what will it take to win

[Phxfan]

I live in Phoenix, AZ. I would on occasion travel to Dallas to watch a game or two. Right now I have Mustang all access. The problem is the team just keeps losing. I didn't go to SMU, yet it's my team. You have a natural fan base of about 11 million Methodists around the country. I don't see any reason to to fly to Dallas, spend the $, just to watch the team lose. I remember when SMU was winning and you could come close at times to selling out Texas Stadium. National TV (ABC, CBS, NBC) would be there. If I want to see an exciting game I could go to any # of local high school games. Or I could go to an Az. St. game. When Az. St. was losing last year, or should I say not winning all the games, attendance went to around 30,000. They Fired the coach and staff, even though they went to the Hawaii Bowl and lost. They brought in Dennis Erickson & Co. and are 6-0 in the top 20 and drawing 60-70,000 fans. I doubt ASU has spent nearly $1,000,000.00 to promote the team as they don't need to right now. 6-0 promotes the team, the Erickson hire promotes the team. This is the same team Dirk Kutter put together. These are NOT Ericksons recruits. SMU needs to show a commitment to the program. The quickest way to show this is a big hire FB coach. Win games and the rest will follow. This is not rocket science. That Million spent could have gone to a new top notch coach and the surrounding media attention would have been more effective and you would probably have a good team that had more than one win.

[ponyinNC]

Phxfan,

I couldn't have said it better myself. "Just Win Baby!"...and the media attention and fans will follow!!

[cguru]

so where is the money going to come from to hire a big name coach if no one buys tickets or donates to the mustang club? when orsini hired doherty, no one showed up for basketball games, so why would football be any different?

[PonyKai]

so where is the money going to come from to hire a big name coach if no one buys tickets or donates to the mustang club? when orsini hired doherty, no one showed up for basketball games, so why would football be any different?

There's plenty of money around here. Just takes a little convincing to get certain alum to pony up. And a big name coach and a legitimate game plan would certainly do some convincing.

[abezontar]

its not the Chicken or the Egg?

its building your Competitive Model before hiring your Coach?

...and 90% of you have gotten this wrong from Day 1. You are so worried about firing Phil Bennett and all his predecessors that you failed to take the first step in building the very foundation of the program. We've seen how well this works out-smooth sailing ahead.

While fixing the model may be the ultimate solution you have failed repeatedly to articulate how the average fan can change the model. Until you are willing to share with us what you have been doing, and what we can do to fix the model I don't really see how shouting about the model on a message board is any different than shouting about firing the coach on a message board.

If anything trying to get the coach fired may have an impact on the model. It appears as though every time that a coach has been fired and a new coach hired the restrictions that have been placed on the program have been relaxed some. Bennett had it better than Cavan, who had it better than Rossley who had it better than Gregg, at least that is what you have told us.

Stallion...response? What can the individual fan do?

[cguru]

why does it have to be certain alum? why can't every one just agree to help out, instead of a few picking up the slack for everyone? if the alumni is so rich, then it shouldn't be that big of a deal. especially if you can use it as a tax right off.

[Samurai Stang]

I thought that way once too before my first billion.

[PonyKai]

You just asked where it would come from, and most likely a select group of alum would be the answer to most financial questions.

[GeorgiaMustang]

We must turn into a team like an SEC team that finds a way to physically beat up people. Even if we give up a W we should send them packing thinking "[deleted]!" that freakin hurt, they mean business. I know the team is not big i n the w department, but can we please act like we own some respect! Ability is a great asset! And we have plenty of if!

[Phxfan]

so where is the money going to come from to hire a big name coach if no one buys tickets or donates to the mustang club? when orsini hired doherty, no one showed up for basketball games, so why would football be any different?

Where did they get the $ to promote this team? I read approx. 1m$. Schools have $ that they can dig out if they need or want to. I don't know how much ASU is paying Erickson but I'm sure it's a lot. It doesn't all come from the fans/boosters/alum. I'm sure Duke's basketball coach is well paid. The UMC has some investment. It's like priming the pump, or a carburetor. If the school doesn't put something in they won't get anything out. It just boils down to a commitment to the program. I don't have a clue about how fans can influence the school. Maybe a few letters to the UMC might help? I believe its UMC.org. I know my family has put in quite a few $. The basketball program will build. And win. And fans will show up. And TV will come in, etc.etc.etc.