Rick Hart statement re: Chad Morris, football coach position

[mustangxc]

Calm down! He literally just agreed to the contract today and will be introduced at Arkansas tomorrow. Our bowl game is 2 weeks away! SMH!

If I didn't see his words of "Jeff Traylor will coach the bowl game", I wouldn't be posting furiously ( ). Sadly I feel that's indicative to how slow we have been going. None of this is surprising from the CM wants to leave perspective. Him actually getting picked up was a bit surprising but they should have been talking with people for weeks now, so we can make a quick hire. I'm just worried they are going to settle from within..

So you would prefer we not have an interim head coach for the bowl game and play without a coach?

[Mustangsabu]

I will say that I'm not against Traylor being given the job. He'd have to earn his paycheck, and from everything I have heard about him, he would.

[SMU_Alum11]

Calm down! He literally just agreed to the contract today and will be introduced at Arkansas tomorrow. Our bowl game is 2 weeks away! SMH!

If I didn't see his words of "Jeff Traylor will coach the bowl game", I wouldn't be posting furiously ( ). Sadly I feel that's indicative to how slow we have been going. None of this is surprising from the CM wants to leave perspective. Him actually getting picked up was a bit surprising but they should have been talking with people for weeks now, so we can make a quick hire. I'm just worried they are going to settle from within..

So you would prefer we not have an interim head coach for the bowl game and play without a coach?

No, I was hoping Hart already has spoken to his candidates. Once Chad pulled the plug yesterday to this morning, that Hart would have been making an offer to the new coach. He would accept tomorrow and he could be on campus over the weekend. He would have a week+ to get something together and rely on the new OC (Jeff Traylor) while implementing his defensive scheme (assuming Orlando) as we don't have one right now anyways.

[Hoop Fan]

Its not as if the new coach would actually coach the bowl game anyway. That wouldn't be fair to him or this year's seniors/team. You let Traylor, Craddock and Malone do their collective best to end this season on a proud note and that's it, move down the road. Only rush is recruiting, when we hire a new guy, he can watch the bowl game on his iphone while he is out recruiting!

[SMU_Alum11]

Its not as if the new coach would actually coach the bowl game anyway. That wouldn't be fair to him or this year's seniors/team. You let Traylor, Craddock and Malone do their collective best to end this season on a proud note and that's it, move down the road. Only rush is recruiting, when we hire a new guy, he can watch the bowl game on his iphone while he is out recruiting!

Craddock and basically all offensive assistants are gone besides Traylor. We could use all the help we can get.

[geno]

“I want to start by thanking Chad for what he’s done for our program. While we had hoped he would be with us longer, this opportunity is a testament to the job he did in three short years on the Hilltop. Each and every day Chad put on the Pony, he gave his best to our university and, in particular, our student-athletes. Our program is well-positioned for continued and even greater success due to his tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to excellence. We wish Chad, Paula, Mackenzie and Chandler the very best.

“Associate Head Coach Jeff Traylor will serve as our interim head coach for the bowl game. Jeff has an extensive coaching background at the college and high school levels, including experience as a head coach. Our student-athletes remain excited about the opportunity to compete in the DXL Frisco Bowl and secure an eighth win for SMU.

“We have already begun our search for the next head football coach at SMU. We are committed to hiring a leader who will continue to advance our program in the classroom and on the field in support of our collective vision to establish SMU as the premier program in the American Athletic Conference. We have much to offer – classroom, culture, competitiveness, campus, city – and I look forward to introducing the next head coach soon.

“Until then, Go Mustangs and Pony Up!”

Rick Hart, Director of Athletics

"Each and every day Chad put on the pony..." What a Rick Hart way to put it. Looks like Chad "took off the pony" pretty quickly, doesn't it?

[mrydel]

Its not as if the new coach would actually coach the bowl game anyway. That wouldn't be fair to him or this year's seniors/team. You let Traylor, Craddock and Malone do their collective best to end this season on a proud note and that's it, move down the road. Only rush is recruiting, when we hire a new guy, he can watch the bowl game on his iphone while he is out recruiting!

Thank you for bringing some sanity to this thread.

[mtrout]

"Each and every day Chad put on the pony..." What a Rick Hart way to put it. Looks like Chad "took off the pony" pretty quickly, doesn't it?

Seriously. What's with all this pony stuff? We are Mustangs! Everything gives off the air of 5 year old girls talking about ponies.

[wewiii]

I will say that I'm not against Traylor being given the job. He'd have to earn his paycheck, and from everything I have heard about him, he would.

I would just worry that he wouldn't be able recruit as well. High School coaches were just getting to know the SMU recruiters again.

[SMU_Alum11]

Its not as if the new coach would actually coach the bowl game anyway. That wouldn't be fair to him or this year's seniors/team. You let Traylor, Craddock and Malone do their collective best to end this season on a proud note and that's it, move down the road. Only rush is recruiting, when we hire a new guy, he can watch the bowl game on his iphone while he is out recruiting!

Thank you for bringing some sanity to this thread.

Err.. it mentioned Craddock, no offense, but fake news? Also why bother having Malone out there when you can bring in Orlando who actually did a good job at being a DC? Showing stability would be good for current recruits and players and gives the coach a chance to start building relationships. Getting probably wrecked by LA tech isn't good.

[BIGHORSE]

"Each and every day Chad put on the pony..." What a Rick Hart way to put it. Looks like Chad "took off the pony" pretty quickly, doesn't it?

Seriously. What's with all this pony stuff? We are Mustangs! Everything gives off the air of 5 year old girls talking about ponies.

I agree, I always say Mustangs!!!

[sail420s]

Its not as if the new coach would actually coach the bowl game anyway. That wouldn't be fair to him or this year's seniors/team. You let Traylor, Craddock and Malone do their collective best to end this season on a proud note and that's it, move down the road. Only rush is recruiting, when we hire a new guy, he can watch the bowl game on his iphone while he is out recruiting!

Craddock and basically all offensive assistants are gone besides Traylor. We could use all the help we can get.

If we announced a new coach today, I guarantee he will not even be on the sidelines of the bowl game, much less coach in it. Whenever a coach leaves, an interim is named and the assts coach the bowl game...always.

[SMU_Alum11]

Its not as if the new coach would actually coach the bowl game anyway. That wouldn't be fair to him or this year's seniors/team. You let Traylor, Craddock and Malone do their collective best to end this season on a proud note and that's it, move down the road. Only rush is recruiting, when we hire a new guy, he can watch the bowl game on his iphone while he is out recruiting!

Craddock and basically all offensive assistants are gone besides Traylor. We could use all the help we can get.

If we announced a new coach today, I guarantee he will not even be on the sidelines of the bowl game, much less coach in it. Whenever a coach leaves, an interim is named and the assts coach the bowl game...always.

If that's always the case, then why not let Chad and company coach the bowl game like UCF is letting Scott Frost do? Losing to LA tech will not be good for us or recruiting.

[03Mustang]

Frost wanted to do that. Morris wants to start recruiting for Arkansas.

If I was a Nebraska fan I wouldn't be very happy about Frost coaching that game.

[SMU Section F]

Frost wanted to do that. Morris wants to start recruiting for Arkansas.

If I was a Nebraska fan I wouldn't be very happy about Frost coaching that game.

It's also a much higher profile bowl game, but Frost is still very much in the minority. Most coaches hired in November/December do not coach bowl games for their old or new schools.