Doherty Faces Rift - DMN

[Pony_Fan]

Sounds like the damage will take a while to heal for sure. We might be recruiting from elsewhere for a while. Ronnie Morgan would have been a nice pickup.

"They want Dallas to show support for their programs but aren't showing support for our programs," Mays said of SMU. - what does this mean?

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Doherty faces rift with DISD
New SMU coach will need to repair damage done by Tubbs' firing

10:21 PM CDT on Monday, April 24, 2006
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News


UNIVERSITY PARK – With Matt Doherty starting this week as SMU's basketball coach, there is a wide gap between the university and the Dallas Independent School District.

Jimmy Tubbs, a longtime high school coach and a DISD favorite, was fired this month by SMU.

Some DISD coaches are upset.

Asked about Doherty, DISD assistant athletic director Goree Johnson said, "Tell him good luck. I have nothing personal against him. I have concerns with how SMU is doing business."

SMU officials said they fired Tubbs for NCAA violations.

The DISD has schooled some of the best talent in the state and nation in Chris Bosh (Lincoln), LaMarcus Aldridge (Seagoville) and Darrell Arthur (South Oak Cliff).

SMU hasn't signed a player from the DISD since Lincoln's Bryan Hopkins in 2002.

South Oak Cliff coach James Mays said hiring Doherty is a good move.SOC's Ronnie Morgan, a 6-7 forward considered one of the top players in the state, had made an oral commitment to SMU. But after Tubbs was fired, Morgan dropped the Mustangs.

"They want Dallas to show support for their programs but aren't showing support for our programs," Mays said of SMU. "There's a lot of rebuilding to do with the inner city because of what they did to Coach Tubbs."

Mays and Johnson said Doherty should hire a coach with Dallas ties.

Doherty is aware of the divide.

"It's an issue," Doherty said. "You know, every place I've been, there's always issues. The thing that I like is I turn negatives into positives. People in Dallas care, and they care about SMU basketball. This is a profession, and it's all about relationships and building relationships."

Kevin Lewis, an assistant coach at Houston who played at SMU, said Doherty was a great hire.

"The coaches are upset that Jimmy's not there, but Doherty will do OK," he said.

[jtstang]

Well, congratulations, SMU. That's what burgers and Cheer will get you.

[LA_Mustang]

Morgan is underrated and a very aggressive player in the paint. While Shady got all the attention, and well he should have, Morgan is a solid prospect. Now that he has backed off of his commitment to us, I hear he is leaning towards Michigan.

I really hope Doherty has a few tricks up his sleeve, because we are losing one of our best low post players in Morris and now our best recruit in Morgan.....all over lunch and soap. Maybe Matt Williams will get some playing time now.

[Stallion]

I've never really been able to gauge just how strong the interest of Michigan is in Morgan-we'll see. One thing though with all these kids turning pro there are some big schools back out on the hunt to scrape up the remaining scraps-so it could be true.

[mr. pony]

[quote="Pony_Fan"]

"They want Dallas to show support for their programs but aren't showing support for our programs," Mays said of SMU. - what does this mean?
[/quote]

Simple. It means SMU should only hire black basketball coaches......


Or perhaps it means $$$$$$$$$$$$.

[jtstang]

"They want Dallas to show support for their programs but aren't showing support for our programs," Mays said of SMU. - what does this mean?

Simple. It means SMU should only hire black basketball coaches......


Or perhaps it means $$$$$$$$$$$$.

No, it means you don't fire the local coach's friend over burgers and Cheer, while letting the booster who set him up skate free.

[BigEasyPony]

There will inevitably be some fallout, but some of you are making too much out of it. It sounded like the current players were real excited about their new HC and I think the recruits will "in time" be as well. For as much as the local high school coaches loved Caoch Tubbs they didn't exactly steer all their guys to SMU. Now I understand it takes time to do that, but let's the high school coach is part of the process. Parents have a big say in this decision along with the player himself.

Oftentimes the AAU coaches have more sway in assisting recruits to sign with certain colleges and I'll bet that Coach Doherty has a good rapport with a few of them and will work those contacts in the coming weeks and months.

At the end of the day Matt Doherty will get more big time recruits than any of his predecessors. The sky is not falling!

[MustangIcon]

Obviously hopping into the recruiting game this late is going to be tough for Coach Doherty. I agree with you guys that I hope he has a few tricks up his sleeve. However, I do not think it will be as tough for him to recruit as some of you make it out to be. I think the quote from Derrick Roberts shows me what a lot of players think about the Doherty hire. I think his name and reputation will certainly offset the fact that he does not have DISD ties. Once everyone gets over the initial knee jerk reaction of the Tubbs firing I think he will do very well.

I think another point that calms my nerves a bit is Doherty's coaching abilities. I feel like he will get a lot more out of our current roster than other coaches could/would. If thats true (which I certainly hope it is), it will help offset our potentially weak class this year. I really feel like we will finish in the top half of CUSA this season, which would at least be a start.

[Pony_Fan]

I really feel like we will finish in the top half of CUSA this season, which would at least be a start.

Wanna bet? haha. Seriously, this group couldn't score this year with Hop. Now Morris is gone. Unless Roberts can put in 20pts consistently (which would surprise me), not sure how that is going to happen.

[MustangIcon]

Good one Pony. I would love to, but Stallion might scold me for the way I present my opinions. I don't know that my fragile ego can handle a public flogging like that again.

I think Roberts will be one of the players who makes great strides with our new staff. I also think we will see a lot more consistency from Pearson, a guy with loads of talent who shows flashes of great play followed by moments of ineptitude. Both these guys are very very talented players and just need some direction. Don't be suprised if the Rack makes great strides again this season. Remember, you can't teach height and that nice little jumper of his.

[mr. pony]

[quote="jtstang"]
No, it means you don't fire the local coach's friend over burgers and Cheer, while letting the booster who set him up skate free.[/quote]

Sorry, dude, but you STILL don't know WHY Tubbs was fired, do you??

I bet you run around saying, 'Bush lied', too, right?

[Stallion]

Let me the first to predict SMU will not see .500 next year-and I BET I have a lot better track record than your [deleted] in analyzing these things.

[BRStang]

Nice post, Big Easy. Some good salient points, too.

[SMU Football Blog]

Let me the first to predict SMU will not see .500 next year-and I BET I have a lot better track record than your [deleted] in analyzing these things.

How many basketball games did you go to this year Stallion? Was it greater or lesser than one?

I know full seasons have gone by without you gracing the halls of Moody.

[couch 'em]

I really feel like we will finish in the top half of CUSA this season, which would at least be a start.

Unless we see several great JUCO steals, it is going to be a very rough season. I don't expect a winning season until Doh gets AT MINIMUM a full recruiting period.