General Studies

[Nacho]

All the big schools have a General Studies and PE major. It seems to be a big deal in recruiting. It might be difficult (read money) to start a PE major but how difficult would it be to put together a General Studies major? We might get some jucos through that door. I know we are never going to play for the National Championship as Dr Turner stated in SI but it would be nice to eventually play for the WAC Championship.

[gostangs]

Nacho is right on - this is one of the last remaining areas were the field is not level for us - we have to get this fixed to get the top recruits and keep them in school - its that simple. We have to fully committ regardless of the faculty flack.

[Johnny Rock]

Why create a general studies program or PE major if SMU can never win a National Championship? I certainly do not believe those programs are needed to win a WAC championship or whatever conference SMU may eventully end up with. I do believe that team in a mid-major conference could win a national championship. The past few year, teams such as Fresno St., BYU, and even TCU were highly ranked at the end of the year. A team from a mid-major conference that plays a tough non conference schedule and go undeafeated could certainly be in the BCS mix at the end of the year, especially if some of the top programs all had a loss or two. It is an unlikely senerio but it could happen under the right circumstances. Also, what if a playoff system is created where the conference champions get a playoff berth. SMU gets some great talent; wins their conference title; and upsets some teams in a playoff system. Unlikely? Yes. But such a situation could happen. With that being said, I like Bennett and his staff and I am already looking forward to next season.

[SMUguy]

I'm with Johnny Rock on this one. Unless we suddenly start annihilating teams and somehow get moved into a conference that at least would allow us to compete for a national title, I prefer to maintain a level of academic snobbery over schools that can pass guys through the system by allowing them to major in General Studies, with a minor in bowling.

[Nacho]

I'm not even sure what General Studies entails. Back in the dark ages, we had a major that consisted of 3 social studies programs of which you were allowed to pick form the various departments. An example might be psychology, sociology and philosophy. I'm not sure what it was called but it sounds like a General Studies type of major. By General Studies say at Ohio State do they mean a combination PE, recreation mgmt, prarks and wildlife etc.? I wouldn't get too snobbish about dear old SMU. We need to level the field. Maybe you get pleasure from getting your brains beat out every Saturday but it is not a whole lot of fun for me. Any school that offers Art History as a major can't be that tough.

[gostangs]

I just disagree on this one - if we want to play them game we have to go the whole way. We can be the best we can be with high academic standards, a half empty stadium and best case 6-5, or we can admit what it takes and get an even playing field -

[Nacho]

Here's what it takes to win and win big:
1--great coaches
2--great players
3--that's the secret. Now everyone knows.

Do we have great coaches? Time will tell.

Do we have great players? No. Some are very good but we need 3-4 years of very good and dare I dream great classes. How Nacho, you ask, do we do this? Simple. We recruit by the same standards and offer the same majors as everyone else. If not we are doomed to mediocrity and eventually to extinction.

[PX]

If you are creating this General Studies major from classes that SMU already offers, its not going to help you get JC players admitted. If a SMU accepts a class for transfer credit it doesnt matter if its your major or not.
Outside of PE, majors arent an issue. JC players sign a week from today, they've been in college for 3 semesters. How many classes in your major had you taken at that point? SMU already accepts almost everything a person would reasonably take in their first 2 years of school, English, History, almost anything in communications, pre-business classes like Accounting and Econ, introductory chemistry, biology and physics, etc.
Having PE would be helpful, and every once in awhile a JC player majors in something really obscure (a few years ago we lost a basketball recruit because he wanted to major in Animal Husbandry, and he had one class that wouldnt transfer) but I dont see where General Studies would change anything.

[Nacho]

PX other than PE not being available why do you think we don't/can't recruit juco players to any significant degree?

[PX]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Nacho:
<B>PX other than PE not being available why do you think we don't/can't recruit juco players to any significant degree?</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Email me. [email protected]

[Mickey]

PX, Don't pull this BS. I want to hear your response to Nacho's question. No Emails. I would like your public response. Thanks.