La Tech-Miami

[Nacho]

I like Miami, after all they are our model, but I would love to see La Tech pull off a huge upset tonight. It can only help the WAC and all non-BCS schools. Even a close game would be a significant step for the much-maligned non-BCSers, but nothing beats winning.

[Nacho]

preview of the game:

<A HREF="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=232402348" TARGET=_blank>http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=232402348</A>

[Johnny Rock]

How is Miami our model? Miami fully commits to their football team. SMU imposes higher academic standards for its players than other schools. Miami is in a BCS conference. SMU is not. Miami plays in the Orange Bowl. SMU built a small football stadium. Sure, we all would like SMU to be successful like Miami. However, the alleged "committment" is a bunch of rhetoric by the school. I like the hire of Bennett, but how can he compete with our fellow Texas schools when he cannot even recruit from the same pool of athletes as schools like Tech, Texas, etc. I also thought we were going to start recruiting more JC players. I will believe that when I see it. Anyways, we will see how much work Bennett has after Saturday.

[Grider]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Johnny Rock:
<B>How is Miami our model? Miami fully commits to their football team. SMU imposes higher academic standards for its players than other schools. Miami is in a BCS conference. SMU is not. Miami plays in the Orange Bowl. SMU built a small football stadium. Sure, we all would like SMU to be successful like Miami. However, the alleged "committment" is a bunch of rhetoric by the school. I like the hire of Bennett, but how can he compete with our fellow Texas schools when he cannot even recruit from the same pool of athletes as schools like Tech, Texas, etc. I also thought we were going to start recruiting more JC players. I will believe that when I see it. Anyways, we will see how much work Bennett has after Saturday. </B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah and their school colors are different too.

Look, there are plenty of similarities to Miami. For one, it's a private school in a huge metropolitan market. Bennett used them as an example of how SMU can build a program from the inside out. The "300 mile radius" is part of that. It also seems to be working at least in terms of recruiting. Ask Vincent Chase, who chose SMU over the Texas schools and a whole host of other BCS schools.

In reference to Jucos, it's debateable, but, in my opinion, Juco players are more of a quick fix and not the best way to build a long term program. I'm probably going to get burned on this one, but I'm willing to bet there's not too many starters for Miami that are Juco players.

One thing I do agree on is that the school isn't fully committed at this point. I think the biggest thing missing there is a Kinesiology degree. That being said, the other restrictions that were lifted are a huge step forward from the Pye years.

Bottom line is that it takes time to build a program. SMU just allowed itself to start building a program a couple of years ago. It's not too far-fetched for SMU to use Miami as a model on how to build a football program. At least in theory.

[Johnny Rock]

I agree Grider. I would like to see Bennett take a few top notch Juco players every year. Fresno St., San Jose St., Nevada, ad La. Tech. Texas Tech, and North Texas all have won games with Juco players. It would be a tremendous help to our team. However, the idiots at SMU who make the decisions have not realized that a winning football team helps SMU's exposure which in turn helps SMU the entire school. With that being said, let's kick the crap out of Tech Saturday!!!!

[SoCal_Pony]

JC transfer Lance Mitchell was the Big XII newcomer of the year last season. He was also OU’s leading tackler.

We need JC depth on both OL/DL, it could be the difference between a winning and losing season.
S

[Stallion]

Grider- I agree that it takes a while to build a program but it does not take a while to set in place the Model or blueprint that should be utilized to give you the best chance to compete against your traditional and natural rivals. So patience for the coaching staff in developing the talent assembled-yes, but patience for the administration that has has handicapped every SMU coach-no way!!!!!

[Southland]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Johnny Rock:
<B> However, the idiots at SMU who make the decisions have not realized that a winning football team helps SMU's exposure which in turn helps SMU the entire school. </B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I like your enthusiasm, but a winning football team isn't going to help the university climb the rankings ladder.

What keeps us in the second tier is the huge percentage of applicants that qualify for enrollment. If that number goes down, SMU will move up, and they way to get that number down is to lower tuition.

As far as the athletic program goes, the university reduced the academic requirements three years ago, and Bennett announced when he took the job that he would look at JC players. I doubt he would make that announcement had Copeland not approved the process.

[Stallion]

BTW I really haven't started following BB recruiting yet but someone posted on the WAC Forum that Fresno St. just got a commitment from the No. 1 JUCO player in America. Fire Dement!

[Grider]

Stallion, the administration is certainly what's holding us back, I don't think there would be many to disagree there. However, I would like to think that Copeland, Bennett, and hopefully Turner are all trying to change our blueprint as we go. I don't think they could go to the trutees, lay everything out we want to build a program, and expect them to go for it. It sounds like this "commitment" has the public and behind closed doors agenda. I've heard you speak of the "Silent Commitment" before. Do you think there's any weight to this theory?

So, first step: New Stadium; second: lift restrictions; third: PE major? If you want Juco players, that's where we're going to get them. They'll have more transferable hours. Regardless, the third step will probably be the hardest thing to implement.

[This message has been edited by Grider (edited 08-28-2003).]

[Nacho]

Southland you are absolutely correct. Tuition at SMU is killing us. I personally know several kids in Coppell (a fairly affluent area) who can't even consider SMU due to the costs. They don't qualify for aid or grants. The only help they can get is from loans. Who wants to be strapped with over a 100k loan just out of college? Why is the band so small? Same reason. The band scholarships are woefully underfunded. Bottom line: You have to rich or very poor to go to SMU, unless you are one of the very fortunate ones to get an athletic scholarship. The administration attitude is if you can't afford it go someplace else. So they do. Just because it is HP doesn't mean it has to be the most expensive school in Texas, which it is.

[This message has been edited by Nacho (edited 08-28-2003).]

[EastStang]

On other thing that the University is doing that will help applications and enrollment is negotiating for the George W. Bush Library. If the school lands that plum, it will attract people to come onto campus who would never look at SMU before and could enlarge the applicant pool and it could increase endowments as well. Tuition will not decrease unless endowments increase. The current low interest rate market as well as the depressed stock market certainly have not helped this situation. If any of you guys want to help the University, a big check to the endowment fund is always helpful.

[Dark Horse]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Stallion:
<B> BTW I really haven't started following BB recruiting yet but someone posted on the WAC Forum that Fresno St. just got a commitment from the No. 1 JUCO player in America. Fire Dement!</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's a little harsh, don't you think?

[Hoop Fan]

All valid points, but I dont see tuition dropping unless somehow enrollment increases. Vicous cycle. One way to increase applicants, especially for a southern school, is to win football games. Its sounds crass I know, but the truth is nobody likes a loser. TCU has had increase in applicants since they started going to bowl games. Gotta do it the right way, but there is no use fielding a team if you don't intend to compete at the level you play.

[Boston Pony]

Guys, trust me, the costs are extremely high at all of the better private schools. SMU is not in the category of high cost schools when looking at a national survey. The best schools and those that compete for the better students have much higher tuitions than SMU (my son goes to Connecticut College for $36k).

Name recognition of the school with positive press helps to get kids to apply. To get good students to have interest and apply the sports program is important. When we were competitive in FB / BB, the applications were at their highest levels. Getting the number of applications up, we need to increase our positive name recognition and sports can help. When we get the aps up, we can then go after the better student and be more selective. The opportunity is to then recruit top students (much like athletics) and if needed, offer money for merit.