A question to all the Paul Johnson advocates...

[mustangxc]

Why is he all of a sudden your first choice. His name had been mentioned for the job since PB was fired, but PJ had not garnered much support on this website until the rumors started this week that he is now the leading candidate. While I am taking a wait-and-see attitude, many of you are full force on the bandwagon. I still think Gary Barnett would be the best fit, and would support many of the candidates including PJ. However, I am confused by everyone's euphoria. mrydel has been supportive of just about all, Stallion supports most but PJ, WH/TRT supports Bowden, JTsupporta Barnett and most but it seems like most others are now annointing PJ the savior. Why the change in opinion?

[KnuckleStang]

Never occurred to me that we would have a legitimate shot at him, frankly.

[stobor]

A lot of people here have stated they would be happy with many of the coaches we have listed as potential candidates. Most of the candidates on this board would have been good choices.

That being said, I also think with Johnson's name being up for many of the BCS vacancies, many of us thought he was out of our league. Not to mention he already makes $1.5 million a year.

Just because I would have preferred Turner Gill doesn't mean I'm not content with Johnson. He wins football games. And he has won under similar circumstances.

[couch 'em]

Why is he all of a sudden your first choice. His name had been mentioned for the job since PB was fired, but PJ had not garnered much support on this website until the rumors started this week that he is now the leading candidate. While I am taking a wait-and-see attitude, many of you are full force on the bandwagon. I still think Gary Barnett would be the best fit, and would support many of the candidates including PJ. However, I am confused by everyone's euphoria. mrydel has been supportive of just about all, Stallion supports most but PJ, WH/TRT supports Bowden, JTsupporta Barnett and most but it seems like most others are now annointing PJ the savior. Why the change in opinion?

Most people just want hope, and are willing to look at the bright side and ignore the dark sides.

[mustangxc]

Why is he all of a sudden your first choice. His name had been mentioned for the job since PB was fired, but PJ had not garnered much support on this website until the rumors started this week that he is now the leading candidate. While I am taking a wait-and-see attitude, many of you are full force on the bandwagon. I still think Gary Barnett would be the best fit, and would support many of the candidates including PJ. However, I am confused by everyone's euphoria. mrydel has been supportive of just about all, Stallion supports most but PJ, WH/TRT supports Bowden, JTsupporta Barnett and most but it seems like most others are now annointing PJ the savior. Why the change in opinion?

Most people just want hope, and are willing to look at the bright side and ignore the dark sides.

If the current administration thinks the same way our fans do you can book another 20 losing seasons. That said, with the way Orsini has patiently conducted his search I think we are in good hands as it appears he has evaluated all the options.

[mrydel]

Being pleased with a possible new coach does not make him your first choice necessarily. I preferred others and really did not have an opinion on Johnson. I like what I see and would have high expectations (sorry jtstang) if he were to come to SMU. Just as I did with Bennett, but alas it did not occur.

You are not required to say everyone but your first choice sucks. You can I guess, but it is not a requirement.

[Pony^]

Weren't Barnett and Terry Bowden on the short list when UT hired Mack Brown?

[mustangxc]

Being pleased with a possible new coach does not make him your first choice necessarily. I preferred others and really did not have an opinion on Johnson. I like what I see and would have high expectations (sorry jtstang) if he were to come to SMU. Just as I did with Bennett, but alas it did not occur.

You are not required to say everyone but your first choice sucks. You can I guess, but it is not a requirement.

mrydel my post was not an attack on you, as I think you have been fairly level-headed in your evaluations and support for all the candidates. Additionally, you appear to embrace most of the candidates, which I applaud. I didn't say that you couldn't support more than 1 candidate, there just hadn't been much support for Paul Johnson on this board and now it seems like everyone is anointing him the savior.

[SMU Football Blog]

I have an open mind; I have and will consider a large number of candidates. That being said, I like donkeypunching the people who refuse to consider certain candidates, when the truth is SMU would be lucky to get many of the coaches mentioned. The exception is Chan Gailey, who I view as a joke along with most of the city of Dallas.

[PhirePhilBennett]

Why is he all of a sudden your first choice. His name had been mentioned for the job since PB was fired, but PJ had not garnered much support on this website until the rumors started this week that he is now the leading candidate. While I am taking a wait-and-see attitude, many of you are full force on the bandwagon. I still think Gary Barnett would be the best fit, and would support many of the candidates including PJ. However, I am confused by everyone's euphoria. mrydel has been supportive of just about all, Stallion supports most but PJ, WH/TRT supports Bowden, JTsupporta Barnett and most but it seems like most others are now annointing PJ the savior. Why the change in opinion?

Here's my position:
1) The national perception seems to be that this guy is in line for a TOP BCS school - thus he is a coup for us to get (and well respected in coaching circles - and I guarantee HS Coaches know who he is).

2) We've been 'trying' to run the spread for 6 years now, and it kind of works...and how many games have we lost on First and Goal?

3) Its a fun offense to watch, it really is. And guess what? No one else runs it. That means that every team we play we have a chance against - they aren't going to be prepared like they are when they play our "slow spread" which they practice against each and every day, often with better athletes than we've had in any of the past 16 years.

4) Its a new direction. Bring back the Pony Express. If we get on a roll, the athletes will come, period.

[BrianTinBigD]

Huge improvement over PB. PJ can just flat out coach. Not sure about recruiting ability but I think Stallion would [deleted] if he was a consistent winner even if he is a crappy recruiter. Then we would get to see a kinder, more optimistic Stallion who would then be accused of being a sunshiner.

[PhirePhilBennett]

OH, and I'd be happy with several other candidates mentioned such as either Bowden, Applebutter (but he is a 1-2 year recruiting push, and if he cannot coach, then he's done for)...others.

[couch 'em]

Most people just want hope, and are willing to look at the bright side and ignore the dark sides.

If the current administration thinks the same way our fans do you can book another 20 losing seasons. That said, with the way Orsini has patiently conducted his search I think we are in good hands as it appears he has evaluated all the options.

As long as we're looking at the bright sides Orsini points out and ignoring the dark sides Orsini ignores, I'm OK with that. He's much more qualified than most of us and way, WAY more competent and qualified than Turner.

If we hire Johnson he'll get my support and the benefit of my doubt, but I'm not a koolaid drinker on him yet.

[jtstang]

If we don't hire Lloyd Carr I'm quitting.

[jkflamebo]

the way i see it, it excites me to see a coach like that succeed at a place like annapolis and be mentioned to our coaching position. I personally believe the best option out of all the candidates is a coach that is currently coaching. yes bowden was good years ago and barnett has been out of the loop for a couple years. i honestly believe pjohnson, if he takes this job, could succeed here and do something with this program