Its Early, But Maybe It Just Can't Be Done Here

by **StallionsModelT** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:38 pm

I admit, I was and still am on board with June Jones and I'm hopeful that he gets this thing turned around before his time here is done. However, I spoke with a former player after the game on Sunday and he told me that Jones and his staff are dumbfounded at how sensationally terrible we are. He said Jones really thought we were going to be competitive this year and fight for a bowl game. The wind has totally been taken out of the sails of this thing. Said that Jones loves the kids, SMU, and still wants to win, but now thinks it could be more like the fourth or fifth year of his contract that we have a legit shot at a bowl game.

Here's my question as an SMU alumni, season ticket holder, and fan. Clearly we won't win a game against a Div.1A opponent this season. The prospects of winning anymore than 4 games is bleak next season. We MIGHT be marginally competitive in year 3 and as Jones hopes, compete for a bowl by year 4. If Jones goes 1-11 this year and 2-10 next year and we don't get this thing going, how many of you are willing to keep fighting this fight? What kind of coach will we be able to attract if the miracle man June Jones can't get it done? Will we have a Circle of Champions to bail us out on the money end after [deleted] away 10 million? Its a scary proposition but I think its a reality that if Jones can't get it done we might turn off the lights on this thing (and what a sad thing that would be).

I sincerely hope that June Jones is the man to get this thing going. I really think he is the guy for the job. But, if he can't do it, maybe it can't be done here and maybe (after we give Jones his 5 years) and we are still terrible, its time to give in. I don't know how many more years of watching THIS garbage people are going to put up with. Added to which the comments my buddy told me about Jones thinking we are now WAAAAAAAY behind what he thought we'd be, and maybe that Grim Reaper is closer than we think. God let it not be so.

by **RGV Pony** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:46 pm

Good points all. I really hope that JJ is sincere about his love for SMU and the kids, because my biggest concern is that all the a$$whippings that he's destined to take just because he's at SMU will lead him to think the way he did at Hawaii before hiring Glanville: that it's just not fun anymore, and worse yet he gets to a point where he'd rather do the Switzer thing and go back to his porch in Kona.

All that having been said, didn't we all say JJ knew he/we were mailing it in for this season when BLM was named the starter? I don't think the sky is falling just yet..most 'experts' saw us at 5-7 at best. I think we all realize that's not possible, and I'm starting to have concern that my other prediction of 2-10 may not be attainable.

by PK » Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:48 pm

Well, it is totally in the hands of JJ and his staff at this point. Bottom line is that recruiting will make or break it. We have the coaches we need, but in this day and age your players have to have more than just talent...size does matter, especially on the lines. For instance, TCU's right tackle #79...6'-9", 330 lbs. A 220 lb DE hasn't got much of a chance against someone like that. We looked like midgets out there against Tech and TCU.

by **Billy Joe** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:00 pm

20 years of anti-competitive restrictions and no competitive model in place will do that to a program. We have played 2 really good teams (Tech and TCU) and one above-average team (Rice) and a bad team (Tx. State). The team is the youngest in the country (from what I have been told [how often have we heard that around here]) It is not time to doom and gloom. The team will improve and we will be competitive next year by the latest. Relax folks. This program has sucked for 20 plus years and it is the first time we have had proven winning coaches and philosophies in place.

by **One Trick Pony** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:02 pm

PK wrote:Well, it is totally in the hands of JJ and his staff at this point. Bottom line is that recruiting will make or break it. We have the coaches we need, but in this day and age your players have to have more than just talent...size does matter, especially on the lines. For instance, TCU's right tackle #79...6'-9", 330 lbs. A 220 lb DE hasn't got much of a chance against someone like that. We looked like midgets out there against Tech and TCU.

Well, can we get a two for one on the season tickets? :lol:

by **mr. pony** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:04 pm

StallionsModelT wrote: ... I spoke with a former player after the game on Sunday and he told me that Jones and his staff are dumbfounded at how sensationally terrible we are.

Jones, from today's presser:

"We had a guy come completely clean in the A-gap on a punt. I've never seen a guy come that clean and we didn't block the punt. Sooner or later we're going to make one of those plays and then we may start to make more."

by **LA_Mustang** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:07 pm

Billy Joe wrote:We have played 2 really good teams (Tech and TCU) and one above-average team (Rice) and a bad team (Tx. State).

