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I just read the book "A Payroll to Meet" by David Whitford.

It was an interesting book regarding the football program during the late 1970's and early 1980's. Anyways, I had a couple of questions:

1) Was this an accurate picture of what was going on? I know how journalist tend to exaggerate certain information, and fill in the holes in order to embellish thier <B>own</B> version of the story.

2) If this is not an accurate book, what would be another book about SMU football during that time? I am interested in knowing more about the subject.

The program had to be doing something right. These two players turned out to be pretty good..

I don't know how accurate it is, but it's the only one I've read on the subject, and it's a pretty entertaining read. I think, however, that you paint with a pretty broad brush there with your comments about journalists wanting to relay their version of stories, rather than simply stating the facts. There are those who carry monumental bias when they pick up a pen and tape recorder (hello, Al Carter!), but I think the majority are pretty fair. Not always great writers, to be sure, but generally pretty fair and able to keep their opinions to themselves.

The book says what it says. Whitford, I don't believe was a bad guy, but know that no one really close to the program at the time would speak with him. It does bring some, I mean only some, interesting things to light.

One one hand though, I'm glad no one would talk with him. The whole situation was bad enough. I know, as like Prof X, as I was a student at SMU at the time.

What I'd really like to see is someone decide to expose the NCAA for what it really is, a useless, pandering, organization. They will protect the $$ schools, while whip on a school like SMU. What about what's gone on at michigan, wisconsin, tennessee, alabama, notre dame, and on and on. How about the fact, that ut and a$m sicked the NCAA on us because of Dickerson and the moron, David Stanley? (After all, he was highly coveted by ut at the time, even threatened his father.)

As for any other reading, there is none. You want to know, ask those there in person some time. Maybe they will tell you.

Anyway, let's concentrate on our future.

Go Ponies!

The only other books that I could suggest on SMU Football are "Doak Walker : More Than a Hero"; "Hayden Fry : A High Porch Picnic"; "Mustang Mania" (If you can get a copy - maybe try Alibris); The 1982 SWC Championship book that the school put out (have only seen a handful of copies in my entire life).

None of these really will get you into the guts of the 80's probation, but are good overall historical pieces on SMU Football. My suggestion would be to look at some of the old copies of the DMN from the 80's on microfiche in Fondren. Also, you may check out the Sports Illustrated issue from the week in Feb. 1987 when the NCAA carried through with its aggression.