Running off the recruits now

[jaydon]

How about all this talking you're doing about the level of talent we have here has some recruits thinking about leaving, that seriously picked this school because they believed that the program was on the uprise. Now before they've even played a down on there redshirt year you're saying they're not good enough. I know I've heard the athlete say or consider transferring already. Give them a break they believed in what Coach Bennett was telling them and they game you all a try. I know for sure atleast 5 other boys had offers elsewhere and chose SMU. If they had gone to the other schools they would have been winning now. So don't think that you were their only offer.

[jtstang]

If they want to leave SMU because of what a bunch of frustrated fans write on a message board please tell them not to let the door hit them in the @ss. Maybe one of those other winning schools will still want them. Good luck.

[Pony94]

QUite a few people on here don't believe it is the level of talent that has lead us to 1-4. Pathetic coaching is the problem. I think this group of guys should 4-1 without question.

I want each and everyone one of them to stay and enjoy their time at SMU...and make this team better, like we know they can!

[Ponymon]

QUite a few people on here don't believe it is the level of talent that has lead us to 1-4. Pathetic coaching is the problem. I think this group of guys should 4-1 without question.

I want each and everyone one of them to stay and enjoy their time at SMU...and make this team better, like we know they can!

I do think we are lacking talent on the defensive side of the ball. Anytime you play an ex-wide receiver as your middle linebacker and two defensive back types as your outside backers, you are going to have problems! Great opportunity for several linebacker recruits to come in next year and play immediately especially since two of the linebackers are seniors!

[couch 'em]

How about all this talking you're doing about the level of talent we have here has some recruits thinking about leaving, that seriously picked this school because they believed that the program was on the uprise. Now before they've even played a down on there redshirt year you're saying they're not good enough. I know I've heard the athlete say or consider transferring already. Give them a break they believed in what Coach Bennett was telling them and they game you all a try. I know for sure atleast 5 other boys had offers elsewhere and chose SMU. If they had gone to the other schools they would have been winning now. So don't think that you were their only offer.

WOW, you're right! At 1-4 with out '1' coming from a horrible UNT team, we should be all holding hands and congratulating everyone! YAY! LOSING RECORD! EVERYONE GETS A MEDAL!

If they need to cry about what people on message boards say perhaps they should see if Bennett still remembers the part of football where you 'sack up and be a man'.

[bagice]

Agree,

Recruits could be having second thoughts and considering running off...but it's not because of what we are writing on the message board its because our season is not living up to the promises that Phil and company told them during recruiting.....

Unless SMU was their only option, I would fully expect anyone that was considering SMU to have second thoughts after this start...

[ponyboy]

It is a fact that recruits read and are influenced by message boards. I love it when people get on here and rationalize this fact by saying something to the effect of, "Well, if he was a real man he wouldn't have been run off," or, "Good riddance if he allows us to run him off." The translation of this rationalization is that I, as a poster on this board, want to continue saying bad things about my school because I like to whine and complain publicly and I don't want anything to get in the way of my God-given right to do so.

[couch 'em]

Are you actually suggesting that players/recruits are NOT influanced by the team being 1-4 with a loss to UTEP and a near loss to UNT and the horrible record of Bennett since arriving, but they ARE influanced by people complaining about it on a message board?

[ponyboy]

No, I'm not suggesting anything so dumb that this board is the sole influence upon recruits' decisions about attending SMU.

[jaydon]

couch 'em Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:08 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you actually suggesting that players/recruits are NOT influanced by the team being 1-4 with a loss to UTEP and a near loss to UNT and the horrible record of Bennett since arriving, but they ARE influanced by people complaining about it on a message board?

__________________________________________________________

What I'm try to say is don't kick a horse that's already down, they see, know and definitely feel all the pain just like you fans do and can be easily discourage if they read what you all really feel about them. I know for a fact that my little Pony said mom don't read that stuff if will get you down. And my son is a sore loser anyway he hadn't lost this many games in his entire career playing football and he's played since he was 6 years old. It's not there fault that SMU have lost 20+ years this class wasn't even born yet. And when choosing a school my son still Chose SMU against his Dad's wishes so be mindful of those type of situation.
Be angry but also remember what you're saying.

[ponyinNC]

__________________________________________________________

What I'm try to say is don't kick a horse that's already down, they see, know and definitely feel all the pain just like you fans do and can be easily discourage if they read what you all really feel about them. I know for a fact that my little Pony said mom don't read that stuff if will get you down. And my son is a sore loser anyway he hadn't lost this many games in his entire career playing football and he's played since he was 6 years old. It's not there fault that SMU have lost 20+ years this class wasn't even born yet. And when choosing a school my son still Chose SMU against his Dad's wishes so be mindful of those type of situation.
Be angry but also remember what you're saying.[/quote]

Jaydon,

We all support the student athletes that spill blood, sweat, and tears for SMU. That is not in question. And we are all mindful of the fact that these kids had other offers and are busting their [deleted] for the fans here. Anyone who watched the Mike Gundy tirade should know by now that these kids have feelings and do read papers, msg boards, etc..and it should never get personal.