Rice is NOT an above average team. In fact, they are a below average division 1 team.

by **jkflamebo** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:09 pm

their offense is above average this year

by **LA_Mustang** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:16 pm

jkflamebo wrote:their offense is above average this year

yeah, when they are playing SMU and Memphis....two teams ranked in the bottom 10 regularly

by **jkflamebo** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:28 pm

they always get sqaushed by texas regardless and vanderbilt is kinda ranked, doesnt mean [deleted]

by **Stallion** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:30 pm

I find this whole discussion absolutely ridiculous. Many fans have waited 20 years-finally conclude that SMU based on the availiable evidence has now evened the playing field and some of you want to pick up your toys and go home? I also see a lot of fans who were pointing at Coaching mistakes down the stretch reverse field and now admit its a talent issue. Uh-huh! I do bet that June Jones was a tad surprised that he could not get his foot in the door with any Texas Top 100 players and especially that he got little response from the Top Texas or for that matter other QBs and WRs in the State. Recruiting is brutal in Texas-and he basically chose a Coaching Staff with minimal Texas ties.

by **Pony_Fan** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:30 pm

StallionsModelT wrote:I admit, I was and still am on board with June Jones and I'm hopeful that he gets this thing turned around before his time here is done. However, I spoke with a former player after the game on Sunday and he told me that Jones and his staff are dumbfounded at how sensationally terrible we are. He said Jones really thought we were going to be competitive this year and fight for a bowl game. The wind has totally been taken out of the sails of this thing. Said that Jones loves the kids, SMU, and still wants to win, but now thinks it could be more like the fourth or fifth year of his contract that we have a legit shot at a bowl game.

Here's my question as an SMU alumni, season ticket holder, and fan. Clearly we won't win a game against a Div.1A opponent this season. The prospects of winning anymore than 4 games is bleak next season. We MIGHT be marginally competitive in year 3 and as Jones hopes, compete for a bowl by year 4. If Jones goes 1-11 this year and 2-10 next year and we don't get this thing going, how many of you are willing to keep fighting this fight? What kind of coach will we be able to attract if the miracle man June Jones can't get it done? Will we have a Circle of Champions to bail us out on the money end after [deleted] away 10 million? Its a scary proposition but I think its a reality that if Jones can't get it done we might turn off the lights on this thing (and what a sad thing that would be).

I sincerely hope that June Jones is the man to get this thing going. I really think he is the guy for the job. But, if he can't do it, maybe it can't be done here and maybe (after we give Jones his 5 years) and we are still terrible, its time to give in. I don't know how many more years of watching THIS garbage people are going to put up with. Added to which the comments my buddy told me about Jones thinking we are now WAAAAAAAY behind what he thought we'd be, and maybe that Grim Reaper is closer than we think. God let it not be so.

Such doom and gloom. He said, she said....whoa... I'm willing to wait. If he can't do it by year 5, I'm not sure anyone can here. Then we can pout and cry.

by **jimhagle** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:49 pm

If we can get kids[ like everyone else goes after] then with our facilities someone can right this ship even if JJ doesn't. Just because he had success at one college doesn't automatically mean he will do it here but it also doesn't mean someone else can't get it done if we are now on a level playing field with everyone else. That said I feel positive that JJ will succeed here in time.

by **OC Mustang** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:03 pm

Texas Tech - Ranked #12 = 4-0
TCU - Ranked #24 = 4-0
Rice - NR (2-2 record) lost to Vanderbilt #21 (4-0) & Texas #7 (4-0); Beat SMU & Memphis

Rhetorically speaking, explain to me which, besides Rice, SMU really had a shot? Rice has beaten conference foes w/ Senior QB and upperclassman. Not completely unheard of. We would have played close and possibly won without turnovers. But that's 50-50 at best.

This freaking-out-crap is b.s. Coach Jones, calmly speaking, is less flexible with QB play than I'd prefer (I think he should be more flexible with Willis in his offense). However, it is truly 50-50 whether we'd be 2-2, with or without Willis. Given what we know now about the opposing teams in our non-conf, I'd say we had a zero chance of winning either of these game in any situation outside cheating on PS2 NCAA Football. And we are upset about what? Freshman QB throwing some pics at the first game? How does changing that change the outcome? It probably doesn't. If SMU gets through October without more wins, then look forward to next year. If it gets through October with some wins, then look forward to next year. I don't like the idea of sacrificing this year, but really, how does the outcome of the last 4 weeks change given practical reality?

By all means criticize the coaching choices...that makes the board interesting. However, four (4) games into the season, and we are all twitterpated because we aren't 2-2? What a waste of energy this is.

I sure hope we beat Tulane like a red-headed stepchild. Anything less and everybody will come unhinged. And I thought I might need a nap...everybody else needs to calm the [deleted] down.

by **mr. pony** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:15 pm

[quote="OC Mustang"]
By all means criticize the coaching choices...that makes the board interesting. However, four (4) games into the season, and we are all twitterpated because we aren't 2-2? What a waste of energy this is.[quote]

I think folks are more concerned with how the team is performing, not so much the W-L record.
Certainly, it would have been fun to hang for three quarters with either Tech or TCU, or at least put up 21 points on one of them.

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