Musings from Saturday

by **1983 Cotton Bowl** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:22 pm

Attended what is probably the only football game I'll make this year on Saturday with my 6-year old. My lack of attendance isn't a protest thing. . .I've just got a lot of irons in the fire these days and can't make it out to Ford much. A few takeaways:

1. Did anyone else see the red fox that was running through the family section at the beginning of the game? I thought it was a cat at first and had to do a double-take. That darn thing ran right at us, veered off at the last minute, and leapt from the bleacher seat all the way over the brick wall into the boxes. It was the most athletic moment from any resident of the SMU campus that I saw on Saturday. It was also hilarious to see people rise from their seats and stare when they realized what it was.

2. It was about 80 degrees at kick-off, but with the sun beating down it felt like 100. Wow, my son and I were sizzling!! Needed to take a break and get some snacks half way through the first quarter just to avoid a killer sunburn.

3. I really liked the red chrome helmet, blue shirt look. Maybe white pants would have been better. . . not sure. But the Ponies looked good. Wouldn't mind them breaking that look out from time to time in the future.

4. Crowd size was disappointing (what else is new on the Hilltop), but the crowd seemed lively during the latter part of the 1st quarter and the beginning of the 2nd quarter. When the Ponies were on the brink of scoring in the 2nd, the crowd really seemed into it. Then everything went to Hell and it died. But it was fun for a little while.

5. I like what Hart, et al have done with game presentation. Thinking back to years past at Ford, they seem to have improved the experience quite a bit. If we can just get some SMU fans to attend games, Ford will be a fun place to be on Saturdays.

6. The team. . .and I mean this in the nicest way. . .is unspeakably bad. I didn't expect much this year with the schedule, new QB, etc. But I had no inkling that they would be this horrible. I'm sure there are a lot of PFs who now claim to have seen this debacle coming. . .but I don't believe it. Many of us had limited expectations for this year, and in some cases very limited expectations, and we all knew the recruiting has not been up to par, but I don't think anyone expected to see this utter and complete meltdown in all phases of the game. I sat through the late Caven years and early Bennett years. Perhaps my memory is selective, but I think this team is quite a bit worse than any SMU team I've seen. And its not just the lack of talent; the players are physically weak, poorly conditioned, and horribly coached. Basic fundamentals that I thought would have been taught in middle school are a challenge for these guys.

7. For the first time, I'm truly angry with June Jones. I thought it was time for him to go at the end of last season. But I frankly had no idea that he would leave the cupboard this bare and then abandon ship 2 games into this disaster of a season. I think a lot of the former players really like him, and that's why we are seeing some of these things on Twitter. I respect that. . .But as a fan I now have contempt for that piece of [deleted]. It's sad; from 2009 - 2011 the program showed so much promise and he really seemed to be moving it in the right direction. Not sure what happened after that with him mentally, but I'm of half a mind that the COC should try to claw back his salary for 2012-2014. Its obvious now that no one was home.

8. I really feel for the kids who want to try hard and win. This season is a huge bummer. And many of them will no doubt be run off by the new coach.

I'll keep following the Ponies via TV and radio. Hope to see something a little better when I come back to Ford again next year!

by **jimhagle** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:31 pm

JJ will have to live the rest of his life knowing he left SMU in shambles. I suspect he is battling some inner demons and had to get out otherwise how does anyone explain this predicament.

by **sbsmith** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:43 pm

jimhagle wrote:JJ will have to live the rest of his life knowing he left SMU in shambles. I suspect he is battling some inner demons and had to get out otherwise how does anyone explain this predicament.

You really think it will eat at him that much? He got what he came here for (money) and like most people he'll just blame his failure on SMU.

by **NavyCrimson** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:01 pm

sbsmith - you're exactly right!

by **smusportspage** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:41 pm

Saw a picture of the red fox on Facebook. Someone said that it has lived at Ford for about 8 years! Is that awesome or what?

by **Nacho** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:54 pm

june had a 3 year plan. he executed it perfectly. we are down to nothing.

we are playing our 4th string qb so that usually is not a plus.
one of wrs who shall remain nameless could not catch a ball if you handed it to him.
our already weak d cannot go back on the field time and again after 3 and outs. they are worn out by the time the 2nd quarter starts.

post dp i used to sit through the entire game as a matter of pride. not now. i don't know how anyone can sit through an entire game.

by **mrydel** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:03 pm

smusportspage wrote:Saw a picture of the red fox on Facebook. Someone said that if has lived at Ford for about 8 years! Is that awesome or what?

Wasn't there a photo of him at Ford during a high school playoff games a year or two ago?

by **LA_Mustang** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:06 pm

That was the Caddo Mills mascot.

by **jimhagle** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:07 pm

sbsmith wrote:
jimhagle wrote:JJ will have to live the rest of his life knowing he left SMU in shambles. I suspect he is battling some inner demons and had to get out otherwise how does anyone explain this predicament.

You really think it will eat at him that much? He got what he came here for (money) and like most people he'll just blame his failure on SMU.

If you think JJ walking away like he did and leaving this as a part of his legacy not bothering him I think you are dead wrong.

by **sbsmith** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:32 pm

jimhagle wrote: If you think JJ walking away like he did and leaving this as a part of his legacy not bothering him I think you are dead wrong.

June's legacy will be just fine because very few people will blame him for what happened here. The narrative at large is that June managed to win as much as possible while dealing with a rigid, anti-football administration and a small, apathetic fanbase. He got what he came here for, so if by chance he is bothered deep down by burning down our program and quitting on us it's not like he'll ever admit it.

by **SMU2007** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:37 pm

jimhagle wrote:
sbsmith wrote:
jimhagle wrote:JJ will have to live the rest of his life knowing he left SMU in shambles. I suspect he is battling some inner demons and had to get out otherwise how does anyone explain this predicament.

You really think it will eat at him that much? He got what he came here for (money) and like most people he'll just blame his failure on SMU.

If you think JJ walking away like he did and leaving this as a part of his legacy not bothering him I think you are dead wrong.

JJ doesn't give a sh*t. "Mission accomplished". Have you already forgotten that load of crap? I wouldn't p!ss on the guy if he were on fire.

by **Rayburn** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:42 pm

I was in the stadium and saw the fox. It was bizarre and about the best entertainment that afternoon.

by **StallionsModelT** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:44 pm

LA_Mustang wrote:That was the Caddo Mills mascot.

Good second level small town East Texas humor. I hear ya bruh.

by **Insane_Pony_Posse** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:51 pm

sbsmith wrote:You really think it will eat at him that much? He got what he came here for (money) and like most people he'll just blame his failure on SMU.

They're already clamoring for his return to Hawaii football:

http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/football/ ... to-hawaii/

by **StallionsModelT** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:53 pm

Insane_Pony_Posse wrote:
sbsmith wrote:You really think it will eat at him that much? He got what he came here for (money) and like most people he'll just blame his failure on SMU.

They're already clamoring for his return to Hawaii football:

http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/football/ ... to-hawaii/

Good for him. That is the only school in America that will put up with his antiquated trash offense and putrid recruiting.