The only problem I can see with that (at first glance) is that if SFT is no longer associated with a university, then he will be ineligible for most federal grant money (at least, as a PI--principle investigator).  I can't imagine him giving up that lucrative pipeline of $$ or losing his Thames Research Group in the PSRC.  I'm sure he'd negotiate to keep his faculty status at USM somehow.

Perhaps you're onto something here!

Here's a message I just sent to Governor Barbour:

Governor Barbour can be a hero to everyone if he (a) returns President Shelby Thames to the Polymer Science program and (b) appoints Shelby Thames as Special Assistant to the Governor for Economic Development of South Mississippi.  This can then be seen as a promotion by SFT and his supporters; it will allow SFT to contribute to Mississippi in ways to which he seems best suited; and it will prevent SFT from further damaging morale at USM and from further damaging USM's reputation in the state, region, and nation.  It will be a "promotion" for SFT that will remove him from his failed presidency and allow him to do some real good for the state.

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Here's the link to the governor's on-line request form:

http:// www.governorbarbour.com/Data/Services/Services.asp