follow-up article to TBoZ31 note....
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USM sells game, hits road
Green Bay, Favre link persuaded Giannini to sell C-USA match
By AL JONES
THE SUN HERALD
Southern Miss looks to jump back into the Conference USA race with a rare road game - actually a home game - against Marquette.
The two schools will battle tonight at the Resch Center in Green Bay, the NFL home to one of the most famous Southern Miss athletes of all time, Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
Originally scheduled for Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg, Southern Miss athletics director Richard Giannini received a phone call from a Green Bay promoter asking about the chances of moving the game to the Resch Center.
After further discussions, Giannini sold the game, meaning Southern Miss would play seven home C-USA games and nine so-called road games.
The game was sold for $115,000, which includes all expenses. Had the game been played at Reed Green Coliseum and a crowd of 5,000 was on hand, the school could have generated $50,000. The difference between a home game and the Green Bay game would be $65,000 without travel expenses that include 12 fans, the team, coaches, athletic officials, cheerleaders and the mascot.
"The whole decision was based on the relationship with Southern Miss and the city of Green Bay," Giannini said. "We would not have sold the game if it weren't for Brett and our relationship with the city.
"I was intrigued by the call from the promoter and figured it was a once-in-a-lifetime deal. We did not call the promoter, he called us."
Southern Miss coach James Green, however, feels differently.
"Marquette was the marketable team, not Brett Favre," Green said. "They could have matched Marquette and anybody and made the promoter happy. He wanted Marquette. They were the sell.
"What we are saying is we have a huge problem - from a financial standpoint. If we do, we need to look at playing more guarantee, non-conference games, on the road. The odds of us winning will not be as good and in terms of winning, it puts us at a disadvantage."
After the game was sold and news hit the national circuit, C-USA passed a new rule stating conference games can't be sold. Under current bylaws, all C-USA teams must play eight road games and eight home games.
"When the year is over and we sit down and talk about the schedule, I'll respond (with Giannini)," Green said.
"The coaches around the league didn't like it. I had a few call me - as a joke - asking if they could buy our game."
But what about Favre, the three-time MVP of the NFL? The Packers were eliminated from the playoffs last week and Favre and his wife, Deanna, returned to their Hattiesburg home on Monday. Without Favre, does it take away from any promotions to sell out the 10,600 seat Resch Center?
Marquette plays its home games in the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
"It would have been great if he could have been there," Giannini said. "But we knew that could happen. But you have to keep in mind that it's not a home game for Marquette. The promoter figures to get 1,500 to 2,000 fans to make the trip from Marquette and we should have a nice group of Green Bay supporters."
Giannini wanted Golden Eagle supporters to know that by selling the game, Green was able to add two full positions to his staff - director of basketball operations and an administrative assistant.
"All the money goes into the basketball program," Giannini said. "If we didn't need the money, we would not have sold the game. After this game, we will not sell any more of our games. This is it."
Once again, Green disagrees with Giannini.
Green said Jordan Dupuy and Todd Wilson were going to be hired anyway and the school was searching for financial means to pay them. However, after the game was sold, Green and his staff demanded the two be hired immediately.
"All I can say is that I hope the check is in the mail," Green said. "I said if we play in Green Bay, we will have the two positions. We have to put it behind us and get ready to play, regardless of where we are playing."
