Which Direction do we go??

[gostangs]

LA - we dot have a choice - we have to try to keep up. They will try again to spend their way out of this.

[Pony_Law]

I don't care where the new coach comes from, all I want is him to have 3 characteristics. 1) passionate/ exited about being the head coach of SMU. At the end of the day this is what really soured JJ for me. I care about this team I want my coach to care too. 2) tireless recruiter. There is so much talent in this metroplex and state you will get enough talent to be able to compete for the AAC title. Our school has a great facilities, a great campus, and is in a great city. 3) Engage the whole SMU community. Embraced our traditions our students and our alumni. June charmed the really big donors, paid lip service to the smaller boosters and told the students and general alumni they were bad fans. If you reach out to them they will come see basketball.

[LA_Mustang]

gostangs,
I hope you're right, but I have a hard time seeing the University being able to convince really smart, rich people that is good way to spend their money. David Miller had it right, put it in basketball where we are already competing at the highest level.

[gostangs]

The University can't afford to drop down. That means we have to figure out the solution.

[Treadway21]

gostangs,
I know we paid JJ that but the CofC are not dumb people. They know we are stuck and I just can't see them committing that kind of a money to any coach again as long as we are in a non-P5 conference, and without the hope of getting there. That's why not one of them agreed to the 5 million dollar buyout. The sooner we accept this is over the better.

Except they saw what happens when SMU makes a good hire. Larry Brown. We compete and the city gets behind us. Would happen in Fball with the right hire and some success.

[Rebel10]

Spavtial or Morris maybe?

[ponyte]

First, one needs money. Lots of money. The first thing Hart will need to do is get enough big money boasters to committee to really big bucks. Otherwise, all the speculation in the world is worthless.

Who will come to SMU? It isn't a P5 and it isn't known as a launching pad for careers (unlike UH). So who do you get? You have to pay big bucks to get someone at SMU.

JJ has accomplished an amazing turn around. It isn't top 25 but we went from the worse college football program in the world to decent middle of the pack. To move to the next level will cost plenty.

So what direction do we take? We take the direction that our finances will allow and hope we get the right up and comer.

[Rebel10]

First, one needs money. Lots of money. The first thing Hart will need to do is get enough big money boasters to committee to really big bucks. Otherwise, all the speculation in the world is worthless.

Who will come to SMU? It isn't a P5 and it isn't known as a launching pad for careers (unlike UH). So who do you get? You have to pay big bucks to get someone at SMU.

JJ has accomplished an amazing turn around. It isn't top 25 but we went from the worse college football program in the world to decent middle of the pack. To move to the next level will cost plenty.

So what direction do we take? We take the direction that our finances will allow and hope we get the right up and comer.

We did not even look middle of the pack today but we will see. I think Rice even school against ND.

[LA_Mustang]

Except they saw what happens when SMU makes a good hire. Larry Brown. We compete and the city gets behind us. Would happen in Fball with the right hire and some success.

That maybe true but I don't think you can compare football and basketball. We could get good again in football but we will still be playing 2nd or 3rd tier teams in conference. In basketball, the AAC has five schools capable of being in the top 25. We beat 6 (UConn, Cincy, Memphis, LSU, Cal and Clemson) schools this season in bball that any would have been the best win post-DP in football. As we have seen, one recruiting class can completely turn a program into a power. That's not possible in football, especially when you're in a weak conference.

[Rebel10]

Except they saw what happens when SMU makes a good hire. Larry Brown. We compete and the city gets behind us. Would happen in Fball with the right hire and some success.

That maybe true but I don't think you can compare football and basketball. We could get good again in football but we will still be playing 2nd or 3rd tier teams in conference. In basketball, the AAC has five schools capable of being in the top 25. We beat 6 (UConn, Cincy, Memphis, LSU, Cal and Clemson) schools this season in bball that any would have been the best win post-DP in football. As we have seen, one recruiting class can completely turn a program into a power. That's not possible in football, especially when you're in a weak conference.

It takes about 3 classes to turn a football team around. June has had 6. TCU was very competitive even before Patterson's 7th year.

[Pony81]

I hear you LA. But, if we win the AAC, and are competitive with the A&M and BU of the world then I can see us draw fans and get a fairly full crowd in our 32K stadium.

Besides, all we can ask from a coach is to win his conference. SMU just has to focus on beating our peers and hopefully that translates into being competitive against our traditional SWC foes.

[Treadway21]

So tired of basketball is not football. - It is the model. It works. Baylor sucked when Art Briles got there. Bottom dweller for years. He recruited and engaged the community. It can be done and gas been done at all leveled and in all sports. Hell it's been done at SMU. See Ron Meyer.

[Come and Take It]

Jake Spavital. End of list.

[Treadway21]

And he had an offense that wasn't from the early 90s.

[gostangs]

Spavital - very good choice. He would rock it here.