Is the team punishing the fans?

[sbsmith]

The last thing on a player's mind is the fans.

You sure about that?


viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56687&hilit=nelson

[couch 'em]

If it is a protest, it is the worst ever. We don't expect to win any games anyway

[ghost]

Look at Lou Holtz's final verdict ESPN speech late Saturday night on how fans should react. They were talking about Florida and their collapse but SMU fans should take notice. You only hurt the school and team you love if you show your displeasure with the coach by not going to the games and talking bad about the players. It hurts recruiting too.

[skyscraper]

These players have little to no talent. Combined with a season that everyone wrote off a month ago, not surprising to see blowout after blowout. But no, it's not a conspiracy to punish the fans. The players just aren't that good at playing football.

[dbone]

In 1985 after the August probation...we kicked the coaches out and had a team meeting to decide if we would stay or transfer and how we would play. Our "fans" that year were more than apathetic...many were hostile.

In 1986, the environment was even worse after Stanley's allegations leaked and we only had 72 players vs a normal 95. But we had some great team leaders and we played the best we could...until we broke in the last game of the season against Arkansas. In both years we salvaged winning seasons.

This team seems to be lacking in enough leadership on the field to end their pity party. More, I have never seen such a nonchalant sideline while such wreckage unfolded on field.

News stories don't matter. Attendance doesn't matter. Opponents don't matter. Coaches don't even matter. Some players need to step up, get angry, and hit. Win or lose...hit...then hit again...then hit again. It's D-1 football not friggin soccer.

[Charleston Pony]

I don't know if this team is capable of beating anyone on their schedule, but it's clear they are a very fragile bunch. 1st sign of adversity and they are just conditioned to fail. I don't see it as an intentional thing...maybe subconsciously it is...seems like most of the guys appear to give up early

[Water Pony]

I don't think the team is punishing the fans, but the team clearly is not resilent. I place the blame on JJ for this and many more things. But, most of all I blame JJ, who is both a coward in the way he abandoned 'his players' and for his duplicity in the ASU fiasco. SMU should have insisted on his resignation at that time. Administration's mistake was in not asking him to leave then.

JJ was a great and timely hire, but his character flaws and weak efforts to recruit spelled disaster ... long term.

Lets move on!

[ReedFrawg]

As a former player its pretty darn sorry to say the players suck. That is way out of line.

[East Coast Mustang]

Let's call a spade a spade ... a lot of the players currently on the team have completely mailed it in, do not give a [deleted], don't belong on an FBS roster, and are essentially stealing from the school at this point. Can't wait for the new coach to come in, clean house, and kick their asses to the curb.

[SMUer]

How can any former athlete even relate to what we are seeing on the field? I think that's the problem, many of us would have too much pride to trot out this bull. I wouldn't say "suck", I'll just leave it at laughingly bad.

[ftworthmustang]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the first offensive play on Saturday, a dropped pass? I think it went down hill from there. The players have JJ's laid back attitude and seem to fold it in as soon as things don't go their way. There are no Taylor Reeds or Rambos on this team. No one with fire. No real leaders on the field. Its frustrating watching this team play without much emotion. They seem to expect to lose and accept it. There have been comparisons to the 1989 team. The '89 team was probably undermanned in every game, but they played every game with heart and emotion. When you watched them, you knew that they gave 110% even when beaten badly. This year's team is probably a little better on paper, but definitely not on the field where it counts. I'd gladly swap this team for the '89 team right now, just to be able to see my team give it 110% win or lose.

[PonyKris89]

Some players need to step up, get angry, and hit. Win or lose...hit...then hit again...then hit again. It's D-1 football not friggin soccer.

Yep, no schitt dbone, totally agree. I am more than a little tired of watching defenders stand and watch as the ball is run right by them, and they are right
there to make the play, and they just watch the guy run by. Hell, at least grab on to the guy, and hold on for dear life!!! Sheeesh!!

And thanks Dbone for that interesting perspective from your era.

[StallionsModelT]

Is it any surprise that a bunch of 18-22 year olds would quit when the coach they signed up to play for quit after two games? Is it an excuse? No. They all share in this disaster. That's why the next coach will be sending a lot of these kids packing to the Lone Star Conference where they belong.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Let's call a spade a spade ... a lot of the players currently on the team have completely mailed it in, do not give a [deleted], don't belong on an FBS roster, and are essentially stealing from the school at this point. Can't wait for the new coach to come in, clean house, and kick their asses to the curb.

YEP.

[Smufbdad]

Let me start off by saying I am Zach Wood's #90 dad. I have watched practices for four years now and have seen less than 1-5 people at practices in both off season or fall. I have also been around summer workouts. I keep hearing how these players suck or have quit on the coaches and SMU. Also how they are stealing money from SMU. How many of you have actually experienced what these young men are going through? We all need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves who we are dissapointing in our professional and business life! So when we say these young men are quiters or they suck we can feel good when we look in the mirror. Come find me this weekend. Not hard to find becuase I will be proudly wearing my Zach Wood #90 SMU jersey. I will be in the SMU parent tailgate on the Boulevard or in section 103 if you would like to come tell me how my son sucks or is quitter. Look forward to meeting anyone that would like to share their opinions about my son!!!!