The reason many dislike Craig James

[SMUFan]

Toward the end of the Aggie/Horn game, ESPN was pimping the Boise State/Nevada game. Jesse Palmer pointed out that the Nevada quarterback and running back (whose names I can't spell and I'm too lazy to look up) need to rush for 85 yards to break James/Eric Dickerson's all-time record for rushing yards by a duo.

Perfect chance for CJ to tout his alma mater a little and say something like "yeah, but the last time they faced SMU, my alma mater beat them up and down the field in the Hawaii Bowl."

Instead, he went with some feeble excuse about "I think Eric and I played back when they only had eight games."

Other announcers tout their schools. CJ never does.

[Pony_Law]

also how much did James get paid to put up those yards?

[RGV Pony]

also how much did James get paid to put up those yards?

most likely, nothing. He came to SMU b/c his girlfriend was at SMU

[Pony_Law]

You think a player that good wouldnt have wanted a little something knowing others were being paid? Not that it matters Never had a strong opinion about the guy until the whole Mike leach thing which made me think he was a [deleted]

[San Antonio Mustang]

You guys making allegations that particular players were paid need to have a good source to support it. I have never seen where anyone involved has ever said James or Dickerson were paid. They were a few years before the players identified in the scandal. In fact I have wondered if the reason both of them have been very "cool" toward SMU had to do with them not being paid. On the other hand as Stallion suggests in another thread it may be that until JJ they have not felt our program was on the right path and therefor did not support it. And yes he could have made that statement, but that does not mean he thought about it and rejected it. I am sure all of us have missed opportunities to say something from time to time. I got the impression he did not have a prepared response.

[ponyte]

He could have used the opportunity to talk about the great offensive linemen he had at SMU. Notice he didn't rush so well when he was with the Washington Federals that had no offensive line.

Since Craig didn't mention the offensive linemen that made the Pony Express possible, does that mean he hates all those linemen?

He could have used the opportunity to mention Lance McIlheney and how he made so many of ED and CJ's great runs possible. But he didn't. So Craig must hate Lance?

He made an innocent and lame joke. He is a sports commentator, not Ron White the comedian.

[rich59]

Anyone know who the last white running back was that rushed for over a thousand yards in a single season in the NFL was? Perhaps part of the problem with SMU is a paucity of loyalty toward fellow alums. My attitude is that as few in numbers as SMU alumni are, we should stick together, especially publicly.

[soccermom]

My two cents worth------if you were a student at SMU during the PonyExpress days, you LOVED CJ, Eric and all of our players........remember, ALL of these guys brought winning back to SMU in a BIG way. I honestly don't think CJ or ED were paid and would never throw that comment out. Last night I did see where they showed CJ and the others playing football at ut and the other guy, when it showed CJ passing, commented Look at the Pony throw....Craig James is someone I will always think highly of for his playing at SMU and for helping to recruit ED to come to SMU, too. Do I like him personally.........I don't know him well enough to make a decision. But, being a lifetime fan of SMU, I will give him the respect he has earned from simply being a Mustang.
KICK 'EM MUSTANGS!!!!!!!!

[PonyPlayer4]

Anyone know who the last white running back was that rushed for over a thousand yards in a single season in the NFL was? Perhaps part of the problem with SMU is a paucity of loyalty toward fellow alums. My attitude is that as few in numbers as SMU alumni are, we should stick together, especially publicly.

I am not sure if you were hinting that is was Craig James, but Peyton Hillis should go for over 1000 yards this year. It sure is scary to think that Hillis, Felix Jones, and Darren McFadden were in the same backfield at Arkansas.

[rich59]

I was hinting that James was the last one. As a former Bronco fan, before they hired McD, I am aware of Hillis and he may eclipse James' record this year. It must have been scary at Ark. when Hillis was there. Actually Zach Line reminds me a little of Hillis. Perhaps we can look forward to a Line, Fields tandem like Ark. had.

[mrydel]

Hillis was primarily a blocker at Arkansas and was very responsible for what McFadden and Jones did. When he got hurt, their production went down a lot. Rumor is that Houston Nutt was mad at Hillis for something Hillis said about Nutt and Nutt bad mouthed him to the pro teams before the draft. That is why Hillis went so far down. When he first signed with Arkansas, I projected him to be a Heisman candidate but that was before the unveiling of McFadden and Jones. Hillis is very good.

[Dooby]

We know Dickerson took money. Fairly sure he admitted it. We also know that he was given a car by an aggie booster. Find it odd that anyone would suggest that an aggie would give Dickerson a car and SMU would give the guy nothing.

James is a more interesting case. We don't know anything. We have been told he attended SMU because his girlfriend was going there. We have been told he drove the same piece of crap honda his entire time at SMU. That being said, there was money being exchanged at SMU during his time there and many would find it odd that he was one of the best players and getting nothing while players of less calibre were getting money.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

I don't care for him either. When SMU makes it back in the
Top 20-25 I betcha he starts touting his school when it fits his needs.
He is pretty much a fair weather fan. It always about him.
He got pissed when we didnt offer his bench-warmer son a scholarship.

[West Coast Johnny]

Craig James' favorite passtime is insulting small schools and small conferences. What kind of person would insult the College that gave him fame and fortune? He is uniquely placed to be SMU's advocate, but instead, he does the opposite. It is no wonder that he wants to enter politics because he is very good at telling the Big 12 electoral majority what they want to hear - and even those overatures are riduculed because the Big 12 folk can spot a hypocrite when they see one. He is SMU's Benedict Arnold.

[soccermom]

I understand everyone's point about him having the opportunity to acknowledge SMU...and I agree that when we are top 25 he will be doing just that. As I posted during the TT incident---while I watched our friend at Celina, his son was nothing to write home about and I was worried that we would offer him a chance b/c of CJ and was relieved when he went to TT......that being said, CJ and the rest of the MUSTANGS gave us some unbelievable games at SMU and beat the good ol' boys at their own game(s)........thus the DP. I am happy that those of you who are younger than I am are finally getting to experience the excitement of SMU football.
KICK 'EM MUSTANGS!!!!!!!!!!