Generally speaking, USM has inhibited Alcorn's growth moreso than Jackson State. I know that all 3 universities compete for high school and junior college athletes in South Mississippi. But overall, USM has been in Alcorn's way. We went through a period of about 15 years in which our growth was stagnant (not getting smaller, but not getting larger either). Jackson State is central and located in Mississippi's largest city. It has been doing ok with growth independent of the USM factor. Alcorn traditionally had a hold on the black community along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but USM got in the way of that starting in the mid 90s. Many of the blacks in smaller, rural cities/towns in South Mississippi started going with USM as well, because it is designated to offer more programs being that it is a PWC.
Alas the USM b.s., we need to win this game.