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Last week, out of frustration, I posted this response to Orsini's "blog", which was, at the time, 3 weeks stale. I just had to get it off of my chest, and I wanted at least someone in the athletic department to hear me. Well, of course, no response gets posted until it is "reviewed" and "approved" by the SMU censors. After a week in cyber-limbo, it appears that the athletic department has ultimately refused to publish it. Nothing has changed since my time at SMU...voice any dissent, you are censored. Only official, white-washed, pointless drivel is allowed.

At any rate, this is what I wrote in response to Orsini's "Busy Times!" blog

Mr. Orsini,

Your last coaching search update was now close to 3 weeks ago, and it provided almost no useful information. Would it be possible to enlighten the few remaining fans that support this program about what in the heck is going on with this (by appearances) fiasco of a coaching search?

I am constantly embarrassed by the things that our athletic department/football program--the face of our university to many--manages to goof up. This marathon search is just one more in a long line of embarrassments. It appears from the silence and lack of activity that either no one wants to coach at SMU or that you and the search committee are unsure of yourselves. Either way, SMU, my alma mater, looks like a complete buffoon in the world of college football. Those who know me and my affiliation with SMU football have asked me on numerous occasions why we can't seem to get it together.

At this point in the game, I do not foresee anything close to a decent recruiting class for 2008, and perhaps for 2009. We have also missed out on any quality Junior College transfers by waiting so long to choose a coach. I also wonder what sort of communications and assurances are being given to the few recruits that we have managed to land a verbal commitment from about the state of our program. To me, it is an utter disgrace to still be looking for a new coach 10 weeks after firing our last one. And I am very concerned as usual about the next 4 years of SMU football.

It is not as though quality candidates are not, and have not been, available. Due to your silence, one can only guess, but it appears as though names such as Terry Bowden, Rick Neuheisel, Gary Barnett, Butch Jones, Mike Shula (and the list goes on and on) have been summarily dismissed. Any one of these coaches would have had us in a position to not only shock the college football world had they been hired, but would have also been able to assemble a staff and start recruiting weeks ago.

The national media has apparently given up on or has become indifferent to our quest to find a suitable coach. As usual, SMU fades into oblivion on the national stage. Apparently this feeds into your plan.

But please understand this, Mr. Orsini: There are many, many supporters of SMU who don't appreciate being kept in the dark for so long and made to feel, once again, like idiots for caring about SMU football. SMU has lost many supporters over the last 20 years due to its ineptness in athletics and the arrogance of the administration, and I am guessing your handling of this search has caused several more to defect. It certainly has not added any fans.

Three final summary comments: (1) Hire a coach. (2) Embrace SMU athletics/football supporters through dialogue and openness. (3)End the embarrassment that is SMU football...(see no.1 for more info.)

You may not critcize the administration or athletic director on this site.

The crazy thing about this search is that all the candidates being mentioned are more than qualified for SMU......even Mike Martz who I am not crazy about, but is certainly qualified. I would take mostly everyone mentioned and rally behind the guy so we can get on with life and start focusing on next season.

We have a great tailgate scene, great stadium/facilities......it won't take much to get people excited about the Ponies.

However, this huge delay is going to be a setback to recruiting and people are becoming frustrated with the lack of success over the past 20 years.....we will feel the impact around this poor process in future years.

Hope this huge gamble on JJ pays off. Hopefully that attractive Kappa in the corner goes home with Steve even though she is out of his league and he should be hitting on a DG.

Who said you can't criticize that administration or AD? All I ever saw was something about not making attacks personal or somesuch. Far as I can tell, it's fine to express dissent, isn't it? This thread started with a seemingly lucid, thought-out letter/e-mail to Steve-O. What's wrong with it?

If you have a problem with someone, take it directly to that person and bother the rest of us with it, and stop hiding behind your online name. It's getting tiresome reading the same old rants, and they're certainly not going to speed up the process of hiring a new coach.

i like the message and support your claims, i hope someone there takes note of the mounting frustration

Diamond Girl wrote:If you have a problem with someone, take it directly to that person and bother the rest of us with it, and stop hiding behind your online name. It's getting tiresome reading the same old rants, and they're certainly not going to speed up the process of hiring a new coach.

The point of this thread is that I TRIED TO. I posted my message here a week after the SMU Athletic Department chose not to publish my response to its blog.

Feel free not to read it, but this is what an SMU football message board is for.

BRStang wrote:

Diamond Girl wrote:If you have a problem with someone, take it directly to that person and bother the rest of us with it, and stop hiding behind your online name. It's getting tiresome reading the same old rants, and they're certainly not going to speed up the process of hiring a new coach.

The point of this thread is that I TRIED TO. I posted my message here a week after the SMU Athletic Department chose not to publish my response to its blog.

Feel free not to read it, but this is what an SMU football message board is for.

seriously, people are way too cynical about this kinda stuff. im glad someone's doing something rather than sitting around waiting

First off......that hippo is awesome. Second, this forum is exactly the place to express frustration.

Coker, Fran, Martz.....let's hire them. In retrospect it is funny how Coker who won a national championship, isn't up to standards. Talent aside, it is difficult to win the title.....just ask Texas.

The_RichAlum wrote:First off......that hippo is awesome. Second, this forum is exactly the place to express frustration.

Coker, Fran, Martz.....let's hire them. In retrospect it is funny how Coker who won a national championship, isn't up to standards. Talent aside, it is difficult to win the title.....just ask Texas.

lol Cokerfranmartz would be much better than Applebowden

Brstang,

Why don't you just take this note and e-mail it to his direct e-mail address. You can find it on smumustangs.com. It may get filtered out. He may delete it. He may read it and respond.

Give it a shot.

George S. Patton wrote:Brstang,

Why don't you just take this note and e-mail it to his direct e-mail address. You can find it on smumustangs.com. It may get filtered out. He may delete it. He may read it and respond.

Give it a shot.

I thought about it, but I figured his secretary would get it and delete it or send me some form letter response.

I figured if I posted it as a response to the blog, some AD official would probably have to read it and maybe at least relay the sentiment. And, it would get posted for others to read, too.

But, I suppose I will go ahead and email him.

You guys are ridiculous.

Who have we missed out on by waiting? Nobody. Everyone who we can get is STILL there.

After Dec 15th (Whenever quiet period started) there was no difference between waiting until Jan 10th or hiring Dec 16th other than to satisfy your rabid curiousity.

Peopel like you whom share your sentiments are the same type of people who justify passing laws because ... "We have to do SOMETHING!!!"

Should we hire a coach JUST to hire a coach?

I think not. We are the "last" team to hire, so what. IF JJ doesn't work out there will be another one, who is STILL there today.

IF this bleeds into Jan 14th, then we do have serious problems. I realize we are close to that point, but the SKY ISN"T FALLING

Hell, Fran could come in next week and steal 5 recruits from the Aggies and double the best PB class.

George S. Patton wrote:Brstang,

Why don't you just take this note and e-mail it to his direct e-mail address. You can find it on smumustangs.com. It may get filtered out. He may delete it. He may read it and respond.

Give it a shot.

Yeah, SO will respond to crybaby non-donating 'fans'.

He's responded to me, but only as a carbon copy to another individual to deal with some inane issue I had at the time. I asked him to delegate it b/c it didn't rise to the level of important, but the point is, he read it, emailed back, and he forwarded it on to the proper people.

But I really don't think he is going to respond to open revolt. I wouldn't.

PhirePhilBennett wrote:
Who have we missed out on by waiting? Nobody.

Why don't you check out Rivals to find that out?

You are CLUELESS.