Actually...to answer Stallion's question..

[RGV Pony]

blog's post raises another question. When SMU played Alabama in the Sun Bowl, that was before it was sponsored by or named the John Hancock bowl, correct?

[d_pony]

the $3.5 million is the amount of "cold hard cash" the university pays above what the athletic department raises in revenue, mustang club contributions, endowment, etc

[DiamondM]

jtstang, first let me ask again, if san jose state lets in anything with opposable thumbs, does that mean they are more committed to winning than SMU? If so, then how come they're not winning? If not, then why should that same model -- more jucos = more wins -- work for SMU when it doesn't work for San Jose State? On the flip side of the coin, how come schools like Stanford and Northwestern have modest success when they don't just abolish academic standards for the sake of winning?

My solution involves dedicating more resources to our football & basketball programs -- higher paid coaches and assistants, more resources for recruiting trips, scouting, more and better, more professional marketing in media outlets that cost a lot of money (tv, real sports radio, newpaper, billboards), more relationships with big local corporations and partnerships with local pro teams, more attactive facilities (especially in basketball), even more resources dedicated to the very nice current learning center and tutoring programs, fund production crews so that all of our games are on tv somewhere and on a good radio station that can plug us to someone other than big band listening septagenarians, and yes, more degree programs in athlete "friendly" majors (not because they're easy, but because they are of interest, like sports marketing, sports administration, sports sciences, etc.). You can have the most lenient juco transfer policy in the world (and I think if you talk to the actual admissions liason for our athletic department, ours is not as harsh as people think it is and certainly not as harsh as it was even a couple of years ago), but if they don't want to come here in the first place because no one comes to games, people don't even know when they're happening, students and alumni don't support, or if they do decide to come anyway they can't stay eligible, and have no hope of graduating, then what the heck is the point.

In that regard, I don't think Stallion and I disagree too much on what needs to be done, but my SOLUTION recognizes that each one of those things takes money, lots of it. Money that our cash strapped athletic department doesn't have and has to plead on bended knee to get from spoiled fans who are probably all for going back to paying players. So I give money, I buy my season tickets, I volunteer to call people to raise money, I encourage others to buy their tickets, I get involved so I can make suggestions directly to the people that matter, I ask what more I can do to help. Your and Stallion's soluation is to lock down the wallet, buy a cheap seat because you can, and b*i*t*c*h and moan on the fan board about the administration not being "committed."

[Stallion]

Blah! Blah! Blah! San Jose St sucks so it must be true!!!!!!! Look what Stanford and Notre Dame did! You know nothing about college football and yet you continue to regurgitate this crap over and over again. Put up or shut up! That other crap doesn't mean a damn thing. This is what matters. Its been 16 years-no bowls, no conference titles, 26% winning record in FB, no NCAA tourneys in 12 years, about 10-12,000 fans. Put up or shut up. There is nothing wrong with competing in Division 1A well within NCAA rules under the same standards that every other school in Texas compete under except the Rice Owls who haven't won anything since the Eishenhower administration. People thinking like you ran this program in the ground and now you want to blame the people that told you so from Day 1. I have outlined what is necessary for us the compete against our natural and traditional rivals-SMU has chosen not to do so and in fact has some policies more restrictive than Rice. SMU HAS THE WORST PROGRAM IN THE US OVER 17 YEARS IN TERMS OF CHAMPIONSHIPS, WINNING PERCENTAGE AND NCAA TOURNEYS. You bought this crap-you own it! We don't care about your excuses-and I care less and less every day about SMU Sports. Look in the mirror and you will see the reason SMU fans show their displeasure and in fact indifference to SMU athletics. We've had IDIOTS just like you running the program. The Burden is not on me to show that what works at almost every other school in the State of Texas could work here-the burden is on SMU to show that their model of restrictive admissions and policies can work at SMU. That's what matters-the abysmal failure of SMU to produce competitive athletic programs in the money sports under the very Model which they created. And yes if SMU fans don't feel like supporting the program based upon a perceived lack of commitment then that is a product of SMU's restrictive admissions and policies as well. That's why it starts with a Model that you can sell the coaches, recruits and alumni that convinces them that you have made a COMMITMENT to WIN

