Men's Swim Team?

[Water Pony]

SW Collegiate Plunge Results

This was a weak performance by the Men's Team. Fifth out of five (UT, MO, A&M and TCU)? But, the Frogs too? The landscape has changed and we are falling farther back. Without a commitment to be competitive in all things aquatic, this may be the new normal. Where is Jerry Heidenerich, Steve Lunquist and Lars Frolander, when you need them? Mu Sigma Delta (Mustang Swimmers & Divers) was once a force!

At this meet several of the relays were OK, but there were few contributors outside of Sadaukas in the sprints and good production in the butterfly. Where are my backstokers and IM'ers? Apparently, little depth.

Steve O., we spoke at Annapolis. The time is now for SMU Swimming, including our Women, who are no longer Top Ten either. We adjusted our sights to Top Twenty and now that is a reach!


MANSFIELD, Texas (SMU) - The SMU men's swim team placed fifth at the Southwest Collegiate Plunge Saturday. Sophomore Mindaugas Sadauskas finished the event with two second-place individual honors and two third-place relay finishes.

"We didn't light up the scoreboard this weekend, but we saw a lot of good things off which we can build," said head coach Eddie Sinnott. "This is our baseline, and I am confident we will get better as the season goes on. I am excited to watch that process."

Sadauskas took runner-up honors in the 50-yard freestyle (20.71) and the 100-yard freestyle(45.32). The freestyle specialist also swam the final leg of the third place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:23.82) and the opening leg of the third place 400-yard freestyle relay (3:03.80).

In the 100-yard butterfly, Matt Roney and Blaz Korosec picked up important points for the Mustangs, clocking in second (50.90) and third (51.22) respectively. Korosec edged out Scott Martin of the University of Missouri for third place by one-hundredth of a second. The duo combined to earn more points for SMU in the 200-yard freestyle, as Roney took third (1:42.30) and Korosec came in fourth (1:42.36).

SMU heads to Houston for the Cougar Classic No. 18-20

[smustatesmen]

Water Pony, I feel your consternation; and wonder if it's our facilities, coaching, or a combination. Coach Barr, Jerry H., Dr. Paul T., I'm sure are rolling over in their graves. Go Mu Sigma Delta !

addem. At least Mizzou's coach is a SMU alum.

[EastStang]

Is Steve-O secretly hoping that swimming fails to jettison the program? Or is it that Eddie S. just can't get the horses anymore? I don't doubt that the 1000 year old natatorium build by the Vikings when they came to America is not the best recruiting tool. On the other hand its got its charm, too. Many of our golden era swimmers know Eddie and I'm sure would be available at a moment's notice to help him. 5th out of 5 in men's swimming is unacceptable EVER!

[Charleston Pony]

how the mighty have fallen; Coach Barr is undoubtedly looking down and displeased

[Water Pony]

Coach A.R. "Red" Barr was a gentlemen's gentlemen and wouldn't say an unkind word. However, that doesn't stop those of us who are part of an unbelieveable tradition. Consecutive SW Conference championships and undefeated seasons were preamble to routine finishes in the Top Ten. During my varsity years, we finished 5th, 7th and 5th at the NCAA's. That helped recruiting, despite an charming, but inadequate facility that is Perkins Natatorium, and we still drew the Heidenreich's, Lunquist's, Prado's, Frolander's, etc.

Today, the facility is filled with tradition, but unable to support two teams, Men's and Women's, with divers, who time their practices around a crowded schedule.

Red Barr and George McMillion helped create the team and developed teams that produced great results, champions and SMU graduates of note, including a member of the Board of Trustees.

The short answer is a new Aquatic Center. The response is a level recruiting field. I better stop now.

[George S. Patton]

I had not been in Perkins Natatorium for quite some time but got in there before the Houston game to stay out of the rain.

I walked around and was rather shocked how much the facility has drifted into nothingness. As far as I could tell, very little had been updated. The bench seats are bad. The showers and men's locker room still look like a carve out from the the 1950s and even the entry way is nothing special.

While it's cool that it has that old-school feel to it, it won't play to the kids today IMO. An entirely new facility is needed. If not, these once-proud programs are going to go backwards.

[smustatesmen]

As I recall Perkins was built as SMU's basketball stadium and converted over to a natatorium after Moody was built. The last time I was in Dallas was 2005, and I stopped by the campus and the pool. The place had not changed since I swam for Red and/or Mac '70 - '72. It was a dump then, but a fast pool. Building on an already top ten team, Coach Barr was able to recruit Larry Driver, Paul Tietze , Ronnie Mills in '69 and Ray Ince and Jon Thorburn in '70, resulting in a NCAA championship meet 5th place finish my freshman year, and 2nd place finish sophomore year. During the late '60s early '70s Brad Huges' family, Bob Hope and several other contributors donated the funds for the construction of the A.R. Barr outdoor pool. Even at that time there were many people being critical that contributions were specified for the pool and not for the general fund. I hope this time around that the athletic department can get behind an effort to up grade the swimming facilities and return the program back to its former prominence.

[Water Pony]

Thanks for validation. Our challenge is that the school expects/requires that donations cover 80-90% of the cost of a new facility. If the development costs are north of $16m, then friends of SMU Swimming need to raise more than $12+m. Coach Mac help identify a good portion several years ago, but those commitments may not still be there and the costs have probably risen.

I was an enthuiastic supporter, attending meetings and making calls, but it is discouraging if the gap is actually widening. I am running out of time to become truly wealthy and make it a non-issue. Don't hold your breath waiting from me.

[PoconoPony]

I had not been in Perkins Natatorium for quite some time but got in there before the Houston game to stay out of the rain.

I walked around and was rather shocked how much the facility has drifted into nothingness. As far as I could tell, very little had been updated. The bench seats are bad. The showers and men's locker room still look like a carve out from the the 1950s and even the entry way is nothing special.

While it's cool that it has that old-school feel to it, it won't play to the kids today IMO. An entirely new facility is needed. If not, these once-proud programs are going to go backwards.

In September I entered the men's locker room and located my old locker unchanged and intact. I scratched through 43 layers of paint to find a trace of the red colored paint job when I used the locker for 3 years. The natatorium is a filthy, rundown disaster and an embarrassment.

[PoconoPony]

As I recall Perkins was built as SMU's basketball stadium and converted over to a natatorium after Moody was built. The last time I was in Dallas was 2005, and I stopped by the campus and the pool. The place had not changed since I swam for Red and/or Mac '70 - '72. It was a dump then, but a fast pool. Building on an already top ten team, Coach Barr was able to recruit Larry Driver, Paul Tietze , Ronnie Mills in '69 and Ray Ince and Jon Thorburn in '70, resulting in a NCAA championship meet 5th place finish my freshman year, and 2nd place finish sophomore year. During the late '60s early '70s Brad Huges' family, Bob Hope and several other contributors donated the funds for the construction of the A.R. Barr outdoor pool. Even at that time there were many people being critical that contributions were specified for the pool and not for the general fund. I hope this time around that the athletic department can get behind an effort to up grade the swimming facilities and return the program back to its former prominence.

Brad Burns family I believe were the contributors.

[smustatesmen]

PoconoPony you are right. I don't know why I put down Brad Hughs, except that Brad (Burns)and Larry (Hughs) were both good backstrokers.

[Water Pony]

Backstrokers Rule!