Dear Hardwood Club Supporters!

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The 2024-25 Basketball Season is just around the corner, and we are excited about our team this year.  We hope you will join us at as many games as possible.  The fans are an important part of this team, and we treasure your support! We are 26-3 in our last 29 home games.  Our fans directly impact winning.

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In the past, donating to the Hardwood Club has been the best avenue to support projects that benefited the Men’s Basketball Team at Southern Miss that could not be funded through University budgets.  However, in recent years the NCAA has completely changed the rules and landscape of collegiate sports.  We’ve experienced a shift of significance in regards to where financial support from fans and alumni is most helpful.  Now, NIL (Name Image and Likeness) is the most consequential aspect of our fundraising efforts.  Whether we like it or not, NIL is now the single most important factor that potential recruits consider when choosing a school. 

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Over the years, the Hardwood Club has grown to mean much more than just fundraising for our team.  It has become a family of friends who gather together and support each other, as well as our basketball players and coaches.  The pre-game socials and coaches’ chalk talk prior to home games will continue this year so that we can continue to build bonds of friendship with all of you.  However, we are asking you this year to give a little thought to where your financial contributions are applied.  

 

In prior years, many of you have contributed well above the designated amount for a Hardwood Club membership, and we are very grateful for that support.  This year, we are asking that if you are so inclined to contribute more than the $250 annual Hardwood Club membership, please consider giving the additional amount through the To The Top Collective and designate it for Men’s Basketball.   Of course we are very thankful any support, financial and otherwise, and any amount of support is much appreciated.

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For anyone wanting to set up an NIL marketing-type relationship with a USM Basketball player or anyone wanting to contribute to the Men’s Basketball NIL fund, please consider tothetopcollective.com.    In addition to Hardwood Club memberships, there are several upcoming opportunities to participate and support Southern Miss Men’s Basketball. 

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·       A travel bus will take fans to New Orleans for the exhibition game against UNO, on October 22. Cost of bus trip will include a game tickets, snacks and drinks on the bus, and a meal on the return trip.  Details will be coming out soon.   

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·       Meet the Eagles, sign up for Hardwood Club and pick up your season tickets Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 6:00 pm at Brewsky’s in Hattiesburg.

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·       Our Second Annual To The Top Tip Off Celebration will be held Friday, November 1 at the Hattiesburg Country Club.  Tickets must be purchased for a table or seats to attend.

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·       Buses have also been reserved for the December 10 game at  Tulane and the December 14 game against Ole Miss in Biloxi. 

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·       Please email SouthernMissHardwoodClub@gmail.com or jeremy.tekulve@usm.edu or call 601-818-6236 or 601-266-6355 for more information about the bus trips.

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 Thank you for your continued support of Men’s Basketball at Southern Miss … All Grit, No Quit!!