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Look I know it is a risk, because he is unproven a little bit...

But let's look at some positives
1. Has great knowledge of the game offensively, and you could even argue defensively because any good quarterback can read the defense better than anyone else on the field
2. He is a Texas man, therefore recruiting in Texas would be a lot more successful and attendance at games would probably pickup.
3. He is young! There is so much good young talent out there, why don't we take a risk with a guy who wants to be a head coach, who definitely has the skills to be one someday and see what happens...We could also get away with probably paying this guy 500K as well. We could stack him with talented coordinators and good mentors to help.
4. He would relate well with the players, and the players might respond to his coaching methods and strategies. Dillard at Rice is a prime example of what Applewhite can do.

Just give the young man a chance, and Orsini you can sit back and say what a great move I just made. While saving the athletic department an unneeded extra couple thousand that can go towards improving or bettering something else for football.

This would be a pick out the blue, but I think in a few years SMU fans would only be able to say WOW, in response to the unbelievale job that Applewhite would do.

You make some good points about Major but I prefer Mason, Barnett,
Gill or Dennis Green.

Major has some positives that make him a candidate but @ this time in SMU athletics they need someone else IMO. Having said that, he would be in my top 10 candidates. They could do much worse than a young, bright, aggressive Texan with a rich Texas football history. Why isn't he on the UT staff?

I agree that Major would be a great hire. I think in terms of recruiting, excitement, and someone that is reasonably attainable, Major is second only to Turner Gill in my view.

I do realize that these are not the most proven choices out there. However, I like the idea of hiring coaches on the rise, that could make their career with success at SMU. I would love for Applewhite or Gill to use SMU as a stepping stone to Nebraska and UT HC positions in the future.

BringBackThePonies03 wrote:Look I know it is a risk, because he is unproven a little bit...

This year's understatement.

Is Applewhite considered a great recruiter? Just asking......

two things...
is he available? really?

and just so you know, i have it on good authority to a direct question about hiring Major, it will not happen.

he will be a good head coach someday, but he's not ready to run the entire program.

I think Major has a pretty sweet gig and is not available.

I also don't think it makes much sense for Major in terms of a likely progression to UT HC. If he succeeds at Alabama for a few years and moves to OC at Texas, I feel that would fast track him to a dream job much better than risking losing at SMU.

I don't know if he is completely ready for a HC job, and I am not totally clear on his success in recruiting. I know Alabama is counting on him to recruit Texas...so I think we should be able to tell pretty soon based on who they get from the state.

However, I would rather take a chance on Applewhite than on someone like Bowden.

I also like the majority of the names we are throwing around...even Fran. Almost any of these coaches would be an acceptable upgrade. Gill and Applewhite are just my personal favorites.

But if he can give smu just one winning season he sure could have any job in the country

It would be sweet to have happen...But I am actually from Nebraska and KNOW that he is going to be coming back to coach there in the next few days. I am not going to get into the details, but just trust me he definitely ain't coming here and he will be wearing Husker Red at a press conference very soon!!!