PJ quote that makes me say hmmmm....Orsini got played!

[cs09viking]

in the his last interview in annapolis this morning PJ said the following to Bill Wagner:

WAGNER: Ultimately, what led to your decision? What was your reasoning?

JOHNSON: ... goal of mine is to try and win a national championship. I’ve had a zillion opportunities to leave here, but I didn’t want to go somewhere where I didn’t think you had a chance to play for championships. I think at this program (Georgia Tech) you do.

If that was truly a factor how could he have even seriously considered the Pony job. This is a kick in the gut to Steve-O. This has to really bother Steve-O considering that this is the second time he has been rejected by his friend PJ.

Steve-O was played like a grand piano.

[EastStang]

[davidsmu94]

Being a salesman, we all lose one from time to time. That doesn't mean you stop trying... Steve-O will bounce back and hire a great coach for SMU.

[mr. pony]

I find it hard for anyone to think that SMU could win a national championship.

Well, not this year, maybe.

[ponyinNC]

my thoughts as well...if PJ was really and truly steve-o's #1 guy, he should've known this from the start.

I do like SO, and I trust him to make the right hire...I hope this pisses him off and energizes him and the SMU Big $ Boosters to seriously pony up...i am talking 3MM a year. And shock the heck out of the college football world.

[Ikus]

He didn't "get played" - at least not based on that comment. What that says is he aimed for a coach he thought very highly of, and that coach chose to go elsewhere. I, for one, am glad his first offer wasn't to some out-of-work junior high coach who would be happy just to have a job, any job.

[craigjames4ever]

He got what he wanted in the end so good luck to him.

[Cadillac]

Eh. I just like to use the picture.

-CoS

[mr. pony]

$3M

NOW you're talkin'.

We've GOT to blow it up. P*ss on that Paul Johnson crap.

Upgrade, baby!! The SPLASH is where it's at.

[Hoop Fan]

I don't know if he got played or not, the proof will come in what happens over the next few days. If he has a Plan B it should happen quickly. If he doesn't, he got played. This eventuality must have been planned for because it didn't take much to see this coming. When it doesn't make sense for a guy to come here, he probably isn't coming here. It never made sense for PJ to come here. I don't think he would have come even if GT didn't step up. Would have stayed at Navy.

[Bergermeister]

. Steve-O will bounce back and hire a great coach for SMU.

Exactly.

[Stallion]

I have more respect for Steve Orsini than I did 2-3 months ago. Again I didn't want Johnson but Orsini has done a great job in getting the funds together to try and make it happen. So he swung and miss- big f'n deal. SMU has never gotten its FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD choice in any coaching search. We've had ADs and others who have been mailing it in without any plan or hopes to lure a quality Coach. At least Orsini has a plan. Give him a break-he is working from a short deck.

[cs09viking]

classic case of.....if you lose then you turn right around and double the size of your bet to fight your way out of a $hittty situation.

hey i say that Steve-O should get real mad, look at himself in the mirror for 5 mins, stare himself down with AC/DC in the background and come out with guns blazing!

call Urban Meyer and using the donated funds....

offer him a 2 year contract at 5 million per year and tell him we worry about year 3 in 2 years...

[MustangMan2001]

Long live Orsini!!!!!

Best thing to ever happen to SMU athletics, just a little on the quiet side

[NewPonyFan]

Money was not the issue, obviously. I just would have hoped that PJ would have been more honest and upfront with an old friend of his than it sounds like he was being.

I think the term "played" is too strong. I believe that Orsini believed he had a great chance of getting his guy and pulled out all the stops to do so - maybe even to the extent of saying "Paul - you are the ONLY choice".

I feel kinda bad for Steve-O today.