Orsini Rebuilds SMU

[ponydawg]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/o ... 7046.story

After helping build UCF's sports programs, Orsini does same at SMU

Kyle Hightower | Sentinel Staff Writer
November 15, 2007


He's been the AD at SMU for about a year-and-a-half now. But as he begins to search for a new football coach following the dismissal of Phil Bennett, he said this week that the tasks he's facing in Dallas are very similar to the ones he faced at his old job at UCF.

"I do see the similarities, and I think, more importantly, the leaders here at SMU recognized how similar the tasks were when they were looking at who their next AD should be," Orsini said. "I think my time at UCF is the biggest reason why I was attractive here in Dallas."

The Knights' AD from 2002-06, he left Orlando as easily the most productive AD the school ever had.

Orsini was the guy who made an immediate big splash by courting and hiring George O'Leary as football coach in December 2003. He was the guy who guided UCF's sports programs to Conference USA membership a year later and steered the athletic department into its private, nonprofit, direct support status.

And he was the financial wizard who oversaw several facilities upgrades and, along with Jerry Roth, planted the seeds that would become Bright House Networks Stadium.

Though he said there was a little more nostalgia this week, he is slow to accept much credit for the direction UCF's programs are going. Even if it's a blueprint he is trying to emulate at SMU.

"I give the credit to UCF for building on the plans that are now physically in place and to [UCF AD] Keith [Tribble] in finishing [the] plans," Orsini said. "I didn't finish the race, Keith finished it."

One of the biggest beneficiaries of Orsini's tenure at UCF has to be O'Leary. Acquainted with Orsini originally during his term as an associate AD at Georgia Tech, O'Leary said that much of the progress that UCF has experienced is directly related to his work.

"When you talk about the guy that had the initial blueprint here, it was Steve," O'Leary said. "There were a lot of people that had input, but Steve is the one that kind of put his foot forward and put his [plan] out there. And it wasn't always that easy.

"There were a lot of people taking shots out there, saying 'we can't do that stuff.' He stuck to his guns, and that tells me a lot about a man."

O'Leary said the similarities and belief in athletics at both SMU and UCF has been a big help to Orsini both at UCF and currently.

"They're helping him out administratively, which I think is the key to any AD," O'Leary said. "You can have a great AD, but if the administration isn't behind you, you aren't going to move forward. I think that's the key to why it worked out so well [at UCF]."

Like he did at UCF in helping attract the money that eventually went into the building of Nicholson Fieldhouse, the state's first collegiate indoor football practice facility, he did not wait long at SMU in building the Crum Center. Built to house the practice facilities for basketball, it was a big reason he was able to snare Coach Matt Doherty.

"I'll always treasure the relationship of four years and being a part of the UCF team," Orsini said. "I'm especially looking forward to seeing [UCF President] Dr. [John] Hitt. He gave me the opportunity to be an AD. He saw something in me to allow me that opportunity . . . I'll always be indebted for that."

And what of the possibility of his 1-9 Mustangs putting a black mark on the progress his former school is enjoying?

"That's why they play the games," Orsini said. "We surely could. . . . We're a 1-9 team, but no one should take us lightly."

[Ponymon]

Steve is the right AD for SMU. IMO he has made all the right moves since he has been here and given us loyal faithful more reason to be optimistic about our future than any AD that we have had period I just hope we can keep him when the big boys come sniffing around!

[Silk]

He's been great, but he really needs to hit a home run with the football coach hire.

[ThadFilms]

Steve is the right AD for SMU. IMO he has made all the right moves since he has been here and given us loyal faithful more reason to be optimistic about our future than any AD that we have had period I just hope we can keep him when the big boys come sniffing around!

I couldn't agree more. Look at his body of work since he got here -

- Matt Doherty (who has to start winning some games this year)
- Crum Center
- Moody Renovations (in the future)
- Retaining Phil Bennett even though they fell one play short of a bowl bid
- Firing Phil Bennett this season as soon as our fate was determined
- Though not technically involved - the 20 million dollar gift to the school of education

... and regardless of who the coach is, and despite the dissenters on this board, it will be someone of great pedigree.

