Two interesting nuggets

[Scoops]

Talked to a friend today who has some connections (certainly more than I do, since he's one of mine). He told me two things that caught my interest. I trust his connections pretty well, but take this for whatever it's worth:

1) Dennis Franchione would start tomorrow if offered. Word is he's hoping to hear from SMU and calling friends and colleagues in the coaching industry who might be able to grease the skids a little.

2) Supposedly there are a couple of big-bucks SMU alums who are pushing for ... Scott Smith. Yes, that Scott Smith - former SMU assistant coach, Baylor assistant head coach, wildly successful HPHS/Rockwall head coach and father of SMU commitment Braden Smith. Has had great success in HS, and was regarded as a solid recruiter at Baylor.

Not my choice, but word is there are some movers-and-shakers who like him and are trying to somehow squeeze him into the search.

[planoponyfan]

Interesting nuggets. I really dislike the idea of hiring a high school coach. Mr. Dodge has shown at UNT that the transition can be very rough.

Seems to me like that would be out of the question for Orsini.

I think the list right now is June Jones, Franchione, Coker and maybe Jon Tenuta. (probably in that order of preference too)

[LakeHighlandsPony]

Maybe we can bring in Scott as an assistant. No way he is going to be a D-1 head coach.

[PK]

At this point, if it isn't June Jones or Shula, then sign Fran up and put him to work...NOW.

[Scoops]

Maybe we can bring in Scott as an assistant. No way he is going to be a D-1 head coach.

I agree. Might be a worthwhile assistant, if only because many Texas HS coaches seem to revere him as some kind of a legend. No idea about his coaching ability.

[westexSMU]

[quote="PK"]At this point, if it isn't June Jones or Shula, then sign Fran up and put him to work...NOW.[/quote]..............You have it in the RIGHT ORDER !

[tombstone]

I really believe Fran would turn this thing around in a hurry. he wants t oprove once again what a fine coach he is. After A&M i believe he wants a chance to redeem himslef a chance ot prove he is the man. He love Dallas, Will recruit well in TX and is ready to go. Get him signed up now!!!

[locostang]

I have posted this before, but 2 former star TCU players that played under Fran told me that we should hire Fran.

[Billy Joe]

Fran would fit my criteria of a coach...proven Div. 1-A winner (several schools)....did he really do that bad at A&M? He did not have a lot of talent when he arrived (no playmakers). He created winning seasons and bowl games. He did beat Texas 2 years in a row. I would take a winning season and a bowl game at SMU...isn't that what we are asking for? I also beleive the idea of the Rockwall headcoach but probably for an asst. position. The new coach will make that decision though. The new coach should be in place before the dead period of over.

[MustangMan2001]

Fran would fit my criteria of a coach...proven Div. 1-A winner (several schools)....did he really do that bad at A&M? He did not have a lot of talent when he arrived (no playmakers). He created winning seasons and bowl games. He did beat Texas 2 years in a row. I would take a winning season and a bowl game at SMU...isn't that what we are asking for? I also beleive the idea of the Rockwall headcoach but probably for an asst. position. The new coach will make that decision though. The new coach should be in place before the dead period of over.

I apologize for my ignorance, what is the end of the dead period? I would think it is coming up pretty soon, but am just being to lazy to look it up

[QuikSStang]

January 4th I believe. But I read that you can call recruits once per week. I hope Steve-O hasn't forgotten about them!

http://recruiting-101.com/the-recruitin ... d-is-here/

[MustangMan2001]

January 4th I believe. But I read that you can call recruits once per week. I hope Steve-O hasn't forgotten about them!

http://recruiting-101.com/the-recruitin ... d-is-here/

I didnt think he was allowed to call anymore after his waiver expired just before the end of the season

[perunapower]

January 4th I believe. But I read that you can call recruits once per week. I hope Steve-O hasn't forgotten about them!

http://recruiting-101.com/the-recruitin ... d-is-here/

I didnt think he was allowed to call anymore after his waiver expired just before the end of the season

No, but a couple of guys in the department passed a test and are able to recruit for us. I think one of them was the recruiting coordinator for Alabama in the past.

[DiamondM75]

Steve-O can not contact recruits because the waiver has expired, however, we do have 2 employees of the athletic department who have passed the NCAA recruiting requirements and are allowed to recruit.

I don't think they would make any offers without the head coach's OK, but they can at least make contact, pitch the school, pitch the program and even pitch the new coach when he is named. I think recruiting will suffer this year, but we can recruit without a HC. If we can just name the coach, then recruiting can still happen even without the new coach being on campus.

[Longtime]

Just a theory, but maybe we're waiting to see whether West Virginia hires Bowden. If they don't, then we offer the job to Bowden - or at least give him a serious interview.

If Bowden isn't available, then we offer Fran. These two make the most sense of what's available. I don't necessarily believe in this theory, but it is possible.

I've heard Orsini/Vaught screwed the pooch with Bowden when the job first became available. Maybe time and a rejection from West Va. will smooth things over.

I don't believe June Jones leaves Hawaii, not for SMU. Maybe for an NFL job. If we're waiting for him, it better be because he's already accepted the job. I hope we're not waiting for him just so he can turn us down.