New IPF

[Rebel10]

Fan support drives facilities, not the other way around.

Glad they did not wait for fan support before they decided to build Ford, Crum or the new Moody. So since we have donors willing to pay for they facilities are you saying that they should turn them down?

[Rebel10]

This is awesome. A great way to separate ourselves from the G5 have-nots and position ourselves as a program looking to make the next leap.

Definitely.

[Digetydog]

http://www.syracuse.com/orangelacrosse/index.ssf/2015/01/syracuse_mens_lacrosse_to_begin_using_indoor_practice_facility_on_tuesday.html

Nice facility. Kinda necessary when you get over 100" of snow per year.

I am obviously out it touch with what a dollar buys these days. Can someone explain how that place cost $13mil to construct? Seems like a lot of doll-hairs to build.

That works out to under $230/SF assuming full 100 yds long with a 20' buffer all around. there may be additional square footage and equipment involved. That's probably not too bad for commercial or industrial buildings of that size...plus artificial turf. A million here and a million there and before you know it you're talking real money.

When building things in NY State, you have to build in costs associated with graft and/or no-show jobs into every project.

[Rebel10]

Try reading the entire thread. You'll note how important, huge, etc some people believe the IPF will be. They think it will improve our record. I don't.

I think they are saying it will help in recruiting. I think it will help in recruiting. I also think Jones complained about the weight room etc. Bottom line if HCCM wants it and has the monetary support from private donors for it then why the negative energy and pushback against it? There will also be a new and improved weight room in there. Any negative feedback on why a better weight room is not needed?

[Digetydog]

Try reading the entire thread. You'll note how important, huge, etc some people believe the IPF will be. They think it will improve our record. I don't.

I think they are saying it will help in recruiting. I think it will help in recruiting. I also think Jones complained about the weight room etc. Bottom line if HCCM wants it and has the monetary support from private donors for it then why the negative energy and pushback against it? There will also be a new and improved weight room in there. Any negative feedback on why a better weight room is not needed?

I don't think that there is any "pushback" against improving the weight room or even building the IPF. Personally, I think that it is cool and it certainly shouldn't hurt our program.

I firmly believe that part of this debate is revolves around how each of us feels about Junesus and his successes and failures.
For what it worth, I give Junesus the following grade:
1) Proving that it is possible to win at SMU - A
2) Offensive Guru/Innovation - (D-)
3) Recruiting Effort - (F)
4) Selling the Program - (F-)
5) Interaction with Fans - (F)
6) Getting players to the NFL/CFL - (B)
7) Keeping us out of trouble - (B)

With even (B) grades in 2-5, our program should have been a "Top of the AAC" level program and very competitive with many P5 teams (think Louisville, Cincinnati, or UCF). Despite his whining about the IPF, the weight room, academic support, and fan support, I believe that he failed because of 2-5.

When it comes to HCCM, I view him as the perfect hire. With his personality, talent and drive, I would be shocked if he doesn't earn (A's to A+'s) on 2-5. Furthermore, I support giving him help (the "Extras") in areas like marketing, cool uniforms, an IPF, academic support, and an upgraded weight room. But, I don't believe that the "Extras" are the "Key."

[CalallenStang]

The only person injecting Tiki Head into this conversation is you

[Water Pony]

How much money has been pumped into athletics in the last 4 years? I think we are showing a huge commitment to athletics and that is a very positive sign. Have we ever spent money like this since the DP?

Just since I've been at SMU....Moody renovation, Larry Brown (and staff), Chad Morris, IPF, new renovations for coaches offices. (not including when we broke the payscale getting JJ when we first hired him)

I would be remiss, if I didn't highlight the lack of an indoor natatorium, especially since we have already demolished the old Perkins Natatorium. Just saying!

[Digetydog]

The only person injecting Tiki Head into this conversation is you

Fair point.

[Pony Grey Hair]

New SMU Aquatic complex is coming soon- will be finished about same time as IPF. Just waiting on HPISD to commit which should be by end of school year.

[footballdad]

We can only do so much with facilities and it will still never compare to the big boys.

Morris should provide the success on the field, the facilities will be as good as any of our AAC peers (still not nearly as good as our P5 competitors), support for the program will be the wild card.

