5 Reasons to Hire Fran
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:57 amLet me preface this by saying that I think Fran is a slimy b*stard, but putting emotions aside, he is undoubtedly the best fit. And while my original knee-jerk reaction to Fran was "No way", I have re-thought my opinion. I was a PJ supporter, but since he is off the table, this is my reasoning for Fran:
1.)A&M's 2008 recruiting class was ranked #10, while we were #95 and have already lost 2 commits. How many of Fran's promising players would follow him to SMU?? More playing time, better education, and if they are loyal to Fran they will follow. Face it, A&M's 2nd or 3rd string recruits could start for SMU.
2.)Mike Sherman has fired all but one coach from Fran's staff (http://blogs.chron.com/aggies/) (van Malone, CBs coach), so you have your new coaching staff at SMU ready to roll, as opposed to hiring RN or LC who would have to put one together. Maintain Texas ties (for those that view this as important), recruiting improves dramatically, and JUCO ties as well.
3.)Fran has a big enough ego to take on the SMU admin, and the track record to "oppose the militant faculty". If TCU football is what we aspire to be, he knows what it takes to get it done (i.e., change the model~For you, Stallion).
4.)Instant rivalry with A&M and TCU. Originally, I perceived this as a negative, like we were taking sloppy seconds. But the more I talk to people and read opposing message boards, the vast majority actually fear Fran at SMU. They know he can win, steal recruits, and re-build a program.
5.)Finally, hiring Fran will be a signal that SMU is committed to football. Let me say that again...that SMU is committed to winning football. We have been so preoccupied with DP and perceptions that we have never taken a chance on someone with a past. This hire will signal (to me) that Orsini won out over Turner, and that we cannot continue to hire "safe" coaches that can't get it done. A small victory, but a big one in terms of not letting our past dictate our future.
Again, i would not trust Fran any further than i could throw him (and he's a big man!), but in terms of getting SMU where it needs to be, he is the best fit. And if he left us in the middle of the night, that would mean he is getting it done and SMU is winning. If he wears the wrong color tie to the Heisman ceremony, so the heck what?? That would mean an SMU player was a finalist for the freaking Heisman!
my humble $.02
1.)A&M's 2008 recruiting class was ranked #10, while we were #95 and have already lost 2 commits. How many of Fran's promising players would follow him to SMU?? More playing time, better education, and if they are loyal to Fran they will follow. Face it, A&M's 2nd or 3rd string recruits could start for SMU.
2.)Mike Sherman has fired all but one coach from Fran's staff (http://blogs.chron.com/aggies/) (van Malone, CBs coach), so you have your new coaching staff at SMU ready to roll, as opposed to hiring RN or LC who would have to put one together. Maintain Texas ties (for those that view this as important), recruiting improves dramatically, and JUCO ties as well.
3.)Fran has a big enough ego to take on the SMU admin, and the track record to "oppose the militant faculty". If TCU football is what we aspire to be, he knows what it takes to get it done (i.e., change the model~For you, Stallion).
4.)Instant rivalry with A&M and TCU. Originally, I perceived this as a negative, like we were taking sloppy seconds. But the more I talk to people and read opposing message boards, the vast majority actually fear Fran at SMU. They know he can win, steal recruits, and re-build a program.
5.)Finally, hiring Fran will be a signal that SMU is committed to football. Let me say that again...that SMU is committed to winning football. We have been so preoccupied with DP and perceptions that we have never taken a chance on someone with a past. This hire will signal (to me) that Orsini won out over Turner, and that we cannot continue to hire "safe" coaches that can't get it done. A small victory, but a big one in terms of not letting our past dictate our future.
Again, i would not trust Fran any further than i could throw him (and he's a big man!), but in terms of getting SMU where it needs to be, he is the best fit. And if he left us in the middle of the night, that would mean he is getting it done and SMU is winning. If he wears the wrong color tie to the Heisman ceremony, so the heck what?? That would mean an SMU player was a finalist for the freaking Heisman!
my humble $.02
