Sonny to leave for Tech?

[SMU_Alum11]

Sonny is absolutely the leading candidate for the job.

This is an extreme "one way or the other" scenario.

Sonny and his wife love it here in Dallas. SMU is a better program with more upside than Tech.

If Sonny turns down the Tech job to stay at SMU, it will resonate nationally about where our program is. It means our administration fully supports the program, he has the backing of the alumni, and he is getting paid. It is a very clear endorsement that SMU is headed in the right direction.

If Sonny accepts the gig, it is quite a statement against the administration. They love Dallas. Leaving for Lubbock would mean that he believes their vision over ours, that our administration was caught flat footed by the Big 12 expansion, and that the alumni aren't ponying up for his salary.

That is a great summary. Ponyboy - I hate these threads as well but I rather see comments like Jason that paints a clear picture of that fork in the road.

[peruna81]

Wells was let go from Tech this morning.

[shadowman]

Time to open the vault and work on a long term extension for Dykes. We need to show we are committed.

Someone start a GoFundMe page.

[SMU_Alum11]

Time to open the vault and work on a long term extension for Dykes. We need to show we are committed.

Someone start a GoFundMe page.

It needed to be done before this otherwise it looks reactionary. Obviously reactionary is better than inaction but they should have done it during the bye week when all the beat writers were calling for it. SMU did extend at the end of 2019 but I'm guessing they haven't otherwise it would have been announced.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Sonny is absolutely the leading candidate for the job.

This is an extreme "one way or the other" scenario.

Sonny and his wife love it here in Dallas. SMU is a better program with more upside than Tech.

If Sonny turns down the Tech job to stay at SMU, it will resonate nationally about where our program is. It means our administration fully supports the program, he has the backing of the alumni, and he is getting paid. It is a very clear endorsement that SMU is headed in the right direction.

If Sonny accepts the gig, it is quite a statement against the administration. They love Dallas. Leaving for Lubbock would mean that he believes their vision over ours, that our administration was caught flat footed by the Big 12 expansion, and that the alumni aren't ponying up for his salary.

Excellent summary...

[indianmustang]

As for where Tech turns for its next coach, one of the A-J Media sources said two attractive options within the state will be looked at. SMU, under former Tech assistant Sonny Dykes, is 7-0 this season and ranked No. 19 this week in The Associated Press Top 25 poll. UT-San Antonio, coached by Jeff Traylor, is 8-0 and ranked No. 23.
https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/spo ... 539461002/

[GoStangs11]

I just dont see it. That place is an armpit and you cant recruit to there, therefore very difficult to compete. I think sonny is at risk but just because his dad was there is not a good reason to think he would go to tech. He can make a bigger jump by waiting. Plus not sure the money will be much different. They have to manage tp a 10-11 M tv world now.

Agree completely. He already tried his hand at a lower-tier P5 program with limited success. In addition to several statements from Sonny, you have to imagine he would prefer this opportunity to build a lasting legacy at SMU (GP-style is the easiest comparison) and stay in Dallas. He is much farther along in such an endeavor (which would ultimately attract more fans since DMN believes that is a factor for him) than any predecessor.

I dont know, something about him singing the fight song with such passion makes me believe he is committed to us for now. Also he needs a signature win, call it a victory over Cincy or a more likely a conference championship before he could jump to a bigger program, and one that is better than TTU.

[Charleston Pony]

Obviously the Texas Tech job becomes more attractive with Texas and OU departing as they now have a better opportunity to win Big XII Championships, but this might come down to Dallas vs Lubbock (which dramatically different location/lifestyle do you prefer?) along with pay & benefits. Not sure Tech necessarily has recruiting advantages so given the new NIL rules, the BOLD program and the shear number of athletes available in the DFW area, Sonny would probably be as successful at SMU than he would be at Tech, regardless of conference affiliation. We can only hope he and his family love Dallas and the Circle of Champions loves him (and his staff, I should add)

[redpony]

We can only hope litte rickey does better on extending SD than he did with LB. of course we all know this is SMU and they do what they do.
Like most I hope that SD with become our patterson ( longevity not actions). However, money talks as we have seen in cougar high getting an invite and not sure any of our $$ supporters will step up- they wouldn't to get rid of a loser coach why now a change in attitude just to keep a good one.

[Charleston Pony]

We can only hope litte rickey does better on extending SD than he did with LB. of course we all know this is SMU and they do what they do.
Like most I hope that SD with become our patterson ( longevity not actions). However, money talks as we have seen in cougar high getting an invite and not sure any of our $$ supporters will step up- they wouldn't to get rid of a loser coach why now a change in attitude just to keep a good one.

Do you wake up bitter every day? Just wondering.

[redpony]

haha, at my age I am thrilled to see the sun shine each day. Sorry that you don't think LB was given a crappy deal that was designed to run him off. Then the acceptance of a charlatan for a coach to replace and refusal to make a change.
Do you also refute that many times we just shoot ourselves in the foot?

I am hopeful that perhaps the fball $$ supporters will step up and make sure we don't lose one of the best coaches we have had in years.

[Pony ^]

Rick should have extended him:
1. before the AAC invited 6 total trash teams into the conference, and
2. Before Tech fired their coach

He did neither, which is not surprising.

[SMU_Alum11]

Agreed. The NTCC add gives me hope that there's an invite coming otherwise Hart is the dumbest man on the planet. If that's true that might be enough to keep him here knowing that fan attendance would increase and he would be the sole reason for why went to P5.

I also hope that they we extended him earlier and just didn't announce it. For some reason SMU doesn't do it because in the 2019 article from DMN they got a quote from Sonny saying "they didn't share so I didn't as well".

[dr rc]

I'm sorry but what exactly is the admin supposed to do about a fanbase that refuses to show up to games? That's the #1 reason SMU did not get an invite to the Big 12.

[SMU_Alum11]

I'm sorry but what exactly is the admin supposed to do about a fanbase that refuses to show up to games? That's the #1 reason SMU did not get an invite to the Big 12.

I think on average the alums are showing but we are generating zero interest from non-alums. Dallas folks are spoiled when it comes to sports where they only want to watch P5 and NFL games not Cinderella teams.