On Recruiting

[RoyBell]

I think first and foremost that a Coach should be honest with the players. He should say yes we're trying to rebuild now and yes our record doesn't show the abilities of our players. And no you may not get to play this year and yes we will be redshirting you. Not saying you're going to play and just play you on special teams. That will frustrate a player that chose your school for the integrity he thought you presented and that like the ideal of having a true chance of playing if he competes. And we need guys like you to help us turn the program around and mean it. Don't just lie to them and promise them that will be playing at there position and don't play them. I also think that we should be putting the best man on the field and if that is a freshman then so be it. I think that we haven't use the players to the best of there abilities and we have this because they are a Junior or Senior then you play. I don't care what grade you are when you hit that field give it your all and you play.
Again we should be implementing some power eye and putting in some nickel plays in our defensive package. We set the team up for failure trying to run the same spread other teams play it isn't working this year. Change it up and then throw the bomb. We don't go down the middle enough we've been successful when we do. We should use what works for us. I have looked at this defense run the same plays for 6 games straight with no adjustment I can read all of the plays so I know that the others coaches we're playing against can too. We have linebacker covering receiver getting burnt due to no fought of there own this is where you should be utilizing all of your db's with the nickel. Speed is what we should be trying to cover these guys with.

This is just my opinion. I played this game I live, eat and breath this game. If I had been smart I would have coach this game. Need any advice I can give it to you. Just call me.

Go Ponies don't give up. You must always Go Hard or Go Home.

Pony up!

[jtstang]

...and yes our record doesn't show the abilities of our players.

I thought you said "first and foremost" the coach should be honest, and then you post this. The record shows exactly the abilities of our players, collectively, as compared wtih the abilitites of our opponents.

[SMUFan]

The problem with your premise - while noble in its intent - is that if one school says "we're rebuilding and we plan to redshirt you" and another school with a fairly equal team says "no, we're not rebuilding - we're close to winning our conference and we want you to compete for a starting role" .... which school is going to get all the good players? You can't tell a kid "you're going to be the entire offense next year," but if a guy has real talent and envisions himself being one of those guys who turns a program around, you have to tell him he'll have a chance to compete for playing time .... and that shouldn't be a lie. If you sign the next Adrian Peterson, you play the guy.

[Stallion]

isn't it supposed to be "Were rebuilding so you'll play" or "We're loaded so you'll probably redshirt"?

[Bhayne01]

When you look at recruiting and playing time, as a parent, you almost always want to hear the coach say, he will play early. I for one am probably of the minority that believe that a freshman should redshirt even if he has great potential or size to play right away. He has a much better opportunity to have s significant impact in his redshirt freshman year than a true frosh. Justin Willis and Emmanuel Sanders are prime examples. When PB was recruiting, I didn't hear any promises of playing time, but that he has an opportunity to play, depending on him. No promises. Learning a D-1 play book, is a real undertaking. I am looking forward to see what the freshman that redshirt this year can do. There is nothing wrong with getting early experience as a true freshman. But you do sacrifice some potential to work in the weight room, watch and learn.

[RoyBell]

When you look at recruiting and playing time, as a parent, you almost always want to hear the coach say, he will play early. I for one am probably of the minority that believe that a freshman should redshirt even if he has great potential or size to play right away. He has a much better opportunity to have s significant impact in his redshirt freshman year than a true frosh. Justin Willis and Emmanuel Sanders are prime examples. When PB was recruiting, I didn't hear any promises of playing time, but that he has an opportunity to play, depending on him. No promises. Learning a D-1 play book, is a real undertaking. I am looking forward to see what the freshman that redshirt this year can do. There is nothing wrong with getting early experience as a true freshman. But you do sacrifice some potential to work in the weight room, watch and learn.

I agree that redshirting is the best thing for all freshman and I have always thought that way. I am a parent who believes in that.
I have told my kids that too. But I also say and have always said put the best man on the field. And SMU has the talent when use properly. Starting with the running game no matter how hard it is pick a started and go with it. [/code]

[Charleston Pony]

and if any parent really cares about their child's future, getting that RS year also gives him 4-1/2 years to do what he hopefully came here to do, i.e., earn a degree.

[cguru]

Bhayne01, are you a HS coach in Texas? If so, how's your season going?

[mustangbill67]

Bhayne01 and RoyBell, I sincerely hope both your sons put the effort in to take full advantage of the wonderful educational opportunity that is offered by SMU as well as enjoy the experience of playing football for a great University. We are all very hopeful that things will get better on the football front and the players will truly have a great experience to look back on when they finish their college football careers. Go Ponies!

[Bhayne01]

No, I'm not a coach in HS. Earning that degree from the school you select is without a doubt the most important factor. If are fortunate enough to receive a scholarship from an institution like SMU, and live the experience of D-1 football, that is one that few of us have enjoyed. We all should support the players and share in the experience and remind the players of this fact. Maybe the celebrations as a team will be more frequent as well.