SoCal_Pony wrote:Some 35 years & counting (mostly in 2nd tier conferences) without ever seriously competing for a FB conference title.
Some 35 years & counting (and this could be a looong count) without winning an NCAA BB tournament game.
All the while being located in the #1 area in America for HS FB & BB talent.
If that’s not incompetency i don’t know what is.
Probably little of both, but I do think some incompetency. To not compete for titles that long, whether it be the WAC, AAC, whatever conference we have been in since 1989 says it all. It's about results, we just don't have many. Facts matter.
It is part of the reason I was out finally after decades of supporting with season tickets in football, basketball, giving to the Crum Center, and other facilities. I can remember the breakfasts with Caven and coaches at Ownby, events at Sonterra Country Club here in SA, meetings with Bennett - thru all of that still no real results. Little returns on investments in my opinion.
I know it is not apples to oranges in teams played, but I see what UTSA has done in less than 15 years of a program and I know SMU can do better. UTSA has moved up multiple conferences in a short period of time, and heck will already be in same AAC as us. Back to back conference championships, and won something like 23 out of last 27 games. Over 41,000 plus attended a game on a Friday night early start, and they averaged like 30,000 per game this year. Believe me, I wish we had won multiple conference championships and Ford had averaged about 30,000 in attendance over the last 30 plus years. SMU has unfortunately not done the same no matter what conference we have played in.
Maddening because at some point SMU needs to just consistently win and be in hunt for titles, whatever the conference. Some may be bad luck or timing, but not over that long a period of time. Need an honest and objective evaluation of state of things, and a plan to work to improve.
UTSA already has $40 plus million dollar new RACE facility, training center, athletic housing village, etc. It took us years just to get an indoor facility. I don't think that is unlucky, I'd put that in the incompetent column. Same with NIL - Harvey Hajim, one of richest men in Texas, will be at a press conference tomorrow with other big local supporters to discuss keeping the UTSA QB Harris and the increased NIL deals. Point is it appears they have a plan that is being worked and implemented.
Maybe SMU is doing the same, and just not reported, I really have no idea. But it seems there are some simple things other programs are doing, not just the UTSA's of the world, which then translates to actual wins, success, and conference titles. Unfortunately, SMU for some reason has not been able to do the same consistently over the last 30 plus years.
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 11:22 pm