Former Letterman says Peace

[Dutch]

Dear Ponyfans,

Ever since I graduated from SMU in 2000 I’ve put SMU in the rear-view mirror, and as a former lettermen it saddens me to say that I’m officially done hoping there would be a reason to lure me back.

More specifically I’m done hoping:

1. We would have fans and Alumni who cared or even got it for that matter.

2. We would have an administration and faculty who cared, because they do get it.

3. We would have a local three or four star recruit who cared enough to visit much less commit.

Let’s be honest, what are we trying to accomplish here? The people on this board talk as if SMU is owed a national title because it can spend $10 million on a coach and build a stadium that sits empty on game day. Look around you, have you seen the other stadiums and facilities of the BCS schools that compete? Not to mention the passionate fans and colorful traditions. SMU is a mid-major, lucky to have a winning season and maybe an invite to the Texas Bowl one day. Face reality. Craig James has, as well as anyone who is remotely in touch with college sports. Which brings me to my next point.

Give Orisini a break. Let him find a coach that, no doubt, recognizes what I just said and is still willing to give it a try, not for the money, but for the challenge. Not an easy task if you ask me. I thought it was very telling when Troy Calhoun turned SMU down (This guy is a good coach and SMU would have been lucky to get him). Right then and there I think Orisini knew the challenge he had in front of him. Selling a school with little tradition, small and bare bones (but nice) facilities, little passion from fans and alumni, and little support from an administration that will never forget the past.

Well, have fun in that concrete jungle called Dallas. I’ll be watching that kid that changed his commitment to dreary old Idaho. Really all you Idaho haters should get out more. Enjoy you’re drive home on LBJ freeway and I really do hope for all the true ponyfans out there that we get a good coach. I don’t care how long it takes.

Current fan says "chicken grease"

[PonyPatrol]

I am so tired of people defending SMU's history as a foundation in which to lure coaches and potential recruits. What happened 25 years ago is completely irrelevant, in light of how putrid our program has been since, to just about everyone in the college football world. Some of you would be amazed at how few people outside of Texas know anything about SMU or where it is located, let alone its "storied football heritage". Wake up. SMU's football program will have to be rebuilt from the ground up, before we can once again point to any degree of success that will be acknowledged outside of our dwindling fanbase.

That being said, I sure hope it happens. I'm sick of reciting statistics from our four year run at greatness (albeit while breaking every single rule conceivable).

As far as facilities are concerned, no recruit/coach is impressed by the Georgian architecture of our stadium when it draws 15K. It's about exposure and an enthusiastic fanbase. Other schools offer consistent crowds of 40K+, but we have terrific locker rooms! Terrifc sales pitch.

[locostang]

Agree 100% with Pony Patrol. Our so called "tradition" is actually 20 years of crap. That is what our current tradition is. It hurts folks but is the truth. The only thing star football players in high school know about SMU is that they suck now and they have sucked for 20 years straight (might as well be forever). Saying you played for SMU is nothing special at the current moment. It is not something you boast about as a player. It can be changed, but it is a hard sell for a young kid who has visions of football glory. SMU most likely will not give that to them. SMU is a fallback option for recruits.

This next coach is going to have to be a badass. Someone who can coach the fundamentals, has amazing play calling and game control, gets respect from his players, respects them. If he has these, I believe he can win with whatever talent he has.

I could go on & on. I played football for 12 years on winning and losing teams. Coaching is such a huge part for so many reasons. Talent is pretty even across the board. Look at Southlake Carroll Highshool. Look at Highland Park Highschool winning state. Look at Boise State beating OU. App State beating Michigan. The teams/games came down to coaching.

[crazy horse]

Having multiple players in the NFL Hall of Fame, Bowl victories, national championship and Heisman Trophy winner is history. Tradition includes a host of things. Are these relevant to an 18 year old, probably not. But their parents, uncles, grandparents probably do remember a much more competitive SMU fighting it out in the SWC.

Yes, 20 years of futility hurts, but start winning and that makes the foundation established 20 years prior all the better. The point is, there is some positive history, albeit in the far past. Next year is not our first year of college football. Although it might seem that way on the field.

In other words, please don't totally dismiss the value of having some positive history of quality football. There are a whole bunch of us "older" folks that remember the better times and that is what keeps us returning in hopes that it will return so the current generation can have a similar positive experience as we did.

