Is the team punishing the fans?

[CalallenStang]

Just a thought, and I'm about 99% sure this isn't the case, but:

- We know that June fostered an "us versus the world" culture within the football team that included slamming the school and fans for a perceived lack of support
- Fans overwhelmingly turned on June because of his recruiting failures (which players may take as fans feeling that the players aren't good enough for SMU)
- June's former players have defended him even as fans celebrated his departure from SMU

Then we see the best effort of the season against ECU on the road, followed by a lethargic performance against Cincinnati.

Are the players trying to give the fans what the players feel the fans deserve?

[smumustang1980]

I think there are a handful who might; most have given up, and a few still care.

[SMU 86]

I don't think you could coordinate that kind of thing effectively.

[fifty]

Half the fans are their family and friends.

[ALEX LIFESON]

This program needs a massive enema, anything tainted from JJ, must be flushed out.

[RyanSMU98]

I don't think it is anything malicious against the fans. My guess it is more just a general feeling of being beaten down given all the turmoil; they look a lot like a team that just expects to lose which is a hard mental state from which to recover. That is not based on anything other than just body language and performance that I have observed. It feels like they are counting down the days as much as the fans are. Going to be a long rest of the year.

[lwjr]

Let's not start with the conspiracy theories

[sbsmith]

Are the players trying to give the fans what the players feel the fans deserve?

No, the players just suck. The talent level has been steadily declining for years now and we've just hit rock bottom (as some predicted before the season).

[ponyboy]

I'm guessing y'all aren't funding my June statue.

[Water Pony]

I suggest that saying our players 'suck' is wrong on many levels. First, they don't suck. SMU recruited them and they accepted our scholarship offers. If there is less talent than what is needed, it is not the players who suck. Second, they are Mustangs, our Mustangs. They deserve and need our support ... period.

Complain about the our brand, our coaches, our schedule, our conference, our administration or journey in the desert, but these are our players, who will be fellow alumni. They didn't create the situation, but like us, they inherited it.

[mrydel]

I agree. You cannot blame the players.

[sbsmith]

I suggest that saying our players 'suck' is wrong on many levels. First, they don't suck. SMU recruited them and they accepted our scholarship offers. If there is less talent than what is needed, it is not the players who suck. Second, they are Mustangs, our Mustangs. They deserve and need our support ... period.

Complain about the our brand, our coaches, our schedule, our conference, our administration or journey in the desert, but these are our players, who will be fellow alumni. They didn't create the situation, but like us, they inherited it.

Well the players do suck (go back and watch our first six games if you disagree) but you're right that they deserve our support. We'll see how many fans agree with us during these last three home games.

[ponyte]

The last thing on a player's mind is the fans.

Unlike corporate America, where the goals might include something like, 'Meet or exceed of customers expectations', football is simple.

The goal in football isn't 'to meet or exceed of fans expectations', its to WIN. Period.

Winning is what these kids think about. Not the fans.

Execution of a game plan to achieve winning is an issue to be sure but it isn't a 'get even' with the fans thing.

[BigT3x]

I suggest that saying our players 'suck' is wrong on many levels. First, they don't suck. SMU recruited them and they accepted our scholarship offers. If there is less talent than what is needed, it is not the players who suck. Second, they are Mustangs, our Mustangs. They deserve and need our support ... period.

It's not their fault, but it's painfully obvious that the players suck. Most of them have no business on a FBS team.

[malonish]

As a former and current athlete, tanking to spite a crowd is not an option. Winning is more important.