning coaches have been fired for this type of approach. Serving up losses with attitude won't digest in Starkville.

[TPM]

Sounds alot like Coach Dinardo of LSU back when. He also would not fire a coach. Anyone remember Lou (drop back linebacker) Tepper. He was a major part of LSU's demise back then and Coach Dinardo would not fire him so LSU fired Dinardo. If they do fire Croom, please hire Jackie Sherrel back. He was LSU's biotch

[AUChamps]

Sounds alot like Coach Dinardo of LSU back when. He also would not fire a coach. Anyone remember Lou (drop back linebacker) Tepper. He was a major part of LSU's demise back then and Coach Dinardo would not fire him so LSU fired Dinardo. If they do fire Croom, please hire Jackie Sherrel back. He was LSU's biotch
But Jackie was the reason Mississippi State's program got to where it is right now.

They need a Coach that can win, like from the MAC.

Look at Akron's Coach for example; or if you really wanted to go for a winner(in relative terms to the program itself), go for Bobby Johnson at Vandy.

[TPM]

Lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!