Bad Times

[jtstang]

We fire our pitiful coach who inherited a bad situation and made it no better in six years. Now we can't seem to give the job away. Is there any lower place for SMU to go? This is really starting to bum me out.

[Charleston Pony]

Orsini will find someone to take this job and the new coach will have the same opportunity Bennett did 5 years ago...to jump start this program. I still think Bennett's 0-12 season derailed his chances, and last year's failure to convert that 1st and goal at Rice killed any chance he had of being the guy to get it done.

I'm concerned about SMU's joining the arms race for that "splash hire" coach. Whoever we hire, if he is sucessful, won't be here long. My guess is there are plenty of very capable guys out there who will take this gig for a mere $1 mil and that might be easier for the guys who are funding this effort to swallow.

If/when SMU builds a stong enough football program to where Ford's "limited seating capactity" becomes an issue, then we can talk about playing with the big boys.

[The PonyGrad]

The coaches that do want the job are barred by our "no bad history" commandment IMHO. We are still not serious about football.

[friarwolf]

Here's an understatement - next week is huge for Orsini and SMU. I truly hope Steve-O has this thing figured out and he is going to delight us. Having said that, he must deliver a coach that says, "SMU is tired of playing in the minor leagues". Be it Fran, Johnson, Neuheisel, Bowden, Barnett, secret dude, whomever, we need to trot out someone who has some skins along with a 1.5mm to 2.25mm salary that says to recruits, we are serious. We can debate all day long who we think brings the biggest bag of tricks but it better be one of those names or someone else with "buzz." Sorry, Gill at 800k - 1mm and a 5 -17 record at Buffalo doesn't cut it in my opinion. Another time, he might be the guy but I don't think we can gamble.

We have a new provost who is a sports fan (thanks GT and committee). He is getting ready to be pitched the idea of some athletic friendly majors that still meets SMU's mandate of moving up the ranks of academic institutions. A name coach who can stroll into the recruits' home and say "things are changing on the hilltop" is a must. Got my fingers crossed...........

[RGV Pony]

And here we all thought Steve-O was going to go out and get the "best available coach in America." Alas, because of the borderline discriminatory hiring practice of Dr. Turner, the first best coach available who actually had interest was shunned (Gary Barnett).

I'm still hoping for Ty. I'd be happy with Gibbs. I doubt Bowden is a fallback guy because he arguably has 'baggage' too, which disqualified Barnett.

[Charleston Pony]

can't eliminate Gailey from any list. Whether he was there briefly or not, the guy has Dallas Cowboys on his resume.