The Ticket Press Conference Recap

[OR-See-Nee]

--Pre press conference:
--Ticket discusses generic problems with SMU; Applewhite won't come here because he doesn't want to tarnish his image; Bowden hasn't coached in 9 years, hasn't said anything intelligent in 12 years; Coker is a retread; Ryhner says we need someone young; Mason is another retread; if you are young, this is a death sentence job per Snake; Ryhner says there must be someone good at SFA, Texas State, or some JC who can coach here; in SMU's defense, if you can turn it around there is some hope for a coach's future, but they don't see it happening; what is SMU going to do with football--be good at it and win at it, and if not, then stop the pretense, say we're not a IA school; PB is the winner in this--he can audition for a DC job, he's well thought of.

--The conference
--PB says this is a good place, tough job, knew what he was getting into. Thanks to Gerald Turner, who is doing wonderful things. Jim Copeland is a good man. Steve Orsini is doing positive things and has great vision for this program. Made a lot of great friends here. People have been supportive. We've been close, but close doesn't count. You look back and reflect on bad call at Marshall; look at Justin not playing a game and at some point we've got to make a 3rd and 1 or 4th and one. I feel like the program, talent level is better. We're very close. Easily could be 5-2. Not about what ifs, its about results. Thanks the staff. This was [deleted] them and families. They had loyal committment to SMU. Thanks the players. Coaching is no fun without relationship with players. I have fond memories of the guys who have been through here. Our goal is to keep these guys focused. Challenges are still there. When you play football, unlike other sports, you have to be passionate and the players have to look forward to competing. Our guys will respond on Sunday. I want them playing for themselves, the team, the school, not for me. I'm old school about that. I have great appreciation for SMU. SMU has been fair to me. Disappointed that we are so close but didn't get program to level we wanted.

Questions (inaudible).

Answers:

--To sustain success, you have to have luck--injury free, have guys come through for you. I would have done some things differently. But there are some things you don't have control over. We had good senior leadership last two years, guys who were passionate. Our guys this year were not comfortable in being that "step up" person. But they can be.

--As a coach, my thoughts were about players, coaches, and frustration (apparently talking about TU game). I was proud defensively. Bunch of new guys. Did a good job against number 3 offense in the country. Once it was decided yesterday, I told Steve thanks for the opportunity--it hurts--but it's business as usual. There are points during this tenure that will be positive. We are not on equal footing with our competitors--to say other would "be a lie." Both academic and financial, the committmment, Steve and Gerald know that. This isn't a cop out. Things have gotten better. I knew coming in, and you think you can overcome a lot of things, but I believe that at this point, looking at conference and recruiting in Texas, these guys have a chance to win a championship.

--Problems aren't just academic restrictions, but transfers, hours, process of a broader curriculum. Lots of kids would want a school of education, which I thought would happen here. At one point there was movement for that, but it slowly faded away. But that's not what I'm here for--but those things would make it a lot easier than what it is.

--My passion is coaching. I'm fired up. Attitude is everything in life. You can make yourself miserable or happy. If I'm coaching, I'm happing. I would have liked to have stayed. I want to win. I'm in charge of this program, and I expect a higher level of focus and concetration.

--I don't have to prove anything. I can coach. Do I want to win? Absolutely. We had guys up here at 6 am trying to win. Urgency has never lacked.

[SMU Football Blog]

And they dropped it to go to commercial. You are sharting me?!?!!

[OR-See-Nee]

Priorities

[SMU Football Blog]

Looks like the whole thing will be available online on smumustangs.com later today. Really wish we could have heard Orsini on the Ticket.

[George S. Patton]

This is exactly why I took The Ticket off my car radio. That station is a complete waste of time with guys who think they know what they are talking about and really don't.

I don't miss it. In fact, I don't listen to ESPN 103.3 either.

Sportstalk in this town is awful.

[SMU_is_bowling]

Galloway annoys me so I listen to the Ticket more on the drive home than any other time of day . . . they don't talk enough sports for me, alot of other fluff I could do without . . . but they did get named station of the year somehow!!

[Pony_Fan]

This is exactly why I took The Ticket off my car radio. That station is a complete waste of time with guys who think they know what they are talking about and really don't.

I don't miss it. In fact, I don't listen to ESPN 103.3 either.

Sportstalk in this town is awful.

Lighten Up Francis. Ryner is opinionated and doesn't really know anything. Take it for what it's worth, funny entertainment.

[ponyboy]

What if you're looking for informed sports opinion instead of funny entertainment, though? Hitzges and Coop are the only two in this town with a clue.

[SMU Football Blog]

Coop has a clue. Norm doesn't. Norm gets angry at stuff he reads on the internet. He used to get mad at stuff he read in other towns' newpapers, so he came across as knowing everything.

[QuikSStang]

i cant stand listening to the ticket. its just cowboys 24-7. and if its not that, its complaining about the mavs...

[ponyboy]

Coop has a clue. Norm doesn't. Norm gets angry at stuff he reads on the internet. He used to get mad at stuff he read in other towns' newpapers, so he came across as knowing everything.

Huh? What does getting mad at stuff he reads on the internet have to do with sports acumen?

[beamout2000]

They really said SMU should look for a coach at Texas State or SFA. Well here at Texas State we have a first year coach whose team is finally coming together, don't think a first year coach is what you would want. SFA has lots of problems and is 0-8, don't think they should look there either. If you want to go for a lower division head coach look at someone like Pete Fredenburg at Mary Hardin Baylor. He has D-1 experience, DC at Baylor for 13 years and for 3 years at LSU, 75-25 record over nine years at MHB, won numerous conference championship and gotten the program to a National Championship game and all that with a D-3 with no scholorships to offer. He is also the only coach that program has ever had.

[George S. Patton]

The Ticket blows. They are our flagship station in name only.

[SmooBoy]

They really said SMU should look for a coach at Texas State or SFA. Well here at Texas State we have a first year coach whose team is finally coming together, don't think a first year coach is what you would want. SFA has lots of problems and is 0-8, don't think they should look there either. If you want to go for a lower division head coach look at someone like Pete Fredenburg at Mary Hardin Baylor. He has D-1 experience, DC at Baylor for 13 years and for 3 years at LSU, 75-25 record over nine years at MHB, won numerous conference championship and gotten the program to a National Championship game and all that with a D-3 with no scholorships to offer. He is also the only coach that program has ever had.

What about the HC at Trinity? Anyone who can devise that 15-lateral TD should deserve a shot at the "big" time...

[Ponyx2]

Rhyner's an idiot, but I don't think he meant specifically we should look at Texas State or SFA. He was making the point we should try to find someone from a smaller school. (I thought we tried that already)