Is there a chance Alcorn's Hopson could leave for ULM?


Kenn Rashad

Person In Charge
Staff member
Jay Hopson

Current/last job: Head coach, Alcorn State 2012-present

Background: Defensive coordinator/safeties coach, Memphis 2010-11, linebackers coach, Michigan 2008-09, defensive coordinator, Southern Miss 2005-07, defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator, Ole Miss 2004, defensive backs coach, Southern Miss 2001-03, defensive backs coach, Marshall 1996-2000, graduate assistant, Florida 1995, graduate assistant, LSU 1994.

Pros: Hopson has won over 30 games in fours and coming off back-to-back SWC championships at an Alcorn State program that prior to 2013 hadn’t had a winning season in almost a decade. The Vicksburg, Mississippi-native spent his formative years in coaching at Southern Miss, where he coached the defensive backs and later coordinated a traditionally strong defense under Jeff Bower. Hopson became the first white head football coach in the history of the SWAC when Alcorn State hired him in 2012.

Cons: While Hopson has shown the ability to adapt and thrive in a conference where money and resources are scarce across the board, winning in the SWAC isn’t the same as doing it in the FBS — even in the Sun Belt. Hopson’s last stop in the FBS as defensive coordinator at Memphis didn’t go so well. The Tigers gave up over 30 points per-game in two years which contributed to the staff’s firing in 2011.

Thoughts: The next coach at ULM needs to have the ability to do more with less both on the field and financially. Hopson has demonstrated that by turning around a SWAC cellar dweller. That alone should at least get him a look in the search process.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/college/ulm/2015/11/17/ulm-coaching-hot-board/75928772/
 



I don't think Alcorn was in the financial dire straits that ULM is in now because of ole Piyush.
 
I have a feeling it will be out of the Hobson, the guy at McNeese, or the guy at Sam Houston State. ULM is basically an FCS school with an FBS title. La. Tech has a much better budget than ULM. Those three can operate on a budget for less.
 
If he were to leave, it would be for a job like this. Similar geographic region and a bigger budget (albeit not a huge difference between the highest SWAC school and the lowest sun Belt school).
 
Well Hopson will have my son's classmate waiting on him if he goes there, wished we got him to back fill Hebert next year but he's going to be at ULM


 
I see their budget is barely over 12 million (2014) which is barely bigger than Alabama State. The only advantage they would have is the FBS tag
 
I wouldn't take that job if I were Hobson. Alcorn has won some games before he got here. ULM only has had 5 winning seasons since joining FBS.

Please don't take this as an indictment on your opinion. However, Alcorn wasn't exactly setting the world on fire before Hopson's second year.

However, I do see ULM as a "lateral" move to Alcorn. I don't think ULM is that good of an FBS job. I think the Tulane job (with all it's pitfalls) is a better job than ULM.

ULM only had four .500 or better seasons since 1994 when they moved up to FBS.

Alcorn's last winning season prior to 2013 was Johnny Thomas' 6-5 season in 2006. Since then, Thomas, Ernest Jones, Earnest Collins Jr. and Melvin Spears all had losing seasons. Hopson's first year was 4-7, followed by 2013 and this year...

NOTE: Alcorn's last 10-win or better season came in 1947...
 
Please don't take this as an indictment on your opinion. However, Alcorn wasn't exactly setting the world on fire before Hopson's second year.

However, I do see ULM as a "lateral" move to Alcorn. I don't think ULM is that good of an FBS job. I think the Tulane job (with all it's pitfalls) is a better job than ULM.

ULM only had four .500 or better seasons since 1994 when they moved up to FBS.

Alcorn's last winning season prior to 2013 was Johnny Thomas' 6-5 season in 2006. Since then, Thomas, Ernest Jones, Earnest Collins Jr. and Melvin Spears all had losing seasons. Hopson's first year was 4-7, followed by 2013 and this year...

NOTE: Alcorn's last 10-win or better season came in 1947...

Ernest Jones and Collins showed promise for Alcorn's program and we would have had winning seasons way before now if it wasn't for our crazy AD and Collins getting the job at his alma mater. ULM seems like a program that would be career suicide right now unless they are willing to make a commitment to their program.
 



Coach Jones should have taken the East Carolina job when they offered it. Hobson should too.......
 
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the longer Hopson stays at Alcorn the more chances they have at going to the SCG every year

that guy is becoming a pain in the azz lol
 
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Ulm is a type of job a younger guy like fobbs would be ideal for meaning he is from the area and maybe the community could get behind him
 
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