Podcast: Exclusive interview with SWAC commissioner Charles McClelland





And people think think there isn't some type of Valley bias on here and I just be talking out the side of my neck

Valley is a full fledged member of the SWAC yet we are the only school that gets the "can they handle such an event" questions when it comes to football (and basketball to an extent). It's not as if we can't just go and rent bleachers like we did for the JSU games in the early-mid 2000s if we need more seating. Then again the only team that travels to Valley like that anyway is JSU so it would have to be on us to fill out the stadium anyway. Let us worry about that problem when it's time to cross that bridge. Alcorn has a 20K+ stadium capacity but you have to travel to Natchez/Viladia or Vicksburg for hotels. If Grambling hosts, it's Ruston. Valley is similar to Grambling as far as hotels nearby yet only Valley gets doubted.

The same doubts are brought up in basketball as far as hosting the tournament
 
Regarding brining in temporary seating I’m not certain but I’ve hear for 5,000 seating capacity the total expenses may run close to $100,000. In the 662 you can stay away from ALCORN; we know we are a rural university so what’s your point? No one doubts us because we have proven we can be successful hosting a similar event and visitors enjoy the game day experience on our campus.
 
Kenn Rashad said:
Yes, we did pay for that. We also paid to use the Toyota Center for the basketball tournament.

The problem was the previous commissioner couldn't secure enough sponsorships to cover expenses.
Click to expand...
So true! If memory serves me correctly , I recall Duer Sharp in an interview at the tournament stating that it costed $50,000 just to open the doors and turn the lights on for the sparse crowds when the Tourney was held in Houston at the Toyota Center.
 
In_The_662 said:
And people think think there isn't some type of Valley bias on here and I just be talking out the side of my neck

Valley is a full fledged member of the SWAC yet we are the only school that gets the "can they handle such an event" questions when it comes to football (and basketball to an extent). It's not as if we can't just go and rent bleachers like we did for the JSU games in the early-mid 2000s if we need more seating. Then again the only team that travels to Valley like that anyway is JSU so it would have to be on us to fill out the stadium anyway. Let us worry about that problem when it's time to cross that bridge. Alcorn has a 20K+ stadium capacity but you have to travel to Natchez/Viladia or Vicksburg for hotels. If Grambling hosts, it's Ruston. Valley is similar to Grambling as far as hotels nearby yet only Valley gets doubted.

The same doubts are brought up in basketball as far as hosting the tournament
Click to expand...
662, I don't think anyone on here means any disrespect, but the facts are what they are. Rice-Totten Stadium is the smallest venue in the conference. Keep in mind that the host school keeps the gate. Why would you want to limit MVSU's revenue potential if there is a chance to maximize on it?

And with respect to your Grambling comparison: Yes, it is in a rural area, but the stadium does seat 20,000 people.
 
Mace said:
So true! If memory serves me correctly , I recall Duer Sharp in an interview at the tournament stating that it costed $50,000 just to open the doors and turn the lights on for the sparse crowds when the Tourney was held in Houston at the Toyota Center.
Click to expand...
He sure did.
 
swac4life said:
Regarding brining in temporary seating I’m not certain but I’ve hear for 5,000 seating capacity the total expenses may run close to $100,000. In the 662 you can stay away from ALCORN; we know we are a rural university so what’s your point? No one doubts us because we have proven we can be successful hosting a similar event and visitors enjoy the game day experience on our campus.
Click to expand...

YOU are the one that referenced Valley not the other way around. If you are so sensitive that you can't even see the sight of Alcorn getting mentioned, then you probably need to skip over my posts. The facts are the facts. I'm from Mississippi and have traveled all over the state including Alcorn THIS year. if you are that butthurt that I can't say that Alcorn being about 25 minutes from hotels in Vicksburg and more from Natchez/Vildalia then I don't know what to say

People like myself actually COMMENDED Alcorn for handling the SCG crowd last year. I'm not you or Tigerpride with some type of obvious contempt for Valley always bringing up our name. I don't shade Alcorn just because
 
Last edited:
Kenn Rashad said:
662, I don't think anyone on here means any disrespect, but the facts are what they are. Rice-Totten Stadium is the smallest venue in the conference. Keep in mind that the host school keeps the gate. Why would you want to limit MVSU's revenue potential if there is a chance to maximize on it?

And with respect to your Grambling comparison: Yes, it is in a rural area, but the stadium does seat 20,000 people.
Click to expand...

There is a reason why Valley and Alcorn moved their games against JSU to their respective campuses. We don't need 25-30K showing up in Jackson for our home game but only 12K are counted. If we can only fit 12-13K with temporary bleachers into Rice Totten, let that be a Valley problem and enjoy our limited spoils

Grambling can seat 20K but will 20K come? 7K showed up for Alcorn/Grambing and that was actually a meaningful game.

