Those Who Were Around - Does this feel like Ron Meyer

[smumustang1980]

Far from being sharp "the gov" was every bit the dimwit who failed out of SMU Engineering with more than one "F" on his transcript.

He built an extremely successful E&P company from scratch. So what?

[CalallenStang]

I've been thinking this for awhile.

[NavyCrimson]

'1980: Governor Clements was no redneck... A sharp, entrepreneur. His fault was thinking SMU could act like A&M and UT and get away with the same in a media hotspot such as Dallas.

You nailed it '80. Couldn't have said it any better myself!

Furthermore, if I remember correctly, he had to drop out of school like so many others & get a real job. It was more than tough times back then. Too many whiners & entitled today.

[smusportspage]

Yep.

[EastStang]

Right after Meyer was hired, I had the honor of interviewing him for the Daily Campus. I met him in his office and he was literally between recruiting trips (in his first week). He was back from Houston and headed to Odessa. He was changing clothes and told me he only had a short time since he only had time to sh--, shower and shave. The guy was a mover and shaker and a real personality. Compared to his predecessor, he was a real breath of fresh air.

[Nacho]

'1980: Governor Clements was no redneck... A sharp, entrepreneur. His fault was thinking SMU could act like A&M and UT and get away with the same in a media hotspot such as Dallas.

You nailed it '80. Couldn't have said it any better myself!

Furthermore, if I remember correctly, he had to drop out of school like so many others & get a real job. It was more than tough times back then. Too many whiners & entitled today.

more than a little ironic that the brand new utsw hospital in dallas is named after him.

[Top Twenty]

Meyer was the gold standard...he killed it at his press conference (which I didn't attend but read about in the paper the next day), saying that we would replace Texas as the SWC "flagship" (and that the players needed "to stop eating the covers off their books.") He could attend an event with 100 people, and each one, regardless of age or stature, would walk away thinking that Meyer was really there just to see him or her. Brash, stylish, funny, tireless, positive, motivating, the whole nine yards. He would have luncheons in various country club ballrooms, and you could hardly find a place to sit. He wasn't an accomplished X and O'er, but he was a tough-minded guy who could recruit/lead a team and assemble/manage a talented staff. Everything changed the day he left.

Our new guy is a bit different in some ways, but he already has shown most of the same winning qualities, plus he is a state-of-the-art game planner. Meaning, I am having those same feelings all over again, and I'm loving it.

[orguy]

'1980: Governor Clements was no redneck... A sharp, entrepreneur. His fault was thinking SMU could act like A&M and UT and get away with the same in a media hotspot such as Dallas.

You nailed it '80. Couldn't have said it any better myself!

Furthermore, if I remember correctly, he had to drop out of school like so many others & get a real job. It was more than tough times back then. Too many whiners & entitled today.

An objective source if there ever was one. Did you move to Simi Valley to be near Bozo's 1 book library?

Clements screwed SMU.

[Alaric]

Governor Clements was no redneck... A sharp, entrepreneur. His fault was thinking SMU could act like A&M and UT and get away with the same in a media hotspot such as Dallas.

Clements was the first Republican Governor of Texas in '78 since Reconstruction and the damn Yankees...

since when were being sharp and being a redneck mutually exclusive? plenty of sharp, hick, wealthy, rednecks out there

[orguy]

Governor Clements was no redneck... A sharp, entrepreneur. His fault was thinking SMU could act like A&M and UT and get away with the same in a media hotspot such as Dallas.

Clements was the first Republican Governor of Texas in '78 since Reconstruction and the damn Yankees...

since when were being sharp and being a redneck mutually exclusive? plenty of sharp, hick, wealthy, rednecks out there

Some wealthy rednecks/hicks even have a conscience and are well educated. Both traits William P did not posses as he ultimately fleeced SMU, Texas taxpayers and the natural environment for all they were worth.

[ponyte]

One other Meyer first was attention to details to sell the program with the uniforms. The classic white helmet with stripes and Mustang was Meyers design. So too were the red jerseys (later the much believe Blue). The first Jerseys didn't have SMU on the front. Plan numbers and arm stripes. The white pants as well. So too the socks and even the shoes. Meyer designed the uniform to look flashy and new to attract recruits.

Also, the very first game, a home game against TCU in the Cotton Bowl, Meyer had a very scripted team entrance and warm up routine. We practiced the routine the entire week before the game. It wasn't because we need to warm up, Meyer wanted to show and sell a well organized cohesive unit.

Meyer was a lot of flash but also a lot of complete marketing of the program.

[Arkpony]

I thought Meyer's first home game was against Rice in the Cotton Bowl. I recall him saying SMU was going to beat Rice if he had to drop the Cotton Bowl on them. And we beat Rice I believe.

I recall him telling me he wanted "SMU" in big letters on the jerseys do people far away could tell we were SMU.

I thought he was great!!!

[ghost]

Hiring of Meyer was no big deal at the time and for the first year or two. SMU was still getting over the disaster of letting Hayden Fry go and the wishbone days with Dave Smith and then seeing Fry go to lowly NTSU and build a team that actually beat SMU in 1977 and be a top 20 ranked team before going 9-2 the next year and on to Iowa for 20 years and infamy. Then the recruiting and Mustang Mania started and 65,000 fans in Texas Stadium and it was game on with those exciting Mustangs and their brash coach.

[ponyte]

I thought Meyer's first home game was against Rice in the Cotton Bowl. I recall him saying SMU was going to beat Rice if he had to drop the Cotton Bowl on them. And we beat Rice I believe.

I recall him telling me he wanted "SMU" in big letters on the jerseys do people far away could tell we were SMU.

I thought he was great!!!

First game was against TCU. Rice was later in the season and we lost to Rice in Houston. Tommy Kramer was the Rice QB and he had a great game.

[Top Twenty]

Totally disagree. He created a buzz from the start, and it spread through the faithful. He did beat TCU in the opener, and, later in the year, almost knocked off Texas in Austin (playing for the win, he passed up a late tie and failed on a two point play after a motion penalty). You could see it coming from Day One.