Thursday's Dallas Morning News

[Stallion]

what a load of crap!

<small>[ 11-13-2003, 06:36 AM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>

[Johnny Rock]

InfinittyRR--I am not stabbing any of the players in the back. I am just speaking truths. I have been supporting the team since 1992. I have heard the same rah rah crap every year from the athletic department. However, as the article suggests, we are not competiting on a level playing field. It is like asking someone to fist fight with only one hand. It does not make sense. Maybe my posts seem harsh at times but this school needs more fans like me to speak the truth. I know many SMU fans who are too chicken **** to speak their mind freely. Why did Cavan get fired? Wins and losses? I do not think so. The administration already has told us time and time again that winning is not important to them. He got fired because of lack of attendance. Why schedule Big 12 teams in our non-conference? The administration does not care if we get humiliated. It is about attendance. My point? If the administration really cared about winning games it would happen. Equal level playing field and easier nonconference games. Get a clue people. Wake up!!! Drink some more coffee if it helps!!! The state of SMU football is at an all time low!! Whose to blame? Copeland? Yes. Turner? Yes. The Board of Trustes? Yes. Bennett? No. Cavan? No. Rosley? No. SMU fans? No. Do you expect us to support a losing team when the administration does not care? Is it fun to watch a team throw to one player for 7 touchdowns and have the other teams fans outnumber you? No. One day we may cherish those games when we are playing Moutain Community College Central in Division II because that is were we are headed if the administration does not wake up to the realities of Division 1 athletics. A message to all SMU fans and please respond to this question. How does it feel to get out recruited by North Texas?

[Dooby]

Originally posted by INFINITYRR:
Johnny Rock-TwentyThree good football players made a commitment to SMU last year. How about you do the same and support them in helping to rebuild the program? If you have a problem about admission standards call Turner, call Copeland call Bennett. Stop stabbing the players in the back.

Sam I Am- If you want to know how the players feel about Bennett why don't you ask them?

Not that you asked me, I did send an e-mail at to the athletic department hoping for a response to certain questions. To date, I have not received a reply.

[Water Pony]

Right on Infinity. JR is a troll and NOT an SMU supporter. No alum won't intentionally trash his school and those are working to fix it. Turner and Copeland didn't create the problem, despite our continued struggles. JR should support a pro team, where trashing your own team is considered high art. He sounds like a Junior Hi student, who runs his mouth and doesn't have clue that his actions are damaging to something he presumably cares for. Funny way of showing. Please ignore this idiot

<small>[ 11-13-2003, 07:24 AM: Message edited by: Water Pony ]</small>

[INFINITYRR]

Twenty-Three players made a committment to rebuild this program last year. Tell me how boycotting games affect them? It is a stab in the back to them. Tell me how you get better recuits to come to SMU without fan support. Complain to the administration in mass is the only thing that will get their attention, a chat board will not do it.

[Johnny Rock]

Listen up and listen good. I go to all home games when I can. I am one of the most passionate SMU fans in town. I live and die with SMU. Are my opinions popular? No. Are my opinions truthful and accurate? Yes. Once you guys live and feel my pain then you will understand.

[I AM]

Recruits read PonyFans.com because they either find out about the site from other recruits and/or players, or they find out about us because we call and interview almost all recruits (and their coaches) that have a serious interest in SMU.

Obviously, once we interview them they tend to stay tuned to the site to see what everyone is saying about them and the program as a whole.

[Stallion]

you know I don't think any fan should boycott games which makes me wonder why 80% of the seats in the Mustang Club boxes are empty? And if 5,000 actual paid SMU fans actually find their way into Ford Stadium on Saturday I'll be surprised-and some of you guys actually think that the administration and AD have done everything that is necessary to get this program on track? Check the attendance ticker Saturday and let me suggest that some of you Cheerleaders best start listening to the roar of those 25,000 empty seats. Maybe you can figure out how to keep recruits from noticing that.

