This weekend will be my 1st trip to Hattiesburg since moving to Baton Rouge...Maybe I won’t regret buying season tickets. LOL

On this week's episode of To The Top Talk, we talk Louisiana Tech football with Cory Diaz of The News-Star #SMTTT #EverLoyalBe

iTunes- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-14-20-cory-diaz/id1166023072?i=1000491272798

Website- http://www.jamiearrington.net/tothetoptalk

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Bay St Louis is already having water rising from Sally. It is now up to 100 mph.

In the interest of being fair to Scotty and the team, what should we expect Saturday night? Minimal improvement? Significant improvement? A victory? Reduced execution mistakes on both sides? More imaginative offensive strategies? High energy?
What y’all thinking?

Hattiesburg, MS - Jay Hopson resigned as head football coach at Southern Miss last Monday leaving Scotty Walden to take the interim helm in his fourth season with the Golden Eagles.

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Walden:
Starts practice with the Eagle Drill (one on one hitting drill saw on Twitter). He said that really gets the team amped up for practice.
Practice has been 2 hours and it has been going extremely well.
Not much known about La Tech due to Covid cancellation. Have not released who their QB is but Scotty is familiar with both and both are a lot like their previous QB Smith.
They have really been tightening up the wellness protocol. Players have to eat on campus or if the ear off campus they have to send picture in of what they are eating. They must always have their color full of Powerade or water on them at all times.
After he and Kubik sat down, Kubic will be the play caller with Scotty giving imput. It seems as if Scotty is going to let him open up things more.

Kubik:
Used the last week to help create depth on the O-Line. More guys will play this week.
Frank Gore Jr will get more touches. He is mature beyond his years.
Will play faster and more physical.

Pecoraro:
Both Bozeman and Latham were injured against USA. There is a 60% chance they will play this weekend.
Have to get more guys involved on the D-Line. They used the off week to move pieces around to see where they are the best fit. More guys will play on the DL.
Loves having Billings back on the defensive side of the ball.

Bozeman:
IT was a shock when Hop left, but they just went out to practice and got after it.
Coaches have done a really good job helping the team to adjust.
Team is ready to get back on the field and play.

Man the enthusiasm is inthe air!

Lee Roberts is talking about him right now 99.3. He says he looks good and Lee has an eye for talent in my opinion.

https://247sports.com/college/south...m-Answers-Five-Questions-about-USM-150870521/

https://247sports.com/player/don-ragsdale-46038748/

VIDEO OF RAGSDALE : https://247sports.com/Video/Don-Ragsdale-Jr-JUNIOR-YEAR--7567640/

Well, there is no question about it, Jeremy McClain's tenure as the Athletic Director at Southern Miss has been rather busy. He has not only had to deal with building projects and upgrades to facilities, but he is becoming accustomed to hiring coaches.

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The time of mourning and wailing and gnashing of teeth is over. Let’s talk about what we expect to see from a Scotty Walden offense.

Takes down Kansas State in Manhattan. Great day for the Sunbelt so far.

Former Wenonah football coach Ronald Cheatham dies
https://abc3340.com/news/local/former-wenonah-football-coach-ronald-cheatham-dies

Big upset at ISU over a ranked team. Looked outmanned with no running game first half. Special teams were awesome.

I went to the Jackson Eagle Club luncheon at the Hilton in Jackson Thursday. There were about 30 people there. The buffet was good. We watched a Todd Monken coached game with UTSA while we arrived and ate. Not sure which year but it was nice to see those players and that coach. There was a lot of discussion about the game last week, Hopson resigning and Walden being named interim head coach.

Scotty Walden was the speaker through zoom. It worked well. It was the first time I had seen him. He is high energy. He led us in a few TTT cheers. He emphasized that there would be a renewed focus on discipline and responsibility. He was specific in mentioning players making it to meals and talking about attention to detail. I was impressed. He said without spring ball to work on offense there were too many plays available and it wasn't focused enough.

I feel better about this season after seeing the interview. I think Walden is the type of coach we need right now to finish out the season. He has been with the program long enough to have seen what needs fixing and he has head coaching experience. We will see how he performs.

I got the feeling from Walden's comments and some other things I heard that the program is in worse shape than I had thought. Hopson apparently had lost control of the team and the program. I hate that. I have a lot of respect for Jay and that is not the legacy I want for him.

We got an update on Corky Palmer that he had been moved to a long care recovery unit at Select. Ray Guy was asked about but there was no update.

Walden did say they feel the La Tech game will happen.

Thanks to everyone who put this on!