[giacfsp]

Blah! Blah! Blah! .... You know nothing about college football and yet you continue to regurgitate this crap over and over again. Put up or shut up! That other crap doesn't mean a damn thing. This is what matters. Its been 16 years-no bowls, no conference titles, 26% winning record in FB, no NCAA tourneys in 12 years, about 10-12,000 fans. Put up or shut up. .... People thinking like you ran this program in the ground and now you want to blame the people that told you so from Day 1. .... SMU HAS THE WORST PROGRAM IN THE US OVER 17 YEARS IN TERMS OF CHAMPIONSHIPS, WINNING PERCENTAGE AND NCAA TOURNEYS. You bought this crap-you own it! We don't care about your excuses-and I care less and less every day about SMU Sports. .... We've had IDIOTS just like you running the program....

Can I suggest lithium?

[Blunt Pony]

jtstang, first let me ask again, if san jose state lets in anything with opposable thumbs, does that mean they are more committed to winning than SMU? If so, then how come they're not winning? If not, then why should that same model -- more jucos = more wins -- work for SMU when it doesn't work for San Jose State? On the flip side of the coin, how come schools like Stanford and Northwestern have modest success when they don't just abolish academic standards for the sake of winning?

My solution involves dedicating more resources to our football & basketball programs -- higher paid coaches and assistants, more resources for recruiting trips, scouting, more and better, more professional marketing in media outlets that cost a lot of money (tv, real sports radio, newpaper, billboards), more relationships with big local corporations and partnerships with local pro teams, more attactive facilities (especially in basketball), even more resources dedicated to the very nice current learning center and tutoring programs, fund production crews so that all of our games are on tv somewhere and on a good radio station that can plug us to someone other than big band listening septagenarians, and yes, more degree programs in athlete "friendly" majors (not because they're easy, but because they are of interest, like sports marketing, sports administration, sports sciences, etc.). You can have the most lenient juco transfer policy in the world (and I think if you talk to the actual admissions liason for our athletic department, ours is not as harsh as people think it is and certainly not as harsh as it was even a couple of years ago), but if they don't want to come here in the first place because no one comes to games, people don't even know when they're happening, students and alumni don't support, or if they do decide to come anyway they can't stay eligible, and have no hope of graduating, then what the heck is the point.

In that regard, I don't think Stallion and I disagree too much on what needs to be done, but my SOLUTION recognizes that each one of those things takes money, lots of it. Money that our cash strapped athletic department doesn't have and has to plead on bended knee to get from spoiled fans who are probably all for going back to paying players. So I give money, I buy my season tickets, I volunteer to call people to raise money, I encourage others to buy their tickets, I get involved so I can make suggestions directly to the people that matter, I ask what more I can do to help. Your and Stallion's soluation is to lock down the wallet, buy a cheap seat because you can, and b*i*t*c*h and moan on the fan board about the administration not being "committed."

Give me a break. It is always the money. Give, give, give and get NOTHING in return. This is what that Commitment crap was about and people stood up and gave (maybe for the last time) and look what we have got in return. SMU grads may be a lot of things but for the most part they are smart and recognize when they have been hoodwinked. We are the last of the mohicans, the ones who still care, but how many times do we have to get kicked in the nuts before we say it is enough!?

[DiamondM]

Okay. You win. You're right. I know nothing about college football, athletic administration, funding, anything. Hell, I'm even a woman, so how could I know jack anyway. Plus, since I've only been around since 1990, it was definitely me who ran this program into the ground. If only people like me had never been a part of SMU, we'd be golden. Excuse me while I go jump into the trinity.

[Stallion]

see we are making progress already.

[ponydawg]

Great, lets get the model changed.
What can we do to get it changed?

