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Aside from hiring a proven Div. 1-A winner which will require SMU to break out the check book...something it has not done in the last 20 years so do not hold your breath on that one, SMU needs a name recognition coach to get people to attend the games again. It is hard to get excited about an assistant coach somewhere that no one really knows about even though the assistant may be a good coach. Aside from the actual losing, it is embarressing that no one goes to the games. I believe SMU is last in attendance in the conference......pathetic.

I'm not so negative that the checkbook won't be opened for the next HC. The $$$ spent on the Pony Up campaign, something that has not been done in some time, is an indication that what needs to be done will be done.

Billy Joe wrote: I believe SMU is last in attendance in the conference......pathetic.

Not quite.

National ranks:

93. SMU 21317
111. Rice 16701

More than money, a new coach has to look at this job as the ultimate career killer (Collins, Gregg, Rosley, Caven, Bennett haven't exactly been catapulted to the next level). What is the commitment by the school, fans, and players to end the career killer tradition?

It will take more than money. It will take a true commitment by the entire SMU community (administration, students, fans, players, and faculty) to attract a solid well known and respected coach.

If just throwing money would solve the problem, then it would be easy. But it will take an effort by all shareholders to turn this program around.

ponyte wrote:More than money, a new coach has to look at this job as the ultimate career killer (Collins, Gregg, Rosley, Caven, Bennett haven't exactly been catapulted to the next level).

I am not sure what makes you think you can include Collins in that mix.

SMU Football Blog wrote:I am not sure what makes you think you can include Collins in that mix.

What did his coaching career do after his (Collins) time on the Hilltop came to an end?

ponyte wrote:More than money, a new coach has to look at this job as the ultimate career killer (Collins, Gregg, Rosley, Caven, Bennett haven't exactly been catapulted to the next level).

Don't you think that's a bit of and overstatement?

Bobby Collins meteoric career was tanked by the Death Penalty. I imagine it'd be tough to get another coaching gig after that.

Forrest Gregg essentially came out of retirement (after a couple of years off) to coach the Mustangs, and then to be our AD. I know he went to the CFL after that, but at that stage in life I kinda doubt he was suited to a high stress 24/7 major college or NFL job.

After SMU, Tom Rosley went on to the Chicago Bears and the was offensive coordinator for the Packers until last year -- so he had a fine career after the Mustangs.

Mike Cavan was not a suitable major college head coach IMHO, and especially after his stint at SMU will probably never get that offer. On the other hand, he's now a big-time money maker for Georgia, so he gets a big fat salary and has to play golf all day. I wish my career got killed half as well as his!

PonySnob wrote:

SMU Football Blog wrote:I am not sure what makes you think you can include Collins in that mix.

What did his coaching career do after his (Collins) time on the Hilltop came to an end?

The situations are completely different. To paraphrase Jules in Pulp Fiction, "It ain't the same f**kin' ballpark, it ain't the same league, it ain't even the same f**kin' sport."

Anybody that doesn't recognize that has clealy been hit on the head on too many times and quite frankly deserves to get hit on the head a few more.

Let's just say that since Meyer got hired away by the Patriots (by a close friend), none of our coaches since have been in danger of being hired away by another school.

I think we are just talking about SMU being a career killer for all of the folks in ponyte's post, albeit Collins' career died for a different reason then the others'.

So out of the last 4 (exclude Bennett) SMU coaches, exactly one has had a Head coaching job since SMU (Gregg in the CFL). Boy that is sure something to be proud of. We can now brag that after coaching at SMU, a head coach can look forward to an offensive/defensive career in the NFL or being a money raiser or just plain retiring.

How very attractive. I am sure that I and all the Pony fans would just love to remind the next SMU head coach of the prestigious careers that have followed a stint as the SMU head coach. If the next coaches desire it to be a fund raiser with plenty of golf time, well, we have the perfect job.

Our claim to attract coaches has been that we are a spring board to bigger and better opportunities? It is not as if people think that an SMU job is the pinnacle of college jobs. So far, it has been a dead end for career advancement. We have little to no chance of hiring a Bear Bryant or Woody Hayes. We have a heck of a chance of hiring someone that wants to prove himself so that they can move on to a bigger and better opportunity. Now what evidence does SMU have to support the delusion that we can catapult someone's career?

