More Ford Improvements

[NavyCrimson]

"... We could build nice facilities for every olympic sport with the yearly BCS payout."

Absolutely correct. That's probably a good reason why everthing is being thrown towards FB & BB right now. Someone probably knows something the rest of us don't. Hopefully.

[StallionsModelT]

I sympathize with the students and coaches of non revenue sports. Truly I do. However, if SMU truly aspires to position itself in a better conference then building an IPF, renovating Moody, and keeping Ford as up to date and relevant as possible is paramount. I'm sorry that's just the way it is.

[NavyCrimson]

It is what it is. It is.

[PoconoPony]

Water Pony and I have been actively involved in trying to raise funds for the construction of a new Natatorium. One of the fundamental mistakes was that politics reared its ugly head with the construction of the physical education center when certain faculty elements fought against making the new pool in that complex a state of the art world class pool instead of a PE only minimal facility. Since that time neither the Athletic Department nor the University claim responsibility for ownership of the outdoor pool and natatorium. Neither budgets money for maintenance or renovation and responsibility for the natatorium is basically finger pointing. Former swim Coach George McMIllion, who is also a PE coaching legend at SMU, has lead a vigorous campaign to raise the money necessary to build a new pool. Former SMU swimmer and big time Dallas area architect Jody Grant designed a full facility that would greatly enhanse the Boulevard and bring swimming back to the top. Pledges were solicited three years ago mainly from swimming alums and the goal of $18 Million was within a fingernal's reach when the econcomy bombed and several of the big money prospective contributors had to modify their pledges. At that point, a lead donor was needed to complete the project. President Turner set a deadline to get the pledges and extended the deadline with the hope the project could be completed even agreeing to build the facilities if the pledges could be paid out over a 5 year period. Unfortunately, the economy was still a bust when the deadline was set and all pledges were subsequently released from their committments. Turner and Orsini both support the project; however, Turner has been unwilling to solicit any possible lead " university "donors reserving their donation for other SMU projects such as the new 125 million $$$ sophomore dorms and the Athletic Department fund raisers were not successful. The project is not dead; however, would require a lead donor and a reinitiation of the pledge campaign. I realize this is a fooball board, but the topic of minor sports facilities arose so I put in my two cents.

[NickSMU17]

Why can't we use corporate sponsors??? You think some Dallas company would want their name on a SMU building?

[CalallenStang]

I know I'll take heat for this...but how about the finish out of the band hall?

I heard the band hall was finished.

You heard wrong. It's a priority in the Second Century Campaign though. For now, the band still practices underneath the pool in Perkins Natatorium.

[Statler]

I know I'll take heat for this...but how about the finish out of the band hall?

I heard the band hall was finished.

You heard wrong. It's a priority in the Second Century Campaign though. For now, the band still practices underneath the pool in Perkins Natatorium.

For those interested in more details:

http://smu.edu/giving/secondcentury/mustangband/

[Bergermeister]

I know I'll take heat for this...but how about the finish out of the band hall?

I heard the band hall was finished.

You heard wrong. It's a priority in the Second Century Campaign though. For now, the band still practices underneath the pool in Perkins Natatorium.

No, I meant it's FINISHED.

[CalallenStang]

No, I meant it's FINISHED.

Ah

[SMUstang]

We need a T Boone Pickens

[ponyte]

One might consider another element when deciding where to donate money. Maryland made a serious run at JJ recently. There will be others. we know JJ left UH partly because he didn't get the support he needed from the university.

One could assume that renovating locker rooms and meeting rooms and such is a priority of JJ's as well as the athletic department. And those improvements could well be part of the support the university has to demonstrate to keep Jones.

JJ is competing with some to notch programs for players. He is going to need top notch facilities to compete against those programs. Our winning has given us a window of opportunity to be competitive again and we need to get our facilities competitive again.

College football is in an arms race so to say and modern up to date facilities is just part of it. To be competitive (and maybe keep our coach), we need to continually update and modernize our facilities
.

[Pony_Law]

I'll add my two cents:
1) I don't think we need to add facilities to keep JJ, I believe him whe. He says he won't leave for another coaching job except into the NFL. I believe jj won't leave because a) he like being at a place with little or no pressure and no other non-aq will pay him what we are paying him and b) the more I've heard JJ talk and when I have spoken to him it's clear that his faith plays a large role in his life my guess he likes being at a religously affiliated school (not that being religious would be unacceptable atarge state schools but my guess it would not be as encouraged). An ipf and continuing to upgrade ford can only help in rcruiting but honestly our facilities are nice enough that I don't we scare off or lose any recruiting battles because of it.

2) the improvent I want to see at ford is some better concession venders. Campisies should get one location and serve way more than pizza, then let's recruit one of the reall good BBQ places to have a stand (sonny bryants would be fine but is not my fav) maybe to help sweeten the pot for these resturants give them a free boulavard spot to sell before the game also

[NavyCrimson]

Great post, Pony_Law.

[ponyte]

The meeting rooms are not adequate. We don't even have a theater meeting room where the whole team can meet and view film. The very basic and most fundamentally meeting room we don't have.

JJ loved, loved Hawaii and left it in a heartbeat because he didn't have the tools he felt he needed to achieve success. We don’t have an indoor practice facility, we don’t have modern and adequate meeting rooms and we need to update our locker-room.

Meeting rooms and locker rooms are fundamentally to (1 achieving success preparing for competition and (2 to impress the recruits. Both these improvements are part of the tools needed for JJ to continue his success.

The locker rooms used to recruit kids at Texas Stadium were very important in recruiting talent . That talent started with recruits like Michael Carter, Craig James and Eric Dickerson. It does make a big difference. We sure as Hades didn’t show recruits Ownby and its facilities. They were an embarrassment then. Thank goodness the Cowboys put up the money to built the state of the art in facilities and we got to use them.

We don't have the facilities that most top notch programs have. we are playing catch up. UT, LSU, Alabama, A$M, Arkyland all have far superior facilities. And we are starting to compete with these programs for recruits.

One can spend their money however they feel meets their needs and desires. I know we have deficiencies across all our facilities. Just putting out there another possible consideration for folks as they make their donation decisions.

I also don't think a wonderfully successful coach like Jones will not have other coaching temptations come his way.

[Stallion]

SMU loses Texas recruits all the time because of Ford Stadium-maybe not to non-BCS programs. Ford has a small time feel to it. Its a beautiful small stadium but it doesn't have that Wow factor. Part of the formula for success in the 1980s was that at the time Texas Stadium defined Wow! Eric Dickerson wanted to play on a Big Stage-so do most recruits. If you are happy with the little CUSA world playing Rice, Tulsa and Tulane for the next 50 years then nothing needs to be changed. Is that the goal? I don't really know what June Jones or Orsini's long range plans are. BUT if SMU wants to compete with TCU and desires to remain on the biggest stage possible then I would think Ford should be expanded to a size that might attract the attention of a BCS Conference when that decision will be made-Moody needs to total overhaul. SMU needs to first decide what tract it is on.