The Memphis Coach

by **Pony in SA** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:52 am

I don't think I've seen the Memphis coach on any potential list of new coaches. My memory is he's from TCU and would assume then know north Texas dynamics, and be able to recruit up there from his prior experience. Plus it seems he has done pretty good job at Memphis in short time.

If recruiting is our emphasis, what I know is Memphis has a presence down here and my neighbor who is the DC at big local power said their coaches do a good job with his school and are actually on one of their DL now. Couple of years ago he got the RB from Madison who was our all-area player and player of the year, and his friend the big OL to go to Memphis, and the RB was actually someone SMU talked to for awhile. Point is he knows the importance of recruiting Texas and relationships with the Steele, Judson, Smithson Valley, Madison, Reagan places down here.

I know the bias only great players from north Texas but the QB at OU, the QB at Nebraska, and Aaron Green from Madison and the other DB at TCU all from down here. Maybe consider this coach if Morris or someone falls thru since he already knows how and has recruited at least the big time programs down here ??

by **SMU 86** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:55 am

Justin Fuente is a good coach. If the other top targets fall through I don't think anyone would have a problem with him.

by **Rebel10** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 11:32 am

TigerJ wrote:Fuente isn't leaving Memphis for SMU. He is in SEC territory and adds a nice mix of south eastern recruits with Texas and Oklahoma kids. Plus our boosters will match whatever SMU tries to throw. They just need to know they have a winner.

Since Fred Smith's son has graduated from Memphis, no your boosters could not match our boosters money wise. Not saying we want your coach at this point but if we want him and comes down to money we will take him from you. Just the cold hard truth.

by **leopold** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 11:52 am

Fuente is going to be the next big thing. I don't think SMU is going to go after him, but after this year it will be interesting to see the tigers hang on to him.

by **footballdad** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 12:51 pm

TigerJ wrote:
Rebel10 wrote:
TigerJ wrote:Fuente isn't leaving Memphis for SMU. He is in SEC territory and adds a nice mix of south eastern recruits with Texas and Oklahoma kids. Plus our boosters will match whatever SMU tries to throw. They just need to know they have a winner.

Since Fred Smith's son has graduated from Memphis, no your boosters could not match our boosters money wise. Not saying we want your coach at this point but if we want him and comes down to money we will take him from you. Just the cold hard truth.

The cold hard truth is the booster will fight to keep Fuente and match what he is offered by SMU. Especially since our athletic department is a serious now about football with Bowen and Fuente now. You are just being delusional if you think Bowen will not get the boosters in Fuente's corner. There is a lot to be gained with a strong memphis football program. Lots of upside like TCU not so much upside for SMU

Relax TigerJ, there is a lot of ego & delusion on this board. If and when Fuente is the next big thing he'll head to the P5, not a lateral move within the AAC, as you very well know.

As far as upside, SMU has a ton if we make the right hire in the next 60 days or so. Maybe, just maybe, Hart and the higher-ups finally realize the benefit of a strong football program after watching the rise of Baylor & TCU. Unfortunately we are 5-10 years late getting started, but it's never too late (hopefully).

by **SMUstangs22** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 1:15 pm

TigerJ wrote:
Rebel10 wrote:
TigerJ wrote:Fuente isn't leaving Memphis for SMU. He is in SEC territory and adds a nice mix of south eastern recruits with Texas and Oklahoma kids. Plus our boosters will match whatever SMU tries to throw. They just need to know they have a winner.

Since Fred Smith's son has graduated from Memphis, no your boosters could not match our boosters money wise. Not saying we want your coach at this point but if we want him and comes down to money we will take him from you. Just the cold hard truth.

The cold hard truth is the booster will fight to keep Fuente and match what he is offered by SMU. Especially since our athletic department is a serious now about football with Bowen and Fuente now. You are just being delusional if you think Bowen will not get the boosters in Fuente's corner. There is a lot to be gained with a strong memphis football program. Lots of upside like TCU not so much upside for SMU[/quoted

I agree you need to relax. It won't happen. Lets not get into the "who has more money" argument. You must realize it is the only argument we have regarding football.

by **West Coast Johnny** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 1:16 pm

TigerJ wrote:Fuente isn't leaving Memphis for SMU. He is in SEC territory and adds a nice mix of south eastern recruits with Texas and Oklahoma kids. Plus our boosters will match whatever SMU tries to throw. They just need to know they have a winner.

That's bull crap. Memphis is notoriously cheap and they hit the jackpot when Fuente accepted their lowball offer. Fuente isn't paid his due at Memphis and probably never will be. He's worked miracles there considering the dumpster fire he inherited. He'll be leaving Memphis soon because of the cheap asses at Memphis. I'm not saying he will go to SMU but he'll go somewhere. SMU is a much better paying job than Memphis. He would be a jackpot hire for SMU as well but he may hold out for a major conference job. From a TCU fan.

by **sbsmith** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 1:38 pm

Fuente will be a P5 HC by 2016.

by **bubba pony** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 1:41 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Fuente
Fuente is making $900,000. I believe I read SMU said they are prepared to offer $2.5 million for a new head coach. explains why so much interest in the SMU job.

by **gostangs** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:10 pm

not only the salary - which is massively better - but SMU offers quite a bit more than Memphis as a school and a city. I think Fuente will get a P-5 also - but they don't come up very often (unless they are like Kansas - which would be impossible to fix) - and there are way more qualified candidates than there are openings.

Fuente would look pretty good to SMU - but not sure a top drawer program will be all that excited about hiring a Memphis coach.

by **SMU2007** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 5:39 pm

everyone thinks their school has the most potential. it's cute.

by **gostangs** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 6:27 pm

Actually nobody said the most potential. Just more than Memphis.

Everyone on this board likes to try to win the cynic competition. It's cute.

by **SMU2007** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 8:57 pm

Just like Memphis believes they have more potential than SMU. Just like UH believes they have more potential than SMU.

by **SMU2007** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:00 pm

As a side note, when the highlight of your football program for the past 25 years is a 7 win regular season and a Hawaii bowl victory, can you still be considered a "cynic"?

by **gostangs** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:04 pm

If you can't see the upside that is clearly there for the taking, then yes....you can still be a cynic.