Since we're all howling about......
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 3:50 pmthe state of the program. Remember this story.
Neigh sayers: Former Mustangs critical of SMU football
02:54 AM CST on Thursday, November 4, 2004
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
UNIVERSITY PARK – Concern is growing among prominent former SMU football players about the state of the program, prompting one to call for coaching and administrative changes.
Eric Dickerson, the school's all-time leading rusher and two-time Southwest Conference Player of the Year, said athletic director Jim Copeland is partially to blame, and "that man has got to go."
"It's not the SMU I know," said Dickerson, whose jersey was retired in 2000. "When teams play SMU now, it's become stat day. Yes, they have the facilities, but they are not going about recruiting in a right way. They need to get some tough kids who will fight, spit and slap the opponent in the face. Jim Copeland is the reason for a lot of these things. He's got no ties to Dallas or SMU."
In three seasons, SMU has gone 4-28 under coach Phil Bennett,with 23 losses coming by double-digits. In five seasons under previous coach Mike Cavan, SMU lost 19 games by double digits.
Copeland and Bennett said Dickerson has been misinformed about several issues concerning the program, specifically recruiting standards that procedurally have changed.
"For Eric Dickerson to sit back in California and complain about things, to me, is irresponsible," Copeland said. "He is not trying to help us. When we asked him to come here to retire his number, he wanted us to pay his own way."
Craig James, who teamed with Dickerson and Lance McIlhenny to form the famed Pony Express backfield of the 1980s, said he's apprehensive about letting his son, Adam, a leading receiver at Celina, seriously consider SMU.
Looking for results
Others say they are supportive of the program and Bennett, yet are not happy with the results.
"That program is a joke, and it will always remain that way," Dickerson said. "It's really sad, pitiful. You can't blame the players. The coaches are where it starts."
Dickerson said he wouldn't give money to SMU because he felt it wouldn't go toward helping the athletic program.
McIlhenny, who played quarterback from 1980-83, is a former Mustang Club and Lettermen's Club president. But he, too, is concerned about the mounting losses.
"I'm at most of the home games, and I'm trying to figure it out," he said. "Again in time, we'll have a good product."
SMU went 29-5-1 in the three seasons (1980-82) with Dickerson, James and McIllhenny in the backfield. Five years later, the NCAA handed SMU the "death penalty" as a result of paying players. The Mustangs have had one winning season since then.
This year, the Mustangs have one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 57 freshmen and 28 sophomores on the 112-man roster. They've also lost two starting linebackers and a quarterback to injury, and played one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country.
James has attended several SMU functions over the years, including the announcement last spring the school is leaving the WAC for Conference USA. But James, a college football analyst for ABC, said he is disappointed.
After leaving the ABC Sports studios in New York on Saturday night, James and anchor John Saunders went to a bar to relax.
"I look up at the television screen and see, Fresno State 21, SMU 0, and John goes, 'Hey, there's your school.' I said, 'Oh man, that's ridiculous.' " James said. "I have a difficult time talking about SMU. I like Phil Bennett. But we got shut out by TCU this season."
Recently, James' son, a 6-3, 225-pound junior tight end, received a routine recruiting questionnaire from SMU. James said his son is being recruited by Colorado, Northwestern and Texas A&M.
"It was like a form letter," said James, whose daughter attends SMU. "I was like, 'I'm the one who played there, it was my life and my identity.' I want the best for my boy, but when I saw that letter, I'm thinking, like other parents, there is some doubt about sending your kids there."
Said Dickerson: "The letter was so degrading. Not that SMU would consider making the letter personal. If they did their homework, they would know that's Craig James' son."
Colleges can, under NCAA rules, send personal correspondence to recruits at the start of their junior year. Adam James was invited to SMU's high school summer football camp but declined to attend, Craig James said.
Confidence issues
SMU officials can't talk about recruits until they have signed a letter of intent.
"We are making inroads in recruiting," Bennett said. "We are now competing with the Oklahoma States and the Arkansas for some of these kids. In the past, that wouldn't be the case. This whole thing just didn't start three years ago. When we lost the SWC, we lost our recruiting base. This program is a work-over.
"I know they are frustrated. ... I've been disappointed, but I'm not going to back down."
Donald Mitchell, an SMU defensive back from 1995-98 who played with the Tennessee Titans, said the current players lack confidence.
"I see the players are playing hard, but I also see frustration in their eyes," said Mitchell, who said he supports Bennett. "I don't know if it's talent level, but I see a lot of things that are not good. I can understand where Eric is coming from on some issues."
Craig Swann, who led the SWC in tackles in 1995, has been the SMU radio analyst the last five seasons. During a sequence where two players failed to tackle a Fresno State player last week, Swann called the execution "pathetic" on the air.
Swann said he supports Bennett but wonders when things will turn.
"It's in bad shape," said Jerry LeVias, who integrated the SWC as an SMU wide receiver in 1966. "Something has been missing with the connection with the old and the young. A lot of us, Eric, Craig and Jim, have to get into a room and clear the air. We need constructive ideas."
