This guy gets it

[CalallenStang]

Got this from the AAC board on CSNbbs. This poster (laxtonio) is a UNT fan who is also a fairly close observer of the SMU program:

I think the issue I have with JJ is that it is the perception that he has stopped really actively caring on what is happening to the program. I know the team lost quite a bit of talent from last year to now, but it is almost like the demeanor of the team is that they feel the game is over before it has ever started. I am a strong believer that teams build their persona from the top down and JJ provides the outward perception that he is just going through the motions. Even if he is a boiling pot of rage at this team on the inside the outside body language gives a completely different set of signals. I get it, you cant be always on fire screaming and throwing things. At some point it loses its power to have an impact. But he problem is that it is so far the other way that it is easy to understand the perception of if the coach doesn't care, why should I.

I am a huge believer that teams play with the same level of attention to detail and expectation to win as is displayed by their coach on the sideline. Easiest current example I can think of is that the entire nation got to see UNT play tough with UGA yesterday for 3 quarters while those that caught the A&M/SMU game saw a team that seemed out of touch from the beginning. Look at how the 2 different coaches acted on the sideline and how more importantly how they are portrayed by the media. SMU seemed to essentially crumble in the 2nd Q and JJ looked like Niro watching Rome burn to ground around him. I worry that the demeanor of JJ will invalidate any momentum that SMU can make in football and will poison a new set of high school students about SMU's commitment to athletics.

All through the national media there was the spin that UNT played a big name SEC team and made them fight. Now as they move into conference play the national pundits will be more likely to give them the benefit of the doubt and say their wins are because they are good instead of they play a weak schedule. At somepoint the frontrunner viewpoint of DFW could potentially swing to the point that SMU is now the 3rd (4th if you count Baylor) option for kids wanting to stay close to home to play college ball.

I mention this because though I am a UNT fan, I have deep ties to the HP area and SMU. It is very easily to disillusion a fanbase and SMU has some interesting obstacles tied to fan support. I dont want to see SMU repeat the sheer stupidity of what UNT did. I have already suffered through that putrid mess for one team I follow and I will be pissed I have am forced to watch SMU go through the same thing.

I know how fickle the DFW fans are and how quickly things can turn. DFW college sports are best when at least 2 of SMU/UNT/TCU are good. The problem is that it might be starting to look as if TCU bit off more than they can chew and if JJ further damages the program that there will not be enough interest, enough local battles, to force local media coverage and interest of local college football and it will go back to the dark years of DFW being exclusively UT, A&M, OU, OSU and TT. I am not sure about you guys, but I hate the idea, especially in how fickle the dying print media is and how brutal online media can be, that the local DFW teams will once again be ignored through the perception of lack of interest.

I think that SMU HAS to make a change. I am not going to go so far as to say it much be a young guy, but it does need to be someone that can be easily identifiable as a both a figurehead or lightning rod for the program and carries the outside demeanor of they live and bleed SMU and if you don't let me change that perception through my and my teams actions on and off the field.

Tl;DR : UNT/SMU fan thinks JJ has to go, hes killing the program perception from the inside out

[couch 'em]

Wasting your effort. Years of half of us saying this and the Ponyboy crowd just keeps drinking the koolaid. Just like the Bennett years.

[Stallion]

now we just got to find a place for the June Jones statute

[SMU_Alumni11]

Wow this guy should be on this board preaching. He knows what he's talking about and just today has given me respect for UNT for having one good graduate.

Maybe SMU could hire this guy as a consultant. Lol

[smumustang1980]

JJ does not have the personality many of you look for in a college football coach. Before you consign him and the team to oblivion, let's watch the rest of the season. We can draw our conclusions then, and hopefully without the frustration of having to guess. I have a feeling that Turner and his group may have some long-term plans which may prove surprising.

[Ponymon]

Nick Saban is our NEXT coach?

[blackoutpony]

The UNT guy gets it. People like 1980, Abu and ponyboy that keep saying "lets see how the season plays out" never will. Did you guys even watch the game yesterday???. I've seen enough in FIVE PLUS YEARS to know that June doesn't care about our program anymore and won't.

Time to move on.

[Big Hoss]

JJ does not have the personality many of you look for in a college football coach. Before you consign him and the team to oblivion, let's watch the rest of the season. We can draw our conclusions then, and hopefully without the frustration of having to guess. I have a feeling that Turner and his group may have some long-term plans which may prove surprising.

The catch is if you don't look like you are coaching up your team to play against tough competition, people are going to question everything about you, including your personality. The last 2 years we've heard this same old "wait until the end of the season to judge" crap. Beating a half dozen teams who suck a little more than you do to get to a low end bowl game isn't cutting it any more. We've seen enough, and we're out on Jones.

[SMU_Alumni11]

JJ does not have the personality many of you look for in a college football coach. Before you consign him and the team to oblivion, let's watch the rest of the season. We can draw our conclusions then, and hopefully without the frustration of having to guess. I have a feeling that Turner and his group may have some long-term plans which may prove surprising.

How many seasons 1980 does he get? If we actually had the alumni support and stet money this guy would be canned but we are force to ride it out and he knows it so please tell me how many years does he get to "turn this around." The team looks unprepared to win and always prepared to lose. When they actually get a lead, an opportunity, they crumble and fail.

[Maine Mustang]

JJ does not have the personality many of you look for in a college football coach. Before you consign him and the team to oblivion, let's watch the rest of the season. We can draw our conclusions then, and hopefully without the frustration of having to guess. I have a feeling that Turner and his group may have some long-term plans which may prove surprising.

How many seasons 1980 does he get? If we actually had the alumni support and stet money this guy would be canned but we are force to ride it out and he knows it so please tell me how many years does he get to "turn this around." The team looks unprepared to win and always prepared to lose. When they actually get a lead, an opportunity, they crumble and fail.

Curious whether anyone has asked June what he and his staff needs (specifically) to be able to bring the program to the next level so we are at least competitive with the group of schools that we supposedly want to be a part of? The University and donors are committed in my opinion, but what exactly does this coach need that he has not received over the past 2-3 yrs?

[I'm4Peruna]

Stop with the excuses for JJ. Supposedly he was going to ASU with this same excuse the he didn' t get what he needed, etc. If he felt that way, retire. Did he? No, he stayed for the money. That is the ONLY reason he is here. He cares less about what he needed to move this program than he did about money.

[Maine Mustang]

Stop with the excuses for JJ. Supposedly he was going to ASU with this same excuse the he didn' t get what he needed, etc. If he felt that way, retire. Did he? No, he stayed for the money. That is the ONLY reason he is here. He cares less about what he needed to move this program than he did about money.

My point was that he has gotten what he needs...any answer that he could provide would be an excuse.

[I'm4Peruna]

My apologies for misunderstanding

[ponyboy]

Wasting your effort. Years of half of us saying this and the Ponyboy crowd just keeps drinking the koolaid. Just like the Bennett years.

I said that short of a miracle recruiting turnaround, he needs to go. I'm just thankful he saved SMU football. Why hate? The man's been great for us.

[Arkpony]

I want a coach who lives and bleeds SMU and it's traditions! Not someone who wears black with a Leigh around his neck and who does't accept our mascot!