But we do have the right as fans and alumni to complain about the results so far this season. Most of the complaining has to do with the coaching and the model here at SMU that has seemed to make it even harder for these kids to succeed. I don't think anyone here has posted anything personal or intentionally hurtful.

Bottom line...this is our team. Its like our family. We can say negative things about them, but no one else can. We go to other msg boards and defend our team and our school. We sit in the stands and talk smack with opposing fans and defend our team, even through 20+ seasons of losing. And we have the right to criticize our own team when the results do not match the expectations.

As good as LSU, USC, Texas or any other school has been over the years, as soon as they lose a game their message board looks just like ours. Opinions, critical comments, etc.

In other words, you should be more concerned when this board becomes empty. That means there are no more fans. No more passionate butts in the stands. That is truly when SMU football is dead.

[PonySnob]

__________________________________________________________
As good as LSU, USC, Texas or any other school has been over the years, as soon as they lose a game their message board looks just like ours. Opinions, critical comments, etc.

Their message boards are probably much more critical than PonyFans.com with a loss....or even if their team doesn't win by 30 points!

[QuikSStang]

__________________________________________________________
As good as LSU, USC, Texas or any other school has been over the years, as soon as they lose a game their message board looks just like ours. Opinions, critical comments, etc.

Their message boards are probably much more critical than PonyFans.com with a loss....or even if their team doesn't win by 30 points!

i wish wed moan and complain on a weekly basis because we didnt win by 30 consistently

[The Spaz]

It is a fact that recruits read and are influenced by message boards. I love it when people get on here and rationalize this fact by saying something to the effect of, "Well, if he was a real man he wouldn't have been run off," or, "Good riddance if he allows us to run him off." The translation of this rationalization is that I, as a poster on this board, want to continue saying bad things about my school because I like to whine and complain publicly and I don't want anything to get in the way of my God-given right to do so.

Gimme a break...

The message board isn't CREATING the complaining and [deleted]. The message board is simply one of MANY METHODS of showing our dissatisfaction with the team's performance. If the recruits don't hear it here, then they'll hear it on the boulevard, from opposing team's fans in the stands, or on any of the many other message boards. Heck, they just need to look at ESPN.com to see that we do, in fact, suck this year...

Besides, if you let message boards run your life, you're in for a crappy existence. Messages posted here come from passionate emotion. Hardly anyone's going to take time out to post simply "Things are going well..."
They're either going to post "OMG WE SUCK SO BAD" or "OMG WE ARE SO AWESOME." Since the record indicates that we are not, in fact, OMG Awesome, more people will post that we suck...

My job and career runs in many respects on the opinions of whiney internet posters, so I understand how hard it can be to hear people slam your performance. The solution? DON'T READ MESSAGE BOARDS!

[expony18]

What I'm try to say is don't kick a horse that's already down, they see, know and definitely feel all the pain just like you fans do and can be easily discourage if they read what you all really feel about them. I know for a fact that my little Pony said mom don't read that stuff if will get you down. And my son is a sore loser anyway he hadn't lost this many games in his entire career playing football and he's played since he was 6 years old. It's not there fault that SMU have lost 20+ years this class wasn't even born yet. And when choosing a school my son still Chose SMU against his Dad's wishes so be mindful of those type of situation.
Be angry but also remember what you're saying.

1. these players should be old enough to handle criticism, if they can't they shouldn't read the board or the newspaper. I know for a fact that when i was on the team many players did not read this board because they felt everyone on here was a bunch of jack@sses. And what should be discouraging to them is not this board, but their performance the last 5 weeks. This team has tons of "potential," and i know they are working hard and trying their best, but sometimes their best just isn't good enough.

2. I hope you don't call your son "my little pony" in front of his friends or girlfriends, my mom did and i am still scarred from it.

3. Mothers should not read this message board, it's composed of a bunch of oldtimers who are still living in the 1980's (or earlier). They can pick out every flaw that an 18 year old has and yet refuse to give him credit when he does something well.

4. You're right that the players on this team are not the reason we have not been to a bowl game in the last 20 years, but at this rate they WILL be the reason we don't go to one THIS year. (I still believe we will, ex. Sunshine Care Bear avatar).

5. Your son made the right choice by coming to SMU and playing for PB. Just to let you know, every school has fan boards like this one, and every fan board rips the coaches, administration, and players! This is a business, not pop warner football. People's livelihood depend on the performance of 18-22 year olds. In closing Ponyfans is a great place to talk SMU football (complain, [deleted], cheerlead, etc.), even if you don't agree with everything that is said here.