<small>[ 11-13-2003, 08:19 AM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>

[EastStang]

You know I made that point about a month ago, and I was told that I was nuts when I questioned the loyalty of those (with alleged inside knowledge) who brought up whiny issues about player gripes. One of my points was that potential recruits do look at this site and if they think the coach is on thin ice or that he has "lost the players" might very well go elsewhere. Most of those visiting Frog and UNT posters have mysteriously disappeared.

On to the Article, boy there was a lot between the lines, but one thing that struck me was that Bennett did not fully follow the tear it down recipe by sticking with loyal upperclassmen. That shows that he really does care for his players even if they aren't producing. This runs contrary to some of the issues posted here by trolls in the past.

[gostangs]

Look - we have not been outrecruited by NTSU - I think Stallion has posted ad naseum on this already. We have been outrecruited by most of our competitors and that started to change last year and hopefully will again this year. It will take two more eyars to see the fruits of this labor - Bennett is a great recruiter - that will overcome game day caoching if he can sustain it -we will see.

From his other posts I think Johnny is a fan, but boycotting is childish, or just an excuse to be cheap. Push the administration to relieve whichever rules are in excess of our competitors - i have heard this has happened already or is happening this year. They just don't want to be too public about it, becuase they need to get it in under the faculty radar and they like to say we do it the right way - the same B.S. that Notre Dame trys to make everyone believe.

You want to help? - show up to everything - be positive even though it defies reality (if you just can't do that at least shut up - nobody likes a complaining whiner and it does not good anyway) - push administration for even admission field, cheer hard for whatever player puts on an SMU uniform to represent our school. SMU needs a winning additude from everyone - unless you are a player or a coach it is about all you can do to contribute.

[MizterTea]

Originally posted by DallasDiehard:
Yes and no - it's true that few recruits would care what Stallion or you or I or anyone else on this board thinks. But if there's an overwhelming sense of doom - not necessarily about what happened in last week's game, but for the overall future of the program, then it does make an impression. I've talked to recruits before, and they do know about our board and check it regularly (maybe because there's more information on SMU sports here than anywhere else). Whatever the reason, they check out this site. Maybe they hear the promos at the games - who knows. What I do know is that recruits read this board, and that we need to consider the ramifications before we speak.

I still have trouble believing it really effects them - when you consider that EVERY SCHOOL has a board like this one - and I would wager that 95% are MUCH HARSHER on their programs that these suckas are on this board.

www.firmackbrown.com (he can't win in October, but he wins in February - website or not)
www.fir

[Hoop Fan]

gostangs - the notion that the fans have to push and cajole the administration to make changes to get competitive is a bit absurd when you think about it. Is this just one big game of hide the ball from the dumb alums until they figure it out or get fed up, whichever comes first? I hope thats not the case but with articles like today, it sure seems to be. This sunshiner is getting pretty fed up.

[Johnny Rock]

Attendance numbers speak louder than any words poor old Johnny can speak on this board. Many of the alumni and students do not attend games. They have been boycotting games for years. Every year it seems that the attendance numbers are dropping. I was embarressed for the team at the Boise St. game. The point is this....if the administration does not allow the coaches to compete on a level playing field, then SMU will eventually be forced to drop out of Division 1-A athletics. Many of you are still in denial but remember I only speak truths.

[Stallion]

and let's face some facts-how many fans do we really have when you take away the 20,000 Tech fans, the 15,000 OSU fans, the 10,000 TCU fans, and the 10,000 free tickets at the UTEP game over the last few years-we have no more than 10,000-12,000 fans left at most-IF they all decide to show up at once. And yet we are not supposed to be alarmed at 0-10, 23% winning percentage over 14 years, no bowls and no championships. No urgent push to address changes that must be addressed. I'm alarmed some of you people are not alarmed. Do you work for the athletic department?

[PonySnob]

PonySnob supports the Mustangs!!