Who's Got An Invitation?????

[jtstang]

Did I miss something? There was a revelation on this board, to use Stallion's words, of a "slush fund" resulting from Tubbs' soliciation of Max Williams support for a golf tourney for recruits' parents. If that was wrong, I've missed it.

The grades issue, I believe, is well established.

Look, I'd love to be wrong on both accounts. I am a big fan of Jimmy Tubbs and wish him the best. If it truly was simply burgers and cheer I'm on board with you, jt. This is an outrage.

You got it off this board. Terrific, let's take it to the bank. At least I got burgers and Cheer from quotes in the Morning News by the parties involved (or their reps).

Look I'm not saying you are wrong. But I am saying, given our history, if there was a slush fund violation, it would have been even more appropriate to announce it concurrently with the firing of Tubbs, and SMU laid even more of an egg. The Doherty Whirlwind Tour of Dallas 2006 is a direct attempt to try to gain back some PR that was lost by the mishandling of the Tubbs firing. I mean, the first stop on the Tour was South Dallas, for godsake. And no, I don't think the way Tubbs was fired was "a good thing that happened to this school." Have some guts and tell the truth why he was fired.

[ponyboy]

I'm on board with all that. But Doh's doing the right thing and is generating excitement. Don't whiz in his cheerios based upon perceived stupidity by the SMU athletic department. And Orsini's apparently doing all the right things too.

It's ok to get hopeful and excited about something.

[DiamondM75]

Did Tubbs do anything wrong? NO, that is why his contract was bought out instead of being fired and useing the clause that would allow SMU to fire him without having to buy out his contract. And I am sure the money to buy out his contract was provided by these alums.

A look at recent facts explains the Jimmy Tubbs firing.

Tubbs had alienated the Dallas coaches. He was not a PR type guy that was going to court the local coaches and fans. He did not attend the South Dallas breakfast meetings.

It is apparent that some of our more affluent alumni wanted a winning program NOW and forced the issue. That is why the money is flowing in for the new practice facility and the get together with Mr. Ford.

Instead of waiting 2 more years of poor recruiting, poor attendance and poor performance, it was time to buy out the contract and cut our losses.

All this makes perfect sense. These alums were not going to support a program under the direction of Tubbs. Don't get me wrong. I liked Jimmy and I thought he was an execellent coach, he just wasn't the PR type guy this program needed.

The only thing Tubbs did wrong was not having a more outgoing personality.

[MustangIcon]

I think that the issue pointed out about Tubbs' players' class attendance/performance is clearly verified. Everyone and their mother has said that Morris had academic issues. Now we find out he is going JUCO. Doherty himself confirmed Bamba's academic troubles in an interview. Also, BHop's academic ineligibility occurred just this past season. The other rumors going around involving academics are unconfirmed as far as I know.

I will certainly agree that the only place I heard about the slush fund was here on ponyfans.

[Ponymon]

I heard from a good source that at least 4 starters are academic trouble because they stopped attending class. We NEVER had this problem with Dement's teams that I am aware of. I have been a defender of Tubbs in the past, but the revelations of academic problems of these student athletes clearly falls on Tubb's shoulders and is justification enough for a change in my book!

[jtstang]

I have been a defender of Tubbs in the past, but the revelations of academic problems of these student athletes clearly falls on Tubb's shoulders and is justification enough for a change in my book!

Fair enough, it it's true. But, if that is why he was fired, then why didn't SMU just say so rather than saying Tubbs committed NCAA violations? I'm not sure if missing class is an NCAA violation, but even if it is, I'm not at all clear how it could be contrued as being committed by the coach.

[SoCal_Pony]

Who has an invitation to the big shindig hosted by Mr. Ford next week?????Major league fundraiser for the basketball program. I think it is safe to say construction on a state of the art facility is just around the corner......

Methinks we have gotten serious about basketball........

So Friar...(or anyone else)...any updates as to how the SHINDIG went??

[friarwolf]

It went great. That light at the end of the tunnel is a light - not a freight train.

[SoCal_Pony]

That is indeed good news. I am hardly a sunshiner...but I do think SMU could produce a legtimate Top 20 BB team...seriously doubt that will ever happen in FB.

[friarwolf]

Turner has 6-10 years left before retiring and he knows the last piece to his impressive legacy here is the athletic program. If we don't see a huge improvement in our two marquee sports in this time frame, it will not be because the effort or money was not there. The man typically gets results when he focuses on something and he is focused on athletics...........

[jtstang]

How much did Max offer to buy the right to fire Doherty?

[WildHorse]

Come on, JT -- time to move on.
We've got an exciting new coach here, and an exciting, driven AD. Don't dwell on things that (right or wrong) aren't going to change -- get on board with Coach Doherty and Steve-O!