[TheBestAvailable]

Dear Ponyfans,

Ever since I graduated from SMU in 2000 I’ve put SMU in the rear-view mirror, and as a former lettermen it saddens me to say that I’m officially done hoping there would be a reason to lure me back.

More specifically I’m done hoping:

1. We would have fans and Alumni who cared or even got it for that matter.

2. We would have an administration and faculty who cared, because they do get it.

3. We would have a local three or four star recruit who cared enough to visit much less commit.

Let’s be honest, what are we trying to accomplish here? The people on this board talk as if SMU is owed a national title because it can spend $10 million on a coach and build a stadium that sits empty on game day. Look around you, have you seen the other stadiums and facilities of the BCS schools that compete? Not to mention the passionate fans and colorful traditions. SMU is a mid-major, lucky to have a winning season and maybe an invite to the Texas Bowl one day. Face reality. Craig James has, as well as anyone who is remotely in touch with college sports. Which brings me to my next point.

Give Orisini a break. Let him find a coach that, no doubt, recognizes what I just said and is still willing to give it a try, not for the money, but for the challenge. Not an easy task if you ask me. I thought it was very telling when Troy Calhoun turned SMU down (This guy is a good coach and SMU would have been lucky to get him). Right then and there I think Orisini knew the challenge he had in front of him. Selling a school with little tradition, small and bare bones (but nice) facilities, little passion from fans and alumni, and little support from an administration that will never forget the past.

Well, have fun in that concrete jungle called Dallas. I’ll be watching that kid that changed his commitment to dreary old Idaho. Really all you Idaho haters should get out more. Enjoy you’re drive home on LBJ freeway and I really do hope for all the true ponyfans out there that we get a good coach. I don’t care how long it takes.

Take your downtrodden, loserville mentallity and dont let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya.

I don't know who you are but you were probably one of the guys who fumbled the ball on the one, missed a tackle to cost us a close game, allowed your man to get through and block a punt.

What i do know is that you are a LOSER and SMU doesn't need you.

BYE! Go and join some bandwaggon! The rest of us TRUE fans will still be here to see this thing turned around. It will be done.

[jtstang]

What i do know is that you are a LOSER and SMU doesn't need you.

BYE! Go and join some bandwaggon! The rest of us TRUE fans will still be here to see this thing turned around. It will be done.

Way to giv'em hell after joining ponyfans on December 11, 2007!!! You go boy!

[Texas Red]

Yes, don't give CO so much trouble. Though saying he's turned his back, he's coming to blog about frustration. There is hope for you. Welcome back!

[locostang]

Look I am a proud mustang who loves our history and tradition. I would kill to get us back to that level. The only reason I know about it though is because I went to SMU. I would not have known all about the Hall of Famers and past success if I hadn't gone there.

Maybe we need to do more things that get future ballers from all of the area on site to show them all of the tradition. More camps, clinics, entertainment, etc.. It could work to get them to realize this while they are young and are thinking about where they will want to play someday. I guarantee that they don't have a clue now. Most don't even know who Dickerson is probably.

[locostang]

Have you ever played real organized football BestAvailable? Playstation doesn't count. My guess is never.

[mrydel]

Most don't even know who Dickerson is probably.

Is that the lady that played Policewoman?

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

i wonder if there are doom & gloomers at every level?

anyone close to other programs?

do the doom & gloomers never go away and die?

do programs like LSU/OhioState/USC/Florida have doom & gloomers
screaming "well we lost a game this year so we suck and we'll never
be as good as we were two years ago"

[jtstang]

i wonder if there are doom & gloomers at every level?

anyone close to other programs?

do the doom & gloomers never go away and die?

do programs like LSU/OhioState/USC/Florida have doom & gloomers
screaming "well we lost a game this year so we suck and we'll never
be as good as we were two years ago"

Apples and oranges, sir.

[mrydel]

Arkansas has a great divide. They are much more supportive of the program as a whole but they find plenty of other things to fight about.

[StallionsModelT]

Then be gone quitter. I'm going down with the Titanic that is SMU football along with the rest of us TRUE fans. You are the lowest form of scum.

[locostang]

If we can win our conference a few times and go to some bowls, then the players will probably be respected. No one repects them on campus or off.