Remember When ...

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

Fellas,

Remember a couple of years ago when Copeland sent out a press release stating that he would not accept the AD position at N.C. State. I have always thought that was pure B.S. for two major reasons.

1) why on earth would you not take that job?

2) he doesn't even have the track record to be considered after his dubious hires.

That being said, I think Tubbs is a great hire and may build a wall around the metroplex when it comes to recruiting (regardless of Stallion's pessimism). What do you think our chances of lucking out and having Copeland take another job?

[Water Pony]

Focusing on Copeland and blaming him for all our problems, is like saying telling the fans that an expansion team must win right away after the other teams and the league sets the rules and design the playing field.

Give some credit for the uphill nature of our problem to the current College FB model, which generously serves BCS and state schools with the associated revenue, fan base, and closed model.

Copeland has played the hand given him reasonably well:

- Guided the planning and development of Ford Stadium
- walked us through the minefield of conference realignment
- gained increased flexibility on recruiting
- recruited a new FB staff, which is still a work in progress
- accepted the challenge that a private, mid-sized school has in competing against the built-in advantages of state schools and the BCS cartel
- positioned BB for a better future with Coach Tubbs

Simply answers to complex issues don't cut it. We need success, not feel good, knee jerk reactions.

[Corso]

Preach on, WaterPony. Copeland gets a bad rap, but you detailed nicely some things that he's done that often are taken for granted.

Don't forget: He also was instrumental in raising the money to pay for the stadium, which is no small accomplishment.

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

Simply answers to complex issues don't cut it.

I didn't talk about "simply answers" to anything. I was wondering what everyone thought the possibility of Copeland taking another job.

As you state, you perceive him to be a godsend. I am sure that other schools (possibly BCS schools) would be interested. Do you think he would take it (as the original post asked)?

[Stallion]

well Tubbs just might do that-that is why I supported his hiring-but to be factual Tubbs is batting .000 right now and has struck out 7-8 times so far. Just the facts. Of course, its hard to imagine a top kid turning down the facilities and support of the OSUs, UTs, Techs, OUs, KUs and even A&Ms and Baylors who all have a distict advantage.

[Corso]

No he hasn't. He hasn't landed local publicized guys, but he's far from striking out on the recruiting trail.

[BUS]

Great list of what Copeland/Turner and some others have helped get DONE. All of which were needed and took time and skill to accomplish.

What has not been done ( completely ) is let SMU play on a level playing field.

Steps HAVE been taken to un-tie the recruting hands of all our coaches. Each sport has special ways to recruit.

With Football there are no national combines or Summer leagues.

I have two more steps to offer that need to be taken. The Faculty Senate need to vote that NCAA standards are good enough. NO EXCEPTIONS. Secondly, Two Physically minded majors need to be offered.

I think it is going to take some pressure to get these things done.
" RFC"

[MustangStealth]

Focusing on Copeland and blaming him for all our problems, is like saying telling the fans that an expansion team must win right away after the other teams and the league sets the rules and design the playing field.

Don't forget our other sports and Sears Cup ranking either.

[SoCal_Pony]

And don’t forget that our Sears rankings have greatly benefited from our Men’s track teams…including the 1983 and 1986 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

[Stallion]

TUBBS DFW SCORECARD: you can grade Tubbs any way you want but in the end his success or failure will be based on his ability to recruit DFW-the reason he was hired. So far-counting DFW kids in the Texas Top 20 PLUS KIDS who SMU has offered-Tubbs is 0-11 including Miles, Eaton, Rodgers, Flowers, Jeremy Mayfield, Rodrick Flemings, Terrell Harris, Austin Jackson, Marques Haynes, Dallas Hunter and Jonathan Amos. Again I think SMU's facilities put him at a distinct disadvantage but let's not kid ourselves he was hired to sign kids from the group listed above.

[Stallion]

SMU's performance in the Sears Cup has been trending lower as it has for years under Copeland. Historically, Copeland's performance is not particularly great.

[EastStang]

First, Copeland (and Turner for that matter) can only get so much done until the Trustees begin to stop focusing on what the faculty senate is telling them about the horrors of changing the model. If you think that Copeland can change the majors that we offer, or can change the transferability of credits from junior colleges by fiat, you're being terribly naive. He has worked hard to get us away from some of the more incidious rules (like not being able to talk to a recruit until he has a qualifying test score). He had no control over the disbanding of the SWC, and with Baylor getting into the Big XII (thanks Ann Richards). He had no control over Airport Al and his band of merry theives.

[jtstang]

TUBBS DFW SCORECARD: you can grade Tubbs any way you want but in the end his success or failure will be based on his ability to recruit DFW-the reason he was hired. So far-counting DFW kids in the Texas Top 20 PLUS KIDS who SMU has offered-Tubbs is 0-11 including Miles, Eaton, Rodgers, Flowers, Jeremy Mayfield, Rodrick Flemings, Terrell Harris, Austin Jackson, Marques Haynes, Dallas Hunter and Jonathan Amos. Again I think SMU's facilities put him at a distinct disadvantage but let's not kid ourselves he was hired to sign kids from the group listed above.

He hasn't even coached his first game, so I'm not ready to call him a failure. And he was not JUST hired to sign DISD kids--no doubt that was part of his appeal--he was also hired to coach conditioning and defense, things that were woefully missing during Dement's recent years and which had a direct effect on our record.

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

Again I think SMU's facilities put him at a distinct disadvantage but let's not kid ourselves he was hired to sign kids from the group listed above.

Stallion,

Is it possible that we actually agree on something? Anyway, I am interested in your take on the Copeland/N.C. State denial, as I think it was clear to everyone how ridiculous that press release was.

Copeland may have backers on this board, but he would take any upgrade he could right now.

[Laura Bush Lover]

This idea probably won't win me any fans among some of the closed minded posters on this board, but I wanted to at least put it out there. For a university in our position, a big name AD hire could be as beneficial as a big name football hire. If people are so concerned with the ability of Barry Switzer to coach a football team, I'd like to propose him as an AD candidate. That he's a big name and has many connections to Dallas is well known. But he would be an amazing hire for AD because he's a proven leader, an administrator, has many connections around the country and would respark our athletic programs with the charge of his personality and sheer will. The thought of someone like Barry involved in the SMU family, at any level, warms this alumni's heart.