Tom Mason talks to media today

[PerunaPunch]

I appreciate Mason having the courage to stick with something when he's put in a terrible situation BUT he was part of the staff that made little to no effort to recruit, and let's not pretend like our defense was all that great in recent years. better, sure.

True, he said that he recruited most of the players on the team. So he is partly responsible for the low level of talent we have on the team.

Show a little gratitude. Imagine how bad we'd be without Mason's recruits (or conversely, maybe we'd be decent if some of June's buddies pitched in and helped with recruitment). Regardless, even an ace recruiter isn't going to fill a roster by himself. Mason consistently overachieved given the hand he was dealt.

[Mustangs35SMU]

Mason was complaining today because SMU didn't wait until after the UConn game to hire Coach Morris. I guess he did not understand that SMU was trying to get the new coach on the recruiting trail as quickly as possible.

I think he's a little bitter about the entire situation.

Don't blame him for being upset, about the hire or about JJ or about anything else.

Took over an impossible position and is suffering because of it.

[GreenbeltPony]

"On if academics made it difficult for SMU to recruit:

“It did. Everybody views SMU as an elite… you have to be a special kid to go here. The recruits view it as an elite school. You have to do a really good job of selling the parents on the education. It’s not about football, it about the degree and what an SMU degree does for you. Sometimes, your four- and five-star guys don’t want to hear that. They want to hear they are going to the NFL. And you get everybody else talking about it and lack of minorities and the whole picture that people use against your recruiting, too.”"

[redpony]

as much as I like and respect Coach Mason I thought some of his comments were off-base. It sounded too much like the echos of the tiki who did nothing but collect a check.

[03Mustang]

Sounds to me like more excuses, still no solutions. No surprise he couldn't pull more from the team if that is his attitude, honestly.

[Comet]

Being passive can be a [deleted]. I liked the guy, but he's not what we need to get to the next level.

[CA Mustang]

as much as I like and respect Coach Mason I thought some of his comments were off-base. It sounded too much like the echos of the tiki who did nothing but collect a check.

What did you expect Mason to say? "Thank you sir, may I have another"

Sounds to me like more excuses, still no solutions. No surprise he couldn't pull more from the team if that is his attitude, honestly.

What solutions are there with current roster? Bringing in Tom Rossley was shot down, so what exactly was he supposed to do? Magically transform players into all-conference performers?

[footballdad]

I have supported Mason as much or more than most, because he is a genuine guy and the players liked him. On the other hand, he also threw in the towel a few weeks back, so it's tough to feel bad for any of these guys. His last ditch effort at excuse making and whining about career suicide sounds a lot like his ex-boss to me. I'm sure he'll have a job somewhere within weeks of cleaning out his office.

If he is honest with himself, maybe he'll look in the mirror and realize his biggest mistake was not removing himself from the June cult years ago.

[StallionsModelT]

Tom Mason going scorched earth like his old boss.

We can't get rid of the June Jones poison fast enough.

[goldenstang]

Mason was complaining today because SMU didn't wait until after the UConn game to hire Coach Morris. I guess he did not understand that SMU was trying to get the new coach on the recruiting trail as quickly as possible.

He should get over that. It happens all the time. Anyone think Nebraska is going to wait until after their bowl game to hire a coach. No they are not

[footballdad]

Can Morris and his new staff of 5 just take over for the UConn game????? I bet they'd do a better job with 3 days to prepare than this entire staff of clowns, and probably WIN THE GAME!

[SoCal_Pony]

"On if academics made it difficult for SMU to recruit:

“It did. Everybody views SMU as an elite… you have to be a special kid to go here. The recruits view it as an elite school. You have to do a really good job of selling the parents on the education. It’s not about football, it about the degree and what an SMU degree does for you. Sometimes, your four- and five-star guys don’t want to hear that. They want to hear they are going to the NFL. And you get everybody else talking about it and lack of minorities and the whole picture that people use against your recruiting, too.”"

Nobody has ever said we should be competing for 4* 5* players.

What about 3* or simply players with other offers?

Sorry, but the 'CM has recruited this area more in 12 hours than prior staff has in 12 months is damning indictment for everyone related to JJ, certainty Mason.

Having said that, I wish him the best and feel that no reasonable person would hold him accountable for this season.

Recruiting skills, yes. HC this season, no.

[StallionsModelT]

The battered wife syndrome might've been worst among the coaching staff. What a bunch of whiners.

[SMU2007]

Show a little gratitude. Imagine how bad we'd be without Mason's recruits

Lol. Surely you are kidding?

[Charleston Pony]

JJ and his entire staff just didn't understand aggressive recruiting and how important that is in today's game. I hope this team rises up and wins one for Mason and I agree that he should be able to find work somewhere if he wants to keep coaching, but if he honestly doesn't understand why SMU would not wait until after the UConn game, he really doesn't "get it". I suspect it is possible that SMU may have wanted to wait and that it was Chad Morris who didn't want to wait and lose one hour of valuable recruiting time. I firmly believe Morris' hiring has been all but a done deal since shortly after the UNT debacle