BU reportedly has Herman and Morris at top of their list

[StallionsModelT]

There's only one dad around here and I'm sure he'll be posting only if USF dump trucks us tonight.

[Pony in SA]

If Texas pays the 15 1/2 million buy out for Strong, which I doubt they will, I would think they would look for more experience than Chad.

Herman was already reached out to this summer thru proper channels and he knows UT interest, its really up to him. UT people actually surprised he didn't just jump all over it. McCombs has indicated he will contribute again to a new guy, but won't necessarily for Strong buy out because he "told you so" not to hire him. There have already been calls on how to handle, its how/when to handle Strong departure if pull trigger. There are some contract terms that are issues.

[StallionsModelT]

The laughable part of this whole charade with Texas is that somehow they would balk at paying Strong's buyout. $15.5M is nothing to them. The word on the street is that Fenves and some of the big money guys are worried about Herman's attitude rubbing folks the wrong way down in Austin. That said, I think Charlie gets to 7 wins and keeps his job for one more year.

[jimhagle]

The laughable part of this whole charade with Texas is that somehow they would balk at paying Strong's buyout. $15.5M is nothing to them. The word on the street is that Fenves and some of the big money guys are worried about Herman's attitude rubbing folks the wrong way down in Austin. That said, I think Charlie gets to 7 wins and keeps his job for one more year.

I have to agree with you. Strong's character is a plus to the boosters.

[jimhagle]

Morris may have his dream job here if we pay him and keep him content. His bolting this program after getting us on the up and up is anyone's guess. My guess is he stays here a long time as he loves living here.

[mustangxc]

I have no idea what Chad Morris will do but I am hopeful we keep him here 5+ years, so at this point if he is here for another 3 seasons I will be happy. I think Tom Herman will be hard to pry away from Houston given that he did have the opportunity to go to a top 5 program in USC last year and turned it down. I have no idea what he considers his list of dream jobs but I think he may be arrogant enough to think that Houston will be his dream job. Let's hope Chad Morris feels that way about SMU.

[Arkpony]

ESPN reporting Texas is getting "extreme pressure" from rich boosters to fire Strong and hire Herman.

[BennyShillingsworth]

SMU needs to be ready NOW to respond if necessary

I hope Hart is prepared for this. He should be.

If Chad Morris leaves for after 2 or 3 years, it will be a MASSIVE failure by Rick Hart and Gerald Turner. They need to start construction on the indoor facility that was originally slated to be FINISHED by 2017, they need to up his contract... If SMU Football is not turned around by the time Chad Morris leaves, the program will likely die. If they can't (won't) do anything about it, their only hope would be to promote Van Malone to Head Coach.

What Chad Morris has done in two years is incredible. The public perception of the program now after a 2 win and a 5ish win season is even better than it was when we went to bowl games 4 years in a row and played for a conference championship. They need to do everything they can to keep him happy and lock him down. Chad Morris SHOULD be our Gary Patterson or Mack Brown, but it's ALL in Hart and Turner's hands.

[mustangxc]

The Circle of Champions has a say and if they are serious about getting football to where we want it to be they need to preemptively call Hart to let him know they are ready to up the ante.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

If Chad Morris leaves for after 2 or 3 years, it will be a MASSIVE failure by Rick Hart and Gerald Turner. They need to start construction on the indoor facility

really?
Hart and Turner hire such a great coach that big league schools may want him
and that's a "MASSIVE" failure?
Patterson is the oddity, I wouldn't bet on that happening twice in the metroplex

indoor practice facility would be great, but wont keep most coaches from bolting to packed stadiums in much better conferences, better recruits, and millions more in salary.

[Stallion]

NOPE it will be the Death of the Myth that SMU's Rich Alumni can buy SMU back into Big Time College Football

Hate to break this to you-you are apparently the last to know-but private schools like SMU don't promise to directly fund the full cost of athletic facilities--they don't have access to the type of state school or P5 funding avenues to do that and no private school that I know of builds athletic facilities out of the endowment. Every building on campus has somebody's name on it. The IPF if its ever built will have some alumni's name on it. So far the necessary funding hasn't stepped forward. The IPF won't be built unless or until checks for about 80% of the project costs have been cashed

[PonySnob]

The Circle of Champions has a say and if they are serious about getting football to where we want it to be they need to preemptively call Hart to let him know they are ready to up the ante.

Have heard they will go to $3-3.5 million to keep him but at some point, you can only pay so much for a coach. Between what should be a heathy buyout and SMU upping his pay, if somebody wants him, it'll be expensive for them.

[mustangxc]

I think that is a reasonable number for SMU. Anything beyond that doesn't make too much sense at this point. If our alums are willing to go anything beyond that amount, then I have no idea why they aren't willing to fund the IPF now.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

I agree with Stallion that Chad would be a good hire for a larger program in Texas, but like he said most casual fans and homecoming alums are going to balk at hiring a guy that has 7 wins in the last two years. Lucky for us logic will most likely not prevail and the AD would be under enormous risk hiring a guy "that only won 5 games last year"......many would be like "what the??????".

I hate to even think about it, but I hope Hart and Turner are ready for any eventuality and have an updated working list of replacement candidates ready at all times. This will happen sooner or later like it does at most places.

[Stallion]

that would make him highest paid Head Coach at a non-P5 school. Herman getting $3,000,000 is highest right now

NOT GETTING BANG FOR BUCK: Cincy (Turbeville) $2.2 Million
BANG FOR BUCK: Ken N -oh I don't know how to spell) Navy $2 Million
WELL UNDERPAID: Mark Rhule Temple a little over $1 Million

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/