JJ Austin event

[smupony94]

Was nice to meet Thad and Longhorn68

Of all the SMU events I have been to in Austin (athletic or not) this was one of the largest, most diverse crowds I have seen

I lked having most of the athletic department there. I think Orsini has made some good hires

JJ discussed some of the recruits but says 5-6 will be starters and 15-16 will have a chance to play next year and he does have players that will be in the NFL.

When asked about the starting quarterback he stated he heard we had a good backup quarterback and he believes Bo Mitchell ("That Katy Quarterback") is the type of player who can start as a freshman. He also said that the best player will start, and that it does not matter if he is a Junior or Freshman.

I am sure Thad will have more to add.

PLus June was in a nice sports jacket and blue shirt. I am color blind so I think it was blue.

[smupony94]

He was also very proud to have landed Quincey Whittington and Blake McJunkin. He apologized for not being able to praise all of the recruits as he was only given about 5 minutes. I am sold on JJ after hearing him speak. I did not get the feeling that he was merely telling people what they want to hear, that he in fact believes in it too or he would not left a place that he loves.

[ThadFilms]

Yeah I have stuff to add, but I am working on a post for the general board... which I now have to revise due to your renewed posting.


So are you sworn to silence on your infiltration of the double secret post HH dinner? Or can you give us plebes any extra kernels of wisdom?




And yes, I'll be back in a few to update with my perspective.

[smupony94]

Yeah I have stuff to add, but I am working on a post for the general board... which I now have to revise due to your renewed posting.


So are you sworn to silence on your infiltration of the double secret post HH dinner? Or can you give us plebes any extra kernels of wisdom?




And yes, I'll be back in a few to update with my perspective.

Dinner was boring

[smu diamond m]

Thats one thing that struck me about JJ from the beginning -- the fact that he makes people believe in what he's saying. It's a lot easier to do when you believe in it and know you can do it.

Complacency is the first step towards failure.

[ThadFilms]

Yeah I have stuff to add, but I am working on a post for the general board... which I now have to revise due to your renewed posting.


So are you sworn to silence on your infiltration of the double secret post HH dinner? Or can you give us plebes any extra kernels of wisdom?




And yes, I'll be back in a few to update with my perspective.

Dinner was boring

My post is up on the general board.... be back to comment on things more germane to this topic.

Too bad about dinner. I am hoping that at least the food was good...

[SMU 86]

Since JJ has mentioned Bo Levi Mitchell could compete for a starting spot at QB I found some video on him on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... i+mitchell

[ThadFilms]

Thats one thing that struck me about JJ from the beginning -- the fact that he makes people believe in what he's saying. It's a lot easier to do when you believe in it and know you can do it.

Complacency is the first step towards failure.

True. That's definitely what came off again tonight.

It was enjoyable to see Mike O'Neal and his son John. Good to see my man Jack Sanders... and good to finally meet that 94 guy.

------


Orsini was effusive and engaging as ever. His finest line of the night came when he was introducing the new football coach thanking us all for all the advice we gave him during the 71 day coaching search.

Though Orsini's demeanor seems just the same as all my previous meetings with him... I could just tell that he was again enjoying the moment. Yes he always seems on top of the game, a step ahead. But there was an undercurrent, that could have been real or imagined, that was kind of like - you see? C'mon, you knew I was the man! I'm the man!

I made sure to thank Orsini post haste. I walked up and said, something along the lines of, THank you, Steve. Thank you, Mr. Orsini." We chatted for a bit and when it was done, I turned to LF68 and said, "Okay, I've done all I came here for we could go, but might as well enjoy the open bar."


Coach Jones seemed a whole lot more comfortable in this environ than I have as to date seen him, though still looking uncomfortable in his clothing - to which LF68 commented, "C'mon! The dude's been wearing a lei for the past ten years!" .... that was before we even made it to the event, which allows me to step back for a moment.

LF68 tagged along this evening, and I was grateful for it... he had some good insights - I won't steal his thunder I will allow him to share them later.... you know after he has some wife time. I joked to 94 that he was my date tonight, but LF68 put it best when we were at the sign in table:

ThadFilms: Hi, I'm Thaddeus Matula.
LF68: I'm 'And Guest'.


Anyhow, back to Coach Jones... it was nice to hear him drop in a few wry remarks here and there. Which is what I loved about him on Todd Wright All Night on ESPN Radio. Just kind of the unexpected funny.

I can't do any of them justice because it's not about what[/] he said being funny - just more how he said it. The best of the bunch was talking about Taylor Thompson, at 6-6 looking like an NFL player... 250 pounds.... just looks like the real deal - "We're gonna' have him get off the bus first."