We need the facilities now so that it can help attract good recruits so that it will help Morris provide the wins. You can't wave a magic wand and increase attendance but you can immediately upgrade facilities. TCU had P5 type facilities well before they entered a P5 conference so it can be done. We are trying get into a P5 conference and as you have said we do not have the facilities. Again, Morris is looking to get into a P5 conference so we need both facilities and attendance. Our new IPF will rival any P5 facility maybe even Geogia's. We can do both by not neglecting either. We can get the facilities built while doing what we can to improve attendance. The two are not mutually exclusive. You can work on both at the same time. Plus the schools that Coach Morris will be recruiting against have better facilities than SMU. Recruits have even recently said that they high schools have more up to date equipment than SMU. If you want the June Jones type of recruits with no P5 offers or no offers at all then yes stay where we are but we have to upgrade where we can. We are not recruiting against Temple or Tulane, we are recruiting against schools like Baylor, TCU, and Oklahoma St. If the donors are willing to upgrade the facilities only a fool would turn them down. Again, Morris is trying to upgrade facilities and improve attendance. I am pro facilities and pro attendance. No need to be pro attendance and anti facilities.

We are improving facilities around the margins and it's great, everyone is all for it. But the fact is, Morris will never win a recruiting battle against your aforementioned Baylor's, TCU's, or Oklahoma State's by trying to compare facilities. Have you not seen their stadiums? Theirs stadiums are way better/bigger and packed with fans against meaningful P5 conference foes. Not to mention their football specific training tables, cafeterias, nutritionists, etc. More power to them, they have the $$$$$$ as a P5 member, we simply don't. I assume there is a limit to the donor $ available for facility improvements and it probably ends with the IPF and weight room/office upgrades.

Awesome, that puts us at or near the top of our AAC bretheren. Which should be enough for Morris to sell against his conference mates, recruit many more 3 stars, and win the AAC. Hell, I'm sure we'll fluke into a 4 star or two who are really smart and give extra weight to the SMU education and the energy and vision of Morris. At some point 3-6 years in the future, IF we've won multiple championships, possibly cracked the Top 25 a couple times, support for the program has increased tremendously, and there are actually extra seats available at the P5 table, MAYBE we have a shot.

Say it all you like, but we are not competing against these Big 12 teams you mention. Morris will be fighting his butt off just to stay ahead of Houston, Cincy, UCF, Tulsa and the rest. Need to walk before we run. That's being realistic, not negative, before you throw out that accusation.

[Puckhead48E]

New SMU Aquatic complex is coming soon- will be finished about same time as IPF. Just waiting on HPISD to commit which should be by end of school year.

So...is that what all of those signs I saw in HP and UP while I was back in town over Christmas were talking about? Seems like some don't want a swimming pool! Guess a natatorium off campus is better than none at all. Definitely should happen and be in the plans, not overlooked.

[smupony94]

New SMU Aquatic complex is coming soon- will be finished about same time as IPF. Just waiting on HPISD to commit which should be by end of school year.

So...is that what all of those signs I saw in HP and UP while I was back in town over Christmas were talking about? Seems like some don't want a swimming pool! Guess a natatorium off campus is better than none at all. Definitely should happen and be in the plans, not overlooked.

Those signs were to put it at SMU not in HP

[Rebel10]

Footballdad, I think Coach Morris has done a tremendous job in the short time he has been here. And has has already beaten Oklahoma State (Xavier Castille), Texas Tech (Ben Hicks) and Kansas (Kevin Thomas) for recruits. Upgraded facilities are part of what he is selling to the recruits. Just glad we have donors that are willing to help. I understand that Coach Morris will be able to get whatever he says he needs to forward the program. Coach Morris is definitely more visible in the community that any coach we have had in a while. Any ideas on attendance that we can do between now and the start of the season are more than welcome. We definitely can work on both at the same time.

[SMUfrat]

Where will this be? Soccer fields at Bishop and Mockingbird?

[footballdad]

Footballdad, I think Coach Morris has done a tremendous job in the short time he has been here. And has has already beaten Oklahoma State (Xavier Castille), Texas Tech (Ben Hicks) and Kansas (Kevin Thomas) for recruits. Upgraded facilities are part of what he is selling to the recruits. Just glad we have donors that are willing to help. I understand that Coach Morris will be able to get whatever he says he needs to forward the program. Coach Morris is definitely more visible in the community that any coach we have had in a while. Any ideas on attendance that we can do between now and the start of the season are more than welcome. We definitely can work on both at the same time.

Love Coach Morris & Crew. Beating Kansas and Iowa State for recruits doesn't count!