I've heard the deal with Johnson has been finalized

[Hoop Fan]

Johnson wants to coach for a BCS school. If Johnson leaves Navy, which is a big maybe (Navy alum are not letting him go that easily), GT and Duke would be 1st and 2nd choice for him.

I find it real tough to believe that PJ comes to SMU. I guess anything is possible. But I sure as hell dont see Duke a clear #2 over SMU.

You don't know their alumni...

I am not really doubting it, but are these the same alumni who outbid everybody for Ted Roof last time around?

These are the same alumni who remember when they went to bowls....

so, do you know something or are you purely speculating?

[cs09viking]

Johnson wants to coach for a BCS school. If Johnson leaves Navy, which is a big maybe (Navy alum are not letting him go that easily), GT and Duke would be 1st and 2nd choice for him.

I find it real tough to believe that PJ comes to SMU. I guess anything is possible. But I sure as hell dont see Duke a clear #2 over SMU.

You don't know their alumni...

I am not really doubting it, but are these the same alumni who outbid everybody for Ted Roof last time around?

These are the same alumni who remember when they went to bowls....

you mean in the 80s under Spurrier or the 30s under Wallace Wade? they have never won outside of those eras....and the old ball coach with respect to Duke is an anomaly.

[The XtC]

[quote="SMU00"][quote="StallionsModelT"]While you can't deny Turner's ineptitude in athletics, you can't deny his remarkable fundraising abilities. The guy has brought some serious cash/facilities/upgrades to this university.[/quote]Turner is not an athlete or a coach or an athletic administrator. Where's his athletic ineptitude - on his morning jog?[/quote]

Turner played basketball in college, he was teammates with Rob Evans.

For those who seem to think Orsini is somehow under Turners thumb, think about this. 18 months ago Turner was ready to hire his old college roommate as our new basketball coach. Orsini arrived and in barely a week Evans was out and Doherty was in. Orsini got his way because it's his job and his responsibility to handle the athletic department. Let me do my job, or let me go. The decisions made are on his shoulders, he gets evaluated on how his choices turn out. Have to let him make his own decisions, or there is no point in having an AD.

I should mention that I'm not particularly a fan of Turner, Orsini, or Doherty. I'm not saying that I have that much faith in any of them. Just saying that Orsini has already bucked Turner once and gotten his way. There is no reason to think that Orsini is somehow Turners "biotch" as one poster referred to him.

[Statler]

While you can't deny Turner's ineptitude in athletics, you can't deny his remarkable fundraising abilities. The guy has brought some serious cash/facilities/upgrades to this university.

Turner is not an athlete or a coach or an athletic administrator. Where's his athletic ineptitude - on his morning jog?

Turner played basketball in college, he was teammates with Rob Evans.

For those who seem to think Orsini is somehow under Turners thumb, think about this. 18 months ago Turner was ready to hire his old college roommate as our new basketball coach. Orsini arrived and in barely a week Evans was out and Doherty was in. Orsini got his way because it's his job and his responsibility to handle the athletic department. Let me do my job, or let me go. The decisions made are on his shoulders, he gets evaluated on how his choices turn out. Have to let him make his own decisions, or there is no point in having an AD.

I should mention that I'm not particularly a fan of Turner, Orsini, or Doherty. I'm not saying that I have that much faith in any of them. Just saying that Orsini has already bucked Turner once and gotten his way. There is no reason to think that Orsini is somehow Turners "biotch" as one poster referred to him.

Whatever XTC says is Gospel to Darth.....He knows of what he speaketh!

[Stallion]

Well at least Orsini has a plan-although admitedly in some areas it seems almost non-existence. But he sought to maximize Boulevard receipts, Crum Center, bankrolling Coaching search and at least a stab at a PonyUp marketing plan. Considering limited resources I have little negative to say of Orsini-he gets a shot to put his plan in action.

[Pony Soup]

Well at least Orsini has a plan-although admitedly in some areas it seems almost non-existence. But he sought to maximize Boulevard receipts, Crum Center, bankrolling Coaching search and at least a stab at a PonyUp marketing plan. Considering limited resources I have little negative to say of Orsini-he gets a shot to put his plan in action.

it seems non-existence? go back to school

[OC Mustang]

Think about it Orsini is the one with the connection to PJ. Orsini is the one who tried to hire him at UCF. What would make anyone think this is Turner's hire? Sometimes people can be so stupid.

Turner is [deleted] when it comes to athletics. Stop posting his name on this board. He is an educator that has screwec up every athletic program he has touched. Leave him out of it.

Nice to see you agree with me about Turner. I give the guy his due; he is a helluva fundraiser. However, for whatever reason, there was this silent underlying assumption from everybody that he was "all-out" (sorry, couldn't resist) to fix football as evidenced by Copeland's departure and Orsini's hiring. I don't think he wants to screw up Div1A revenue sports; I simply think he has a different set of priorities.

I am surprised, however, that you are turning around your opinion on Johnson. Do you still feel that this isn't a good hire recruit-wise, or are you simply giving him the benefit of the doubt on this because he may indeed be the best we can get, and we don't know what he will do when he gets here.

Thoughts?

[NavyCrimson]

"I obviously don't know, but from what I've seen of Steve O so far, if Turner told Orsini who to hire on Monday morning, Orsini's resignation would be on Turner's desk by Monday noon."

If that's correct, Ponyx2, we've got the right man for the job in Orsini. That's the type of guy we need running athletics - or any job or company.