Or about B.J. Lee - "If you look there," we all had signing day recruit lists in our hands, "he's listed there at 5' 5". That's wrong," a small pause. "He's more like 5'4"." .... Probably a, you had to be there moment, but Coach Jones was on point tonight.


He spoke about the players and it was, to most of us who have paid attention to this site, things we have already heard. Save for maybe perhaps the note that he thinks that 15 or 16 of these guys are going to play right away..... I must note here, he was nearly as effusive as he has been about Bo Levi Mitchell in the [i]first go around (still generously lauding him, mind you, but by the time we got to him, he was kind of trucking while running through the recruits) but...


Only one question was asked during the Q&A portion.... starting quarterback -

June Jones immediately started talking about our backup quarterback. About all the great things he's heard and seen... "And, of course" he's seen a lot of Willis. But, this "kid from Katy", he went on, is really good. He has a chance to come in immediately as a true freshman "and do some things".

That was probably the biggest news of the night.


I only got to speak with JJ at the end of the evening, LF68 was present as well, and I am sure he will chime in with his thoughts as well.... I didn't go into much, just thanked him and told him that I used to listen to him on Todd Wright All Night... back when my insomnia was at it's peak. We joked about his All Night appearances, which he still does, but that was about it.




All in all it was a fantastic way to spen an hour and a half.... and if you ever find yourself in Austin - Saba Blue Water Cafe.... their hors d’oeuvres are awesome. I knew this before, but I was so glad that they catered (they're right up stairs). Just brilliant. And if you are currently an SMU student, should you move to Austin.... or date a girl in Austin.... it's the perfect first date place. Especially if you take her during happy hour - all the hors d’oeuvres are half price. Zing!

[ALEX LIFESON]

How many folks were there?

[ThadFilms]

How many folks were there?

40?

Since JJ has mentioned Bo Levi Mitchell could compete for a starting spot at QB I found some video on him on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... i+mitchell

Wow.

[SMU 86]

I believe this is going to be an exciting year for Mustang football.

[AusTxPony]

Good to see such a nice crowd there. I spoke to JJ when I first arrived and asked if it were true we would have no "Red and Blue" game at the end of Spring Training. He said it would not be a real game since we did not have enough??? players. He went on the explain that several players have let their academics suffer during the coach search. Does anyone know exactly who he meant?
I was surprised at his enthusiasm with his recruiting class and that he had little to say about the current players. I wonder if he has spent so much time of his short tenure on this new class and has had litlle time to devote to the current guys or he seriously means every position is truly open and there is no sense talking about the previous year's team.
I agree that he absolutely believes in his system and in his ability to turn this thing around. He does inspire confidence and does not allow for doubt. We "sunshiners" could be happy puppies at the end of the season next year. He did say this new class WILL be a part of the SMU-JJ legacy by being a bowl team, just not sure how soon. So keep the faith, boys.
I, like Thad, could only thank Orsini for his success in bringing a BIG TIME coach to us.

[LonghornFan68]

I don't have a whole lot add other than it was nice to meet Steve Orsini and his crew. I was pleased to have a chance to meet coach Jones but I got the sense that when he learned of my burnt orange background that he didn't feel like we had much more to talk about. However, all-in-all I think he is a very engaging man and I think SMU is very lucky to have him as their head coach. I got the sense that he really believed he could turn things around and he was happy to have solid support both in the hometown and abroad.

Now to get people to show up.

[Pony Soup]

Theme of the night out of all who rep smu was "we want fans in the seats." Huge push to sell tickets to anyone and everyone, including a recent mailing to more than 160,000 alumni, dallasites, etc.

For those of you who cannot attend, buy season tickets and they will allow you to donate them back so they can give them to local charities/organizations who will get people to the games.

Should also note that ponyfans is a source of feedback for them. They were extremely happy with the recent thread related to positive season ticket purchasing experiences: http://www.ponyfans.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=31466



And, finally, at the risk of revealing my identity...I was very pleased with June's response to my question: WHO will be SMU's starting quarterback?

[LonghornFan68]

Theme of the night out of all who rep smu was "we want fans in the seats." Huge push to sell tickets to anyone and everyone, including a recent mailing to more than 160,000 alumni, dallasites, etc.

For those of you who cannot attend, buy season tickets and they will allow you to donate them back so they can give them to local charities/organizations who will get people to the games.

Should also note that ponyfans is a source of feedback for them. They were extremely happy with the recent thread related to positive season ticket purchasing experiences: http://www.ponyfans.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=31466



And, finally, at the risk of revealing my identity...I was very pleased with June's response to my question: WHO will be SMU's starting quarterback?

I think huge push is a bit much (at least in terms of the tone of tonight). I think it was an appropriate amount of appealing to the attendees to step up and help support the program, but i don't think it was excessive.

And now I know who you are, so I can start e-stalking you.