Craig James.......

[LA_Mustang]

MM65,
How do you know James hasn’t offered solutions and/or assistance over the years? And how do you know SMU hasn’t turned its back on him time and time again? Not saying that has happened, but it very well could have. Maybe he is as frustrated as anyone with SMU’s lack of success, and right or wrong, he has chosen to take a few shots at the administration over the air. Maybe you and the others on here slamming him know something that I don’t, but I’m certainly giving one of the most recognizable and successful SMU football players over the past thirty years the benefit of the doubt.

[smuwins]

I don't

[MrMustang1965]

MM65,
How do you know James hasn’t offered solutions and/or assistance over the years? And how do you know SMU hasn’t turned its back on him time and time again? Not saying that has happened, but it very well could have. Maybe he is as frustrated as anyone with SMU’s lack of success, and right or wrong, he has chosen to take a few shots at the administration over the air. Maybe you and the others on here slamming him know something that I don’t, but I’m certainly giving one of the most recognizable and successful SMU football players over the past thirty years the benefit of the doubt.

At the risk of starting this whole debate over again and having it deleted by the webmasters: IF CJ has offered solutions and/or assistance over the years, then he should include that in his criticism of SMU football when he's on the air.

His comments on the air have not been constructive or well-meaning.

I doubt our comments on pf.com have even been brought to his attention. And if they have, he's laughing all the way to the bank.

[DiamondM]

I know that, as much as you all malign him, Copeland made repeated overtures to both James and Dickerson. And unless James' status is super secret even from the fund raising inner circle (which is a possibility I suppose), he is not a donor of any magnitude if at all.

[SMU Football Blog]

I like how everybody forgets that Craig James was there for the announcement that SMU was joining C-USA.

[jtstang]

I like how everybody forgets that Craig James was there for the announcement that SMU was joining C-USA.

Joe Sturdivant started C-USA before athletics were invented.

[couch 'em]

I like how everybody forgets that Craig James was there for the announcement that SMU was joining C-USA.

How much did we pay him for that?

[peruna81]

Isn't this whole issue of what/where Craig James thinks/says/appears/attends somewhat of a moot point ? The real issue is about relevance, and the fact that for YEARS SMU has not been on the college football radar screen for anything more than a distant memory of the death penalty.

Craig James played football at SMU. I am an alum/ fan of SMU. I was/am impressed that he had success both on the field and off. I may not like hearing what he has to say at times when he speaks about SMU...but he is in a paid position as an announcer/analyst to give relevant opinions/entertaining comments on the issue of college athletics. Until SMU merits on the field comments that are greater than the memory of what happened in the late '70s and '80s, this is our lot in life.

May this be the year we give Craig ( and any other analyst ) something uniquely positive to talk about.

[DiamondM]

The real issue is about relevance ...

...but he is in a paid position as an announcer/analyst to give relevant opinions/entertaining comments

Yes, but I think everyone's point was that a statement that a 2-2 SMU (having just scored 100 points in the previous 2 games) is "one of the worst teams in college football" was not "relevant" to the discussion of the state of Illinois football. Nor was his discussion of lowering academic standards so SMU can get back to the Holiday Bowl "relevant" to his discussion of Tulsa football -- even assuming both are true or even "entertaining." Both were gratuitous, mean-spirited, IRRELEVANT pot shots at his alma mater.

Of course, it will be relevant if/when he does color on Halloween night -- not that I think that would excuse anything less than meaningful discussion of the multiple and various causes of the woes of the past 20 years, and recognition of steps in the right direction, especially if by some chance we are 5-3 at that point.

[peruna81]

I hope/expect that we will be 5-3 at that game...and I believe that the issue of relevance is still pertinent because of the fact that SMU still has yet to return to a shadow of the power that they were during James' tenure. Is it mean-spirited to say that we are one of the worst programs in college football when we have had virtually no success over the past 20+ years, or is it reality ? We lost to NTSU, and beat two teams that should have ( and were ) walks for SMU in past pre-death penalty years.

IF lowering the academic standards were the solution, and there was a debate about the need/desire for competitive athletics at SMU that was substantive to the overall health of the university, I believe it would be considered relevant. I am not advocating that, simply stating that while some other fine universities and colleges in Texas choose to have degree programs for athletes that would be considered "walks," they do provide an attraction for student/athletes that may have difficulty in other academic settings.

I still hold that the solution is to win...then the banter in the national media is that "SMU has risen from the dead." I can think of no better outcome to this year's effort. Craig James notwithstanding, there is not much else on the national sports scene that remotely draws the needed attention ( good or otherwise ) to our school.

[FordtoTolbert]

...why are we starting a new "Craig James thread"??...is it sort of the "my thread is better than your thread" syndrome??

[peruna81]

Craig James envy...

[FloridaMustang]

...why are we starting a new "Craig James thread"??...is it sort of the "my thread is better than your thread" syndrome??

Is that a syndrome.. or a complex? Or a disorder.. or perhaps a disease? Only God knows now.

I love lamp. And Bush Library.

[Mustangunner]

The best thing ole' Craig has done for this program since he left is provide SMU with the beautiful Jessica James (the 2005 grad)

I would post a picture but I can't figure out thses crazy computers

[angryfan04]

CJ sure loves the Longhorns though; if you didn't know any better, you would have thought he went to school there......"hook em" ..... as CJ says