Big12Mustang wrote:You said "decent" crowds. TCWho had around 35K in for conference games at the MWC against crappy competition. If we have a 4-0 start this year I can guarantee you we may sell out.
Back in 2011 right after we beat TCU and were sniffing the Top 25 at 5-1, I think we had 22k against UCF, the defending CUSA champs. That's probably about as high as the enthusiasm level has been since the DP and we had 22k.
I'm not even going to dignify the the 4-0 start comment with a response.
2005 PonyFans.com Rookie of the Year Award Recipient
I get it, no one here likes June, everyone likes LB.
And it takes time to cultivate a fan following at private schools. If we were to have sustained success for 10 years I would not be surprised for 50K or more.
Big12Mustang wrote:You said "decent" crowds. TCWho had around 35K in for conference games at the MWC against crappy competition. If we have a 4-0 start this year I can guarantee you we may sell out.
Back in 2011 right after we beat TCU and were sniffing the Top 25 at 5-1, I think we had 22k against UCF, the defending CUSA champs. That's probably about as high as the enthusiasm level has been since the DP and we had 22k.
I'm not even going to dignify the the 4-0 start comment with a response.
That was only 1 year and people didn't expect us to be good...
Big12Mustang wrote:You said "decent" crowds. TCWho had around 35K in for conference games at the MWC against crappy competition. If we have a 4-0 start this year I can guarantee you we may sell out.
Back in 2011 right after we beat TCU and were sniffing the Top 25 at 5-1, I think we had 22k against UCF, the defending CUSA champs. That's probably about as high as the enthusiasm level has been since the DP and we had 22k.
I'm not even going to dignify the the 4-0 start comment with a response.
2 things I take issue with this viewpoint on based on my school's experience turning the corner and getting more support.
1- Visibility/ESPN factor with the AAC TV deal: The fact that iron skillet game was on CBS College Sports (might as well have been lifetime movie network for most casual fans) means all the casual observer had seen up to that point was the blowout loss against A&M and the struggle against UTEP on FSN. It wasn't a visible win for 90% of casual observers. That isn't going to provide the boost your post would assume like getting a win like that on espn would.
2- It takes time and several visible wins. Baylor didn't get big spikes in home team turnout until 2011 rolled off several wins in succession. Baylor never got it from nice wins like 2004 A&M or others that were sparse and not very tv visible.
Big12Mustang wrote:And the freakin beer, don't forget.
Also it's [deleted] that I go to Rally House and they don't have our flag in the front or put more SMU merchandise out there. They said that SMU is "tight" with their licensing. SID if you read this can this be addressed?
You could buy Blabkout and centex all those beers you owe them at Ford.
Big12Mustang wrote:I get it, no one here likes June, everyone likes LB.
That had nothing to do with the conversation.
It has everything to do. Doesn't matter if June has a 11-1 season, people are still going to hate and he will not get the props LB would get for a similar feat. They want him gone and that's it.
Big12Mustang wrote:I get it, no one here likes June, everyone likes LB.
That had nothing to do with the conversation.
It has everything to do. Doesn't matter if June has a 11-1 season, people are still going to hate and he will not get the props LB would get for a similar feat. They want him gone and that's it.
If June had a 11-1 season the tune would change. There is a higher probability of getting bit by Luis Suarez than that happening. #WorldCupJokes
LB hasn't tried to run off to Colorado State and take all of his recruits with him. He hasn't tanked recruiting for 2 years. He hasn't failed to put a top 25 team on the field in 6 years. He's not coming off a losing record. He doesn't make bones about his commitment to the school. He works his @ss off in the offseason because he sets high goals every year, not just because he's a year away from being out of a job. He puts butts in the seats. He attracts local kids. He's won championships before.
I could go on and on. There are a lot of reasons why he has more support than June does. Those are only some of them.
Big12Mustang wrote:
malonish wrote:
Big12Mustang wrote:I get it, no one here likes June, everyone likes LB.
