Houston Chronicle: Thad's Documentary 'Pony Excess'

[Stallion]

yea our case was so bad I bet these repeat offenders pray to God every nite thanking Bill Clements, Cox, Shields, Bob Hitch et al for being so stupid. I truly believe the SMU case defines "lack of institutional control" precedent wise and as long as the NCAA doesn't find institutional malfeasance at the highest level of the university then none of these repeat offenders will get hit with the Death Penalty.-even though the NCAA rulebook defines eligibility for the Death Penalty much more broadly than the facts in the SMU case. SMU drew the line schools can't cross and that is involvement by at least the AD and more likely the President and governing body in knowingly condoning on-going known serious violations.

[RGV Pony]

yeah, hard to imagine someone once again involving the Gov. Though maybe A&M should.

[Longtime]

Not only did we have the very definition of "lack of institutional control" but we fought the NCAA, especially when it came to naming names. The problem is, just a year or two earlier TCU had thrown itself to the mercy of the NCAA and got hammered. This was when Jim Wacker discovered he had inherited a bunch of paid players, including star Kenneth Davis.

So where was the logic in giving up everything to the NCAA? TCU did it and still got one of the worst penalties on record.

Nowadays, everyone who gets caught reveals everything (well, almost everything) to the NCAA and in return avoids the death penalty or other harsh penalties. They allow schools to investigate themselves, rather than have an enforcement staff come in and play an antagonistic role. And schools caught red-handed now retain law firms that specialize in handling NCAA cases, and those firms are often staffed with former NCAA enforcers. None of that was happening in the 1980s.

[HB Pony Dad]

Not only did we have the very definition of "lack of institutional control" but we fought the NCAA, especially when it came to naming names. The problem is, just a year or two earlier TCU had thrown itself to the mercy of the NCAA and got hammered. This was when Jim Wacker discovered he had inherited a bunch of paid players, including star Kenneth Davis.

So where was the logic in giving up everything to the NCAA? TCU did it and still got one of the worst penalties on record.

Nowadays, everyone who gets caught reveals everything (well, almost everything) to the NCAA and in return avoids the death penalty or other harsh penalties. They allow schools to investigate themselves, rather than have an enforcement staff come in and play an antagonistic role. And schools caught red-handed now retain law firms that specialize in handling NCAA cases, and those firms are often staffed with former NCAA enforcers. None of that was happening in the 1980s.

Here is an article from SI Vault describing TCU's situation at the time...

Deception In The Heart Of Texas

All of them had received money in violation of NCAA rules. Taylor later told SI that he received approximately $200 every two weeks after he came to TCU in 1982, "not a big lump sum or anything."

Wacker says he was stunned. "I absolutely couldn't believe it. I called the booster and he confirmed it. Obviously, once I had that information I didn't have any choice. I called my coaches back together. We were unanimous...that we had to call our conference and the NCAA."

[ThadFilms]

Uh... looks like I might have to give you guys something. Luckily I haven't signed my NDA yet. I have a day off tomorrow. It's a nice break in this grueling schedule. (Haven't read everything in this thread... been too busy and haven't been on PF for a while.)

You guys won't be disappointed in the flick, I give you my word. I'll put together a nice long post tomorrow addressing everything I can, and then I will sign my NDA and not be able to speak to much if anything after.

I can and will tell you this - ESPN loves what we are doing. ESPN is in favor of my showing the rebirth. ESPN is putting full faith in ME to tell this story... June Jones has put his full faith in me to tell this story. As have countless other big name folks...

It's an honor and responsibility. Also, I must note, I feel a responsibility to each and everyone of you who frequent this board. I won't let you down.

...

The title is Pony Excess. Deal with it. I came up with that title and I hated it even though I always felt/knew it was the best. ESPN went cuckoo for cocoa puffs over it. I didn't like it for many of the same reasons some of you folks have noted...

However it's the perfect title. Excess of football in the state. Excess of the SWC. Excess of the city. Excess of the media. Excess of the boosters. Excess of the NCAA.

The past is the past. The future is now.

GO MUSTANGS!!!

[Mestengo]

There's no business like show business !

[RGV Pony]

I believe I'll drink to that.

[mrydel]

I believe I'll drink to that.

Come on now. We would have had a drink to "My Prettty Pink Pony".

[RGV Pony]

I believe I'll drink to that.

Come on now. We would have had a drink to "My Prettty Pink Pony".

this is true. Is it September yet?

[Mestengo]

No but it's early enough to drink this moment!

[SoCal_Pony]

yeah, hard to imagine someone once again involving the Gov. Though maybe A&M should.

We have a WINNER, RGV!!!

An Oil Man

A Republican

A Wanna-be Governor

AN AGGIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alaric]

Uh... looks like I might have to give you guys something. Luckily I haven't signed my NDA yet. I have a day off tomorrow. It's a nice break in this grueling schedule. (Haven't read everything in this thread... been too busy and haven't been on PF for a while.)

You guys won't be disappointed in the flick, I give you my word. I'll put together a nice long post tomorrow addressing everything I can, and then I will sign my NDA and not be able to speak to much if anything after.

I can and will tell you this - ESPN loves what we are doing. ESPN is in favor of my showing the rebirth. ESPN is putting full faith in ME to tell this story... June Jones has put his full faith in me to tell this story. As have countless other big name folks...

It's an honor and responsibility. Also, I must note, I feel a responsibility to each and everyone of you who frequent this board. I won't let you down.

...

The title is Pony Excess. Deal with it. I came up with that title and I hated it even though I always felt/knew it was the best. ESPN went cuckoo for cocoa puffs over it. I didn't like it for many of the same reasons some of you folks have noted...

However it's the perfect title. Excess of football in the state. Excess of the SWC. Excess of the city. Excess of the media. Excess of the boosters. Excess of the NCAA.

The past is the past. The future is now.

GO MUSTANGS!!!

Go get em Thad. Good title. No reason to hide the past...own up to it and move on.

[BUS]

Best statement is that that is the past. The SWC,
Dallas is somewhat the same.
The media still want blood in the water.
But, SMU has changed.

Please make the point that SMU was just trying to be competitive with what ut and a$m were doing well.

[Arkpony]

Amen BUS!

[ponyte]

There has been much written and said about the DP and SMU. However, through it all, SMU has never been able to give the other side of the story. I am looking forward to Thad presenting the other side of the story from SMU's point of view.