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The Morning Snooze reported today (7/14/01) that a DB from Euless Trinity, Robert Gilmore (6-1, 174) has committed to the Ponies, but won't play this year while he recovers from knee surgery. Question: Is he still in high school, and sitting out his senior season (meaning he's in next year's class), or is he coming to SMU this fall and taking Richard Bartel's scholarship?

Gilmore will be a senior at Trinity and will pass up his senior season because of knee surgery. He will count against next year's scholarships and will sign in Feb.

Bartel's scholarship means that we signed 18 this year. This was our limit because of NCAA sanctions. This means we don't have to have some of this year's signees enroll at mid-term unless we find a sleeper before enrollment.

I thought we were having two guys as "gray shirts" -- where they sign now (ok, in february), enroll in january and count against next year's class. i'd heard the OL from tennessee and one other (maybe dineen) were the candidates for that. no longer true?

Gilmore is a terrific player. Many "experts" have him listed among the top 25-50 players in the state. His injury notwithstanding, we're going to have to battle to keep the Mack Browns and R.C. Slocums of the world away from him. When he's healthy, this kid is legit. Great pick-up for the Ponies. He and Billups are a fine start for next year's class -- each would have been a jewel in this year's crop, and that's not to take away anything from the new incoming Ponies. That's just saying that these guys are special players.

Isn't Gilmore the kid nicknamed - Happy - but not after the movie. There was a post about him earlier that said he is a great prospect - size, skill, and attitude.

Not so fast my friends!

Yes, Gilmore is "Happy" Gilmore. (Says he got that nickname before the movie was made...) And yes, he has nice size (6-1), speed and talent. Needs to add some weight, but hopefully will spend his year in the weight room and at the buffet table, adding some muscle before he gets to the Hilltop. I've talked to three people who saw him play last year, and each of them says he has a chance to be a really special player for SMU.