Why this coaching search is typical of SMU

[RGV Pony]

Reading the thread about the write-up on Houston's coaching search, it dawned on me that none of this should surprise any of us.

We fired our coach first, will probably hire our coach last, are the only ones who feel like we have more time because of the recruiting quiet period, and who are tight-lipped and mum about anything that ponyfans don't catch involving a plane.

All this happens for the same reason SMU feels like it doesn't have to deliver a customer service product on game day. For the same reason SMU feels like it has to 'protect its brand,' and by doing so assures itself of not having merchandise virtually anywhere, although TCU stuff is all over the metroplex. For the same reason we held on to PB after last year. For the same reason everything that goes on associated with 'our team' makes virtually no sense.

[SmooBoy]

I want to disagree, but alas, cannot. All true.

[Me]

Correct, every bit of it is true. Unbelievable.

[BRStang]

Reading the thread about the write-up on Houston's coaching search, it dawned on me that none of this should surprise any of us.

We fired our coach first, will probably hire our coach last, are the only ones who feel like we have more time because of the recruiting quiet period, and who are tight-lipped and mum about anything that ponyfans don't catch involving a plane.

All this happens for the same reason SMU feels like it doesn't have to deliver a customer service product on game day. For the same reason SMU feels like it has to 'protect its brand,' and by doing so assures itself of not having merchandise virtually anywhere, although TCU stuff is all over the metroplex. For the same reason we held on to PB after last year. For the same reason everything that goes on associated with 'our team' makes virtually no sense.

Agree 100%

[Dutch]

The merchandise thing is ridiculous. does anyone on here know who at the school is responsible for licensing out the SMU 'brand'

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

The other day I walked into the Kohl's in Medallion Center for some Christmas Shopping and my jaw dropped when I saw their clothing area just littered with TCU garb. UT garb, I can understand but TCU? Heck, I even saw a UTEP hat. A frickin' UTEP hat! It's just pathetic that SMU can't get its act together with the merchandising. It's almost like these people don't want to market their stuff.

[mustangxc]

What I don not understand is that when many of you have complained about the in and out policies you get the standard reply of "well that is the top 25 standard". Is there anything wrong with being at the forefront of NCAA athletics? Why can't we figure out the best practices and try to be ahead of the curve. The goal is to win national championships after all. I know for a fact that major league baseball teams allow in and out.

[Longtime]

It's called arrogance.

Or ignorance.

Like SMU, I get them confused sometimes.

[SmooBoy]

I was in a fabric store in Garland (completely against my will) last week. Every local and big 12 school had fleece and other fabrics, but no Pony stuff. I was pleasantly surprised to see SMU doormats** on sale. Insert irony jokes here.


**four to be exact, and no, I did not buy one

[huskerpony]

What I don not understand is that when many of you have complained about the in and out policies you get the standard top 25 standard. Is there anything wrong with being at the forefront of NCAA athletics? Why can't we figure out the best practices and try to be ahead of the curve. The goal is to win national championships after all. I know for a fact that major league baseball teams allow in and out.

Lots of schools and top prorams allow in and out. Nebraska and Oklahoma just to name two. Colorado used to sell beer IN the stadium until all the rioting problems. When we played at the Cotton Bowl, there was a beer stand right at the bottom of the steps and you could carry it back into the stadium, and go in and out as many times as you wanted. Not sure what the deal is with the new policy--can only assume they don't want people going back and forth to the blvd--but it has nothing to do with Top 25 programs, etc. That's just the excuse they are feeding the students.

[perunapower]

I was pleasantly surprised to see SMU doormats** on sale. Insert irony jokes here.


**four to be exact, and no, I did not buy one

That's just funny.

I see you've adopted jt's way of thinking by not expecting to find SMU paraphernalia, but being pleasantly surprised when you do.

[Longtime]

Using the a survey of Top 25 programs to set policy is asinine to begin with.

First, most Top 25 programs are much larger schools in much smaller towns. There are only a handful of major college programs in major cities like we are. What do we have in common with UT, Nebraska, LSU, Florida, etc?

Second, our competition is not Top 25 programs. It's the major sports teams in the area. Don't survey OU and Michigan, survey the Rangers and Mavs and see what works for them. The Rangers have a long history of drawing fans without the benefit of a winning tradition. See what works for them and what we can duplicate.

But most importantly, see what we can do better than the Mavs, Rangers, Cowboys, etc. For that matter, what can we do better than Top 25 programs? I have to believe many Top 25 programs institute policies to deal with overwhelming numbers of fans and larger venues. We don't have that problem. Because we're small, we can be more nimble and therefore more personally oriented to each customer.

With apologies to Richard Sweet, we're Southwest Airlines - smaller and more personable. So why do we treat customers like American Airlines?

[ponyplayer]

What I don not understand is that when many of you have complained about the in and out policies you get the standard top 25 standard. Is there anything wrong with being at the forefront of NCAA athletics? Why can't we figure out the best practices and try to be ahead of the curve. The goal is to win national championships after all. I know for a fact that major league baseball teams allow in and out.

Lots of schools and top prorams allow in and out. Nebraska and Oklahoma just to name two. Colorado used to sell beer IN the stadium until all the rioting problems. When we played at the Cotton Bowl, there was a beer stand right at the bottom of the steps and you could carry it back into the stadium, and go in and out as many times as you wanted. Not sure what the deal is with the new policy--can only assume they don't want people going back and forth to the blvd--but it has nothing to do with Top 25 programs, etc. That's just the excuse they are feeding the students.

[atl_stangs]

What I don not understand is that when many of you have complained about the in and out policies you get the standard top 25 standard. Is there anything wrong with being at the forefront of NCAA athletics? Why can't we figure out the best practices and try to be ahead of the curve. The goal is to win national championships after all. I know for a fact that major league baseball teams allow in and out.

Lots of schools and top prorams allow in and out. Nebraska and Oklahoma just to name two. Colorado used to sell beer IN the stadium until all the rioting problems. When we played at the Cotton Bowl, there was a beer stand right at the bottom of the steps and you could carry it back into the stadium, and go in and out as many times as you wanted. Not sure what the deal is with the new policy--can only assume they don't want people going back and forth to the blvd--but it has nothing to do with Top 25 programs, etc. That's just the excuse they are feeding the students.

At least with SMU tickets so easy to come by...I just keep an extra ticket in my back pocket, makeshift passout. Go out the stadium, enjoy a cocktail and return with the second ticket. Added bonus, doubles the paid attendance

[PonySoprano]

With apologies to Richard Sweet, we're Southwest Airlines - smaller and more personable. So why do we treat customers like American Airlines?

Screw [deleted] Sweet. He hired on here and then quit two months later. What a legacy he left. He just used SMU to get a bigger salary back at Southworst Air (sounds familiar considering the way our coaching search is going).