How low will they go?

[redpony]

The women's soccer team continued it's losing ways Sunday aft. They lost to UTEP in another C-USA
match 2-0. The women's team is now tied for last place in C-USA. In the last three games they have been outscored 14-1. Guess they could use some offense (duh)

GO PONIES!!!

[August]

It's just a bad situation all around: the girls are sick of losing, the coach's job is in jeopardy and it's terrible for the program. It's not just lack of offense; the defense is unorganized and the goalie is struggling. At this same point last year, Gunter had 24 GA when he pulled her, not to play another minute until the end of the game on Senior Day. As of yesterday, our goalie has 26 GA.

To try to find a bright spot, at least he mixed up the line up yesterday and, for the first time, we outshot our opponent.

[Oldkeeper]

I think the silence is resounding...not much left to be said. Certainly the ladies are sick of the outcomes and shoulder some of the responsibility but not once in his three years have I heard the coach accept responsibility for anything but wins.

[futbolfan]

It is way past time to give Coach his walking papers and remove the fear and intimidation from the girls minds. This will continue to be a team of mostly freshmen players, as the talented players will continue to leave the team and/or school for other opportunities. I will predict a immediate improvement in performance after replacing the coach with anyone who will treat the girls with respect and a code of behavior that will reward postive attitude and hard play with rewards instead of arbitrary and capricious nature of coach/player interaction that are currently being used.
Go Lady Ponies, I wish you the best

[redpony]

As I stated once before it seems as though the coach has brought 'club soccer' politics to the college level. This is disheartening for the girls and only breeds contempt amongst the players.
We really need a change. We can not continue to lose good players (and continue losing games).
These girls talk and it only makes it more difficult when they leave and then 'bad mouth' our program. New recruits will back away from attending SMU because of the negative reputation that is being generated. Do any of you even suspect that Orsini is paying any attention to this program and its' problems?

GO PONIES!!!

[Oldkeeper]

A full investigation of the program was done by the department last year. The girls were shocked to find that there would be no changes made in the staff resulting in several leaving. This resulted in little more that putting a double secret probation in place. It's time to cut your losses S.O.!

[EastStang]

Like I said before Steve O hired this guy at UCF for men's soccer after he had coached men at SMU. I am sure there is a relationship and comfort factor there. But clearly Erwin is not geared toward coaching women's soccer. There is a difference and what works for men, doesn't necessarily work for women in motivation, correction and discipline. I think at the end of the season, if this doesn't turn around then Steve O will make a change, if any- (don't know the terms of the contract, don't know if thee is a buyout element that needs to be considered). Rule 1 for an AD is that you don't pay buyouts to non-revenue sport coaches, you just suffer. Secondly, I don't think Steve O wants to get into an interim situation. If the players like the interim coach, but the play doesn't improve, you've just managed to mess things up more because if you fire the interim at year's end, then you've got the players mad at you whereas firing the head coach that many don't like would make them happier.

[Oldkeeper]

I think SO is motivated by turning around the football program which floundered since the death penalty. He's brought in a good coach to do that. In the meantime SMU sports was defined by the success of the non-revenue sports like both soccer programs, swimming, and golf and a fan base was established as well as the expectations to field winning teams. He professes to want top 25 programs across the board but has done little to get there with recent hires (football the exception).

[EastStang]

Golf, Tennis and Swimming seem to be doing okay since they have not had to change coaches. They stay at or near the Top 25. Volleyball has never been top 25, but again they are doing okay. (I still think we should add beach volleyball, we might not win the matches, but I digress). But in soccer he had to change coaches and went shopping for coaches in the Men's Warehouse instead of Neiman Marcus and it has not worked out. Sometimes these things work out and sometimes they don't.

[RealSMUfan]

At what point do you "fans" stop putting on the blame on the coach. Last time I checked the coach was not on the field making passes, taking shots, making saves or playing defense. They hired a "mental conditioning" coach who has worked with the girls, yet at some point the girls need to step up and make the plays. I know when a team wins it is because of the players and the coaches fault when a team loses..........but come one "fans"......the girls have been in the position to win all of their games, they just haven't......it happens in sports sometimes. I just hate how the fair weather fans call for the coaches head when a team is in a slump.

[August]

I just hate how the fair weather fans call for the coaches head when a team is in a slump.

Let's clarify something: the team isn't 'in a slump'; the team has never recovered from his arrival 3 years ago. A slump is 2 or three bad games, not back to back to back bad seasons. And yes, this season is only half over and it may still turn around but even the fact that he needed to hire a mental conditioning coach speaks volumes. Why was that needed and why can he not seem to motivate his own players?

Here's something to consider: not one player has improved under his watch. Not one in three seasons. I don't care which player you look at, she is not a better player today than when she joined the program. And he's the HC so no matter how you feel about him personally, the responsibility for getting the most out of his players falls squarely on him.

I've said it before and I'll stand by it: he needs to figure out how to best utilize the talent he has on the team and then give them the tools to be successful.

And calling names to those of us who are disappointed with the sad state of the program is really pathetic. We're not fair weather fans but rather we miss the days of being a Nationally Ranked program.

This weekend we play one of the other weakest teams in the Conference and then have a televised game against Houston. Let's hope we can get this thing turned around.

[redpony]

They hired a "mental conditioning" coach who has worked with the girls, yet at some point the girls need to step up and make the plays. I just hate how the fair weather fans call for the coaches head when a team is in a slump.

When you refer to a 'mental conditioning coach' are you referring to Dr. Deb? If so, she was not hired for soccer... she is a 'mental conditioning' consultant to all athletes in all sports. Furthermore, the athletes come to her when they feel they need assistance. If it is not her then please give us the name of this person.

Most fans are tolerant of a couple of losses in a season but losing seasons for three consecutive years is not acceptable. This program has shown no improvement but is simply getting worse.

GO PONIES!!!

[RealSMUfan]

Megan is the mental conditioning coach from IMG. LOTS of teams have mental conditioning coaches...UNC, A&M, the US national team. Like it or not todays players need that...the game is 90% mental yet so few actually take the time to work on it. I think it is an awesome addition!

[Buddha]

Right you are, Real. Meagan is a great addition.

[redpony]

I am not aware of Megan or IMG. Who are they. Following is a shortcut to an article about Dr. Deb.
You might enjoy reading it.
http://www.cusa-fans.com/articles/cusa- ... 92409.html

I am curious why they would be spending money on another person (Megan) when they already have a very highly qualified person on staff.

GO PONIES!!!