Arthur Rumors

[Blunt Pony]

When people on here talk about support for the program, we are usually talking about practice facilities, upgrading offices/lockerrooms, higher coaches' salaries, athlete friendly majors, AND butts in seats. It's not just an argument about "show up and support, that's how we'll win", there are other things SMU could do to support bball.

What is wrong with the coaches offices in the football stadium? I also think Bennett and Tubbs are paid adequately. Maybe Moody should be renovated, but the priority should always be on football. As Ford has shown, upgrades in facilities do not necessarily help recruiting.

With my experience at SMU, the student body cared a lot more about the football team (I was there for two Cavan and the first two Bennett years) than about basketball. I went to a game against TULSA, and more people drove from Tulsa to the game than SMU. MAYBE 1500 people were there, and I have heard attendance has even gotten worse.

Otherwise, I am with you with changes to the model.

The priority does not need to be always on football. In reality, the priority should be on basketball as it offers us the better chance to succeed. SMU has the opportunity every year to compete for the national championship in basketball. You cannot say the same for football. Look at the exposure that the sweet 16 teams get for winning TWO games in the NCAA tournament. It is priceless and will most likely sustain these programs for years to come. You would have to be in a TOP TIER bowl game to even come close to this type of publicity.

Our reality is basketball at least until or if we ever get into a BCS conference.

[McClown27]

The priority does not need to be always on football. In reality, the priority should be on basketball as it offers us the better chance to succeed. SMU has the opportunity every year to compete for the national championship in basketball. You cannot say the same for football. Look at the exposure that the sweet 16 teams get for winning TWO games in the NCAA tournament. It is priceless and will most likely sustain these programs for years to come. You would have to be in a TOP TIER bowl game to even come close to this type of publicity.

Our reality is basketball at least until or if we ever get into a BCS conference.

When TCU hired Tubbs, they had several good seasons. Fan interest somewhat increased. However, since Franchione, TCU has really raised its profile with its football program. In Texas, football is king. In another area, I would give more credence to your argument. At SMU, an improved football program would lead to a lot more fundraising than basketball.

[abezontar]

Tubbs only got TCU to the dance once or twice, and lost both times. If he had continued trips to the dance, over more than one or two years, and had success while there I would argue that they would have even better, name recognition and arguably in a better spot with their football program than they are now. As it was it was more of a brief spark that fizzled than a sustained quality program.

[mrydel]

At Texas, football is king and will always be king as was stated, but they do have a prince of a basketball team this year and would be talked about even more so if they were not still basking in the National Championship of football. Sure do wish some of that would rub off on us.

I agree that football will always be prevalent especially in the SW, but it is much easier to compete on a national stage in basketball than in football with the control that the BCS has on the college bowl system. We can, if we get our act together, compete every year for the national championship in basketball if we can ever get into the tourney. Much better to have a "play in" rather than a "vote in".

And facilities do help. Ford Stadium, in my opinion has helped recruiting. I cringe to think where we would be today if we still had old Ownby. I know we are low, but I do believe we would have not even a tunnel from which light could shine if we did not have Ford.

[Hoop Fan]

exactly mrydel, some people have their heads up their butts.

[SMU Football Blog]

Facilities are important. But more important than facilities is the reflection of those facilities on the commitment of the university to that program. An old, rundown facility in need of upgrades and repairs reflects poorly on that commitment. But for that matter, so do a number of other things. An shiny and new, yet empty, building does little for recruiting. Building a practice facility, in and of itself, will do very little if there are a 1,000 people every night.

It is just my opinion, but if you have a sub-.500 coach walking around saying he is getting his multi-million dollar practice facility and new offices, nobody is going to care. Not recruits, not boosters, not fans, not anybody.

This really isn't rocket science. And it really isn't that hard. And it isn't really a vicious circle. You make a break. A definitive moment where you say from this day forward, the past performance is unacceptable and you commit time, energy and resources to doing things the right way. And if your actions support your words, people will start paying attention and they will be convinced and start showing up and start giving money. And that is why picking the right AD is so important.

Just my opinion.

[PonySnob]

And facilities do help. Ford Stadium, in my opinion has helped recruiting. I cringe to think where we would be today if we still had old Ownby.

We did not have a winless season post DP until we had Ford.......

[mrydel]

And facilities do help. Ford Stadium, in my opinion has helped recruiting. I cringe to think where we would be today if we still had old Ownby.

We did not have a winless season post DP until we had Ford.......

And we did not have a President that was not elected by the people until Ford, but my statement still stands. I cringe to think what our recruiting would have been like without Ford.

[abezontar]

And facilities do help. Ford Stadium, in my opinion has helped recruiting. I cringe to think where we would be today if we still had old Ownby.

We did not have a winless season post DP until we had Ford.......

And we did not have a President that was not elected by the people until Ford, but my statement still stands. I cringe to think what our recruiting would have been like without Ford.

Awesome! Is he still alive?

[SMUPhil]

McClown,

I was replying mostly to DiamondM75's comments. He was reading that people said SMU didn't "support bball." I assume he read support as in fan support, so he replied with "no fans, no wins, but you need to win to get fans, etc". I was pointing out to him, that support means more than just fan support, it means support from the university in terms of offices, practice facilities, salaries, academic issues, etc. I wasn't needling our current program about each of these things specifically, I was just pointing out examples of areas that a university can choose to show its "support" for a program. And while bball and football may be adequate in those areas, many of the other sports at SMU aren't, like swimming and soccer.