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New basketball head coach Matt Doherty visited the studio of Fox Sports SW Sunday. Here's a synopsis of what he had to say (not exact quotes):

("What attracted you to the school?")
The school has a great balance of academics and athletics, and it's a great place to raise a family.... I'm a salesman, and I've got to sell (SMU). We want to take the program to the elite levels in the country, and I don't see why we can't. Conference USA is a great conference, where Memphis and UAB are....

Recruiting is going to start in our own back yard, but one thing about SMU is that you can go coast to coast. You can go to New York, and they know SMU. You can go to California, and they know SMU.

("How do you mend fences with DISD?")
I'm going to take it head-on. I've already called Mr. (Goree) Johnson, and I've called Jimmy Tubbs. If there's anyone who can understand what happened to Jimmy Tubbs, it's me -- I got run out of my alma mater. At North Carolina, I didn't say everything that went on, but sometimes you have to take the high road and move on.

I was at Duncanville High School the last couple of days, and there were a lot of Dallas coaches there, and it was a great chance for me and for my assistant coach, James Stafford, to get out and shake some hands and meet some coaches.

I get very defensive when people talk about SMU as a mid-major. SMU is not a mid-major. SMU is a major in basketball. We're not going to recruit mid-major players -- we're going to recruit high-major players, and before long we're going to take SMU back to the top.

(On famous UNC teammates/connections)
I don't like to namedrop about Michael Jordan, Dean Smith, James Worthy (laughing).
I feel like I have the blueprints to be successful, having played for Dean Smith and having coached under Roy Williams, and at Notre Dame . We're going to play what I hope is a winning style. You know, a lot of coaches will say at a press conference that "we're going to play pressure defense and run" or something, and if you have the personnel, you can do that. But I think you have to evaluate your talent, and the talent of the teams you have to beat. Then, based on the talent you have, you can determine if you have to slow it down a little, or you can play that style. Then, as recruiting picks up and you get the players you want, you can start to play whatever style you want."

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Again, it's not word-for-word, and I left out the parts where the co-hosts were trying to be funny.

Much better than mine..I didn't tivo - was typing fast

I really liked the way that Doh conducted himself during the interview. He was very confident in what he is doing, but did not come off as too brash or cocky. I think we made the right choice.

cocky
hancock
cock-a-doodle-doo
gamecock
tee-hee-hee

But I think you have to evaluate your talent, and the talent of the teams you have to beat. Then, based on the talent you have, you can determine if you have to slow it down a little, or you can play that style. Then, as recruiting picks up and you get the players you want, you can start to play whatever style you want."

Now that's what I am talking about................ [/b]

Thanks for the recap, Pride -- I missed the interview.
Man, I wish basketball season started tomorrow.

http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/060426Vit ... iring.html

"Doherty hired by SMU
[deleted] Vitale
SPECIAL TO ESPN.COM


April 26, 2006


I don't think it's shocking to see Matt Doherty moved up already. He went from Florida Atlantic to SMU and into Conference USA.

I could hear a lot of critics screaming out, asking about loyalty. When he was down and out and nobody was giving him a shot, the Boca Raton-based school gave Doherty an opportunity and a Division I head coaching job and now he leaves after one season.

My take is very simple. Loyalty is a two-way street and where was it in Chapel Hill when North Carolina didn't allow him to fulfill his contract when he went out and busted his tail to recruit the likes of Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May. You can't blame a guy who tries to improve himself professionally, trying to help his family in the long run. He is advancing by going to Conference USA, to a bigger program, so he can't turn the opportunity down.

Remember, in his business, you'd better make good while you cam because they forgot about you quickly if you lose. When you are fired, it is difficult to get back to the level where you were. The experience at Notre Dame and North Carolina, compared to Florida Atlantic, where he didn't have to deal with the same expectations, tells me Doherty is ready for this challenge.

SMU clearly was seeking Doherty, in part due to his Notre Dame days. Incoming athletic director Steve Orsini was a former football player on Notre Dame's 1977 championship team. Orsini, who was also the athletic director at Central Florida before taking over the Mustangs, was familiar with Doherty's background.

As Orsini said when he talked about Doherty, "He's a winner - as a student-athlete, as a coach, and as a person. Matt was our first choice. We had a diverse pool of candidates to choose from, which says a lot about SMU and what this program stands for today. Matt is a perfect fit."

Doherty is a workaholic and a recruiting dynamo. SMU needs to rebuild its program after going 13-16 last season and it made a dynamite choice. He has a great resume, going 90-71 in his five seasons as a Division I head coach. He led the Tar Heels to a 26-7 mark in his first season at Chapel Hill back in 2000-01.

SMU has locked up a good one. "

That might be the most enjoyable offering I've ever seen from Dickie V.
And I don't think it's just because it was written and we didn't have to hear his voice.
More great national pub -- a hell of a lot of people out there read Vitale's work.