Orsini releases statement regarding vacant ND AD position...

[Mustangsabu]

I have only good things to say about SO, and I will be happy for any success that the guy has. I have been to South Bend (ND is my "other team") and it is magnificent to experience football there. If he is offered the job I would consider it extraordinary if he turned it down, and I would not ask him to. That said, I hope that ND considers him to be unproven and find a hire elsewhere until SO has a chance to turn SMU into a BCS powerhouse (ok...perhaps just a top 25 team with regular BCS bowl appearances) and has our basketball programs NCAA fixtures. Then he can go to Notre Dame with my full support...leading to at least one SMU - ND football match!

However, if he does get offerred the ND job, Turner better be prepared to hire big to replace him. This would be a bad time to falter.

[SMU89]

I wonder how June Jones will feel after he made a life-altering decision to leave his beloved Hawaii to take this job primarily b/c of Steve Orsini only to see him leave before he plays his first game. One thing is crucial. If Steve decides to go we have to go out and get a top-notch replacement. This program can't endure another Copeland.

Not discounting Steve's efforts and influence in the hiring process, but this isn't June Jones first rodeo -- Jones did not make a "life-altering decision" primarily b/c of Steve Orsini. Steve sold Jones on what SMU had to offer -- not that Steve would office next to Jones and they could play cards during the day and hangout on the weekends.

[PonySnob]

Finding a new AD could be a little bit harder due to the contracts with the football and mens basketball coach that we are locked into since AD's generally want their own hires in those positions.

[EastStang]

I guess we'll be reaching into our wallets again. AD's like SO are hard to come by. Many are of the Copeland school who are nice guys, shake hands and buy drinks, but have no vision for what our program should look like 5 years from now or 10 years from now. I hope he stays, but if we lose him, I can't say I'm surprised. Steve O has made two major hires, men's BB and men's FB and both were high profile coaches who have had some success. He couldn't fire Bennett after a 6-6 year. When Bennett fell flat, then he took action and hired the best coach who was out there.

[RGV Pony]

What really sucks is I believe ND says they have "no timeline" for finding a replacement.

[Scoops]

Interesting that the above statement was released by Brad Sutton, SMU Sports Information Director. If Steve O leaves, maybe Brad wants to go with him to South Bend.

Not a chance.

[SMU Football Blog]

Truth is we don't know. I can really see ND higher ups not being enamored with Orsini.

First hire at UCF: George O'Leary. O'Leary fired by Notre Dame before he coached a game. Stated reason was he lied on his resume, but a lot of people will say it was because the major boosters were not impressed with his coaching credentials.

First hire at SMU: Matt Doherty. Doherty coached one year at Notre Dame before bolting for North Carolina.

The same reasons the ND boosters weren't in love with O'Leary may keep Orsini out of the mix. ND thinks they should be hiring big name people from big time BCS schools and not from CUSA where Orsini has on some occasions hired "retreads" and "thrown money around" to solve a problem.

[Scoops]

Finding a new AD could be a little bit harder due to the contracts with the football and mens basketball coach that we are locked into since AD's generally want their own hires in those positions.

No way. If those coaches win (and those National Coach of the Year awards suggest they know a thing or two about winning), the AD will look great. Sure, Steve-O would get the credit for bringing them to SMU, but if he leaves and they win under a new AD, the new guy would get credit, too, for fostering an environment in which they are able to succeed at a school where that hasn't happened in decades.

[SMU Football Blog]

What really sucks is I believe ND says they have "no timeline" for finding a replacement.

I read somewhere it could take over a year. I don't see how that is a bad thing. We aren't going to be talking about this everyday.

[George S. Patton]

They may give it to the lady who is serving as the interim -- if they're taking as long as to give her some time to see how she does.

And there really isn't a season where their big coaches are facing a year of trouble. Charlie Weiss and Mike Brey are pretty gold, the WBB coach just got her team into the tournament and beat us , hockey won the national title (I think) and baseball is in good hands. So if she runs it pretty well, they may break some ground and give it to her fulltime.

[Nacho]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/co ... 4189.story

The departing ND AD and Orsini do have Doh and O"Leary in common.

[mrydel]

Is anyone reading the Tulsa board to see if they are in a panic mode. They have had some pretty big things happen under their AD.

[Mexmustang]

Steve left out his cell number in the press release...

[CalallenStang]

What really sucks is I believe ND says they have "no timeline" for finding a replacement.

Fighting Irish held hostage, Day (insert number here)

[mrydel]

Is anyone reading the Tulsa board to see if they are in a panic mode. They have had some pretty big things happen under their AD.

Answering my own question, they seem very laid back about the situation. That is the difference between us and an established program. We need to get to a point where quality resumes are stacked and ready at all times.