candid thoughts

[jtstang]

Just remember this about Tubbs' first season...as untalented as they proved to be, this team never quit on him, even though it has a history of quitting on a coach. That is improvement in and of itself.

[Hoop Fan]

I still don't see why we don't solicit funding for a name from a local corporation. There are HUGE companies here in Dallas.

I have no idea. If we think we're too good or too pure for that, we are mistaken. Watch a Georgia Tech basketball game. They have McDonalds logos plastered all over their court. Texas Tech has United Spirit Arena. Fresno has SaveMart. Its being done everywhere. You will never see Kansas, Duke, UNC and Kentucky do it because they dont need to (otherwise they would), but we aren't them by a longshot.

[rich_alum]

From an investment perspective, I don't think a company would getting too much for their money if they donated. Those schools that were mentioned all play in big conferences, with big tv deals, and sellout crowds. They reach a much wider audience than SMU/WAC.

[Pony_Fan]

They would get naming rights and it would be a drop in the bucket for Frito Lay, EDS, Perot Systems, Dr Pepper/7 UP....I could go on and on.

[Sam I Am]

Like everybody else I would love for some benefactor to rescue SMU, but our BB program is no Cinderella story with such a happy ending. Wishful thinking only shows how desperate we have become since the demise of the SWC. I do think Tubbs is an improvement in coaching. It remains to be seen if if can recruit like we need. If we win a little more next year than this year, we might attract some donors if they see hope for SMU BB in the CUSA.

[SoCal_Pony]

HF, the purpose of my post was not to set you straight, I agree with most of what you said.

It is a reach to believe we can get materially better next season if we have to rely on Reay, Ritter, the Rack or Ike.

During our 9 years of WAC basketball, we never won a championship, never even seriously competed for one, we only won 6 tournament games and we end with an all-time losing conference record.

One final candid thought, which I know will not be popular. While I expect our football team to be better next year, our recruiting class was a step backwards for our program and was predicted by people such as Stallion over 2 years ago. For a program as low as ours, we cannot afford to be taking steps backwards.

On a positive note, the recent news concerning the Bush Library shows what we can accomplish when our administration is truly committed to a project.

Everyone have a great weekend!!

[Hoop Fan]

fair enough. I won't be optimistic if we have to rely on just the guys we have coming back either. Either Bamba Fall has to be more ready for college ball than some people think, at least defensively, or we have to recruit a power guy. I think there is actually a better than slim chance that both those things might happen. I also think the guys we do have can improve more than some people think and serve as solid depth off the bench.

[Stampede]

you are soooo right, Hoop Fan. Bamba will be huge for us and will only get better in time. We should be overjoyed to have signed Bamba in the early signing period as an assistant from Tennessee indicated Bamba is a "great signee for anyone in the country".

[EastStang]

After this team quit last year, I thought it was a coaching problem. But perhaps, they merely weren't that good and just had a hot streak that made us all feel that they were better than they really were. Good teams don't lose three to Rice. I think that next year will be a difficult one, but a team that could mature and grow. Tubbs is partially right. Talent is a necessity, but coaching helps. Princeton seems to always be a tough game for anyone who plays them and they are many times not all that athletic. Basketball is still a team game and if you don't have the talent, you have to sell the players on playing as a team. If you do, you can win quite a few games. The problem then is when you recruit stars you have to look for the ability to work as a teammate and when you recruit role players, you let them know their job is what it is. I think this year was a disappointment for the program. My only hope is that time will turn things around.

[PK]

Not that I ever thought this team was going to go very far in any post season play, but I think this team was better than they showed at the end. I think fatigue, both physical and mental, finally took it's toll. The physical part was due to the playing time the starters had to put in because of the injuries and the lack of viable depth on the bench. The mental part had to do with knowing it was going to be a long season without much rest and to work so hard and come so close to winning several key games only to lose at the end.

The games I saw showed the team playing more as a team and putting a lot of effort into defense which wasn't something you could say about them last year. They didn't quit this year...they just wore out. Tubb's comments, I think, were directed more at the bench than the starters, even if our starters are not to the level of many of the players on the top teams out there. Given the givens, I think the team gave great effort and should be proud of that.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Mabey we can compete with Rice, if we lower our academic standards like theirs. Then we can build a great basketball facility like Autry Court! LOL just kidding

[OldPony]

The first change has to be to fire Jim Copeland. He has hired 2 coaches in b'ball and 2 in football. I hear from old players that their sons aren't even given courtesy calls from SMU for football and basketball is just as embarrassing. Coaching can make a difference - look at A&M basketball. Copeland has had enough tiime to get the other changes needed and he hasn't accomplished them either and especially he hasn't done squat for bball. He gave a football coach a new contract after some of the worst seasons in SMU history and, whether you believe Bennett is the guy or not, the extension was unneccesary. The first step toward righting the ship is firing Copeland.
This year was a total bust in both sports. Nothing on the horizon makes it look better for next year either. Fire Copeland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pony_Fan]

Totally agree, OP.

He's had enough time. Problem is that he and Turner seem like super pals.
We are running out of time and losing lots of fans along the way. It's time for a change with Copeland. What a farse the COMMITTMENT was? Have we seen any benefit? NO! All we have seen is an unecessary contract extension and the firing of another coach. We need to be more transfer friendly, JUCO's, better bball facility, etc...this is a tough road. His journal is a joke. He thinks his CUSA transfer should be a big pat on his back...haha.

[When Will This End]

“The Truth”

This letter was emailed/sent to Mr. Turner, the President of SMU

I am very disappointed with another early exit from the WAC tournament. SMU did not even show up. With all due respect, I know you are good friends but I think the time has come for Mr. Copeland to be shown the door. "The Commitment" has left us with nothing. Is SMU really committed to athletics? Seems like TCU is and does the things necessary to compete, SMU does not. How do we expect fans to donate and how can they trust the Administration? He has fired how many coaches since he has been here... Where are the real problems? He just made a very unnecessary contract extension to
a coach with a couple of wins in 3 years. When does this end? I am not sure the C-USA is the answer either. It's time to get this back on track or we are going to keep losing games. That is the reality. I would like to see SMU actually have a chance on Selection Sunday or a chance at a bowl game. During our time in the WAC, we have not even been close to a WAC championship in basketball or football
other than 1993. This is getting pretty embarrassing. We need a fresh face in the program. We are in the middle of one of the largest markets in the US yet we cannot rally Dallas behind us. Most people laugh at SMU athletics if you listen to the sports radio stations.


It's time for new basketball facilities which are
extremely outdated. If I had the money
I would donate but unfortunately I do not. I am not sure how we expect to recruit top athletes with outdated facilities. I think Tubbs is a good coach and I hope he can somehow lure the right players to SMU. Basketball is much easier to turn around than football, it only takes 2-3 good recruits.

I wish you luck down this difficult road. I am hoping we will not have to drop to Division II at some point but that is where this is headed.

[me@smu]

Stampede - I can't believe Bamba will be the answer to our problems. Funny how an assistant for Tenn thinks he is a great signing. Why should we trust their judgement, they like us made a very quick end to their season.

I am scared when we are relying on a recruit who is 6'11 and hasn't cracked 200 lbs. He is going to be beaten up in the paint no matter his size