Tom Mason talks to media today

[SMU2007]

I also want to say that while Mason is whining about a coach being hired with 1 week left in the season, he must have forgotten about Muschamp being fired at Florida with (4?) weeks left in the season and still coaching the rest of the games. Essentially the same thing.

How are those two scenarios the same? While both were "resignations", the situations were different.
1. Muschamp decided to finish out the season. If he wanted to leave immediately, he could have.
2. Florida hasn't hired a coach yet.

OK sure, not exactly the same situation but both coaches knew they were finished before the season was finished. one whines about it and the other just takes care of his business and finishes what he started without complaining too much.

[Treadway21]

I can vouch for their lack of understanding of how to recruit effectively. I saw it first hand. I am a high school football coach, and when JJ's guys would come to our school to "recruit" kids their first couple years in Dallas, they'd literally show up wearing worn out jeans and cutoff t-shirts. As an SMU grad and a guy who started for 4 years as a football player on the hilltop, I could not have been more embarrassed when they walked through the door dressed like that. That was the first thing they told me... "We never had to go out and recruit at Hawaii. We'd just watch tape and call kids on the phone..."

So disappointing.

Welcome - hope you keep posting.

You pretty much confirmed what we suspected. The coaches did not conduct themselves like a college staff. The coaches failed to see SMU football as something to sell to prospects. They also no doubt felt they could not compete with the other schools for prospects so didn't try.

We all know it started at the top, but should be an excuse. Just having HCCM say he is not going to play second fiddle to anyone makes a huge statement.

I think the past staff not only did not know how to recruit, but felt SMU had nothing to offer other than a place for the rejects to play. You cannot sell if you do not believe in your product. What the past coaches didn't understand, is they were the product - it wasn't just SMU they were selling - they were selling their coaching abilities.

[ponyte]

I feel for Mason and his staff. When I went to the football practice, all coaches knew, knew, they would be fired. And All were placed in horrible situation with JJ leaving as he did.

Mason was put in an impossible situation.

That said, Bennett knew he was fired after SMU became bowl ineligible. Bennett said he stay cause he and his staff taught the kids to play through adversity and he wasn't to live what he preached. Mason sure didn't run from adversity and for that I admire him.

[smumustang11]

Legitimate question that I don't think has been answered...Who is coaching the team against UConn? Are the previous coaches release immediately?

[ojaipony]

Looks like we shouldn't even fly to UConn. I was hoping the team would take it as an audition and come out firing. But if our coaches have given up, that game will be ugly and a damn shame.

[CA Mustang]

OK sure, not exactly the same situation but both coaches knew they were finished before the season was finished. one whines about it and the other just takes care of his business and finishes what he started without complaining too much.

1. Muschamp did complain before and after his firing.
2. It is easier to bite your tongue when you have a multi-million dollar severance package!

Legitimate question that I don't think has been answered...Who is coaching the team against UConn? Are the previous coaches release immediately?

The current staff will do it. Their duties end as soon as the game is over.

Looks like we shouldn't even fly to UConn. I was hoping the team would take it as an audition and come out firing. But if our coaches have given up, that game will be ugly and a damn shame.

I haven't read where the players will mail it in.

[Boston Pony]

The current coaches will finish out the season under the assumption their contracts run until Sunday. Most coaches get fired once during their career so it goes with the job. As with anyone, if they are respected and have connections, opportunities will appear for them. If not, there are other opportunities outside of the profession or at other levels. I don't feel anything negative at this point towards any of the coaches and am looking at the future of the program (hopefully everyone agrees).

[dr. rick]

The entire coaching staff knew better than anyone that talent has dropped significantly. They knew this prior to this season starting based on the last couple recruiting classes. What does it say about a coaching staff that did not leave individually to pursue better jobs and/or was offered better jobs at other programs?

If we were to grade how desirable recruits are based on offers, wouldn't the same philosophy be true for the coaching staff? How many of Jones assistant coaches have been sought after by other programs? Adrian Klem is the only one that really comes to mind (best recruiter for Jones).

I don't mind Mason's comments at all but good coaches always have choices and he may still have some that surface although not as desirable as he wants.

If Chad Morris does as well as we all hope, he and his staff will be sought after by top programs - we would rather have that than a staff no one wants.

+10,000

the only thing worse than other schools poaching our coaches is no schools wanting to poach our coaches.

[Charleston Pony]

I expect our guys to play with a little extra effort Saturday. This team might be poorly coached and not have a good plan going in, but we won't lose for lack of effort on the players part. It's understandable if the coaches have mailed it in and been spending a lot of time this year networking for employment next year, but their resumes sure could be helped by a win on Saturday

[Water Pony]

I feel for the coaches, who were abandoned by JJ. But, I feel for the players more, especially the Seniors, who will wear SMU on their chests for the last time. I hope they realize that they will be part of our tradition and will want to support their alma mater in the future.

The team won't quit, as JJ did. They paid a bigger price than most of us with their sweat and dedication.

I said it before, June is a coward, who left his coaches and players to survive on their own. That is a tough way to build character, something that JJ lacks. June played the victim with the innuendo that Adminstration didn't support the program. Evidence is otherwise.

Pony Up! #LockArms and Beat the Huskies!

[PlanoStang]

PlanoStang, don't be a rass roll.

Sorry, I'm just BIG TIME prejudiced against MIND READERS

[CA Mustang]

3. SMU interim head coach Tom Mason told The Dallas Morning News this week that taking over for June Jones this season had been "career suicide." Anyone can understand the frustration of leading one of the truly bad teams in recent memory. But surely Mason knows that the fraternity of coaching takes care of its own. Look at Greg Brown. Fired as Colorado defensive coordinator in 2012, Brown spent the 2013 season as secondary coach at Alabama and is now at Louisville. Since going 4-21 in Boulder, Brown is 20-4. Mason, a guy with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest coaching tree who has been coaching for 33 years, won't languish. http://espn.go.com/ncf/notebook/_/page/ ... int-stance

[Bergermeister]

The coaches will coach and the players will play. I hope we have just enough fire left to win a game.

[Charleston Pony]

know Coach Mason wants to be a head coach at this level and I'm sure he was really disappointed not getting the Nevada job...and this has to be really tough on him to have taken over a program knowing he would not have an opportunity to build anything here, but I'd like to think someone is going to see what a quality guy he is and will give him another shot. Whether that will be as a head coach is another question, but I will be pulling for the guy. Wonder if he would work for JJ again if Junius gets the UNLV job???