E-mail [email protected]
Neigh sayers: Former Mustangs critical of SMU football
02:54 AM CST on Thursday, November 4, 2004
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
UNIVERSITY PARK – Concern is growing among prominent former SMU football players about the state of the program, prompting one to call for coaching and administrative changes.
Eric Dickerson, the school's all-time leading rusher and two-time Southwest Conference Player of the Year, said athletic director Jim Copeland is partially to blame, and "that man has got to go."
"It's not the SMU I know," said Dickerson, whose jersey was retired in 2000. "When teams play SMU now, it's become stat day. Yes, they have the facilities, but they are not going about recruiting in a right way. They need to get some tough kids who will fight, spit and slap the opponent in the face. Jim Copeland is the reason for a lot of these things. He's got no ties to Dallas or SMU."
In three seasons, SMU has gone 4-28 under coach Phil Bennett,with 23 losses coming by double-digits. In five seasons under previous coach Mike Cavan, SMU lost 19 games by double digits.
Copeland and Bennett said Dickerson has been misinformed about several issues concerning the program, specifically recruiting standards that procedurally have changed.
"For Eric Dickerson to sit back in California and complain about things, to me, is irresponsible," Copeland said. "He is not trying to help us. When we asked him to come here to retire his number, he wanted us to pay his own way."
Craig James, who teamed with Dickerson and Lance McIlhenny to form the famed Pony Express backfield of the 1980s, said he's apprehensive about letting his son, Adam, a leading receiver at Celina, seriously consider SMU.
Looking for results
Others say they are supportive of the program and Bennett, yet are not happy with the results.
"That program is a joke, and it will always remain that way," Dickerson said. "It's really sad, pitiful. You can't blame the players. The coaches are where it starts."
Dickerson said he wouldn't give money to SMU because he felt it wouldn't go toward helping the athletic program.
McIlhenny, who played quarterback from 1980-83, is a former Mustang Club and Lettermen's Club president. But he, too, is concerned about the mounting losses.
"I'm at most of the home games, and I'm trying to figure it out," he said. "Again in time, we'll have a good product."
SMU went 29-5-1 in the three seasons (1980-82) with Dickerson, James and McIllhenny in the backfield. Five years later, the NCAA handed SMU the "death penalty" as a result of paying players. The Mustangs have had one winning season since then.
This year, the Mustangs have one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 57 freshmen and 28 sophomores on the 112-man roster. They've also lost two starting linebackers and a quarterback to injury, and played one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country.
James has attended several SMU functions over the years, including the announcement last spring the school is leaving the WAC for Conference USA. But James, a college football analyst for ABC, said he is disappointed.
After leaving the ABC Sports studios in New York on Saturday night, James and anchor John Saunders went to a bar to relax.
"I look up at the television screen and see, Fresno State 21, SMU 0, and John goes, 'Hey, there's your school.' I said, 'Oh man, that's ridiculous.' " James said. "I have a difficult time talking about SMU. I like Phil Bennett. But we got shut out by TCU this season."
Recently, James' son, a 6-3, 225-pound junior tight end, received a routine recruiting questionnaire from SMU. James said his son is being recruited by Colorado, Northwestern and Texas A&M.
"It was like a form letter," said James, whose daughter attends SMU. "I was like, 'I'm the one who played there, it was my life and my identity.' I want the best for my boy, but when I saw that letter, I'm thinking, like other parents, there is some doubt about sending your kids there."
Said Dickerson: "The letter was so degrading. Not that SMU would consider making the letter personal. If they did their homework, they would know that's Craig James' son."
Colleges can, under NCAA rules, send personal correspondence to recruits at the start of their junior year. Adam James was invited to SMU's high school summer football camp but declined to attend, Craig James said.
Confidence issues
SMU officials can't talk about recruits until they have signed a letter of intent.
"We are making inroads in recruiting," Bennett said. "We are now competing with the Oklahoma States and the Arkansas for some of these kids. In the past, that wouldn't be the case. This whole thing just didn't start three years ago. When we lost the SWC, we lost our recruiting base. This program is a work-over.
"I know they are frustrated. ... I've been disappointed, but I'm not going to back down."
Donald Mitchell, an SMU defensive back from 1995-98 who played with the Tennessee Titans, said the current players lack confidence.
"I see the players are playing hard, but I also see frustration in their eyes," said Mitchell, who said he supports Bennett. "I don't know if it's talent level, but I see a lot of things that are not good. I can understand where Eric is coming from on some issues."
Craig Swann, who led the SWC in tackles in 1995, has been the SMU radio analyst the last five seasons. During a sequence where two players failed to tackle a Fresno State player last week, Swann called the execution "pathetic" on the air.
Swann said he supports Bennett but wonders when things will turn.
"It's in bad shape," said Jerry LeVias, who integrated the SWC as an SMU wide receiver in 1966. "Something has been missing with the connection with the old and the young. A lot of us, Eric, Craig and Jim, have to get into a room and clear the air. We need constructive ideas."
E-mail [email protected]