 "Photo: File Photo")
After the Aggies' 49-point loss to Boise State last Saturday fliers around campus have emerged directing students to a Web site aimed at convincing people firing football coach Hal Mumme is best for NMSU.
The Web site, titled firehalmuume.com, includes a Hal Mumme rant written by the creator of the page, a list of possible replacement coaches and provides Athletic Director McKinley Boston's e-mail address. The Web page also provides a link to a message board on which dozens of other Mumme-bashers discuss their feelings about the Aggie football coach.
The creator of the page, referred to only as Jacob, said his motive for making a Web site dedicated to bashing Mumme comes from the hatred of a man who cares nothing for the program.
"[Mumme] has done nothing to significantly move the program forward," Jacob said. "I'm tired of being the laughing stock of the WAC conference; tired of seeing a stadium that holds 30,000-plus empty every Saturday; basically, tired of losing."
Mumme said he has not heard of the Web site, but joked that he would go on it and vote against his termination.
"Getting fired is part of the business and that's the way I look at it," Mumme said. "You must win and we haven't done that yet, but at the same token, I don't think anyone should quit a job 2/3 of the way through."
With four remaining games on the schedule, Jacob said there is no wrong time to fire Mumme.
"Immediate is not even fast enough," Jacob said. "It should have been done after we suffered the loss to Idaho."
Unfortunately for Jacob and other Aggie fans who tremble at the thought of seeing another game with Mumme at the helm, Boston said he evaluates all coaches at the end of their season, and the evaluation of Mumme and his staff will be no different.
Mumme said he is not concerned with job security and his focus is on winning as many games as possible the remainder of the season.
"I'm concerned with wins and losses," Mumme said. "I've never really been concerned with job security. That's why they give me a contract."
Mumme has one year left on a contract that was extended prior to the start of this season and the resignation or termination of Mumme would result in a buyout that would cost an athletic department that is already in substantial debt.
"They have to spend money to make money," Jacob said. "Boston needs to find people to fundraise for the Athletic Department…we need to bring in major donators and we can't when all we do is lose."
While Aggie fans such as Jacob are doing everything they can to get Mumme out of Las Cruces, Mumme said he appreciates these Aggie loyalists.
"The great thing about those guys is at least they're at the games," Mumme said. "I have no problems with what they say as long as they come to the game."
Former Las Cruces Sun-News editor Geoff Grammer said simply firing a head coach is not as easy as people might think.
"Calling for a man's job is a pretty big deal," Grammer said. "Not only does it affect his immediate family and the lives and job security of his entire coaching staff, but a whole slew of players' lives are affected by coaching changes."
Players who came to NMSU because they were a perfect fit for Mumme's system will be stuck playing for a coach who runs an entirely different system, Grammer said.
Grammer added, "There were plenty of players stuck at NMSU playing for a coach running the air raid offense who chose to spend their college years in Las Cruces to play for an option-based offense and coach in Tony Samuel."
Be the first to comment on this article!