A disturbing quote

[mathman]

Instead of pointing fingers at other players, leadership means setting the example, like - "I'm sick of losing and I am going to do whatever it takes to win and I want all those who are willing, to join me."

and maybe that is what he meant.

If what 2112 said was true, some of these guys needed a finger pointed at them. I liked the way he said it.

[Charleston Pony]

Jones selected Bo Levi as the "leader" of this team for a reason and you expect a guy in that position to step up after such a miserable year.

Obviously Jones, and everyone associated with SMU athletics, knows there is a cancer here. Does it surprise anyone that the athletes take on the mentality of the student body they are surrounded by? Plenty of kids cruising thru SMU "on easy street" with plans to join the family business when play time is over.

You knew Jones was serious when he announced the 2-deep in August and it featured 19 FR & RS FR, with many upperclassmen (featuring Willis as the posterboy) nowhere to be found. This season seems to have been about determining who is truly motivated to do things Jones' way and who might be talented enough to stick around the next 3-4 years of Jones' contract.

I truly believe things will change under this head coach, but it will take him until year 4 to have his roster out on the field.

[Oldmins]

attributed to BLM in Saturday's DMN:

When asked how the Mustangs, who trailed, 7-6, at the half, let another winnable game slip away, freshman quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell gave a blunt assessment of the team – and a remedy for the future.

"I think there's too many people that are OK with losing, and we have to get rid of that," Mitchell said. "That's what the off-season is for; to weed those types of people out, and the people that are here to win are here to stay. A lot of people just really honestly need to step up and say, 'Let's go win a ball game.'"

I say disturbing because it is disturbing to me that there are people on a football team that are "OK with losing." It is disturbing that more than one person ("too many people") apparently have this mentality.

Who are these people? What can JJ do to weed them off the team?
I'm glad this mentality does not affect PonyFans.

Here's the link to the story: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... b2c64.html

If Bo is going to make a general statement like that, he should give us some names. Who are these "too many" people who don't mind losing?There are (I hear) some on the team who think his ego is one of the problems we have faced this year. For him to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

[mathman]

If Bo is going to make a general statement like that, he should give us some names. Who are these "too many" people who don't mind losing?There are (I hear) some on the team who think his ego is one of the problems we have faced this year. For him to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

You have to be kidding! If that is the case, you need to give us the names of the ones that said his ego is a problem. For you to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Get a copy of the roster now, and compare it to the opening game of 2009 roster. There will be people "weeded out", as Bo Levi said.

[Oldmins]

If Bo is going to make a general statement like that, he should give us some names. Who are these "too many" people who don't mind losing?There are (I hear) some on the team who think his ego is one of the problems we have faced this year. For him to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

You have to be kidding! If that is the case, you need to give us the names of the ones that said his ego is a problem. For you to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

Read my post, and see if your education enables you to understand it. I said "there are (I HEAR) some on the team..." I don't know who they are, so I can't quite name them, now can I? The fact remains, that there are (I hear) some on the team who think Bo's ego is one of our problems. Just like there are, says Bo, "too many people" who think losing is ok.

[mathman]

If Bo is going to make a general statement like that, he should give us some names. Who are these "too many" people who don't mind losing?There are (I hear) some on the team who think his ego is one of the problems we have faced this year. For him to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

You have to be kidding! If that is the case, you need to give us the names of the ones that said his ego is a problem. For you to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

Read my post, and see if your education enables you to understand it. I said "there are (I HEAR) some on the team..." I don't know who they are, so I can't quite name them, now can I? The fact remains, that there are (I hear) some on the team who think Bo's ego is one of our problems. Just like there are, says Bo, "too many people" who think losing is ok.

Don't be so touchy. My education is just fine. Evidently you are the type that can only insult when someone questions you. Just want you to do the same thing you said BLM should do. But then your info must be third or fourth hand if you don't even know who said it.