Two things that I see happening, the first in the near future... the second, a few years down the road.... an indoor practice facility for the football team (trust me, I think this will be a Crum Center type thing, bring in the coach, announce the indoor practice facility. Second? Bringing back baseball. Why do I think that? Hmmm, the only answer on the DMN chat that shed any light on anything was when asked about bringing back track - he responded with "there's also a question of baseball".




Oh, and why do I think the retaining of Phil Bennett, last season, was a smart move?

1. He built the team, we came so close, he deserved a chance to see it through
2. It makes a strong statement to potential coaches out there that we will allow you to see this thing through
3. It allowed players strongly tied to Bennett (even though there is a lot of evidence that some/many are tired of him) to see that, though Phil is a good man, that we need a new vision here
4. By the same token, it was a financial decision.... showing those alums who are shelling out the cash that we are making prudent decisions about what's happening with their money

[Ponymon]

Steve is the right AD for SMU. IMO he has made all the right moves since he has been here and given us loyal faithful more reason to be optimistic about our future than any AD that we have had period I just hope we can keep him when the big boys come sniffing around!

I couldn't agree more. Look at his body of work since he got here -

- Matt Doherty (who has to start winning some games this year)
- Crum Center
- Moody Renovations (in the future)
- Retaining Phil Bennett even though they fell one play short of a bowl bid
- Firing Phil Bennett this season as soon as our fate was determined
- Though not technically involved - the 20 million dollar gift to the school of education

... and regardless of who the coach is, and despite the dissenters on this board, it will be someone of great pedigree.

Two things that I see happening, the first in the near future... the second, a few years down the road.... an indoor practice facility for the football team (trust me, I think this will be a Crum Center type thing, bring in the coach, announce the indoor practice facility. Second? Bringing back baseball. Why do I think that? Hmmm, the only answer on the DMN chat that shed any light on anything was when asked about bringing back track - he responded with "there's also a question of baseball".




Oh, and why do I think the retaining of Phil Bennett, last season, was a smart move?

1. He built the team, we came so close, he deserved a chance to see it through
2. It makes a strong statement to potential coaches out there that we will allow you to see this thing through
3. It allowed players strongly tied to Bennett (even though there is a lot of evidence that some/many are tired of him) to see that, though Phil is a good man, that we need a new vision here
4. By the same token, it was a financial decision.... showing those alums who are shelling out the cash that we are making prudent decisions about what's happening with their money

Good post Thad. I like the reasoning

[ThadFilms]

Good post Thad. I like the reasoning

Thanks! You see I don't always come on and write asinine bourbon fueled posts about nothing!




Oh one other thing, though he cannot come out and say it, I think Steve's goals are clear... SMU will be in a BCS conference by the time he is done here. He says he wants to be top 25 in everything we do. That means top 25 year in year out, that can't happen if we aren't in the BCS.

That either means elevating CUSA to being a BCS conference or positioning ourselves to be attractive to a BCS conference, for many many many reasons we already are - Dallas, great campus, great stadium, and heck the Big XII is headquartered in Bid D - the only missing piece is quality football.


Maybe I'm drunk on the Kool-Aide but I don't think so.... I think the hiring of Orsini and all of his moves since, shows that SMU is finally committed to athletic excellence in the money sports.

[abezontar]

we also need about 40k more fans.

[Sam I Am]

We would be in a BCS conferecne now (the old SWC) if we had big crowds through the years. That isn't going to happen.

[abezontar]

We would be in a BCS conferecne now (the old SWC) if we had big crowds through the years. That isn't going to happen.

I disagree about the crowds. I strongly believe that if we had 10-15 years of sustained success where we were consistently in the Top 25 at the end of the season we could build a fairly large fan base.

[ponyboy]

You see I don't always come on and write asinine bourbon fueled posts about nothing!

That's not true. Don't be so [deleted] yourself. Most of the time you come on and write asinine bourbon fueled posts about nothing.

[ThadFilms]

We would be in a BCS conferecne now (the old SWC) if we had big crowds through the years. That isn't going to happen.

Can't say I agree with you. Dallas loves a winner.... look at the Stars... we had a huge rabid fan base when we were winning. Now? Not so much, but more than that.... you are looking at a perfect sized stadium, and only 6 games a season. It's a different time, we aren't trying to fill Texas Stadium in the shadow of the Cowboys. We are offering a true college experience, we didn't offer that before.