Is the only solution we have to get it changed is to
say/repeat the same negative things on this
board about SMU?

I'll do it if it will get the model changed.....
"SMU stinks like Kevin Federline's sack."
Any change to the model......no, not yet.....
"SMU is to Good as Paris Hilton is to not having STD's"
Any changes?

Any other ideas of what we can do to get the model changed....

Or more importantly, any other good analogise?

[jtstang]

In that regard, I don't think Stallion and I disagree too much on what needs to be done, but my SOLUTION recognizes that each one of those things takes money, lots of it. Money that our cash strapped athletic department doesn't have and has to plead on bended knee to get from spoiled fans who are probably all for going back to paying players. So I give money, I buy my season tickets, I volunteer to call people to raise money, I encourage others to buy their tickets, I get involved so I can make suggestions directly to the people that matter, I ask what more I can do to help. Your and Stallion's soluation is to lock down the wallet, buy a cheap seat because you can, and b*i*t*c*h and moan on the fan board about the administration not being "committed."

Hey, you're the one who said you disagreed with Stallion's solution, not me, so if you are backing off that now then you have contributed nothing but unnecessary confusion with your original post. And I agree that it all takes a lot money as I said. But if you think all it takes is me and Stallion prying open our wallets then you are a fool because it would be like spitting in the ocean. Plus, nobody from the athletic department has come begging to me for a donation, so to the extent you were supposed to call me you are doing a poor job. And congratulations for all your activism but since you brought it up exactly who are the people that matter to whom you've made your suggestions, and exactly what "commitment" has that generated? Maybe you're not trying hard enough.

[WorldStang]

this is extremely entertaining..

Stallion.. so the question I have is.. How did you propose this to the administration? I mean.. you said ..you have a model that would work.. I mean you "outlined it".. well did you take it to them? What did they say to you?

My thinking is.. if you haven't taken this great model that would work to the administration.. you're worse than all of the so-called "sun shiners" because you would be an irresponsible piece of s**t.

So what say you? Have you really ever stepped up to the plate and done something.. or are you always going to sit back and throw stones because we try to cheer on the kids that play despite this "flawed" model.

[Dubbya]

.... Put up or shut up! ....

I've "put up" (donated) every year since I graduated. How about you?

[Stallion]

...the naivete of the cheerleaders on this board is so frustrating. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE UNINFORMED: each one of these proposals has been formally presented by and in fact advocated by OUR COACHES to SMU's administrative bodies. As of this date-they have been rejected. There is not one point in my Model which Bennett or Tubbs disagrees with. Which side are YOU on?

[ponydawg]

Great, lets get the model changed.
What can we do to get it changed?

Is the only solution we have to get it changed is to
say/repeat the same negative things on this
board about SMU?

I'll do it if it will get the model changed.....
"SMU stinks like Kevin Federline's sack."
Any change to the model......no, not yet.....
"SMU is to Good as Paris Hilton is to not having STD's"
Any changes?

Any other ideas of what we can do to get the model changed....

Or more importantly, any other good analogise?

[WorldStang]

...the naivete of the cheerleaders on this board is so frustrating. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE UNINFORMED: each one of these proposals has been formally presented by and in fact advocated by OUR COACHES to SMU's administrative bodies. As of this date-they have been rejected. There is not one point in my Model which Bennett or Tubbs disagrees with. Which side are YOU on?

Ok.. so explain to the uninformed further. How is SMU more restrictive than Rice in some circumstances?

In what way has this model been rejected? Are they hamstrung by administration or do they choose not to utilize certain policies or powers they've been allowed?

I'm just so curious how and what Tubbs and Bennett are doing that is hampering them from following your so-called model? Seriously.. I want to understand what keeps you [deleted] on this board. The same board that recruits read, parents read and many others that have asked me too.. what gives with the things your saying. Specifics man..

Compare us to a State School.. let's just say.. your beloved Red Raiders. Explain in detail what is sp different?

Actually.. compare Baylor.. another private school.

thanks