Copeland

[AusTxPony]

I notice SMU stands 16th in the latest Sears Cup winter standings. Ark 17, A$M 37, Hawaii 70, Boise 75, TCU 104, UH 110, Rice 156, TxTech 168, Baylor 190. This seems to speak for a job will done by Copeland, doesn't it?

[PonyTales]

Absolutely. There will be naysayers who will suggest that without a winning season in football, the rest is moot. I disagree. I think Cope is doing a terrific job.

[Stallion]

well I think Copeland's done all right but just remember there have very few years in SMU's history at least since Russ Potts got here when SMU hasn't been in the Top 30 in that type of rating. As a matter of fact that rating in the 40s last year was one of the worst showings. Under Potts we've finished as high as third and several times in the Top 10. SMU has always been strong in the country club sports and always will-that's not why he was hired and really that's not how his tenure should be judged.

[This message has been edited by Stallion (edited 04-03-2003).]

[Water Pony]

Don't assume that we will always do well in "country club " or Olympic Sports. To be competitive we have increasingly recruited from overseas in most of these sports, which may be difficult to sustain.

Also, despite continued strong performance in Women's Swimming, our Men's Swim & Diving has not maintained it's traditional position. Top Ten was always a realisitic goal, but not recently (This year 25th thanks to All-American Diver, Bruce Damais sp?. Frankly, our Swimming Facilities are not competitive. I love Perkins Natatorium as a tearjerk alumni, but it should have been replaced years ago. An old six lane pool in a converted gymnasium doesn't help recruiting nationally or internationally.

To top it off, the new recreation center (certainly desireable)just announced, excluded or eliminated the new competitive pool portion, despite getting a lap pool (25yds) for the general student population. This is a major missed opportunity for the school. Yes, I am an ex-SMU swimmer. This needs to be added back in or competitive swimming will evaporate for Men and Women. Alumni can help but leadership is needed right now. Copeland needs to revisit this issue.

[EastStang]

I suspect that the administration's view regarding Perkins Natatorium was that if it ain't broke don't fix it. But you're right, it has always been a traditionally slow pool and when recruits look at the facilities at UT and Auburn, it really shows. I like the cramped quarters however, so that the "fans" are right on top of the pool, because I think that helps our team. As far as the revenue sports are concerned, empty stands speak volumes.

[AusTxPony]

Water Pony, why have we not been very competitive in Men's Swimming nationally lately? Poor recruiting?
EastStang, I went to the NCAAs here in Austin and I HATED Jamail Swim complex. Too big. Diving was so far away I could hardly see it when Dumais hit the board.
As an old friend of Lundquist's, I'd love to see us compete nationally in Men's again, like the Women. That would be fun.

[SHAQFU]

I would just like to say that I think Copeland is really great for SMU. He brings a lot to the table. I think he is an excellent individual to spearhead SMU to the top of the list.

[Water Pony]

AusTxPony and others:

Men's Swimming has been challenged for a variety of reasons. First, the current facililties mean we will continue to be a 3rd or 4th choice at best, combined with limited scholarship money. Also, Jim Henry, who is leaving, was an effective recruiter so we will need to re-strengthen that piece.

In swimming circles around the country, it is recognized that we need to go overseas to build-out a recruiting class. I swam with many South Africans in sixties and that worked well. However, it shouldn't be the primary source of our talent. Reference Ken Merten, Jerry Hiedenreich, Steve Lunquist, etc. and their teams complimented and/or led by exception foreign talent.

High school stars are a attracted to the big state schools like Texas, Auburn, Tennessee, etc. because of their major swim complex's and Olympic Team coaches. We don't need a monster pool or facility, but an indoor, 50 meter x 25yd with 8 to 10 lanes, plus diving well (to double as a warm-up pool for swim meets) would make us competitive. It isn't necessary to need to build one to hold National Championship with large seating areas.

Dallas' pursuit of a 2012 Dallas Olympics and the hope the swim complex would be at SMU distracted us from solving our own problem, since Dallas' summers were not a real option after the world experienced Atlanta's heat in 1996.

DFW High School meets, (like the use of Ford Stadium for FB) would get HS Juniors to see our beautiful campus, which could seal the deal along with Dallas as a great college town for four wonderful years. The investment sustain the great progress the Women's Team has made as well. Wish we had one when I swam.

In any case, recruiting is the key and we need to get in the game(pool). Swimmers are self-motivated types, who can often train themselves, but they feel an indoor, 50 meter pool is the entry fee. Without it, we are regulated to second tier at best. Build on our traditon and success. Men's non-revenue sports won't expand, so insist on excellence with the one's we have, such as Soccer, Track, Tennis, Golf, etc. FB and BB (with needed updating for Moody) will get the lion share of the dollars and attention, but SMU needs to dominate in these other areas to sustain our Sears Cup performance and create the right climate for Student Athletes and how to support College sports the right way.

I rest my case.

[AusTxPony]

Thanks for the insight, Water Pony, let's hope someone gets on this problem and starts talking to the Basses, Bushes, Perots and Dells of the world before we get too far behind.

[50's PONY]

Shaqfu -- be specific! What does Copeland bring to the table?

[couch 'em]

I still don't understand the pool in the renovated Dedman Center. We should have built a new pool for the athletes and left the Band Hall pool...err..uhh... Natatorium pool for student use, or should use the space in Dedman for something else...... a non-lap pool...a bowling alley..... anything but ANOTHER lap pool.

[SHAQFU]

50s Pony...

1. He Listens. Copeland, more than any other Athletic Director I have been around, listens to other people, alumni and players. He does not run a dictatorship. He believes in listening to his athletes and understanding what they are saying or asking.

2. His Experience. Copeland has participated in several prominent programs. Currently, I am residing in the DC Metro area. You would be suprised at some of the talk I hear about Copeland's stint at The University of Virginia. One of their large football boosters works with me. He speaks very highly of Copeland and what he did while he was there.

3. His Management. Copeland has an excellent style of management. As I mentioned in #1, he is very interested in what people are saying. He surrounds himself with good thinkers. He has built an excellent staff, and the marketing department (which I think is an important part in our equation) has a great staff right now.

4. He knows what needs to happen. When Copeland decided to change football coaches, he knew what he wanted. He wanted a big-time coach. He wanted experience on the Div. 1A level. He wanted someone who could recruit the state of Texas. Putting these points on a checklist, I think we could mark all the boxes. He knew what he wanted and got it.

5. His relationship with Alumni. I am active in the DC-Area Alumni chapter. I know several prominent alums in the area. They can't say enough about the way Copeland reaches out to them (and not just for money). I think this is a key point in what we are trying to do at SMU. Alumnni, whether football or not, need to support our athletic programs at SMU. If they do, we are going now place but to the top.

50s Pony - I hope that was specific enough!

[SHAQFU]

P.S. How about those Lakers last night!!!

[Eddie P]

I know I tend to jump into these particular threads very early and often. However, I think that everything that needed to be said was accomplished almost adequately by Shaqfu.

I will only say one thing and that is that we are VERY lucky to have an AD the caliber of Jim Copeland. I only wish those that criticize would see the difference