BAD NEWS

[ALEX LIFESON]

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but Richard Sweet is gone.....per his new blog. Sweet while it lasted

[mr. pony]

What the hell?

Southwest screwed us.

Another reason to hang with our sponsor, American Airlines.

[jkflamebo]

i'm upset, but he's gotta do what he's gotta do. i would been livid if he went probably any where else but back to southwest. his reasons seem valid to me

[RGV Pony]

so I guess it's back to Scout night as our biggest marketing outreach program?

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

does this mean Sports Authority will
pull the SMU products back off the shelf?

Tuesday, July 17, 2007
It’s déjà vu all over again…
by Richard Sweet, Associate A.D./Marketing & Public Relations

Eight months ago I was writing a blog entry for “Nuts about Southwest” announcing my plans to leave a life-long passion (Southwest) for another life-long passion (SMU Athletics). I sit here today trying to write the same post, but this time reversing the passions.

I’m headed back to Southwest. As they call it, I’m “boomeranging.” From a career standpoint, they made me an offer I couldn’t turn down. Southwest is truly the best company in the world to work for and the airline business is in my blood. Call me a masochist, I left when oil was $60 a barrel and I’m returning at $74. And who knows – it may be even higher when I start back August 6th! (My last day at SMU will be August 3rd.)


This move is equally as emotional as the day I left Southwest. I have made great friends in the Athletic Department, friends that have done remarkable things in the past year to get this program headed in the right direction - the top 25 direction. Working with Steve Orsini has been great. He is relentless and will not stop until we reach and exceed our goals. He has put together an incredible staff and I plan to help them as much as I can in a marketing advisory capacity (now they get me for free). I also get to be a Mustang fan - something that is difficult when the games become the job.

Being able to work at SMU has helped fill a void… a need to help this program from a brand standpoint. One of my regrets is not being able to actually be here when the upcoming ad campaign is running in full stride. I tried, but my friends at Southwest wanted me back sooner. I couldn’t afford to pass up this invitation to go back. The good news is that the campaign is in very capable hands (we shot two television spots last week). Monica Contreras gets it… she has a great marketing mind. Brad Sutton gets it… you all have seen some pretty good feature articles and reports done recently and that didn’t happen by accident. Both Monica’s and Brad’s staffs have done a great job formulating their plans and now are ready to execute those plans.

The table has been set, the foundation has been laid and I’m glad Steve gave me the opportunity to lead it. I believe the convergence of winning and branding will put SMU in the position we, as fans, have hungered for for years.

Now it’s time for me to go “pony up” and renew my season tickets. I think I’ll buy and extra one - it’s going to be a good year. Beat Tech!!!!!!!!

[ALEX LIFESON]

Well, we will just have to trust sheriff Orsini, TO MAKE ANOTHER GREAT HIRE!

[abezontar]

Unless he promotes from within, won't whoever gets hired want to come in and put their own marketing staff and program in place, and not be left holding the bag with another person's plan in case it fails? I dunno, I'm afraid this does put us right back where we were 8 months ago, and now we risk having a good plan thrown away because the new guy didn't come up with it.

[ThadFilms]

This is truly horrible news.

Damn.

[Sam I Am]

We are losing continuity and momentum with such an important personnel change so soon in the sports marketing department. This is bad for business to lose such good talent. Orsini knew a good thing when he saw it, so maybe he can do it again.

[BrianTinBigD]

Please don't hire from within. We need somebody with real world marketing skills.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

It's rumored marketing genius Big Jim Copeland may be interested in the job!

[BUS]

I was hoping for a few year of clever advertising and out of the box promotions.... DAM.
OK, money is one thing but to give up in 9 months ??????

I hope to view these new commercials on TV, so I guess I am hope there is money to run them.

With SMU and the Broadcast Film Dept. Would it not seem perfect to have them shoot commercials as class projects and SAVE the production cost to the athletic dept??? Then we could run the TV ad lots more times!

Go Mustangs

[George S. Patton]

It's rumored marketing genius Big Jim Copeland may be interested in the job!

He'll be right there after he cleans the mustard stain off his shirt from his deli sandwich.

Hate to see him go, but having not read his blog, I would assume SWA recognized the void he left, made a bigger offer and brought him back. Remember, Orsini does have some marketing in his background so I expect him to be diligent and make the right call.

[PonyPride]

Unless he promotes from within, won't whoever gets hired want to come in and put their own marketing staff and program in place, and not be left holding the bag with another person's plan in case it fails? I dunno, I'm afraid this does put us right back where we were 8 months ago, and now we risk having a good plan thrown away because the new guy didn't come up with it.

Really don't think you have to worry about that. Sweet's plans already are in motion, and will become visible as the season approaches and throughout the year. I might be wrong, but I expect whoever takes over - whether from within or an external hire - will be asked to see Sweet's plans through to fruition, at least through the upcoming academic year.

[abezontar]

Unless he promotes from within, won't whoever gets hired want to come in and put their own marketing staff and program in place, and not be left holding the bag with another person's plan in case it fails? I dunno, I'm afraid this does put us right back where we were 8 months ago, and now we risk having a good plan thrown away because the new guy didn't come up with it.

Really don't think you have to worry about that. Sweet's plans already are in motion, and will become visible as the season approaches and throughout the year. I might be wrong, but I expect whoever takes over - whether from within or an external hire - will be asked to see Sweet's plans through to fruition, at least through the upcoming academic year.

Sure hope so.