RGT/Hart may have finally killed our dying football program

[BRStang]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The fact that JJ has not been fired, yet, presumes that he will be at the helm for the rest of the season. There was a window to fire him yesterday or this morning, but I believe that window has closed. RGT and his weak, timid lapdog, Little Casper, are giving a big F*** YOU! to the team, the alumni and the fanbase (what's left of it).

JJ has lost this team. Sure, they will probably go 0-12 regardless of whether he is fired or not right now, but at least there might be some spark of optimism from the team and fanbase to show SMU is committed to trying and will not tolerate obvious indifference. It is now obvious the powers that be are not, and no one gives a d@mn. This is not a big boy program anymore, and never will be.

I'm afraid keeping JJ through the end of the season will further demoralize this already decimated program on life support, and could trickle into other sports. There will not be a fanbase after this season if JJ continues to be the face of this program. I cannot continue to watch our team get shellacked week in and week out anymore, while looking at JJ's smug, indifferent look on the sidelines. I know many, many others who are like me, and others who have given up long ago.

Without the little fanbase that's left, along with the current devastating outlook for future recruiting and the permanent relegation to a have-not conference, I'm worried that the final nail in the coffin was just hammered in by Turner and Hart by failing to act in a swift and decisive manner. This would not happen at USC, Texas or any other big boy program.

[well travelled pony]

Well stated. I was just heartbroken watching the game against north texas state. SMU needs to move now.

Go Ponies!

[redpony]

totally agree.

Nothing but crickets from casper and rgt.

[Rebel10]

I would give them to at least mid week. They might just meeting about it with the CoC today.

[Brooklynhite]

I wonder whether "the powers that be" (as they are called), or at least the AD and President Turner, read this board every now and then? They MUST be aware of the level of dissatisfaction that exists here among those who are some of the strongest members of the SMU fan base. I cannot believe they would continue to turn a blind eye to it; there simply cannot be a silent majority of June Jones supporters somewhere out there who they are relying upon in order to maintain the status quo.

Maybe it is all based on the commitment of big sums of money, and let's face it, most of the people on this board don't seem to be high rollers who can turn that ship around, but I find it amazing that they are not responding to the overwhelming amount of disdain that apparently most SMU fans hold for JJ. It really is killing the program.

[JasonB]

FYI: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... n/2898573/

Ironically, Jones is quoted in the story. Grambling fired Doug Williams on Sept 11 last year, that is the earliest firing I could find on record. It seems like the norm is to wait after the last regular season game, or at the earliest do something around Thanksgiving. Even these guys in the story were given 4 or 5 games.

So, even though I think a lot of us would like to have action taken this week, it would be a very, very rare occurrence in college football.

On one hand, it would be great to install a new coach on a bye week. But on the other, it might be smart to wait until after A&M and TCU to make an announcement at 0-4.

We have another bye after the ECU game, before Cincy at home. That might be a little more appropriate from a traditional college timing perspective.

[blackoutpony]

I would give them to at least mid week. They might just meeting about it with the CoC today.

Meeting on Tuesday. Don't expect anything to happen this week.

[Rebel10]

I would give them to at least mid week. They might just meeting about it with the CoC today.

Meeting on Tuesday. Don't expect anything to happen this week.

Thanks BOP. That's about what I thought would happen.

[PonyKris89]

I would give them to at least mid week. They might just meeting about it with the CoC today.

Meeting on Tuesday. Don't expect anything to happen this week.

One of the boosters who will be at meeting said JJ is toast. Whether he is gone this week, after the Aggie mauling, or after sixth loss, he does not know at this point.

It's happening folks, and that is good news.

[San Antonio Mustang]

BRStang, You may be correct about the program dying. I don't know about you, but I simply do not have the information to make a judgement about the President or AD. For example, I have never seen the contract. I know that the word is after this year the new contract for the next two years does not have a buy out. Is this true - I don't know. Under the current contract is there a penalty for early termination? I don't know. In other words, if I were the President I would clearly want to fire him last Saturday night, but could I. I don't know what we gave up to get an extension without a buy out and measurable requirements- maybe nothing or maybe an amendment to the current contract. So, unless you know that there is no practical or legal reason to not have fired him over the weekend, I think your criticism of Turner and Hart is a bit strong.

I was not paying attention to the firings before Bennett, but in Bennett's case it was after he lost 7 games and could not be bowl eligible. Is this the precedent that is being followed this time? Is there something in the contract that gives Jones that much time? I don't know.

Regardless of whether or not Turner and Hart's hands are tied you may still be correct that the program cannot be resuscitated. I don't agree, but I do think the longer we wait to fire Jones the harder it will be to put together a meaningful recruiting class.

[Stallion]

Relax
Its not going to affect our coaching search whatsoever if he is not fired after Week 2
We can't even talk to 99% of the prospective candidate anyway until December-unless you know of an identified Coach in the wings-in that case proceed
Its not going to have an affect on recruiting unless we don't get a new coach by early December
Do you really want to end up with Mason as Head Coach because he won the job by beating a few teams down the stretch. I don't

[PonySnob]

I would give them to at least mid week. They might just meeting about it with the CoC today.

Meeting on Tuesday. Don't expect anything to happen this week.

Maybe Sewell is showing them the 2015 Lexus and Cadillac models?

[floridianstang]

I would give them to at least mid week. They might just meeting about it with the CoC today.

Meeting on Tuesday. Don't expect anything to happen this week.

Maybe Sewell is showing them the 2015 Lexus and Cadillac models?

Lexus has some nice ones coming this year

[Sam I Am]

Realistically we will probably have to wait until we are 0-7 before any announcement about a coaching change will occur, and it might be even later. It will be miserable watching the games to come. Maybe we should spare ourselves the pain and not be witnesses to this debacle. Stay home and root for you second most favorite team. Here's to Rice's Honor.

[Dooby]

I have never understood the animosity towards Hart. turner has been around long enough you fault him all you want. Hart hasn't had the opportunity to do anything.

June was given an extension in 2011 that went through The end of 2014 season (technically June 2015). The terms of that contract I have been repeatedly told as follows: June gets paid $2 million per year whether he coaches or not.

That was the cost to get him off the island in the original deal and in early 2011, the people that matter were more than thrilled to extend that contract under its terms.

Accordingly, to fire June after the ASU debacle was $4 million; to fire him after last season was $2 million.

You can [deleted] and moan all you want, but nobody that was capable of writing that check was willing to write it and then write another check to hire the coach to replace June. Add to that, there were still some old men who thought June was going to get SMU to the Sugar Bowl. Those same people are presumably impressed by overheard projectors. After Saturday, I assume those last few jumped ship.

The extension made after last season primary purpose was to prevent a lame duck recruiting pitch. Notwithstanding the extension, it is far more affordable to terminate him after this season.