Plus I brought up Grambling because Grambling/Ruston is similar to Itta Bena/Greenwood yet only Valley gets the "hotels" line. People don't even mind driving from Alcorn to Natchez or Vicksburg but Greenwood (5 miles), Indianola (20 miles) or Grenada/Winona (30 miles) is blasphemy
 
the band fan said:
Valley could host it. Half the folks on here haven't been to the campus ever. Take into account their opponent won't bring that many fans anyway so problem solved.
Click to expand...

I can believe this just by the way they post. I always bring up on here (and Facebook) that these people have never set foot on the campus. They just go off hearsay. Valley is very easy to get to (especially if you are coming from Pine Bluff (a literal straight shot drive) or Grambling) literally sitting on a four lane federal highway.
 
the band fan said:
Valley could host it. Half the folks on here haven't been to the campus ever. Take into account their opponent won't bring that many fans anyway so problem solved.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I never had any desire to visit MVSU, the campus looks beautiful but the very rural town and stadium atmosphere are major deterrents. And I don't think there will ever host. I been following the SWAC all my life and I don't think they ever finished in the top 3.

I've only been to PV, SU, JSU, and Alabama State campuses so far. PV (Texas HBCUs have the best funding) had the best campus of them all.
 
Last edited:
In_The_662 said:
There is a reason why Valley and Alcorn moved their games against JSU to their respective campuses. We don't need 25-30K showing up in Jackson for our home game but only 12K are counted. If we can only fit 12-13K with temporary bleachers into Rice Totten, let that be a Valley problem and enjoy our limited spoils

Grambling can seat 20K but will 20K come? 7K showed up for Alcorn/Grambing and that was actually a meaningful game.

Plus I brought up Grambling because Grambling/Ruston is similar to Itta Bena/Greenwood yet only Valley gets the "hotels" line. People don't even mind driving from Alcorn to Natchez or Vicksburg but Greenwood (5 miles), Indianola (20 miles) or Grenada/Winona (30 miles) is blasphemy
Click to expand...
Didn’t mention Valley until comparisons started by you. More than anyone I’ve seen, you are always in this victim speech about Valley. Stop being a victim and get up off your Butt and do something about it. I’m not going to hijack Ken’s thread but the only comparison with ASU and Valley ends with both located in MS and are HBCUs. I believe you said, we will cross that bridge when it happens or something to that effect. I’m not sure that bridge is even in the design phase.
 
Last edited:



In_The_662 said:
And people think think there isn't some type of Valley bias on here and I just be talking out the side of my neck

Valley is a full fledged member of the SWAC yet we are the only school that gets the "can they handle such an event" questions when it comes to football (and basketball to an extent). It's not as if we can't just go and rent bleachers like we did for the JSU games in the early-mid 2000s if we need more seating. Then again the only team that travels to Valley like that anyway is JSU so it would have to be on us to fill out the stadium anyway. Let us worry about that problem when it's time to cross that bridge. Alcorn has a 20K+ stadium capacity but you have to travel to Natchez/Viladia or Vicksburg for hotels. If Grambling hosts, it's Ruston. Valley is similar to Grambling as far as hotels nearby yet only Valley gets doubted.

The same doubts are brought up in basketball as far as hosting the tournament
Click to expand...
Good points...very good points.
 
tsugraytiger said:
Unfortunately I never had any desire to visit MVSU, the campus looks beautiful but the very rural town and stadium atmosphere are major deterrents. And I don't think there will ever host. I been following the SWAC all my life and I don't think they ever finished in the top 3.

I've only been to PV, SU, JSU, and Alabama State campuses so far. PV (Texas HBCUs have the best funding) had the best campus of them all.
Click to expand...
When I was in school and The Ocean Butler would go to Itta Bena but would not glance at Alcorn. Never knew why but we never went to Alcorn in the early to mid '70s.
 
Great interview @Kenn Rashad . Dr
Commish wanted, he needed to address the 8 vs 9 game format . I think Doc still be peeking in the forums every now and then lol. Great insight from a previous AD and his experiences with past SWAC office administrations.
 
swac4life said:
Frat at some point if these will be hosted by the higher seed tea,m do we need a minimum stadium capacity? Can you simply determine the highest rated team by won/Loss record? What if two teams go undefeated and did not play each other?
Click to expand...

There's always tie breakers in place to handle that..

tierre said:
This is what I gathered from the podcast

2. Didn't know we lost money with the SCG being in Houston. I thought we would have made money. Where was the money going?
Click to expand...

Poorly negotiated contract by Sharpe, not one time but two times as he did worst on the second contract.

Herbert77060 said:
We didn't pay for that.
Click to expand...

Oh yes we did.....
 
goledensilence said:
I wonder how Alcorn is going to handle the game tomorrow since it's raining cats and dogs all over Mississippi today. Can't have half of your attendees sitting on a muddy hill unless you want them to slide into the end zone.
Click to expand...
Ulike MVSU we have seating capacity in excess of 10,000. It’s a good problem to have how to seat spectators. Hope y’all have to deal with it in the future.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top