[mrydel]

Bo made his statement during the post game press conference in an off the cuff answer to a reporter's question. He gave the same scripted answer that Jones has been saying all year. Nothing more, nothing less. It is no big deal.

[Treadway21]

I think you can probably put all the guys that got suspended on that list. If they really wanted to win, they would follow the rules put in place by JJ. They cost the team and themselves.

[Wuba]

If Bo is going to make a general statement like that, he should give us some names. Who are these "too many" people who don't mind losing?There are (I hear) some on the team who think his ego is one of the problems we have faced this year. For him to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

You have to be kidding! If that is the case, you need to give us the names of the ones that said his ego is a problem. For you to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

Read my post, and see if your education enables you to understand it. I said "there are (I HEAR) some on the team..." I don't know who they are, so I can't quite name them, now can I? The fact remains, that there are (I hear) some on the team who think Bo's ego is one of our problems. Just like there are, says Bo, "too many people" who think losing is ok.

Ok, then here is an easy one. Who did you hear it from?

[Oldmins]

If Bo is going to make a general statement like that, he should give us some names. Who are these "too many" people who don't mind losing?There are (I hear) some on the team who think his ego is one of the problems we have faced this year. For him to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

You have to be kidding! If that is the case, you need to give us the names of the ones that said his ego is a problem. For you to make such a statement without being specific doesn't work.

Read my post, and see if your education enables you to understand it. I said "there are (I HEAR) some on the team..." I don't know who they are, so I can't quite name them, now can I? The fact remains, that there are (I hear) some on the team who think Bo's ego is one of our problems. Just like there are, says Bo, "too many people" who think losing is ok.

Ok, then here is an easy one. Who did you hear it from?

Joe Wilkes

[Alaric]

I think you can probably put all the guys that got suspended on that list. If they really wanted to win, they would follow the rules put in place by JJ. They cost the team and themselves.

I've got a buddy who talked to Jones this past weekend and Jones told him the guys who were suspended weren't trouble makers, it's just that they had 3 strikes and that he doesn't make exceptions, period.

All players know he suspends when they get 3 strikes. He wants these guys to know he's serious (and doesn't play favorites) - that's all. I don't think we should interpret the suspensions to mean there are any serious long term problems with the 3 guys who were suspended. I've also heard pretty much everyone on the team accumulated at least one strike.

[DiamondM]

I have heard from at least one other inside source something similar to BLM's comment -- bunch of losers with no heart. But BLM didn't throw a gazillion interceptions because somebody else was okay with losing. There is plenty of blame/responsibility to go around. And in my mind, being a leader means shouldering some of that responsibility/blame rather than pinning it all on someone else. Maybe there are a few lost causes, but part of a coach and leader's responsibility is to inspire (by example or otherwise), and if there are soooo many who did not respond to attempts (or lack thereof) to rally the troops, then maybe someone needs to reevaluate the leadership methods.

[jkflamebo]

There are (I hear) some on the team who think his ego is one of the problems we have faced this year

seems to be a problem with every qb smu puts on the field

[OC Mustang]

Jones selected Bo Levi as the "leader" of this team for a reason and you expect a guy in that position to step up after such a miserable year.

Obviously Jones, and everyone associated with SMU athletics, knows there is a cancer here. Does it surprise anyone that the athletes take on the mentality of the student body they are surrounded by? Plenty of kids cruising thru SMU "on easy street" with plans to join the family business when play time is over...

...I truly believe things will change under this head coach, but it will take him until year 4 to have his roster out on the field.

RE: BLM - He's not a freshman anymore. Time to add action to talk.

RE: Cancer & "Easy Street" - I have never agreed more wholeheartedly with any statement on this board. Accurate and one of the roots of SMU's issues.

RE: Year 4 - I hope not. We need wins. We need a breakout year w/ 7 or 8 wins and a minor bowl. That'll get recruiting going the right way significantly. Without it, SMU is shooting itself in the foot each successive year, and it won't matter if Jones is coach.