No awards banquet for '08 team!

[smustang5151]

It came to my attention that the SMU Athletic Department has canceled the previously scheduled SMU Football 2008 Awards Banquet. I have not heard an explanation as to why the banquet was canceled. However, I hope that everyone is with me when I say this is absolutely deplorable.

"Our goal is to be top 25 in everything we do" -Steve Orsini. This has been Mr. Orsini's mantra since he stepped onto the SMU campus. I personally think that Steve has done a fine job as AD to this point, but if he allows this cancelation to stand, my opinion of him and his staff will change dramatically. I know everyone has been affected by the down economy, but these players have already been denied a proper senior recognition banquet (the "banquet" took place at the corner of the field after the last home game. Not trying to insult those who organized that banquet, it was simply a recognition on the field for 15 minutes. It was not a true senior banquet like those from years past.) I doubt any top 25 programs schedule, and then cancel award banquets. The banquet was scheduled for Jan. 24th, and I understand that many families had already made travel arrangements.

I know that we do not have a top 25 record, and we all wish we were winning more games. However, lets not lose sight of the bigger picture here. Despite what some may think those young men work very hard, and after four (or five) years of busting their tails year round we send them the message that we will only honor you if you are a "winner".

I don't know if this is a Steve Orsini or June Jones decision, but I hope that whoever made this decision will please think twice about it. These young men deserve better, and they should not be swept under the "rug" while we await the June Jones "turn-around-team".

It is not my intention to assign blame, or insult anyone associated with the SMU Football Program. I hope that everyone will join me in saying this is not right, and please do whatever you can to help "peer-pressure" the SMU Athletic Department into doing the right thing. (Make phone calls, write emails, don't just sit idly by and say "oh that's too bad" while our traditions go down the drain).

[StallionsModelT]

Um, maybe because any award ceremony for the 2008 team would last about ten minutes. Who exactly warrants getting an award? We had damn near 20 guys get suspended, had one win over a glorified community college, and managed to run off half the people who jumped on board after the JJ hire. Lets wait to give "awards" until there is a reason for them.

[RGV Pony]

I kind of buy into the "if you didn't get one, you didn't deserve one" line of thinking. So if there is to be no awards banquet, well...keep working hard and maybe one will be warranted soon.

[jtstang]

What kind of awards are we talking about? Surely not related to football.

[huskerpony]

I'm sorry, I whole-heartedly disagree.

Yes, these kids work hard, but this is not little league soccer where everyone gets a trophy just for showing up. Perhaps we should win a game against a team in D-1A football before we start handing out awards.

Their award will be a diploma from SMU--which was paid for through their hard work.

We should thank the seniors for their time and effort, wish them well in their future endeavors, and hope they represent the university well in their future careers. If any of the younger players want an award for football--and not just a diploma--perhaps instead of going to a banquet, they should spend the time conditioning or in the film room to get prepared for next season so that they have an opportunity to do something worthy of an award.

[expony18]

maybe not an awards banquet but there should be a dinner or something for the seniors who have spent the last 4-5 years working their asses off, even if it didnt translate into W's

[RGV Pony]

maybe not an awards banquet but there should be a dinner or something for the seniors who have spent the last 4-5 years working their asses off, even if it didnt translate into W's

no problem with taking the seniors to dinner or something. I still can't grasp the point of having an awards banquet where we would undoubtedly do something silly like name a "defensive MVP" from last year's team.

[huskerpony]

Oh, of course there should be a senior dinner or something--especially if they cancelled this at the last minute and families were coming to town. But an awards banquet seems a little much.

My point was to the comment that they are not being honored unless they win, and to the insinuation that Orsini or Jones had lost their perspective.....these players are getting $100,000+ worth of free education in return for their hard work, and an SMU diploma--which I think we can all agree is far more important than a recognition dinner. So, even though we would all like to see a winning program, let's not lose the perspective that these guys are really here to get an SMU education. I think most of them will feel plenty honored when they graduate and are able to find jobs in this economy ahead of the guys who have a communications degree from Louisiana Tech.

But yeah, they should probably have some sort of senior dinner at least and give their parents an opportunity to come in for an event one last time.

[bagice]

Need to do something for the seniors, but good for JJ for not having an awards banquet, noone earned any awards, take the seniors out to Silver City or something and leave all the underclassman in the weight room to get better for 2009.

[Mexmustang]

Math question? $100,000? Tuition and fees $18k x 8; Books $850 x 8; R&B $4k x 8, tuitors, laundry money or whatever, etc., etc., closer to $200,000.

[817pony]

maybe not an awards banquet but there should be a dinner or something for the seniors who have spent the last 4-5 years working their asses off, even if it didnt translate into W's

Now did they work really hard, or did they do just enough to keep their scholarship and their place on the team? This senior class is one that really seems to embrace the culture of loosing that is SMU. Maybe they should of watched the game film that June wanted them to watch at the end of the year?

[jkflamebo]

no reason to have an awards banquet following this season. seniors get their diplomas. returning players: hit the weight room and come back ready to compete. earn an awards banquet next season by showing up to every game next season and winning. the time of just going through the motions every season is over. lets start winning

[ALEX LIFESON]

June Jones made several comments at the season, that players were doing just the bare minimum. He said he had NEVER seen the weight room empty during the middle of the day, at any place he had ever been. Mabey that has something to do with, winning two games in two seasons.

[jkflamebo]

He said he had NEVER seen the weight room empty during the middle of the day, at any place he had ever been. Mabey that has something to do with, winning two games in two seasons.

also maybe why our guys look like sticks out there at almost every position

[RGV Pony]

He said he had NEVER seen the weight room empty during the middle of the day, at any place he had ever been. Mabey that has something to do with, winning two games in two seasons.

also maybe why our guys look like sticks out there at almost every position

and kind of flies in the face of the crap we hear every spring on this board about 'something about this time just feels different...these guys are working harder than they ever have...this or that or whatever would've never happened before...they are in the shape of their lives' etc etc etc.

2-22.

Meanwhile, what road trips is everyone going on next year? Off the top of my head, we have the following to choose from

Pullman, WA
Houston
Ft Worth
any idea who we play from the east part of CUSA? Marshall maybe? ECU?