When can we officially begin to panic?

[Mustang1991]

Anybody else getting a little anxious about not having a new coach two months after the search began and on the verge of a new year? I am, and have been, willing to give SO the benefit of the doubt that he knows what he's doing and is a man with a plan. But the stories about Coker and Fran and Jones are causing me to believe there WAS a plan (Paul Johnson) and when that plan failed there was no organized backup plan. There is at least an appearance of scrambling now.

I hope and pray that I am wrong. I can live with the wait if SO pulls a rabbit out of the hat but that appears less and less likely.

[ponyinNC]

get ready for a Fran-tastic season if JJ says no and RN gets the job at ucla.

[Cadillac]

There were certain deadlines that could have concievably lead to panic. End of the Season, JUCO Signing day, Start of the December Dead Period... these were all specific days that meant something bad for the team. On or right after each of those days was probably a good time to panic.

But today is no different than Yesterday (unless you thought the next coach was coming from t.u. or AzSt.). I think that the next panic day would be a day this coming Monday, once the NFL is done, or perhaps a day or two into the new year after all the bowls are done.

-CoS

[EastStang]

If no coach by January 21, you might want to start to panic.

[BRStang]

Bo Pelini's wife was just in my driveway picking up my daughter. She says we're screwed.

[StallionsModelT]

No reason to panic quite yet. As EastStang said if we are sitting here in 3 weeks with no coach, then something has gone terribly wrong. I believe that SMU is waiting on UCLA to make a decision on RN while keeping June Jones in their backpocket as a longshot candidate. If both of those fall through, then I think its Fran's job to lose.

[Nacho]

I think ponyin NC almost hit the nail on the head. UCLA might offer Neuheisel after all. JJ could easily stay in Hawaii. Fran is the logical choice which means SMU will hire Coker.

[ponyinNC]

I think ponyin NC almost hit the nail on the head. UCLA might offer Neuheisel after all. JJ could easily stay in Hawaii. Fran is the logical choice which means SMU will hire Coker.

now that was funny!!

[Pony_Fan]

I'd say we are about in the panic mode stage now.

[mrydel]

I have no panic. Our program is in the need of real help and apparently it is taking some time to convince someone with the ability to help to come and help.

First, my guess is that Jones is not the person for whom we are waiting. Second, I do not believe a coach will be named until after the Christmas break. And third I think we are having to give extra time for the new coach to forget more football than we all know.

[Nacho]

If not next week then we are in full metal jacket panic mode.

We already have the record. Sure we could extend it so that no one in their right mind would ever attempt it but I say we ease off the pedal next week and give in. I'm all for records and I love to rub it in the face of any team I can but I feel strongly that we are in pretty good shape as is.

Maybe in 5 years we can beat our own record or die trying.

[DiamondM75]

Panic date = September 6, 2008.

[Stallion]

If we bring in a new Coach who has never recruited Texas then the coming January deadlines should already be causing immediate action. Its going to take a week to 10 days to hire a Staff. No Coach has seriously been recruiting for this program since about early October-that's about 3 months. These recruits have moved on. This delay is presently affecting the ability of SMU to hit the road running in January especially if its an out of state Coach and Staff. Recruiting is essentially over a week before signing date. You can't bring in new coaches to a new region for a school that hasn't been actively recruiting for 3 months and expect any results in about the 14 remaining recruiting days which have any real significance-the last weekend is for leftovers and walkons.

[StallionsModelT]

This year's recruiting class is an afterthought. The focus should be on getting the right man for the job. Will it set us back a little? Of course. But its not the overwhelming factor as some chickens here woud lead you to believe.

[EastStang]

Just to not forget, Terry Bowden may have been slow playing us to see what happened at WVU. If WVU doesn't come through for him, he may be back in the mix as well. And of course there is Mike Shula. NFL regular season ends Sunday for the Jags, I think. Still lots of unclaimed solid coaches out there. With JJ, Coker, Fran, Bowden, Slick Rick, Shula and perhaps others out there, we still have some very solid options. Fran by the way would be the toughest to sign because he doesn't have to work next year to earn $1 M.