PonyFans.com

Interesting read from CCNSI. link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/colleg ... -overtime/

Some interesting comments:

* Nov. 28, 2007, while most of the college football world was focused on the final games of the regular season and the feverish coaching search at Michigan, Baylor quietly announced the hiring of Houston coach Art Briles. His seemingly unenviable mission was to make the Bears, the Big 12's perennial doormat, relevant.

Interesting, only a few months before JJ announced he would be coming to SMU. Think about that.

* Now more than ever, programs are able to shed years, if not decades, of irrelevance and compete at the top of their conferences

* All it takes is the right coach, plenty of resources and a whole lot of patience. In 2013, there are no better examples than the Bears and Blue Devils.

* In late 2007, Briles and Cutcliffe took over the undisputed worst BCS-conference programs in the nation. Nearly six years later, with three weeks remaining in the regular season, both teams are in control of their BCS-bowl destinies

I would argue, the right coach is clearly the difference here, since that is what has served as the catalyst for change for both Baylor and Duke.

While I admit that the fact they were cellar dwellers in their conferences, they were still in P5 conferences. Nevertheless, they have demonstrated what can be done with the right level of leadership, and it all starts with the HC. What they have been able to do is impressive, and it only pours salt in the wound for us to think of what could have been.

Baylor's results thus far this year well outshine Duke's. Otherwise I agree with this column. Here's Cutcliffe in the locker room: he's got a lot of fire and belief (it's a 4-minute video but the most important part starts at 3:10):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHYJpt7EF4g

One major difference- both BU and Duke had admins that desired the same commitment to excellence for their sports programs as their academic programs.

Winning sports programs start at the top and continue through the AD and coaches. IMO it is not a bottom up approach.

I agree Redpony, but what was the key ingredient that changed over the last 6 years for these programs? It's the HC. Unless their admins just wanted to get serious 6 years ago (which I don't think is the case), having the right coach with the presence and ability to make these changes was the key driver in the turnaround of these two historical cellar dwellers.

Like redpony knows what he is talking about. The adminstration!!! June Jones sucks!!! The administration!!!! June Jones sucks!!!The administration!!! June Jones sucks!!!That's all that ever comes out of his Mouth.

stallion- so what you are implying is that our admin has the same commitment to excellence in our sports programs as they do in academics. haha- go back to your tortilla throwing law office- if you actually have one.

Yes SMU is doing everything Baylor-and geez Duke is doing-exept they don't have 40 Million coming from the BCS and the Big 12. SMU has the Same academic standards. That is one school we know that to be the case. I have already posted an order from Baylor Board of Govenors saying that when the NCAA deemphasized the SAT with the bottomless floor that Baylor as a school decided they wouldn't admit kids that score below the old 700 SAT (recentered to 820) floor-just like SMU.

Baylor didn't build football stadium for more than a decade after SMU did. SMU paid their Head Football Coach more than Baylor did when he was hired. SMU has committed for renovated Moody and new Basketball arena. SMU has poured unprecedented amounts into their Football and Basketball program at an unprecedented rate for non-BCS schools.

The administration is not in charge of adding a jumbo package for red zone offense. The administration in good faith has hired quality, well recognized Head Coaches in Football and Basketball and I fail to see how it is their fault if the performance by the Head Football Coach has been average.

I know one thing-SMU will never have a 80% student attendance rate like Baylor has had for some of their home games this year-right now the lack of fans is a bigger problem at SMU than the SMU administration. We need some Fan Commitment-I'm really not too concerned about ANYTHING in the administration except they don't have enough revenue because SMU's lazy, entitled fanbase ain't showing up.

Buy it...come on now...