best to wear #19 ever

[jtstang]

LeVias got honorable mention for #23, which was nice.

[CalallenStang]

At least ESPN got #37 right.

#37 Doak Walker, RB, SMU, 1945, 1947-49
There was only one Doaker, one of the biggest reasons that college football was second only to baseball in popularity after World War II. Forget his 1948 Heisman. He made the cover of "Life"!
Honorable mention: LSU DB Tommy Casanova.

I was wondering if they would get #37 right...



What's the link to this ESPN story?

[jtstang]

Please tell me a big SMU supporter like yourself hasn't forgotten about that game. Stallion will be heartbroken.

Jt, I wasn't alive at the time. My parents were both at UT at the time. I've heard all about how great SMU was that year, but nothing about that game. And my uncle didn't get to Tech (where he played) until the year after.

You poor guy--you have no recollection of SMU ever being good. How far we have fallen, comrades....

[CalallenStang]

Please tell me a big SMU supporter like yourself hasn't forgotten about that game. Stallion will be heartbroken.

Jt, I wasn't alive at the time. My parents were both at UT at the time. I've heard all about how great SMU was that year, but nothing about that game. And my uncle didn't get to Tech (where he played) until the year after.

You poor guy--you have no recollection of SMU ever being good. How far we have fallen, comrades....

We will be good again, someday! We will someday be able to consistently post 10 win seasons. And I refuse to die until I see us go to the national championship game!

[mrydel]

Please tell me a big SMU supporter like yourself hasn't forgotten about that game. Stallion will be heartbroken.

Jt, I wasn't alive at the time. My parents were both at UT at the time. I've heard all about how great SMU was that year, but nothing about that game. And my uncle didn't get to Tech (where he played) until the year after.

You poor guy--you have no recollection of SMU ever being good. How far we have fallen, comrades....

We will be good again, someday! We will someday be able to consistently post 10 win seasons. And I refuse to die until I see us go to the national championship game!

Your longevity will rank right up there with the perpetual motion machine.

[CalallenStang]

Please tell me a big SMU supporter like yourself hasn't forgotten about that game. Stallion will be heartbroken.

Jt, I wasn't alive at the time. My parents were both at UT at the time. I've heard all about how great SMU was that year, but nothing about that game. And my uncle didn't get to Tech (where he played) until the year after.

You poor guy--you have no recollection of SMU ever being good. How far we have fallen, comrades....

We will be good again, someday! We will someday be able to consistently post 10 win seasons. And I refuse to die until I see us go to the national championship game!

Your longevity will rank right up there with the perpetual motion machine.

I tell you what, if I go blind first, I won't bother holding on

But seriously, we could have one of the best programs in the nation if only a few things were to change (academic restrictions, student body support, etc.)

[jtstang]

But seriously, we could have one of the best programs in the nation if only a few things were to change (academic restrictions, student body support, etc.)

No, in order to have such a program you'd have to be in a BCS conference. I used to say that no private schools would ever get into a BCS conference who are not already there. I'm not so sure of that now, so I'll say that SMU is not one on the list that of private schools that has a chance. And, yes, unfortunately TCU is.

[CalallenStang]

But seriously, we could have one of the best programs in the nation if only a few things were to change (academic restrictions, student body support, etc.)

No, in order to have such a program you'd have to be in a BCS conference. I used to say that no private schools would ever get into a BCS conference who are not already there. I'm not so sure of that now, so I'll say that SMU is not one on the list that of private schools that has a chance. And, yes, unfortunately TCU is.

As of right now, we don't have a chance. But look at where TCU was 10 years ago. Is there a reason why we cannot become desirable for a BCS conference if we begin to win consistently?

[jtstang]

As of right now, we don't have a chance. But look at where TCU was 10 years ago. Is there a reason why we cannot become desirable for a BCS conference if we begin to win consistently?

What in your lifetime of watching SMU football makes you believe that can happen?

[CalallenStang]

As of right now, we don't have a chance. But look at where TCU was 10 years ago. Is there a reason why we cannot become desirable for a BCS conference if we begin to win consistently?

What in your lifetime of watching SMU football makes you believe that can happen?

If you would have read my post, I did say some things had to change.

Bottom line: SMU needs to commit to winning. We can become a good program again, but first, we need to commit to winning.

You know me, I'm more optimistic than you or Stallion, but I'm still a realist. Our team next year will be better than last year. We're on our way up. It will take time, but it can be done.

[jtstang]

We're on our way up. It will take time, but it can be done.

If you mean getting in a BCS conference, sorry, no it can't.

[CalallenStang]

We're on our way up. It will take time, but it can be done.

If you mean getting in a BCS conference, sorry, no it can't.

As it is right now, I agree. Read my post a little bit above, about what needs to change.

1) Academic Restrictions - There are a large group of athletes who can't qualify. We need to change that.

2) Student Body Support - The students need to show up and support their team. A full stadium is going to make a better impression on a recruit than an empty stadium will. Not to mention that when BCS conferences come looking for new members, they are going to look at attendance.

3) Commitment - Why haven't we been to a bowl since the Pre-DP era? We haven't committed to regaining our former glory. Orsini is going to change this.

You said it all when you said TCU right now is a school that could be picked up by BCS conferences. It was 1997 when they went 1-10 (yes, they only beat us). In 1997, do you think any BCS conferences would have picked up TCU? What about in 1998, when they went 7-5? Or 99, when they went 8-4? No. They weren't consistent winners yet. But now, after a few good seasons and only one slip-up (2004) they are worthy of being looked at by BCS conferences. We can get there.

EDIT: Wow, we've really strayed from the topic. SmooPower or Pony Pride may have to split this thread.

[jtstang]

Dream on, sunshine, I certainly cannot talk any sense into you. I'll say this, in your entire life, SMU has not managed to improve its lot in football life, so I have a hard time following your "it can happen" mantra. The fact that we've never come close in your lifetime to having a record equal to those "bad" TCU seasons you cited speaks volumes.

[BUS]

I was at the game, at all the games.

WE should have gone for two. Ball or no balls.

You can not count on ANY 53 yard attempt or even contemplate getting that attempt.

Show your stuff.

[CalallenStang]

Dream on, sunshine, I certainly cannot talk any sense into you. I'll say this, in your entire life, SMU has not managed to improve its lot in football life, so I have a hard time following your "it can happen" mantra. The fact that we've never come close in your lifetime to having a record equal to those "bad" TCU seasons you cited speaks volumes.

Hmmm...the bad TCU season I cited...I cited two, a 1-10 season and a 5-6 season. We've had plenty of 1-10 seasons (more than I ever want to see in any 17 year period again) and we've had three 5-6 seasons, including 2005.

The reason why you are not able to follow my "it can happen" mantra as you so put it, is because you are not looking at my criteria of changes. The reason why we haven't been successful is because we can't qualify recruits that TCU can qualify. The reason why we aren't even looked at by BCS conferences is because of our poor attendance (which would be helped by winning). The reason why we haven't changed anything to make this program proud again is because we haven't committed to winning.

WHEN those three things happen, then "it can happen."

If I'm sunshine, I don't even want to know what some of the posters here are.