Opportunity to get this right

[Pony in SA]

Just returned to town from weekend in Chicago and learned PB is gone. I really think this is an opporunity for SMU but need to make sure this transition is done correctly and first class. Need to spend whatever money (hell borrow it if they need to) to get the right coach who those in Dallas and Dallas media will embrance, and then coordinate his hiring with some type of marketing campaign.

At press conference with new coach, also release marketing campaign to attract more fans, sell tickets, etc. and capitalize on initial good will and press. From business standpoint I'd have marketing people working right now so we have a plan, call it "Return to Glory", "New Pony Express", whatever but unleash the plan then. Call Craig James, Dickerson, etc. and have them there and make it a big deal. Tell people if buy season tickets by end of year they will get discount, or something like that.

Have mock ups of new uniforms done and ready to go. If we are really going back to old Pony Express colors and type uniforms, incorporate that into the new marketing campaign. If you go the "Return to Glory" or similar route, have new unis and CJ, Dickerson, etc. there. Do whatever to push new coach and that we are going to get this right and embrace our positive football history (even if it is small).

Just hope we actually have a strategic plan in place for this and someone smarter than me is thinking about how to do it correctly. From a purely business standpoint if we spend the money and have a plan and do this correctly I think we will reap the benefits.

[planoponyfan]

If I were Orsini, I'd get hold of Dickerson and James right away. Not so much for any publicity value, but to get their input on what they think the school should do to fix the football program. He could even create a search committee and put both of them on it. The fact that both of them have been critical of the program for several years should be a big clue that something needs to be fixed.

The media here will never really embrace SMU again until we win. The press conference to announce the new coach won't do much to help. We've got to get the right guy and make other changes in the athletic department before we'll see a resurgence of this program.

[Dwan]

I spoke to Dickerson at a party about a year and a half ago. He was not a Bennett supporter. He felt they needed, if possible, to get a name because that would get Dallas excited about SMU football again. His two cents was that when they hired Bennett, he had never heard of him, but if there was a major name, he would have been more excited. He felt that his feeling is one that is shared by Dallas and high school players.

[OR-See-Nee]

I agree that we should get a fellow with immediate name recognition, if at all possible. I'm not sure that we need to redo the unis, colors, and marketing campaign--we just did that. I would like to see a bunch of well know football alumni at the press conference--standing behing Steve O and the new HC. We've got some folks with natural national media avenues--ED and CJ--and we need to get them excited about this program and the HC. That free pub is priceless. Can you imagine ED talking up SMU in the LA market?

[NavyCrimson]

I think the unis & getting back to the original colors is on everybody's "A List" & for good reason.

[ponyfan84]

this is a chance to right the program with the right hire. hopefully 5 years from now we're not back here [deleted] about the new coach. but the big issue is getting people to know what SMU football is. not just in Dallas, but in the greater Dallas areas. The Cowboys overshadow this team and they always will but we need someone to make people excited about SMU football again.

i just want a coach who can recuriit and play the game. the great thing about PB being canned is that now we have something to look forward to next season. if he stayed and we finished 5-7 or worse, we'd know what next season would hold. i am not expecting much improvement next year, but at least there would be something to look forward to.

[Dukie]

If I were Orsini, I'd get hold of Dickerson and James right away. Not so much for any publicity value, but to get their input on what they think the school should do to fix the football program.

Read the DMN. James is already talking.

[ponyboy]

From the DMN: "James said he trusted Orsini to make the correct decision, adding that he was willing to help in the process.

"I'm sure Steve recognizes that I have some inroads in college football that can help," said James, who said he fields calls from coaches who are intrigued by the situation at SMU.

James said SMU's new coach needs to be a strong recruiter. He said with SMU's location in Dallas and the value of its degree, SMU should be the most attractive school in C-USA."