Just returned from Hattiesburg. Here are a few thoughts:

1. This was my first time in Hattiesburg, and it’s not nearly as bad people say. Sure, it’s a small college town, but I didn’t mind spending the weekend there. I found a couple good hang-outs, and the weather was great, about 70 degrees and sunny.

2. As for Reed Green Coliseum, well, it needs some upgrades. I’ll be interested to compare it to some of the upcoming road venues Memphis will visit. My basis of comparison is the Mountain West Conference, which I covered the last couple years before moving to Memphis. In terms of seating, press facilities, locker rooms, fan amenities, parking, concessions and aesthetics, TCU’s Daniel-Meyer Coliseum is by far the worst facility in that league with Wyoming’s Arena-Auditorium probably the second-worst. Both of those facilities, however, are far better than Reed Green. Apparently, there was some renovation being done — at least, that’s what they told me when I asked where the press room was. We’ll see how that comes out next year.

As far as the game, I thought going in that it was a dangerous game for the Tigers, and it proved to be every bit the test I expected.
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