No awards banquet for '08 team!

[Pony Soup]

Oh, of course there should be a senior dinner or something

I'll take them to Polvo's

[StallionsModelT]

Hats off to the seniors. I'm sure that most of them put a great deal of their time, effort, and energy into SMU football. But the sad fact of the matter is they provided ZERO leadership on this team reflected by the inordinant number of suspensions/violations during this season. There was no accountability within the locker room outside of the coaches. Great teams have leaders who hold their teammates accountable and we didn't have any of that. JJ is trying to build some chemistry with these guys and he is showing them that you don't get rewarded for having a lousy year and being basically a group of jackasses off the field. Stop coddling these guys who are getting a world class education for free to play a sport and win one game against Plano East.

[ALEX LIFESON]

RGV PONY asked-Meanwhile, what road trips is everyone going on next year? Off the top of my head, we have the following to choose from

Pullman, WA
Houston
Ft Worth
any idea who we play from the east part of CUSA? Marshall maybe? ECU?

ECU will be here, we travel to Pullman, Ft. Worth, Tulsa, Houston, Marshall, and UAB. I probably make at least 5 of them.

[StallionsModelT]

I'm absolutely going to the Washington State, TCU, and Houston games. I don't know about Marshall. West Va is pretty but I don't think I'll be heading up there for that one.

[FWMustangGirl]

We'll be at the TCU game (obviously), and possibly Houston.

[RGV Pony]

RGV PONY asked-Meanwhile, what road trips is everyone going on next year? Off the top of my head, we have the following to choose from

Pullman, WA
Houston
Ft Worth
any idea who we play from the east part of CUSA? Marshall maybe? ECU?

ECU will be here, we travel to Pullman, Ft. Worth, Tulsa, Houston, Marshall, and UAB. I probably make at least 5 of them.

I've already requested a weekend pass for Pullman. To that, I'll add Ft Worth and Houston. Tulsa and Bham probably depend on how the season's going, although Bham is more of a probability.

[expony18]

Hats off to the seniors. I'm sure that most of them put a great deal of their time, effort, and energy into SMU football. But the sad fact of the matter is they provided ZERO leadership on this team reflected by the inordinant number of suspensions/violations during this season. There was no accountability within the locker room outside of the coaches. Great teams have leaders who hold their teammates accountable and we didn't have any of that. JJ is trying to build some chemistry with these guys and he is showing them that you don't get rewarded for having a lousy year and being basically a group of jackasses off the field. Stop coddling these guys who are getting a world class education for free to play a sport and win one game against Plano East.

the [deleted] is never ending... lighten up a little bit. the seniors derve to be honored and thanked for putting in their hard work and tears into this program. sure there were some off the field instances but that stuff goes on all the time from UT to Buffalo. as for lack lf leadership? llok at just willis, hos situation could have gone bad real fast, but he took his punishment like a man, and tried to help team in any way possible.... that's a leader. the senoirs also deserve a dinner for their hard work that gives you somehting to [deleted] about. these kids are smu. students. atheletes. mustangs. while the recod is poor, the team fought until the very end.
time.

[SMUer]

Hats off to the seniors. I'm sure that most of them put a great deal of their time, effort, and energy into SMU football. But the sad fact of the matter is they provided ZERO leadership on this team reflected by the inordinant number of suspensions/violations during this season. There was no accountability within the locker room outside of the coaches. Great teams have leaders who hold their teammates accountable and we didn't have any of that. JJ is trying to build some chemistry with these guys and he is showing them that you don't get rewarded for having a lousy year and being basically a group of jackasses off the field. Stop coddling these guys who are getting a world class education for free to play a sport and win one game against Plano East.

the [deleted] is never ending... lighten up a little bit. the seniors derve to be honored and thanked for putting in their hard work and tears into this program. sure there were some off the field instances but that stuff goes on all the time from UT to Buffalo. as for lack lf leadership? llok at just willis, hos situation could have gone bad real fast, but he took his punishment like a man, and tried to help team in any way possible.... that's a leader. the senoirs also deserve a dinner for their hard work that gives you somehting to [deleted] about. these kids are smu. students. atheletes. mustangs. while the recod is poor, the team fought until the very end.
time.

I don't know...I appreciate Justin Willis' late-season attitude and all but I think we're devaluing leadership by saying that not throwing a temper tantrum, not transferring to a different program and trying hard when put into a game exemplifies leadership. But then again, you may know something about what went on in the locker room that I don't...

[StallionsModelT]

I forgot Justin Willis was a senior last year.

Seriously, like I said, congratulations and hats off to the seniors for the hard work they've put in over the last four years. I think a great reward is an SMU education and open doors for their professional lives that would otherwise have been a pipe dream for most of them. A 120K education and getting to play Div.1A college football (sort of) is a reward in and of itself. Jones is making a statement to the rest of the team that he isn't going to reward failure. Besides, like I said, what awards would we be handing out? The participation award? Maybe we could do it like a high school favorites banquet. Ya know Best Dressed, Wittiest, Class Clown, etc.

[High Horse]

I think the banquet used to be hosted by the Mustang Football Families and individual ticket sales. It was funded by an event that was held in the spring, the women's football clinic. It was a pretty typical fund raiser, donated food, beer, wine, silent auction, and the abc's of football provided by Phil Bennett and the other coaches. Lots of moms of area high school kids used to go.
I believe the banquet used to be held on campus right after the last home game. The parents were told that the athletic department wanted to "upgrade" the banquet and took it out of their hands. The ladies clinic went away last year.
I can understand that these families might feel a little "bait and switch" has gone on here as it appears they were given a specific date for the banquet. On the other hand, the athletic department is looking at a declining economy and I'm not sure "June Cometh" is going to inspire renewed season ticket sales this year.

[CA Mustang]

I think a great reward is an SMU education and open doors for their professional lives that would otherwise have been a pipe dream for most of them.

Wow, do you look at all fellow Mustangs who played sports that way? Or just the football players?

Frankly, I am surprised at the some of the hostile reactions on this thread. It's like since SMU's season didn't meet your expectations (nor mine), everyone associated with the program needs to be punished. If the players weren't trying, that would be one thing. But if the players simply weren't talented enough, then that goes back to the coaching staff that recruited them. But why the need to slap the seniors (and their familes) in the face? Heck, it's a dinner. It's not like SMU is sending them to Disney World!

A bottom line mentality is fine for the NFL, but I don't recall SMU joining the NFL.

[Nacho]

Trophies and hugs for everyone.

They all made me so proud. Tried their hearts out. Good job guys! Next year we will have fun again. Remember it's not about winning but about fun.

[George S. Patton]

Trophies and hugs for everyone.

They all made me so proud. Tried their hearts out. Good job guys! Next year we will have fun again. Remember it's not about winning but about fun.

From what you heard and based on the Mitchell comments at the end of the year, that appeared to be the mentality of several in this group.

I'm indifferent about there not being an awards banquet.

[jtstang]

It's like since SMU's season didn't meet your expectations...

Assuming you had any....

[ponyte]

It would be interesting to know why the banquet was canceled. At one time, the banquet was an opportunity for the players to have a date and a meal on the athletic department’s dime. Of course this wasn't really the case; tables were bought to support the event so alumni and boosters could attend.

Many of the awards are internal awards (permanent team captains and players, coaches’ awards and the like).

And I disagree with some that this team couldn't present any awards. Obviously a Stud of the Crud award could be presented as an example.