Will SMU football ever be relevant again...

[ponyinNC]

...and if so, when do you think that would happen?

I personally hate the fact that we are at the bottom of CUSA West and this was the year we were supposed to finally make the improvements to get to the next level. Our goal: a bowl game.

But I ask this...Rice went to a bowl game last year, and did that really help their recruiting? I know they had to get a new coach, but aside from the USM meltdown, they are 0-4 after their first bowl game in 40 years or so. So their one bowl game didn't help them in the long run, as they went back to their usual owl selves.

So even if we do go/could have gone to a bowl this year, would that have really helped us?? Would we be a one-and done team? The only thing that will make us relevant is continued success (i.e. TCU, USM)

Does anyone really think that PB was the man for that job?

[mrydel]

Last year was "our year". Had we beaten Rice, this year would have been labeled as rebuilding year for the defense. We loaded up the patsies last year and fail to perform. As it was, the loss to NTSU actually was the fate sealer. Rice should have been irrelevant. This was the year of marketing but it should have included "we are back in the bowl business" along with "pony up".

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

in my opinion
yes smu football will be relevant again within 3 years
orsini is going to hire the right guy
and we will begin winning 7-9 games per year

[PK]

Does anyone really think that PB was the man for that job?

When PB was hired he had a great reputation as a DC. He had a true desire to be here at SMU. It wasn't just that he wanted to be a HC, he truely wanted to be at SMU. He had enthusiasm that we all latched on to. It was a gamble with his not having been a HC before and despite all of his great effort, it just hasn't worked out for him or us. I for one would love to see him succeed and be here for a long time, but it's not looking too good right now. I wish him well whatever the outcome of the season. Ultimately I want what is best for the SMU football program and if that means getting a new coaching staff, so be it, but in the mean time we need to support this staff and team. The appropriate decisions will be made by those in charge when the time is right.

[SmooBoy]

I pray each night that relevance is still a possibility. As each year passes, it seems less and less realistic. I do hope Orsini is the savior.

[Phxfan]

Yes. Orsini was hired to do it. PB is a good guy and he did his best. SMU and the UMC are headed for some national controversy soon over this lbrary. No matter how it turns out it will probably look ugly. One good way to deflect things would be a big hire FB coach and a fresh start to return the program to national prominence. SMU is well known and has a tremendous legacy and story never seen in collage football. If or should I say when SMU shows it has truly committed to build this program, big coaches with big egos will look at this program to put them in the history books. The way SMU will show it's commitment will be paying big $ to that coach. Yes, SMU will be back and it will be sooner rather than later. The start will probably be next year. [/b]

[Bergermeister]

yes smu football will be relevant again within 3 years
orsini is going to hire the right guy
and we will begin winning 7-9 games per year

You're right on all three points.

[Mexmustang]

I really think Phil was close to being the right man. I think that what makes him a great person was also his undoing. He was too loyal to friends that were not competetent enough to handle the jobs assigned to them. He also didn't or wasn't allowed to press the envelope in terms of our recruiting classes. The treatment of Willis last year before the UTEP game is an example when the administration was too [deleted] the program. What ever happened to the student "stalker"? Seems like everything was brushed over, maybe I just don't know.
The three Duke lacrosse players should demand the resignation of the Duke President, along with suing the local government. I know it is far fetched, but it does have some similarity here--the student athelete is held accountable, while the student is not.

[BrianTinBigD]

We are just missing the fact that the game has changed. College football is not about paying the players anymore. We had the best team that money could buy. What coolege football is about is buying the best coach around and the players show up for free(or at least no-show jobs at your local Subaru dealership). So what SMU needs to do is go back to all those big $ donors that helped fund the slush fund back in the 80's and say, look, we can win if we out spend everyone else on coaches. It is legal and you get a great tax write off. Plus, SMU will win football games on a regular basis and there is nothing that the F*cking NCAA can do to stop us this time.

We just need about $4million a year in cash or a $50 million endowment that will allow SMU to pay as much for a football coach as OU, Texas, or any other Top Tier team out there. Relevancy is going to cost some real money so you better Pony Up or we can keep compteting with Rice and NTSU for worst D1 football team in Texas.

So who is with me. We only need 4000 people to donate $1000 a year to cover of becoming a Top 10 Football Program. I am in for a $1000, we only need $3,999,000 more to go.

[mrydel]

We are just missing the fact that the game has changed. College football is not about paying the players anymore. We had the best team that money could buy. What coolege football is about is buying the best coach around and the players show up for free(or at least no-show jobs at your local Subaru dealership). So what SMU needs to do is go back to all those big $ donors that helped fund the slush fund back in the 80's and say, look, we can win if we out spend everyone else on coaches. It is legal and you get a great tax write off. Plus, SMU will win football games on a regular basis and there is nothing that the F*cking NCAA can do to stop us this time.

We just need about $4million a year in cash or a $50 million endowment that will allow SMU to pay as much for a football coach as OU, Texas, or any other Top Tier team out there. Relevancy is going to cost some real money so you better Pony Up or we can keep compteting with Rice and NTSU for worst D1 football team in Texas.

So who is with me. We only need 4000 people to donate $1000 a year to cover of becoming a Top 10 Football Program. I am in for a $1000, we only need $3,999,000 more to go.

I am in but the life expectancy charts only give me about 25 more years to live so hopefully something could be accomplished within that time or you will need to find a replacement for me.

[Caballo]

I volunteer to be mrydel's replacement upon his untimely demise. I do not however volunteer to keep purchasing his tickets. JTstang will have to find another donor for that. And no, I will not tell jtstang where my seats are either.

[jtstang]

Don't kid yourself. mrydel is immortal.

[Rayburn]

Yes.

You must endure your pain.

"You have to go to hell;
"before you get to heaven."
-- Steve Miller

[mrydel]

Don't kid yourself. mrydel is immortal.

Edit out the "t" please.

[LawSchoolPony]

Last year was "our year". Had we beaten Rice, this year would have been labeled as rebuilding year for the defense. We loaded up the patsies last year and fail to perform. As it was, the loss to NTSU actually was the fate sealer. Rice should have been irrelevant. This was the year of marketing but it should have included "we are back in the bowl business" along with "pony up".

Absolutely. Last year was our chance. I was not convinced by the marketing for this year's team, and predicted another losing season. I don't see the season improving much this year. I think it will be a couple years, maybe more before SMU is able to pull off a decent season.