Open Letter to Rick Hart

[ponyinNC]

well, I hope you are right and I appreciate your optimism. Your reply made me feel 100x better than Mr. Hart's reply to Ryan98.

Perhaps Hart should have you do PR?? That was the response I think most of us would be looking for.

[RyanSMU98]

I think 83 is onto something, and after reading the response it quite honestly was about what I expected from the AD to a random fan with whom he has only had occasional, casual interaction. Two takeaways from my point of view: I get the sense (not just from this reply but others I have received) that Hart understands the uphill climb and what it will take to get over the top. The second one is that there is not a snowball's chance in Houston that I rate anywhere near his radar screen to warrant a true view behind the curtain. Sure, I could write a $2MM check, as long as he promises not to cash it for the next 70 or so years. I am hopeful that he is talking to the people that can push ahead an agenda to get us to the next level, and I believe Hart is on board with that agenda. Whether or not he has the political and financial capital to get it done remains to be seen. I think too many people with deep pockets have committed too much to watch that money go down the toilet, and that gives me hope.

As for JJ, I really think he retires when his contract is up and he has earned the right to see it out regardless of my personal issues with his recent (lack of) effort. I just pray that they are lining up his replacement at the beginning of next season so we can roll the next guy out as soon as June hops on his flight back to the islands. We all agree that the next hire is critical, but the way that succession is managed is equally as crucial IMHO.

[ponyinNC]

Ryan - we can't actually allow JJ to finish out the contract. If he is gone, it has to be at the end of this year, so we have to be lining up the replacement around bowl season in order to recruit. Having a lame duck coach in the last season of his contract (which hasn't been renewed) would be a disaster.

End of this year, mutual decision, settlement for the last year and new coach for next season. It has to go that way.

[couch 'em]

Agreed. A lame duck coach is even worse for recruiting than June's staff. Has to be end of season at latest or extend the contract.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

That's an interesting point. I don't see SMU firing the guy who brought the program back from the dead, has not had a losing season (since year 1), has been to 4 straight bowl games (winning 3), etc. In contrast to the views of a lot of PonyFans, my guess is that the coaching community probably views June as some kind of minor miracle worker for what he's accomplished at SMU of all places. For SMU to simply can him under those circumstances, especially considering SMU's general reputation in the football world going back 30 years, would send a terrible message to any prospective coach. But I do see the point that lame duck status is also undesirable. It will require some finesse. But I think the best thing from a messaging standpoint is for everyone to show up to a presser with lots of compliments and pats on the back, let June say he's done what he came to do and is ready to move on, big smiles and everyone is happy, etc. I'm not sure how to pull that off, but I think it would be best. This will be a major test for Hart.

[78pony]

The reason I remain optimistic is because of the huge investment we have made over the past several years. Perhaps all the desired on-field results have not yet materialized, but I don't see a commitment to be small time from SMU. Think about the hiring of June, the building of the Caldwell school, the huge (and continuing) upgrade in academic support, the modification of admission standards, improvements to Ford, increasing the athletic dept. budget, re-engaging the boosters (COC) and athletic alumni, etc. All of these things are necessary groundwork before its realistic to start seeing Ws against Big-12 opponents, big-time bowl games, etc. Orsini derserves credit for his passion and hard work, but I don't see him as the be-all and end-all of this effort.

Compared to where we were in 2007, its like night and day. I don't see all of that work just being cast aside b/c the administration decides we should just be small time after all. I see a commitment to get us to the next level.

What SMU as a university has spent on upgrades that specifically target the football program count as chump change in the FBS universe. You don't get to compare us to just Tulane and Rice. If we were really committed, we would/should/need to be at a point of putting another ring on Ford, not adding 7 or 9 or whatever new indoor/outdoor boxes. Moody upgrade is impressive and rings the bell (that may be very telling). Still, overall dollars spent by the university itself are low. We will live or die via the private route.

