Impact of hoops on football

[SMU2007]

I am not sure if there is any direct impact from having a great basketball team on football success. I feel like there are a lot of examples of schools with great basketball tradition that continue to be horrible at football. One thing that I definitely think will translate though is getting some school spirit to the students who are on campus and hopefully some interest in smu from the city. I'd imagine that if it becomes "cool" to follow smu basketball, that gives us a leg up for football as well. Hopefully that would translate to more support and a better presence for recruiting.

Interested to hear what others think the impact will be. Thoughts?

[CoxMustangFan]

With Coach Jones at SMU, no impact. If SMU develops and sustains a good bball team, there might be some renewed pressure on recruiting when Coach Jones leaves, but SMU can pack Moody every night. Ford??? Not sure. I wouldn't look for too much spill-over into football. Not at all saying SMU can't have good programs in both, just saying success in bball has little impact on football (in fact, it's usually a negative correlation).

[PlanoStang]

So, how do you explain that both hoops, and football were in the top 20, maybe top 10 at the
same time during 80s

Synergy, you bet SMU gets a big name in one major sport, it will rub off on the other

[couch 'em]

So, how do you explain that both hoops, and football were in the top 20, maybe top 10 at the
same time during 80s

Synergy, you bet SMU gets a big name in one major sport, it will rub off on the other

Excellent coaching staffs and program support. Or do you think Dave Bliss won everywhere on his own skill except at SMU where it was onky because of foootball?

[StallionsModelT]

My dream and vision for SMU is to have the type of athletic department Louisville has built over the last several years. A truly dominant national force in basketball and a perennial Top 25 football program. I think its pretty clear that we are going to be a real powerhouse in basketball over the next several years. Football has done some good things but needs to take the next step. With our location, resources, and the right people in place, SMU could be like Louisville. There is absolutely no reason we can't be that type of program. None whatsoever.

The only thing holding us back in football, IMO, is Jones. June was the right guy to get this thing turned in the right direction, but I do not think he's the guy that gets us to 9 or 10 win seasons. We just aren't recruiting at a level that will allow us to do that in a conference w/ USF, UCF, Cincinnati, etc. We must get better players if we are going to consistently beat those programs. The good news is that the SMU job is about 10000x better than it was when we got June Jones so we should have a very good list of coaches to choose from.

[Treadway21]

In my mind it just shows the potential for the school with a good staff. This puts pressure on JJ that we can go out and compete with the best not just go for lower tier and coach up.

I will say also that in the 80s pretty much all sports were good, including swimming tennis, soccer, track. It fed itself. Coaches are competitive and surely having an atmosphere of success will make every sport at least marginally better - whether it is coaches working harder or getting rid if dead weight or through kids wanting to be part of a winning sports program at a school with a lot to offer.

[mrydel]

May not help but it sure will not hurt.

What it does is lay out a plan and method of recruiting to follow.

[PlanoStang]

May not help but it sure will not hurt.

What it does is lay out a plan and method of recruiting to follow.

Yup, now all we have to do is get Jimmy Johnson to come out of coaching retirement.

[Terry Webster]

A great basketball program has done wonders for the Duke football team.

[PlanoPony]

A great basketball program has done wonders for the Duke football team.

Thankfully we don't have the hindrance of their academic standards, which I would point to as the main reason of their lack of success (a lot easier to find 10 or so smart kids that can play hoops than 40 or so smart kids that can play football)

[Terry Webster]

Hasn't helped Kentucky much either.

[Mexmustang]

It starts at the top. Just remember we had no fall back (alternatives) when either Jones or Brown were hired. Neither was selected out of a pool of interested experienced coaches.I believe it is still true. Success in basketball will improve the brand, but the distrust by the coaching community is still there. June was instrumental in getting Brown to SMU. Together, they and their financial supporters are slowly breaking down the barriers and challenging the administration to keep their promises. But, the passion is still not there on our board. Success in either sport will help the other generate the interest we lack. But, remember, it was just a year ago we fired the only athletic catalyst at SMU in 26 years.

[ponyboy]

Could be they would have been even worse without the successful bball programs. Seems to me there can be some lift


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[ojaipony]

Just for fun, let's see how the bball formula could be implemented on the football side:

- Much revered Hall of Fame type coach who's won on both levels and has deep pro contacts (very very tall order but maybe the next best thing?): I think Jimmy Johnson is very happy fishing in the Florida keys and won't be coming out of retirement any time soon and forget about Switzer. So who does that leave?

- Hire a younger, proven coach as coach in waiting so succession plan is already in place: have no idea?

- Hire 2-3 young stud recruiters with TX ties

That's the proven formula. Very hard to put into practice. Let's start the list of candidates:

[dickey1331]

It seems all good basketball schools have crappy football ex duke, Kansas, Kentucky