Is Lawler referencing a coaching search?

[82Pony]

Sounds just like JJ, except there turned out to be no job for him. And, he left us with just few really good players. Hopefully our next coach will stick around long enough to get to 8 wins. SMU problems.

[peruna81]

No Chad Morris will get us to 7 wins-leave-and say good luck with YOUR problem. Because that's what it is-an SMU problem of over a half a Century. No raise in 2016 for him and his staff last year-and some saying not until he wins big games. No raise in 2017? No IPF? Screw that SMU money-boys who don't have the financial appetite for big-time College football -you have a hot property on your hands and we are driving him off with no visible signs of increased financial or fan support. Plenty of talk about replacing him by hiring a former high school coach with no Coordinator experience. Morris and his entire staff should have been given a substantial raise last year because he is the hardest working Coach and staff this school has ever had-that's how you make a hot-shot coaching prospect happy. Later

I concur.

[82Pony]

I was under the impression Chad got a raise last year after flirting with Baylor. That was incorrect? If so, how much do we have to "Pony Up" to keep him and staff?

[OLEJACKETFAN]

The first year CM got here I thought he did really well considering his start date was Dec 1. Last year I believe his Class would have been much better with the Brewers. Those 2 really hurt. I believe he will continue to get offensive players. Where I have been really disappointed is the defensive recruits. Malone is not getting guys that can really help. I do totally agree with Stallion on the other SMU problems. But I don't believe CM is going to be real quick to leave though!

[SMUer]

I wish a SMU would hit me up for $100 towards the IPF just so that I can stop feeling guilty about something I have no power over

[Stallion]

I was under the impression Chad got a raise last year after flirting with Baylor. That was incorrect? If so, how much do we have to "Pony Up" to keep him and staff?

Don't think that's the case-certainly not a substantial raise-don't think staff got anything. Nobody has confirmed. There were reports at start of December that SMU had extended his contract for 3 years with no mention of a raise for Morris or his staff. That "contract" sat on Morris desk for about 3-4 months as I remember. I think SMU decided to play hard ball with him because they got their feelings hurt with the Baylor situation and butt-hurt because Morris didn't miraculously get us to a bowl in his 2nd year after a total rebuild. If Morris and staff got a raise-where is the announcement-I'd love to have it confirmed that they recognized the hard work of Morris and his staff. That's what you do for a hot-shot coaching prospect

[SoCal_Pony]

1) CM is the highest paid non-P5 HC.

2) It is not our $$$, but generous high-dollar boosters that are keeping this program afloat.

3) Regardless of pay, we simply can’t compete against top tier P5 programs if they want to hire him.

Having said all the above, he is clearly our best & hardest working HC since Ron Meyer and for that reason alone, I agree that we should be consistently giving he & his staff pay raises. If it keeps him even 1 additional year, it’s worth it. (Once again it’s not my $$$).

[sbsmith]

How are the other AAC schools like Memphis so much better at it than us?

Better fan support and more recent on-field success (BTW we're currently ahead of Memphis in the 247 composite rankings).

[Stallion]

Memphis has been recruiting off 8, 9 and 10 win seasons with substantially increased attendance. Morris has been recruiting off 1, 2 and 5 win seasons before family and friends. Step by Step. It was always a 3-4 year rebuilding project

[gostangs]

so if we paid him an extra 10% - 200k - he would turn down the next level job which will double his salary? No bumps or attendance will help that, and the attendance isn't coming until after we do something noteworthy on the field, which hasn't happened.

Love Chad - but there isn't anything SMU should have done at this point differently, except maybe invest in some marketing with more gusto without Brad Thomas having to lead the charge.

[deucetz]

Memphis has been recruiting off 8, 9 and 10 win seasons with substantially increased attendance. Morris has been recruiting off 1, 2 and 5 win seasons before family and friends. Step by Step. It was always a 3-4 year rebuilding project

More like a 6 to 10 year rebuild. UT hasn't even been a 3 to 4 year rebuild.

[82Pony]

Memphis has been recruiting off 8, 9 and 10 win seasons with substantially increased attendance. Morris has been recruiting off 1, 2 and 5 win seasons before family and friends. Step by Step. It was always a 3-4 year rebuilding project

More like a 6 to 10 year rebuild. UT hasn't even been a 3 to 4 year rebuild.

In 2009 Memphis was 2-10, in 2010 they were 1-11, and in 2011 they were 2-10. Attendance was horrible (SMU bad.) They hired Justin Fuente and in his third year, 2014, went 10 and 3. Their attendance levels have only started to really improve since about 2015. Somehow they got it done.

[PonyTime]

Are you people actually suggesting that Van Malone should get a raise?

[StallionsModelT]

Are you people actually suggesting that Van Malone should get a raise?

Hey he held our last opponent to zero passing yards!

[ponypatrick]

No Chad Morris will get us to 7 wins-leave-and say good luck with YOUR problem. Because that's what it is-an SMU problem of over a half a Century. No raise in 2016 for him and his staff last year-and some saying not until he wins big games. No raise in 2017? No IPF? Screw that SMU money-boys who don't have the financial appetite for big-time College football -you have a hot property on your hands and we are driving him off with no visible signs of increased financial or fan support. Plenty of talk about replacing him by hiring a former high school coach with no Coordinator experience. Morris and his entire staff should have been given a substantial raise last year because he is the hardest working Coach and staff this school has ever had-that's how you make a hot-shot coaching prospect happy. Later

I think the problem a lot of us have with CM goes back to what JJ did to
us. I for one don't want to see SMU allow these coaches to continually check out on us during the season (HCCM BU
flirtation which impacted Navy game/bowl eligibility) because they are discouraged by lack of fan support , facilities ,
etc. He knew our history going in , and is paid handsomely for his services. For one who continually preaches "family",
he has historically always had his eye on the next job......to me that is a characteristic of a hypocrite.