Billy Joe wrote:The program has been a wreck for 20 years. Sure it it frusterating we have essentially flushed another season away but JJ has said this is about building a program. He has said the things he is doing now with the program are about having a competitive, winning team 5, 7, 10 years from now and not just having a quick fix. JJ has to install his rules and create a winning culture the way he knows how. I am not disappointed in JJ. I am disappointed in the players and the past anti-competitive rules that got us where we are today.
JJ was probably not the best choice, we didn't need an offensive genius, the run and shoot is fine, but the spread is just as good, see Rice or us last year, we actually scored more points.
It is obvious that what we need is someone that can recruit lights out under dire circumstances, someone with Texas ties.
Shoulda thrown all that money to Todd Graham......or Coach Fran.
Last year's team was 1-11 and guess what virtually the entire cast was back. Jones may have decided after watching these guys up close and personal that this was a ground up rebuild instead of a tweaking. He may have decided that staying with the same players would only have produced marginally better results this year than going with untested younger players. He now knows what he has and doesn't have. He can start to mold the team that he wants. He's seen BLM for an entire season. He's seen his young OL and his small DL. Positives are that the OL seems to be not that bad at pass blocking. Robinson and Sanders (while both serial rules violators) do have some talent, but need to get with the program. The rest of the wideouts while young seem to have some ability as well. BLM has played like a true freshman QB learning a new offense with receivers learning a new offense and linemen learning a new offense. Its had some great moments and some crappy moments. Five years ago, I watched as the Washington Capitals had a firesale. Then there was the lockout. The next two seasons were almost unwatchable. Now they are one of the most solid young teams in the NHL with a few scattered veterans.
pony81 makes some points. as a season ticket holder/mustang club member since 1990 my patience is about gone. you have to at some point show some measure of improvement, even baby steps, and it is hard to continue to invest time and money on what amounts to so far a worthless investment.
I want more than anything June to succeed, but there needs to be some signs next year we are going to go in the right direction or even us most loyal fans will say this is stupid to do this. I too will be unable to continue to try and justify buying my football and basketball season tickets, contributing to the mustang club, etc.
Ironically, I got a call at the office yesterday from SMU asking me to make a pledge early for next years mustang club and to confirm my interest in season tickets. Seems bad timing from the marketing dept. to try and hit up donations right after we lost a homecoming game.
As far as Texas recruiting and June, don't know his plan but again this week the Tulsa and Houston people have been making contacts at the Madison, Alamo Heights, and Judson campuses. I still hate seeing kids from down here at successful programs play for other conf. USA foes against us.
Yes, we do....but not new people who come on here and tell true fans who have struggled through years and years of disappointment to go away. That is very insulting.....but you probably don't get it.
I think a lot of the unspoken frustration comes from the fact that JJ led Hawaii to a 9 win season, a year after going winless. We were in a very similar situation as a program, yet the turnaround was not made.
Maybe our players are that much worse. Maybe JJ didn't coach as effectively as he did in '99. The fact is, that season at Hawaii was a true aberration in college football. Expectations in comparison are not fair, nor were any expectations of this team winning until JJ has had time to recruit and implement his system.
I have come to see SMU football as a vintage automobile needing restoration after years of neglect.
In its prime, it was hot, flashy and successful. All the babes loved it and all the other guys were envious. Then a wreck happen and the owners decided not to invest in rebuilding. After 20 years, some parts are worn out and some don't work at all. Inadequate replacement parts have been used for years just to keep it running. Routine maintenance was woeful and that lack of attention has made the vehicle even less reliable. To find the right personnel to restore a vintage auto or program will take time, working authentic parts and a bunch of money.
Once the restorer is hired, we can't expect showroom restoration in a short period of time. We have to let them tear down the thing, find out what is usable and what has to be replaced and then go about finding those replacements. Then reassembling the thing. And once reassembled, and then working out the bugs.
We hired JJ to restore the football program. Now we need to give him the resources to indentify the areas he needs to improve or replace and then rebuild.
I will continue my support of SMU athletics and season tickets. I am anxious to see the old gal running smooth and as good as new.