That had nothing to do with the conversation.
It has everything to do. Doesn't matter if June has a 11-1 season, people are still going to hate and he will not get the props LB would get for a similar feat. They want him gone and that's it.
East Coast Mustang wrote:I think Rick HArt has made it pretty clear that half-assed recruiting efforts are not going to be acceptable. Hence, the DFW and Houston recruiting "blitzes" and consequently a solid start to the 2015 class.
Rick may have the hold June's feet to the fire to recruit, but in terms of game preparation and actual coaching knowledge I think he's one of the best around and certainly as good of an Xs and Os coach as anyone in the AAC.
Agreed. In addition to the increased visibility in recruiting, also note the lack of Liberty & Justice (or whatever they called Mrs. Pickens' mustangs), blue jerseys for some home games next year, photos of JJ in public wearing color-appropriate SMU gear.
In support of what JJ said in this article, I am pretty close with some folks who work on the 3rd floor @ Ford Stadium, and they have mentioned on several occasions how JJ goes to bat for his players. That, combined with how many of his former players come back and want to work for him, how his former players give us leads on recruits, etc. leads me to believe he probably is very attached to "his" kids.
"It's a couple hundred million dollars. I'm not losing sleep over it." -- David Miller
East Coast Mustang wrote:I dont think 6 wins get him an extension
But 5 got him an extension last year?
No, smart aleck. Four straight bowls from 2009-2012 did.
Again, agreed. You can't fire a coach who takes you to 4 bowls in 5 years. Especially with SMU's track record. The ONLY way June leaves last year is if there were irreconcilable differences between June and Hart/Turner. Imagine how Hart would pitch that to the next candidate: "Yes, legendary offensive guru June Jones took us to 4 straight bowls, but he had an off-year, so we decided to go with you. How's $500k a year sound?"
Now if he stinks it up this year, maybe that's a different story, as you're several years removed from a bowl, and might be able to point steady decline as the basis for your decision.
But I think the best case scenario, regardless of what you might personally think of JJ, is for him to have 3-5 more successful years on the Hilltop, and then for there to be well-orchestrated handoff of a successful program to JJ's successor.
"It's a couple hundred million dollars. I'm not losing sleep over it." -- David Miller
Big12Mustang wrote:I get it, no one here likes June, everyone likes LB.
And it takes time to cultivate a fan following at private schools. If we were to have sustained success for 10 years I would not be surprised for 50K or more.
We didn't put 50k in the seats when we were a national powerhouse playing in Texas Stadium.
If the Mustangs were 'successful' early and able to put 20k in Ford for conference games, it would be a (comparatively) great atmosphere, and I would consider that wildly successful.
As it stands, I think the fact that beer will be available in Ford might help get the crowd off the Boulevard, so the # of fans in the stands is closer to the announced attendance -- which will be a decent boost in itself.
"It's a couple hundred million dollars. I'm not losing sleep over it." -- David Miller
Big12Mustang wrote:I get it, no one here likes June, everyone likes LB.
And it takes time to cultivate a fan following at private schools. If we were to have sustained success for 10 years I would not be surprised for 50K or more.
We didn't put 50k in the seats when we were a national powerhouse playing in Texas Stadium.
If the Mustangs were 'successful' early and able to put 20k in Ford for conference games, it would be a (comparatively) great atmosphere, and I would consider that wildly successful.
As it stands, I think the fact that beer will be available in Ford might help get the crowd off the Boulevard, so the # of fans in the stands is closer to the announced attendance -- which will be a decent boost in itself.
Texas Stadium was in Irving if you remember...And stop using past numbers to justify bad turnout in the future. We aren't condemned to mediocrity and small crowds. How do you explain TCWho filling up 40k in their new ON CAMPUS STADIUM vs. Southeastern Louisiana and Kansas as well as 45K for SMU?
