Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

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Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by MDJenkins »

These two private schools know what it takes to have success. What are the reasons why SMU is unable to replicate this success? What’s the winning recipe?
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by HubbaHubba »

Prior to this year Tulane's best record in the last 20 years was 7-6 three times. They had a great year but too soon to use them as a roll model don't ya think?
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by Topper »

In the case of TCU the primary difference is that we play in a second rate, soon to be 3rd rate, conference. In the case of Tulane, we have actually had a stronger program but, unlike us, they found a winning coach who didn't bolt for a major conference before the season was over
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by MDJenkins »

HubbaHubba wrote:Prior to this year Tulane's best record in the last 20 years was 7-6 three times. They had a great year but too soon to use them as a roll model don't ya think?
How about TCU with tremendous success on the gridiron, competing for a national championship, and on the hardwoods soon to be ranked in the top 15? Is the blame with the coaching staff, recruiting, AD or president?
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by PK »

MDJenkins wrote:
HubbaHubba wrote:Prior to this year Tulane's best record in the last 20 years was 7-6 three times. They had a great year but too soon to use them as a roll model don't ya think?
How about TCU with tremendous success on the gridiron, competing for a national championship, and on the hardwoods soon to be ranked in the top 15? Is the blame with the coaching staff, recruiting, AD or president?
TCU’s Board of Trustees have had a major hand in guiding the university to promote and support their athletic programs.
SMU's first president, Robert S. Hyer, selected Harvard Crimson and Yale Blue as SMU's colors to symbolize SMU's high academic standards. We are one of the few Universities to have school colors with real meaning...and we just blow them off.
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by Oldmins »

PK wrote:
MDJenkins wrote:
HubbaHubba wrote:Prior to this year Tulane's best record in the last 20 years was 7-6 three times. They had a great year but too soon to use them as a roll model don't ya think?
How about TCU with tremendous success on the gridiron, competing for a national championship, and on the hardwoods soon to be ranked in the top 15? Is the blame with the coaching staff, recruiting, AD or president?
TCU’s Board of Trustees have had a major hand in guiding the university to promote and support their athletic programs.
Please explain exactly HOW the TCU Board of Trustees has had a "major hand" in promoting their athletic programs.
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by GHammond »

Right. Examples please.,,because their basketball arena looks like Garland High.
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by PK »

GHammond wrote:Right. Examples please.,,because their basketball arena looks like Garland High.
Can’t speak for their efforts on the basketball arena, although they did remodeled recently, but the football stadium is spectacular. I personally know a previous Trustee and know from discussions with him how the Board felt about the importance of high level athletics to the overall reputation of the university nationally.
Last edited by PK on Mon Jan 02, 2023 8:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
SMU's first president, Robert S. Hyer, selected Harvard Crimson and Yale Blue as SMU's colors to symbolize SMU's high academic standards. We are one of the few Universities to have school colors with real meaning...and we just blow them off.
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by mtrout »

Ladainian Tomlinson is a TCU board member.
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by ponyboy »

Envy is ugly. We’ll get there.
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by mtrout »

Get where and when? What's our goal?
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by JasonB »

PK wrote:
GHammond wrote:Right. Examples please.,,because their basketball arena looks like Garland High.
Can’t speak for their efforts on the basketball arena, although they did remodeled recently, but the football stadium is spectacular. I personally know a previous Trustee and know from discussions with him how the Board felt about the importance of high level athletics to the overall reputation of the university nationally.
This. Their Board and President were determined to do what it took to enable the success of TCU Athletics because they recognized how important it was to rebuild the TCU brand.

SMU has never been unified on that goal since the DP. We finally now have all of the elements in place to allow us to be successful. But it has been pulling teeth to get here, two steps forward and one step back ever since we hired June. Even last fall, the University was saying "no" to NIL and it took Sonny leaving to force it to happen. The school drags its feet on any decision that requires change (I would argue football related or not). We need refreshed leadership.
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by Pony78 »

JasonB wrote:
PK wrote:
GHammond wrote:Right. Examples please.,,because their basketball arena looks like Garland High.
Can’t speak for their efforts on the basketball arena, although they did remodeled recently, but the football stadium is spectacular. I personally know a previous Trustee and know from discussions with him how the Board felt about the importance of high level athletics to the overall reputation of the university nationally.
This. Their Board and President were determined to do what it took to enable the success of TCU Athletics because they recognized how important it was to rebuild the TCU brand.

SMU has never been unified on that goal since the DP. We finally now have all of the elements in place to allow us to be successful. But it has been pulling teeth to get here, two steps forward and one step back ever since we hired June. Even last fall, the University was saying "no" to NIL and it took Sonny leaving to force it to happen. The school drags its feet on any decision that requires change (I would argue football related or not). We need refreshed leadership.
Thank you, Jason. I read the above and it boggles my mind how in uninformed this group is. The easiest way to answer: what has been constant at SMU since 1995?
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by Terry Webster »

Last year Tulane went 2-10 and people were calling for the coach to be fired.
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Re: Why TCU and Tulane? Why Not SMU?

Post by redpony »

JasonB wrote:

This. Their Board and President were determined to do what it took to enable the success of TCU Athletics because they recognized how important it was to rebuild the TCU brand.

SMU has never been unified on that goal since the DP. The school drags its feet on any decision that requires change (I would argue football related or not). We need refreshed leadership.
Obviously, We have a pres and a.d. that are totally happy with being mediocre. As pointed out we won't see any changes until we have new leadership and IMO that isn't going to happen anytime soon.
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