Where did Notre Dame's last head coach go (hint: head coach at another D1A team)? Where did SMU's last head coach go (hint: dialing for dollars)?

The next head coach candidate needs to demand more from this institution than a good slap on the back and best wishes all around.

ponyte wrote:More than money, a new coach has to look at this job as the ultimate career killer (Collins, Gregg, Rosley, Caven, Bennett haven't exactly been catapulted to the next level). What is the commitment by the school, fans, and players to end the career killer tradition?

It will take more than money. It will take a true commitment by the entire SMU community (administration, students, fans, players, and faculty) to attract a solid well known and respected coach.

If just throwing money would solve the problem, then it would be easy. But it will take an effort by all shareholders to turn this program around.

Neither Rosley, Cavan nor Bennett had Head coaching careers to kill. That's the problem. Not one of the coaches you mentioned had any prior success as a HEAD COACH ON A DIVISION 1 LEVEL prior to taking the SMU job. TCU spent the money to Bring in Fran and the program has been on the upswing since. You may think TCU's success is due to fewer restrictions on recruiting than SMU but that's not true. TCU had fewer restrictions than SMU before Fran and weren't regulars in the Top 25. We need a big name, a solid game day coach and a great talent evaluator. SMU NEEDS TO AND WILL SPEND THE MONEY FOR A REAL HEAD COACH THIS TIME.

ponyte wrote:So out of the last 4 (exclude Bennett) SMU coaches, exactly one has had a Head coaching job since SMU (Gregg in the CFL). Boy that is sure something to be proud of. We can now brag that after coaching at SMU, a head coach can look forward to an offensive/defensive career in the NFL or being a money raiser or just plain retiring.

How very attractive. I am sure that I and all the Pony fans would just love to remind the next SMU head coach of the prestigious careers that have followed a stint as the SMU head coach. If the next coaches desire it to be a fund raiser with plenty of golf time, well, we have the perfect job.

Our claim to attract coaches has been that we are a spring board to bigger and better opportunities? It is not as if people think that an SMU job is the pinnacle of college jobs. So far, it has been a dead end for career advancement. We have little to no chance of hiring a Bear Bryant or Woody Hayes. We have a heck of a chance of hiring someone that wants to prove himself so that they can move on to a bigger and better opportunity. Now what evidence does SMU have to support the delusion that we can catapult someone's career?

Where did Notre Dame's last head coach go (hint: head coach at another D1A team)? Where did SMU's last head coach go (hint: dialing for dollars)?

The next head coach candidate needs to demand more from this institution than a good slap on the back and best wishes all around.

How many of the 3(Cavan,Rossley, Bennett) were head coaches prior to SMU???? They were failed experiments who didn't prove worthy of Head coaching jobs on a D1 level.

thefamousguy wrote:

ponyte wrote:So out of the last 4 (exclude Bennett) SMU coaches, exactly one has had a Head coaching job since SMU (Gregg in the CFL). Boy that is sure something to be proud of. We can now brag that after coaching at SMU, a head coach can look forward to an offensive/defensive career in the NFL or being a money raiser or just plain retiring.

How very attractive. I am sure that I and all the Pony fans would just love to remind the next SMU head coach of the prestigious careers that have followed a stint as the SMU head coach. If the next coaches desire it to be a fund raiser with plenty of golf time, well, we have the perfect job.

Our claim to attract coaches has been that we are a spring board to bigger and better opportunities? It is not as if people think that an SMU job is the pinnacle of college jobs. So far, it has been a dead end for career advancement. We have little to no chance of hiring a Bear Bryant or Woody Hayes. We have a heck of a chance of hiring someone that wants to prove himself so that they can move on to a bigger and better opportunity. Now what evidence does SMU have to support the delusion that we can catapult someone's career?

Where did Notre Dame's last head coach go (hint: head coach at another D1A team)? Where did SMU's last head coach go (hint: dialing for dollars)?

The next head coach candidate needs to demand more from this institution than a good slap on the back and best wishes all around.

How many of the 4 were head coaches prior to SMU???? They were failed experiments who didn't prove worthy of Head coaching jobs on a D1 level.

Just 2. Collins at USM and Gregg with 2 NFL teams (including a Super Bowl appearence).