Caldwell school - not an atheltic department driven addition. June's salary - from private sources. Admission standards - internal and nominal cost, re-engaging boosters (CoC) - cost effective to implement (hire one employee in B. Sharp). Academic support - is for all, not just athletics, and is still not a huge expenditure especially when you can rub most of it off against general student body accounts.

Is it better than in 2007. Yes. Is it enough to get us to the final 64-68-80? My hypothesis is no. We have not had a T. Boone-like player step up to the plate yet and unless that happens and soon, I do not see SMU making a call that I feel our BoT would view as - academics or athletics, take your pick, which one will it be? If that were to be the case, say bye-bye.

[East Coast Mustang]

All of the rich SMU alums there are, why can't one of them step up like TBoone did? The CoC was great for us getting JJ back in 2008, but $2M for a coach ain't what it used to be.

We're going to need increased booster support and desperately need a new IPF if we want to be competitive going forward

[blackoutpony]

We have not had a T. Boone-like player step up to the plate yet and unless that happens and soon, I do not see SMU making a call that I feel our BoT would view as - academics or athletics, take your pick, which one will it be? If that were to be the case, say bye-bye.

Where are the Hunt's when you need them....

[Rebel10]

I think his retirement (on good terms and with a fine send-off)

Wow, I wonder where you got that info from.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Man, I'm depressed after reading that 78. Wait a minute. . .you're trying to drag me down into negativity land! Not gonna do it! I will remain a sunshiner to the end!!!!!!!

Seriously though, a fair counter-point but I remain an optimist. I really think we're heading in the right direction long-term. And long-term is what it will take to build a consistent winner in football.

East Coast, I know we have some rich alums, but do we have anyone with the bandwith of T-Boone? Or Phil Knight? Those guys have literally poured hundreds of millions of dollars into their respective universities. Is there anyone in the SMU universe who could even do that? Honest question.

[East Coast Mustang]

Man, I'm depressed after reading that 78. Wait a minute. . .you're trying to drag me down into negativity land! Not gonna do it! I will remain a sunshiner to the end!!!!!!!

Seriously though, a fair counter-point but I remain an optimist. I really think we're heading in the right direction long-term. And long-term is what it will take to build a consistent winner in football.

East Coast, I know we have some rich alums, but do we have anyone with the bandwith of T-Boone? Or Phil Knight? Those guys have literally poured hundreds of millions of dollars into their respective universities. Is there anyone in the SMU universe who could even do that? Honest question.

I don't disagree about us gradually heading in the right direction but I think we need to accelerate things a bit if we're going to play competitive football long term.

As for your question about boosters, yeah, I think there's enough people with enough cash to make this program relevant again if they wanted to. Look at the Sewells, Hunts, Coxes, Fords, etc. They could do it if they really wanted to. Problem is, the apathy of our fanbase seems to have trickled up to our boosters as well. Again, $2M for a coach was a big deal at SMU in 2008. Now, not so much. But they of course have the right to spend their money any way they see fit. I'm not blaming anyone here, and I would certainly never tell anyone how to spend their own cash. Herman Cain 2016

[78pony]

We have folks that can play with the T. Boone's of the world. Several. To date, they have had no interest in doing that.

[Stallion]

The revenue support for SMU Athletics from the big donors at a private school can only be described as SUPERLATIVE since Ford has been built. The revenue that is not coming from ticket sales and other traditional sources is the elephant in the room that SMU fans don't want to dwell on but is the biggest roadblock to our future. The BCS doesn't give a [deleted] about the excuses why SMU has awful attendance which SMU fans have and will continue to make. Just a fact. SMU alumni will have to underwrite the program to an extent that state schools don't have to.

[skurtn]

Sorry, are we talking about the same school T. Boone Pickens gave money to?
OSU NCAA Sanctions

[bubba pony]

what if, and get ready for this, Hart gives JJ a contract extension? Orsini did it and didn't Phil Bennet get an extension after a bad record? I really want to feel comfortable with Hart but I can't get over a 12 year contract with NTSU.