Let's recap from Orsini's mind September 3rd.
What do you think Steve was thinking about in the second half; as SMU fans were heading toward the exists? All the money and work that has gone into promoting this game and season? We get a game on the BIG STAGE and bombed big time. I wonder if the ESPN executive that suggested this game be aired, was fired by the 4th quarter.
Tech had 66 passes and not one sack, with 4 new starters on the offensive line.
SMU had ZERO pressure, unless we used the blitz.
Tech had 12 possessions with 7 touchdowns.
550 yards of offense!
SMU's offense could not score a touchdown, even against the Tech reserves.
Mapps and Henderson running into each other TWICE on kick returns.
SMU receivers dropping passes.
fumbles.
penalties.
missed tackles, and more missed tackles!
This was a rebuilding year for Tech, with massive graduation losses on BOTH sides of the ball. And yet we were thrashed, dominated, and humiliated on national tv.
PART 2.
With the pitful NTS performance fresh on Orsini's mind.......
UNT with a new coach, in only his second college game, jumps on SMU with a 14-3 lead. They put up 601 yards passing (new record) with players that were in a running offense a few months ago. They had touchdown drives of...71,75, 80, 80, and 99 yards. Thanks to their center sailing the ball 20 yards over their qb's head, they certainly would have scored again, with 1st and goal at the 2 yard line. Oh, let's not forget their wr Fitzgerald, that had 10 receptions in his career before the game; 18 catches 327 yards (another record).
On to Jonesboro......
It was just 13 days ago that people were talking about the buzz created from the PONY UP! marketing. It didn't matter if people liked it or not; people around the metroplex and beyond, were actually talking about SMU football again! It was exciting, folks were willing to see what this was all about! That massive SWOOOSH sound heard last night, was the double flush of PONY UP! down the toilet.....it is now completly DEAD and gone down the sewer pipes. All of Orsini's plans, along with the hard work of the marketing and sales staff have been destroyed in just three games. Not to mention, the million dollar price tag for the marketing. Casual football fans, and SMU people that had in recent years past that had paused to give SMU another chance, have now turned back around and run away in disgust. As Orsini slowly wound through the little farm and market roads to Jonesboro, a trip that would usually lead to a rural junior college, you wonder if he compared recruiting tools of the two schools?
SMU campus?
School locations?
Football history and tradition?
Great names from the past?
NFL Hall of Fame palyers?
Academic reputation?
Stadium?
Facilities, weight room etc..?
Large media market for exposure?
Campus eye candy?
Boulevard?
Re$ources?
CUSA?
Just a few thoughts I had last night, as I sat there with only a handful of SMU fans, that were willing to spend the time, money and effort to go see this team. Oh yeah, Arkansas St. had their qb, and rb, set records last night. I think we have seen that enough, over last 5 years and 3 games.
In this race comparison.......SMU drove a BMW, and was beaten by a Pinto.
