Copeland retirement press conference recap

[PonyPride]

Just got back. Nice turnout: the DMN had Calvin Watkins and a columnist, the Daily Campus had two and there were a couple of TV cameras there, although I don't know what stations they were from.

Some items (not word-for-word quotes here -- I didn't record it):

* President Turner opened with a general statement about how he appreciates Copeland's work, that he recognizes Copeland took on a job with challenges never faced by any other athletic director in the history of any school. He cited several accomplishments: the stadium, fund raising, graduation rates, etc. He also said that over the years, he and Copeland have grown close personally.

* Turner and Copeland both said that SMU is "poised to break out" in football and basketball. They talked about how they are proud that SMU has done well over the years in many sports, but said that obviously it's important to do well in those two sports, and that they feel that success is close.

* Copeland thanked many folks: President Turner, the board of trustees, the coaches, the administrators and his wife. He said the decision was tough, because he and his wife have enjoyed his career, the places they've been and the people they met. He said "we didn't know if we'd even like Dallas, but we love Dallas. I learned when I was playing in the NFL that everything comes to an end."

* Turner called the athletic director position one of the toughest in higher education. He pointed out that coaches and players make up the teams that fans follow, but that the administrative work behind coordinating an entire program is endless. He also praised Copeland's work in coordinating the move into the WAC, and from the WAC into C-USA.

* Copeland said the next AD has to understand that graduation rates always will be important at SMU, and that in many ways, SMU is a unique athletic department. However, he reiterated that SMU is "positioned well to become prominent in basketball and football" and said that alone should help make the AD position attractive to candidates.

*Copeland admitted that the job was harder than he thought it would be when he took the job. He said one of the hardest parts of the job was "changing attitudes" within different groups, and said progress has been made, but that there's more progress that still needs to be made.

* Turner stressed that the next four months will not be a paid vacation. "He's still got a lot of work to do between no and May 31. He won't be out playing golf any more than he has in the past."

* Turner said that when he became president, he knew the facilities needed significant improvement. He and Copeland agreed that the football stadium was first on the list. (Turner said that when he got to SMU, he walked into the locker room at Ownby Stadium and "wondered where the real one was.") He said that next up is Moody Coliseum, but that other projects -- Westcott Field, a practice facility at the Dallas Athletic Club for the golf teams, etc. -- also are on the list. He said that because of the size of SMU's fan base and donor base, these projects can't be handled simultaneously, that they must be done "sequentially."

* Copeland and Turner were asked why Dallas hasn't embraced SMU as its team. Turner spoke about how there are other schools with alumni bases in Dallas, and said that during every SMU season, there are always at least two professional sports teams in season. He said SMU doesn't have the ability to be the only show in town, like it was in the 1940s and 1950s, because of the presence of the professional teams. He then looked at the reporter who asked the question and said "And occasionally, you and your colleagues don't cover us like you should."

* Copeland closed the press conference with a statement, thanking the people with whom he has worked ... tearing up in the process. He reiterated his belief that SMU is "poised to be very competitive" in men's and women's basketball and football. He finished by thanking President Turner, the boards, the athletic staff and his wife.

[Corso]

Thanks for the report, PF.com.

Nothing ground-breaking there ... standard stuff about any retiring employee. I just hope the comments about the future of football and basketball prove prophetic.

[Roach]

Thanks, Pride. You only beat the DMN by about 18 hours, and the TV stations by a few hours, too. Nicely done!

[Treadway21]

Thanks for the recap.

I'm surprised by the lack of comment to Copeland's retirement since so many here have been looking forward to this news for some time. What gives?

[ClassOf81]

I just got an e-mail, one of those Mustang Insiders e-mails, saying (among other things) that the press conference will be today at 2 PM.
It's now 5:22 PM.
Clever.