Something still ain’t right with SMU sports…

by **SMUGradCox** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 5:26 pm

I say this with understanding I am posting to the football board but this applies to both football and basketball. Something still ain’t right with major SMU athletics. Can’t keep good coaches and can’t fire bad coaches. It all boils down to having an athletic department aligned with top school brass and athletics acting with an ultra competitive streak.

Baylor and UTSA were able to retain their coaches despite bigger program interest - why can’t we?

by **Specktaker** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 6:11 pm

Exactly

by **mtrout** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 7:17 pm

Yup. Can't fly too close to the sun. At SMU that's around 5,000 feet.

by **JasonB** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:58 pm

In a massive sports city, take a look around and see how many championship have been won by SMU, Cowboys, Rangers, Stars, and FC Dallas over the past 20 years.

All of them pile through a variety of coaches, but the problem remains at the top. So we aren't unique in the market.

I believe SMU sells a great story, but at some point you just get sick of running uphill against the varied interests of the university. But I don't think the problem is only at SMU. You see the same thing at UT. At A&M, TCU, Houston, and Baylor, everything is united to try and succeed in sports, and the recognition of the impact it will have on awareness of the university and satisfaction of alumni.

At SMU and UT, there is a fight between boosters, donors, athletics, and academics. There is no cohesive vision. And at some point it impacts the coaching staff and the results on the field. Just my opinion.

by **SMUGradCox** » Fri Nov 26, 2021 1:29 pm

This tells me the problem lies with Gerald Turner. He was late to the game with supporting athletics and now that he’s actually acting like athletics matter, he isn’t doing a very good job.

by **ponyboy** » Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:05 pm

Unsure as to what the expectation is. Sonny’s done a bang-up job, beyond a doubt. We’ve held on to Jank too long, probably, but the program has amazing facilities and has seen some success. Yes, it’s gonna sting if Dykes walks for TCU. But what are we reasonably expecting? Not a trick question.

by **SMUGradCox** » Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:07 pm

We should have very high expectations and should vocalize it. Screw Judas…

by **ponyboy** » Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:08 pm

So you’re mad. Ok, that’s fine. What are the expectations? Specifically.

by **smubrooks** » Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:22 pm

[quote="ponyboy]. Yes, it’s gonna sting if Dykes walks for TCU. But what are we reasonably expecting? Not a trick question.[/quote]

tcu is a rival, it’s not his alma mater, it’s rumored to be less money, and it’s not a step up.

by **geezerdonk** » Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:34 pm

Expectations? Don't want to step on the author's answer but:
1. How about win a bowl game?
2. If you can't win a bowl game, how about at least avoid getting humiliated by some unknown four year junior college?
3. How about winning a game in which SMU is not favored? How about one upset of favored opponent?
4. How about not hanging your team out to dry week after week while you try to leverage a more favorable contract from your school's historic rival? How about spending time doing what he is paid for - coaching SMU's football team instead spending all his time sucking up to TCU?
Dykes brought in some good recruits and transfers, but to what effect? Wins against cupcake layups or teams with losing records - nothing more.
Don't get me wrong; I'm happy for Dykes to take his barely mediocre record and subpar coaching ability to TCU. He has produced zero significant wins at SMU. His coaching deficiencies will be exposed to a much greater degree in the Big 12.

by **SMUGradCox** » Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:48 pm

Smubrooks and geezerdonk just nailed it…thank you.

by **ponyboy** » Fri Nov 26, 2021 8:18 pm

They might have if they’d answered the question. What are reasonable expectations for this athletic department, this program? Where should we be?

by **shadowman** » Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:56 am

smubrooks wrote:
tcu is a rival, it’s not his alma mater, it’s rumored to be less money, and it’s not a step up.

I Like This! pretty much sums it up.

As far as Baylor and UTSA being able to keep their coaches. I don't see any comparison between their situations and ours.

Baylor is in a power conference and is positioning themselves very nicely to do quite well in the revamped Big 12. Aranda knows that he can rip through a few Big 12 titles and be in position for a truly elite job.

Same thing with Traylor, he is holding out for a better job as well.