Final Test Check List

[EconPony'10]

Okay Folks, can we all agree that this is the last test to see if SMU can become an elite program again?

With CM being hired, here are the things everyone has complained about from coaches, to alumni, to fans. (sort of like a checklist for success)

1) Not recruiting hard enough in DFW/TX
2) Not having enough academic support
3) Not engaging the fan base/students enough to increase attendance
4) Not having an up-tempo offense
5) Not having great recruiters/assistants on staff
6) Not having enough administrative support
7) Not having an excited head coach that is extremely passionate about SMU and embraces everything about the University.

I'm sure there are more, so feel free to add some.

If CM comes in and tackles all of these issues like he should, and he gets all the support that he needs, then we should be successful in theory. If everything goes as planned and we cannot get over the mediocre hump, I say there is no way we can ever be great again.

This will be the true test to see if Chad does everything correct and SMU gives him everything he wants, that the school is doomed or not for football success.

[ojaipony]

SWAG!

[EconPony'10]

SWAG!

Pony Copter??

[peruna81]

EP'10, I think it is less what was NOT done in the past, but more to the point of what he WILL do now. I'm interested to hear him say what the view is out of the windshield, not the rear-view mirror.

[StallionsModelT]

Okay Folks, can we all agree that this is the last test to see if SMU can become an elite program again?

With CM being hired, here are the things everyone has complained about from coaches, to alumni, to fans. (sort of like a checklist for success)

1) Not recruiting hard enough in DFW/TX
2) Not having enough academic support
3) Not engaging the fan base/students enough to increase attendance
4) Not having an up-tempo offense
5) Not having great recruiters/assistants on staff
6) Not having enough administrative support
7) Not having an excited head coach that is extremely passionate about SMU and embraces everything about the University.

I'm sure there are more, so feel free to add some.

If CM comes in and tackles all of these issues like he should, and he gets all the support that he needs, then we should be successful in theory. If everything goes as planned and we cannot get over the mediocre hump, I say there is no way we can ever be great again.

This will be the true test to see if Chad does everything correct and SMU gives him everything he wants, that the school is doomed or not for football success.

Nothing is a sure thing. I know we like to dogpile on The American but lets take an honest look at the conference:

UCF - Strong program that has been a consistent winner for several years
Cincinnati - See above
Memphis - Rapidly ascending program that is headed in the right direction
Houston - Struggled a bit this year but will still go to a bowl game and win 7 or 8 games
ECU - Dynamic offense that knocked off UNC and VT; also a consistent winner over the years
Navy - Been to several bowl games, crazy tough offense to stop
Temple - Showing steady improvement, beat Vandy, arrow trending up
Tulane - dead weight
Tulsa - dead weight
UCONN - has potential but currently terrible
USF - Taggart is recruiting well; won a few games this year; arrow trending up


The conference, as a whole, is getting better. Even with a Chad Morris leading the program there are no promises that we will win. That said, he's the best coach in the conference and is assembling a staff of aggressive young recruiters. That is a formula for success. That's all you can ask for.

[SoCal_Pony]

I would add that we need some type of plan to get more fans into Ford other than 'that new car smell' of CM.

More butts in the seats NEXT year will positively impact recruiting and that will be challenging given the product.

[Dutch]

i think you're a little wrong on Tulsa. they tend to make good coaching hires, that move on to bigger jobs, but in the 8 seasons CUSA had a title game, they went to 4 and won 2. i'd say that's not necessarily dead weight. they're down right now, but they tend to field competitive teams given their location.