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The story of the scandal-plagued SMU program is a worthy capper, and the timing is delicious: right after controversial Auburn quarterback Cam Newton probably will win the Heisman Trophy.

Eric Dickerson and Craig James, the school's famed "Pony Express" backfield, both said they thought the film taught them things they hadn't known. As in the film, Dickerson was coy Monday about what, if anything, he received to play at SMU.

"It's a dead subject," he said. "The past is the past. I've never been a guy in any situation to kiss and tell. That's just not me."

Dickerson did say, though, that whatever he got at SMU "didn't come close to some things that I was offered from other schools."

As with many "30 for 30" entries, "Pony Excess" recalls events largely familiar to baby boomers but news to people born after ESPN was born in September 1979. That was part of the point.

RednBlue11 wrote:they just gotta make sure that they don't send the parents cash in envalopes w/ univeristy letterhead on them.

Hoop Fan wrote:Good for Eric Dickerson. One thing that strikes me in the clips about the DP, is everyone says of course, how could a small private school compete without paying? Thats really what this comes down to isn't it. How does TCU do it now? I don't hear the scathing disbelief in the media about them. How does Duke basketball do it? And don't tell me its fans and butts in seats. Duke will always draw 1/3 of the fans as North Carolina. The SMU of today (Conference USA) is not the SMU of 1980 (SWC). Yes, SMU was riding UT's coattails and they helped make SMU what it was by being the big bad state school that made the SWC tick. Make no mistake, part of the problem here aside from terrible form and judgment, was that SMU was beating Texas and A&M at their own game too often.

I think the NCAA is providing a roadmap for effective cheating with the Cam Newton situation. Old Cam didn't KNOW that his father solicited money. So he is eligible. Cool. Lets just give the parents of recruits thousands of dollars for them to guide their sons to us, we can win heismans and national championships again and apologize for it later, take some schollie hits for a few years and its all good. remember, cheating is not the the problem folks in America, its the WAY you cheat.

Charleston Pony wrote:

Hoop Fan wrote:Good for Eric Dickerson. One thing that strikes me in the clips about the DP, is everyone says of course, how could a small private school compete without paying? Thats really what this comes down to isn't it. How does TCU do it now? I don't hear the scathing disbelief in the media about them. How does Duke basketball do it? And don't tell me its fans and butts in seats. Duke will always draw 1/3 of the fans as North Carolina. The SMU of today (Conference USA) is not the SMU of 1980 (SWC). Yes, SMU was riding UT's coattails and they helped make SMU what it was by being the big bad state school that made the SWC tick. Make no mistake, part of the problem here aside from terrible form and judgment, was that SMU was beating Texas and A&M at their own game too often.

I think the NCAA is providing a roadmap for effective cheating with the Cam Newton situation. Old Cam didn't KNOW that his father solicited money. So he is eligible. Cool. Lets just give the parents of recruits thousands of dollars for them to guide their sons to us, we can win heismans and national championships again and apologize for it later, take some schollie hits for a few years and its all good. remember, cheating is not the the problem folks in America, its the WAY you cheat.

Hoop Fan wrote: Make no mistake, part of the problem here aside from terrible form and judgment, was that SMU was beating Texas and A&M at their own game too often.

Charleston Pony wrote:Having lived in Durham during the Laettner/Hurley final 4 years, I can tell you that the Durham community takes care of Duke bball players. Parents who want to move to be close to their kids have no trouble finding good jobs and there were restaurants that loved to see the guys come in to eat there.