SMU Football Team’s Road To Success

[ALEX LIFESON]

SMU Football Team’s Road To Success
February 23, 2010
LaKeisha James
[email protected]


SMU football players learned first hand that hard work pays off. SMU Mustangs went from a 1-11 season their previous year to a 7-5 record and a bowl game this past season.

“Having won a bowl game, they are now hungry to make it to a Conference USA Championship,” SMU’s secondary coach, Derrick Odum, said.

After celebrating the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl victory, coaches and athletes reflected on how they turned around their program.

In the 2008 season the athletes were very talented, but they didn’t know how to win. They would always “find a way to lose,” Odum said.

In 2008-09 season Coach June Jones came into the program determined to change their record to a winning season. June was former head coach of Hawaii, and he reconstructed a downtrodden Warrior football program to make it one of the most exciting and competitive squads in the country.

Jones had a rocky start his first year coaching at SMU. He had a group of talented and young athletes who didn’t know how to win. In former years, the mustangs went through long losing streaks and didn’t know how to break the pattern.

“The team didn’t know how to believe in themselves. Lack of commitment and the players were not having fun on the field. This put a burden on the team,” said Chris Banjo, sophomore football player.

The beginning of the past season Coach Jones had given the team a goal. He promised them if they won six games they would be bowl eligible. That goal played a factor in motivating the team, but what really made a big impact in the beginning of the season was the passing of one of their coaches, Frank Gansz.

“We not only wanted to be winners for ourselves but wanted to do it for Gansz. We were tired of being the laughing stock,” said Banjo.

The team’s long term goal was to make it to a bowl game. Jones gave the team a map each month of its short term goals. He calculated the team needed to win two to four games a month.

“The win against UAB in Brigham was the light switch that turned on that had everybody excited. The team just wanted to do it again,” said Coach Steve Stigall

It did not matter if it was during sled pulls, cone drills or lifting in the weight room. Training did not change. Coaches lectured the players at practice to always be thinking about beating the guy next to them.

“Once you have won your opponent next to you, you will keep that mind set and will win games,” said Odum.

The players took the initiative to work harder. They continued to train everyday, but added volunteer workouts.

“Majority of us would go watch film on our own time, play seven on seven on the football field. We just had a total different attitude. We wanted to be champions”, said Bryan McCann, former player.

The SMU Mustangs have a big future ahead of them. They plan continue where they left off, and are aiming for a better record.

“Next season will be even tougher than this past year so the hard work starts now,” said Odum.

Several of the players have been practicing with the woman’s track team. Spring training started, Feb. 8. The extra training is just another step towards a successful next season.

“Just because we won one [bowl game] doesn’t mean the hard work is over,” said Banjo.

[squire]

Good behind the scenes account. You almost forget all the hard work that went into turning it around in 2009, and how it could have gone either way. Sounds like that although June comes off as being low key or laid back, he can motivate these guys to do big things.
I had not heard much from Banjo before. Sounds like he gets it, and might be a leader on defense.

[SMUer]

Several of the players have been practicing with the woman’s track team.

For Ponyfan viewers who don't know, SMU doesn't have a men's track program. That's an important point in an article about aspiring to be the best, not be a laughing stock, etc.

[that's great raplh]

i am sure the guys are real broken up having to hang with girls

[SMUSA2013]

i am sure the guys are real broken up having to hang with girls

I would be too...

[SmooBoy]

Where in the heck is Brigham?

[Junior]

Where in the heck is Brigham?

Young?

[Texasscout96]

The team and coaches admit that next year will be a difficult road...Yet Orsini expects the alumni to magically give up thousands of dollars in PSLs?

Interesting logic...

I'll bet he is PRAYING the team doesn't take steps in the wrong direction. It'll be interesting to watch for sure...

[smuuth]

If you want to participate in Division 1 sports, especially football, basketball and baseball....then you better provide the support both financially and other ways. Otherwise, there are other lower divisions which might welcome SMU. PSL's are part of the equation. More money pays for better facilities and coaches which attract beter athletes which equate to winning seasons, bowl games, march madness participation, beter conference affiliation, more tv dollars and better bowl payouts and so on. Most SMU fans and others don't get it. They want the bigtime athletic program without supporting it! Not all but many.

[DiamondM75]

If you want to participate in Division 1 sports, especially football, basketball and baseball....then you better provide the support both financially and other ways. Otherwise, there are other lower divisions which might welcome SMU. PSL's are part of the equation. More money pays for better facilities and coaches which attract beter athletes which equate to winning seasons, bowl games, march madness participation, beter conference affiliation, more tv dollars and better bowl payouts and so on. Most SMU fans and others don't get it. They want the bigtime athletic program without supporting it! Not all but many.

I totally disagree. The SMU fan wants big time athletics and is willing to support those programs, BUT, the administration and the athletic department have to show the same support. For a frickin 25 years we have watched miserable football (that finally changed), miserable basketball, miserable baseball (no wait that doesn't exist), miserable track and field (no wait, that doesn't exist either), etc, etc, etc, etc.

Give me something to support or at least show me an effort.

The first step is to fire Steve Orsini NOW, TODAY. Then, challenge the SMU fan to support basketball. Here is the plan, raise enough money to buy out Doh's contract and the administration will match you dollar for dollar. If the SMU fans raise 750,000, Doh is history. If not, then three more years and no complaining.

I will double my Mustang Club contribution to get this accomplished.

[Alaric]

The first step is to fire Steve Orsini NOW, TODAY. Then, challenge the SMU fan to support basketball. Here is the plan, raise enough money to buy out Doh's contract and the administration will match you dollar for dollar. If the SMU fans raise 750,000, Doh is history. If not, then three more years and no complaining.

hmmm...I wonder how hard it would be to raise $750,000 cash, not pledges, for the cause

[NickSMU17]

The first step is to fire Steve Orsini NOW, TODAY. Then, challenge the SMU fan to support basketball. Here is the plan, raise enough money to buy out Doh's contract and the administration will match you dollar for dollar. If the SMU fans raise 750,000, Doh is history. If not, then three more years and no complaining.

hmmm...I wonder how hard it would be to raise $750,000 cash, not pledges, for the cause

$200 from each registered member of ponyfans....

[BUS]

Before food, beverages, plates, cups, forks etc, chairs, tents, flags, funky new SMU clothes and gas to donate my time to Morgan Campaign....
My year starts at $2,420.00 ( Please buy CIRRO Energy from me )

I sure hope that SMU continues to win next year. Football, I am a believer in the plan and the staff. Basketball, yes for Rhonda and I pray for Doh. The Golf is better, Tennis is good and I too wish we had more sports (We are a small private school... Can someone say Endowment)

The key to this money question is to make friends and split some of this up. Get more people in the wagon to pay for more feed for the horses pulling that wagon.

Go Mustangs

[CalallenStang]

(We are a small private school... Can someone say Endowment)

SMU endowment is over $1 billion. Contrast that with Eastern Michigan who sponsors 19 sports and their endowment is at $58 million.

[BUS]

SMU is disfunctional as each college has their own endowmwnt. #1 at SMU is Meadows School of Arts. That AINT being spent on girls softball.

Your example gave a state school with state funding. Just look to Washington if you want to really compare those realities. NOT

Sports has to take care of sports. That is what SO is trying to do. And that is minus the gift of tuition.