The Ticket Press Conference Recap
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:18 pm--Pre press conference:
--Ticket discusses generic problems with SMU; Applewhite won't come here because he doesn't want to tarnish his image; Bowden hasn't coached in 9 years, hasn't said anything intelligent in 12 years; Coker is a retread; Ryhner says we need someone young; Mason is another retread; if you are young, this is a death sentence job per Snake; Ryhner says there must be someone good at SFA, Texas State, or some JC who can coach here; in SMU's defense, if you can turn it around there is some hope for a coach's future, but they don't see it happening; what is SMU going to do with football--be good at it and win at it, and if not, then stop the pretense, say we're not a IA school; PB is the winner in this--he can audition for a DC job, he's well thought of.
--The conference
--PB says this is a good place, tough job, knew what he was getting into. Thanks to Gerald Turner, who is doing wonderful things. Jim Copeland is a good man. Steve Orsini is doing positive things and has great vision for this program. Made a lot of great friends here. People have been supportive. We've been close, but close doesn't count. You look back and reflect on bad call at Marshall; look at Justin not playing a game and at some point we've got to make a 3rd and 1 or 4th and one. I feel like the program, talent level is better. We're very close. Easily could be 5-2. Not about what ifs, its about results. Thanks the staff. This was [deleted] them and families. They had loyal committment to SMU. Thanks the players. Coaching is no fun without relationship with players. I have fond memories of the guys who have been through here. Our goal is to keep these guys focused. Challenges are still there. When you play football, unlike other sports, you have to be passionate and the players have to look forward to competing. Our guys will respond on Sunday. I want them playing for themselves, the team, the school, not for me. I'm old school about that. I have great appreciation for SMU. SMU has been fair to me. Disappointed that we are so close but didn't get program to level we wanted.
Questions (inaudible).
Answers:
--To sustain success, you have to have luck--injury free, have guys come through for you. I would have done some things differently. But there are some things you don't have control over. We had good senior leadership last two years, guys who were passionate. Our guys this year were not comfortable in being that "step up" person. But they can be.
--As a coach, my thoughts were about players, coaches, and frustration (apparently talking about TU game). I was proud defensively. Bunch of new guys. Did a good job against number 3 offense in the country. Once it was decided yesterday, I told Steve thanks for the opportunity--it hurts--but it's business as usual. There are points during this tenure that will be positive. We are not on equal footing with our competitors--to say other would "be a lie." Both academic and financial, the committmment, Steve and Gerald know that. This isn't a cop out. Things have gotten better. I knew coming in, and you think you can overcome a lot of things, but I believe that at this point, looking at conference and recruiting in Texas, these guys have a chance to win a championship.
--Problems aren't just academic restrictions, but transfers, hours, process of a broader curriculum. Lots of kids would want a school of education, which I thought would happen here. At one point there was movement for that, but it slowly faded away. But that's not what I'm here for--but those things would make it a lot easier than what it is.
--My passion is coaching. I'm fired up. Attitude is everything in life. You can make yourself miserable or happy. If I'm coaching, I'm happing. I would have liked to have stayed. I want to win. I'm in charge of this program, and I expect a higher level of focus and concetration.
--I don't have to prove anything. I can coach. Do I want to win? Absolutely. We had guys up here at 6 am trying to win. Urgency has never lacked.
--Ticket discusses generic problems with SMU; Applewhite won't come here because he doesn't want to tarnish his image; Bowden hasn't coached in 9 years, hasn't said anything intelligent in 12 years; Coker is a retread; Ryhner says we need someone young; Mason is another retread; if you are young, this is a death sentence job per Snake; Ryhner says there must be someone good at SFA, Texas State, or some JC who can coach here; in SMU's defense, if you can turn it around there is some hope for a coach's future, but they don't see it happening; what is SMU going to do with football--be good at it and win at it, and if not, then stop the pretense, say we're not a IA school; PB is the winner in this--he can audition for a DC job, he's well thought of.
--The conference
--PB says this is a good place, tough job, knew what he was getting into. Thanks to Gerald Turner, who is doing wonderful things. Jim Copeland is a good man. Steve Orsini is doing positive things and has great vision for this program. Made a lot of great friends here. People have been supportive. We've been close, but close doesn't count. You look back and reflect on bad call at Marshall; look at Justin not playing a game and at some point we've got to make a 3rd and 1 or 4th and one. I feel like the program, talent level is better. We're very close. Easily could be 5-2. Not about what ifs, its about results. Thanks the staff. This was [deleted] them and families. They had loyal committment to SMU. Thanks the players. Coaching is no fun without relationship with players. I have fond memories of the guys who have been through here. Our goal is to keep these guys focused. Challenges are still there. When you play football, unlike other sports, you have to be passionate and the players have to look forward to competing. Our guys will respond on Sunday. I want them playing for themselves, the team, the school, not for me. I'm old school about that. I have great appreciation for SMU. SMU has been fair to me. Disappointed that we are so close but didn't get program to level we wanted.
Questions (inaudible).
Answers:
--To sustain success, you have to have luck--injury free, have guys come through for you. I would have done some things differently. But there are some things you don't have control over. We had good senior leadership last two years, guys who were passionate. Our guys this year were not comfortable in being that "step up" person. But they can be.
--As a coach, my thoughts were about players, coaches, and frustration (apparently talking about TU game). I was proud defensively. Bunch of new guys. Did a good job against number 3 offense in the country. Once it was decided yesterday, I told Steve thanks for the opportunity--it hurts--but it's business as usual. There are points during this tenure that will be positive. We are not on equal footing with our competitors--to say other would "be a lie." Both academic and financial, the committmment, Steve and Gerald know that. This isn't a cop out. Things have gotten better. I knew coming in, and you think you can overcome a lot of things, but I believe that at this point, looking at conference and recruiting in Texas, these guys have a chance to win a championship.
--Problems aren't just academic restrictions, but transfers, hours, process of a broader curriculum. Lots of kids would want a school of education, which I thought would happen here. At one point there was movement for that, but it slowly faded away. But that's not what I'm here for--but those things would make it a lot easier than what it is.
--My passion is coaching. I'm fired up. Attitude is everything in life. You can make yourself miserable or happy. If I'm coaching, I'm happing. I would have liked to have stayed. I want to win. I'm in charge of this program, and I expect a higher level of focus and concetration.
--I don't have to prove anything. I can coach. Do I want to win? Absolutely. We had guys up here at 6 am trying to win. Urgency has never lacked.