A Humble Proposal

[ponyboy]

Not to name any names, but it's well established we've got some who post here who are rightly accused of having a negative slant. A few are just your garden variety bozos, but a few are very well informed and have some legitimate criticisms of this school that need both to be aired publicly and to be taken to those in charge for action.

I have a request, a proposal if you will. I bring to the table a board-wide moratorium on criticism, from today, January 6th, until the day after National Signing Day, February 1st, for the following subjects:

* SMU coaching staff -- including the perceived or real shortfalls in the use, lack of use, or misuse of players
* SMU players -- including perceived or real abilities, lack of abilities, bad attitudes, bad hairdoos
* SMU administration -- including perceived or real lack of support, bad marketing, and general apathy
* SMU fans -- including perceived or real attitudes, lack of support of the program

GO GET 'EM COACH BENNETT!

[me@smu]

I am all for that..especially with the headway that Bennett is making with some of the bigger named recruits. A month without badgering would do us all well.

[BUS]

I will support that motion, and somehow hide Stallions mouse and keyboard.

Ha Ha ha

[ponynut]

This is the most intelligent post I have seen in years. Thanks!

[lugus830]

Sounds good to me as I still haven't located the ignore function. Although you are running the risk of being labeled by you know who for even suggesting this.

[ClassOf81]

It's almost too bad that this has to be proposed at all, because ALL PonyFans should have come up with this.
Needless to say, I support the idea wholeheartedly.

[Mickey]

Five posts on this topic and 3 openly criticize others. Great moratorium.

[jtstang]

... a few are very well informed and have some legitimate criticisms of this school that need both to be aired publicly and to be taken to those in charge for action.

I'm confused. If this is true, why do you propose this moratorium? It defeats the legitimate purpose you have acknowledged here.

[Stallion]

I'll continue to expose the lie that is SMU's alleged Commitment to Division 1A football at every opportunity I get because its the lack of alumni knowledge about how this school handicaps its own program that has caused this to go on for decades longer than it should. If BUS and Ponyfan and Pony Boy and all the cheerleaders actually gave factual, accurate representationms about the quality of our recruiting class then this wouldn't be necessary. That said I still post about 5 times more actual positive information about players we recruit than anybody else. If they recruit quality then its all going to be positive. You can't understand SMU's inability to compete unless you understand the level of athlete we historically have recruited.

[JasonB]

I have no problem with criticism, I just would rather the criticism come AFTER all the facts are in.

That said, what about criticizing the coaches hardoos?

[ponyboy]

... a few are very well informed and have some legitimate criticisms of this school that need both to be aired publicly and to be taken to those in charge for action.

I'm confused. If this is true, why do you propose this moratorium? It defeats the legitimate purpose you have acknowledged here.

I'm not proposing a moratorium for all time -- just for the period leading up to signing day. I'm publicly acknowledging here that the criticisms have been often times for the good. (Heck, I've even publicly thanked certain posters in the past for their potential part in much needed change).

The fact is that criticisms now, however well deserved and insightful, do a great deal more harm than good. I propose you store up your venom, if you must, and use it on February 2nd.

[Pony Fan]

I WON'T post anything about what I think of stallion's response.

[mrydel]

I want to know what the problem is with the coach's hardoos. My hardoo has not been as good or used as much as when I was younger, but would have thought our coach's hardoos all were functioning properly. I think there are some pills that could help.

[jtstang]

The fact is that criticisms now, however well deserved and insightful, do a great deal more harm than good. I propose you store up your venom, if you must, and use it on February 2nd.

I missed it at first blush, but now I see, this is simply a gussied-up version of the old "shut-up-you-are-going-to-scare-off-recruits-who-monitor-this-board" bit. I never bought that bit when it was laid out as such, and I don't buy it when it is proposed as a quaint "moratorium" either. If recruits are coming to this board to look at our posts to make their decision whether or not to come to SMU then they are going about the process all wrong anyway. The merits of the school and program need to be judged by recruits on an individual basis, and it is the school and the program which need to be considered by the recruit in order to make those judgments, not what a bunch of frustrated alums who are tired of near 20 years of less than mediocrity have to spew on a fan messge board. If recruits come here to see what the alums think of things generally, then no three week moratorium is going to change their perception of our perception. So, for any recruits listening: I for one am sick and tired of the losing state of affairs in football on the Hilltop, and the reasons for such state of affairs are well documented on this website, so if you can and are willing to help change things in that respect, please accept my sincere invitation to come to SMU!!

[mrydel]

here,here ( but beware of the coach's hardoos!!!)