Ross named Director of Football Operations

by **PonyPride** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:42 am

From the athletic department:

Ross Joins SMU Football Staff
Bennett Names New Director of Football Operations

DALLAS (SMU) - Randy Ross has joined the SMU football staff as the Director of Football Operations, Head Coach Phil Bennett announced today.

As the Director of Football Operations, Ross will coordinate team travel, office management and administration, handle gameday responsibilities and serve as a liaison with athletics and other university departments.

"I'm thrilled to be able to add someone with Coach Ross' level of experience," said Bennett. "I know he'll make a great addition to our
staff."

Ross comes to SMU after 17 seasons at Alabama, where he spent the last four as Director of Football Operations. He served as Bama's recruiting coordinator from 1990-98 and then spent one season in UA's development office before moving back to the football office in 2000 as the Director of High School Relations. He began his coaching career at Gaston (Ala.) High School before moving to Gadsden's Southside High School in 1976. He served as Southside's head coach for nine seasons and then moved as head coach at Scottsboro High from 1985-86. He coached 15 players who later played college football and his 1980 squad finished 12-1 and was ranked third in the state.

Ross, who has over 20 years of experience in coaching and administration, replaces Gary Hyatt, who left SMU in July.

by **RGV Pony** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:06 am

Welcome, Randy. I guess Saban brought in his own guy.

That reminds me...my wife the LSU season ticket holder got an email about her requests for away game tickets. It said they were going to a lottery to assign tickets to the Alabama game, for which LSU season ticket holders submitted 33,000 requests for tickets. Amazing.

by **Bergermeister** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:16 pm

RGV Pony wrote:Welcome, Randy. I guess Saban brought in his own guy.

Yeah, might think about just renting for 6 months here in Dallas. You've caught the tail end of this regime.

by **ThadFilms** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:30 pm

From the thread title I imagined David Schwimmer waltzing into the football offices.

Cool that we got a guy from a big time program.

(Too bad it wasn't Schwimmer though, that would have been a heck of a career change.... I wonder if he looks like Schwimmer.)

by **FordtoTolbert** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:47 pm

cool..a real pro to make sure the bus has proper restroom facilities.

by **EastStang** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:13 pm

Jocks need athletic supporters. Keep that in mind. Welcome to SMU and hopefully, you can instill some big time attitudes into our program.

On another note, part of me wonders if this hire is an Orsini hire to keep an eye on our football program at ground level.

by **SMUguy** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:30 pm

Director of ops - in any spot - is a vital position, and not one to be taken lightly. Ask a coach whose team has made a trip with mixed-up hotel or transportation arrangements. Multiply that effect on, say, a football team, and it's an always-under-appreciated position. If this guy's good, he can make life a lot smoother for the football office.

by **mrydel** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:45 pm

Maybe he can double up as Special Teams coach.

by **Bergermeister** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:54 pm

EastStang wrote:part of me wonders if this hire is an Orsini hire to keep an eye on our football program at ground level.

Don't think for a moment that Orsini doesn't know what is going on (or what is NOT going on) in the football program. He does.

by **CalallenStang** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:39 pm

RGV Pony wrote:Welcome, Randy. I guess Saban brought in his own guy.

That reminds me...my wife the LSU season ticket holder got an email about her requests for away game tickets. It said they were going to a lottery to assign tickets to the Alabama game, for which LSU season ticket holders submitted 33,000 requests for tickets. Amazing.

I was at the LSU-Alabama game last year in Baton Rouge. There are precious few programs that have as much die-hard support as either of those two schools.

by **LonghornFan68** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:57 pm

Here's hoping he left all of the habits that caused the probation headaches for 'Bama there.

by **westexSMU** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:41 pm

[quote="LonghornFan68"]Here's hoping he left all of the habits that caused the probation headaches for 'Bama there.[/quote]..........Agreed, but hopefully he can also help us get some good southeastern prospects to come here. His recruiting and high school coaching background in the southeast certainly might help.

Ross named Director of Football Operations

Ross named Director of Football Operations

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