Larry Brown letter to SMU community

[skyscraper]

http://www.smudailycampus.com/sports/la ... -community

To members of the SMU Community:

I write to offer my sincere apologies to Dr. Turner, our faculty and staff, our students and our supporters for any negative impact recent events have had on our community. When something like this happens to a program, it impacts us all, and as a Head Coach, I am held responsible. The fact that NCAA violations happened on my watch is something that I regret and take very seriously. I am committed to winning with integrity and we must – and we will – do better.

After working diligently with President Turner, our athletic department staff and others to evaluate our options, we have decided not to appeal my nine-game suspension nor the men’s basketball post-season ban, for reasons reviewed in the university’s statement. We have to look at the bigger picture for our basketball program. The cloud of the NCAA process would continue to impact our current and potential future student-athletes. Our focus must be on moving forward.

While this decision was made in the best interests of the program, I am truly disappointed for our student-athletes who are the most impacted by the penalties and who had nothing to do with the infractions. Our young men need your support now more than ever, and I am confident that the Mustang Family will respond.

I am extremely proud of the progress SMU Basketball has made in our three years on the Hilltop, both on the court and off, and we will continue to strive to have a program in which our students, faculty, alumni and the greater Dallas community can take great pride. I am thankful for the love and support we have received here, and I hope you will continue this journey with us, as I believe our greatest days are ahead.

Sincerely,

Larry Brown
Head Men’s Basketball Coach

[NastyStang]

He'll be gone before we every get back to this year's talent.

[Charleston Pony]

Coach has an opportunity to rewrite his legacy as a nomad somewhat; let's see if he stays to build a program that will survive and thrive after his retirement, which hopefully will be announced here at SMU years from now

[OhioBrownFan]

He'll be gone before we every get back to this year's talent.

Probably, but a foundation can be set for the future. Larry was always a rental from the get-go. He's given SMU basketball the most success that it's seen in the last 30 years, hopefully that momentum will carry when he's gone. No reason SMU can't be a new Gonzaga or much better given the talent in the backyard. I hear ya though, really sucks. I enjoy rooting for the Ponies.

[ponyboy]

Larry's not going anywhere.

[Rebel10]

Larry's not going anywhere.

So he will never retire?

[Rebel10]

He'll be gone before we every get back to this year's talent.

Probably, but a foundation can be set for the future. Larry was always a rental from the get-go. He's given SMU basketball the most success that it's seen in the last 30 years, hopefully that momentum will carry when he's gone. No reason SMU can't be a new Gonzaga or much better given the talent in the backyard. I hear ya though, really sucks. I enjoy rooting for the Ponies.

We were not getting very many players from our own back yard when we were not on probation. Who's to say we will get high level talent now?

[mrydel]

Brown needs the air clear so he can recruit. Been a large cloud over us for a long time.

[SMU1523]

Brown needs the air clear so he can recruit. Been a large cloud over us for a long time.

This is definitely a silver lining.

[JasonB]

1) I wonder if LB sees some major flaws in the team this season that will keep it from competing in a championship? lack of bigs, for example.
2) Not appealing the ban allws his seniors to transfer if they want, so he is taking care of the family.
3) Who is going to be left in the next class by the time the appeal is flushed out and we get the scholarship and recruiting ban removed? Ran short last year, will be short this year, and will be short next year so the scholarship reduction will be pretty much out of the way anyway.

[OhioBrownFan]

He'll be gone before we every get back to this year's talent.

Probably, but a foundation can be set for the future. Larry was always a rental from the get-go. He's given SMU basketball the most success that it's seen in the last 30 years, hopefully that momentum will carry when he's gone. No reason SMU can't be a new Gonzaga or much better given the talent in the backyard. I hear ya though, really sucks. I enjoy rooting for the Ponies.

We were not getting very many players from our own back yard when we were not on probation. Who's to say we will get high level talent now?

Basketball recruiting starts in 7th-8th grade. It's not football. The team has had one NCAA tourney appearance and Larry is in year 3. It takes a little time to land kids and prove you're a winner. There's always exceptions of course.

At any rate, did they not land Mudiay or Frazier? Both 5* McDs All-Americans from the DFW area? I'd say that's pretty high level talent.

[Rebel10]

I believe it was Hoopmanx that said we were now for the most part shut out of the Dallas which is where Mudiay and Frazier came from. But at any rate since we are on probation we won't be able to do the things we may have done to get Mudiay and Frazier. And looks like Mudiay did us a favor by not coming here from what was being said.

[smupony94]

I believe it was Hoopmanx that said we were now for the most part shut out of the Dallas which is where Mudiay and Frazier came from. But at any rate since we are on probation we won't be able to do the things we may have done to get Mudiay and Frazier. And looks like Mudiay did us a favor by not coming here from what was being said.

we don't want Dallas kids ever

[Rebel10]

I believe it was Hoopmanx that said we were now for the most part shut out of the Dallas which is where Mudiay and Frazier came from. But at any rate since we are on probation we won't be able to do the things we may have done to get Mudiay and Frazier. And looks like Mudiay did us a favor by not coming here from what was being said.

we don't want Dallas kids ever

I was just responding to his question in the two recruits he mentioned were an area that we are shut out of. And I should have said DFW because that is the area we are being shut out of not just Dallas. And we do want Dallas/DFW kids in football so your blanket statement is not true.

[fifty]

Why are we shut out? Because we baby KF too much or because we can't run a real d1 athletics program?