News from Hattiesburg

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Hammond made an effort to sell the merger of Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference, saying that it was the best option that USM had on its plate.

He said that he and USM president Dr. Martha Saunders are regularly receiving mail from schools who also want to be a part of league, which is currently a 16-team venture set to start during the 2013-14 athletic season.

“We have the potential to triple our TV revenue,” Hammond said. “This was the option we had. It’s not like we had a menu to choose from. This is the league that we want to be in.”

Hammond also received some love from the audience with Rick Maddox, a key member of the USM baseball program’s Dugout Club, praising the interim athletic director for the extra work he’s put in.

“I want you to know what kind of a leader he is,” Maddox said. “He started a leadership program with the football team. There were a number of athletes that Jeff mentored. That’s the kind of man he is. He’s taken time on his own to mentor young athletes. He didn’t have to do that.”

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20120302/SOUTHERNMISS/120301015