The last time that we consistently filled a stadium was pre-Cowboys. Even when we were good in the 80s Dallas also had the 'Boys.... and the SMU experience at Texas Stadium wasn't unique. The Boulevard and Ford are two things that nothing else in Big D offers.

[ThadFilms]

You see I don't always come on and write asinine bourbon fueled posts about nothing!

That's not true. Don't be so [deleted] yourself. Most of the time you come on and write asinine bourbon fueled posts about nothing.

Hahaha.... True.

"Don't be so [deleted] yourself. You're not, you're not good."

[Ponymon]

We would be in a BCS conferecne now (the old SWC) if we had big crowds through the years. That isn't going to happen.

Can't say I agree with you. Dallas loves a winner.... look at the Stars... we had a huge rabid fan base when we were winning. Now? Not so much, but more than that.... you are looking at a perfect sized stadium, and only 6 games a season. It's a different time, we aren't trying to fill Texas Stadium in the shadow of the Cowboys. We are offering a true college experience, we didn't offer that before.

The last time that we consistently filled a stadium was pre-Cowboys. Even when we were good in the 80s Dallas also had the 'Boys.... and the SMU experience at Texas Stadium wasn't unique. The Boulevard and Ford are two things that nothing else in Big D offers.

The one positive for SMU in the Cowboys move to Arlington is that it is more inconvenient for some fans to drive over there and might help SMU draw the guy that wants to see a game in Dallas from time to time. Of course, offering beer at the concession stand would probably be the BEST change that the Ponies could make to increase attendance!

[ThadFilms]

We would be in a BCS conferecne now (the old SWC) if we had big crowds through the years. That isn't going to happen.

Can't say I agree with you. Dallas loves a winner.... look at the Stars... we had a huge rabid fan base when we were winning. Now? Not so much, but more than that.... you are looking at a perfect sized stadium, and only 6 games a season. It's a different time, we aren't trying to fill Texas Stadium in the shadow of the Cowboys. We are offering a true college experience, we didn't offer that before.

The last time that we consistently filled a stadium was pre-Cowboys. Even when we were good in the 80s Dallas also had the 'Boys.... and the SMU experience at Texas Stadium wasn't unique. The Boulevard and Ford are two things that nothing else in Big D offers.

The one positive for SMU in the Cowboys move to Arlington is that it is more inconvenient for some fans to drive over there and might help SMU draw the guy that wants to see a game in Dallas from time to time. Of course, offering beer at the concession stand would probably be the BEST change that the Ponies could make to increase attendance!

Hah!

Actually I don't think the Cowboys move to Arlington will do anything for/against SMU.... it's far more important for a baseball team to be downtown. NFL? 8 games, that's it... folks will make the drive.

What we are doing is offering an entirely different experience. Yes beer would help... but I've never had my Jack in the back pocket confiscated.

[Ponymon]

We would be in a BCS conferecne now (the old SWC) if we had big crowds through the years. That isn't going to happen.

Can't say I agree with you. Dallas loves a winner.... look at the Stars... we had a huge rabid fan base when we were winning. Now? Not so much, but more than that.... you are looking at a perfect sized stadium, and only 6 games a season. It's a different time, we aren't trying to fill Texas Stadium in the shadow of the Cowboys. We are offering a true college experience, we didn't offer that before.

The last time that we consistently filled a stadium was pre-Cowboys. Even when we were good in the 80s Dallas also had the 'Boys.... and the SMU experience at Texas Stadium wasn't unique. The Boulevard and Ford are two things that nothing else in Big D offers.

The one positive for SMU in the Cowboys move to Arlington is that it is more inconvenient for some fans to drive over there and might help SMU draw the guy that wants to see a game in Dallas from time to time. Of course, offering beer at the concession stand would probably be the BEST change that the Ponies could make to increase attendance!

Hah!

Actually I don't think the Cowboys move to Arlington will do anything for/against SMU.... it's far more important for a baseball team to be downtown. NFL? 8 games, that's it... folks will make the drive.

What we are doing is offering an entirely different experience. Yes beer would help... but I've never had my Jack in the back pocket confiscated.

So its YOUR empty bottle that I see every game near the toilet! Are you going to open up a BAR in there?