Kevin McCarthy's Blog

[NickSMU17]

got this e-mail from prominant booster/genius

"This is quieting down just like Turner wanted. If jj walks away the admin can say he was compensated well but had different priorities than the admin. The admin can say we are doing everything in our power except for admitting the most marginal of students and that wasn't good enough for jj. He didn't put academics first, look at the academic problems we experienced for the first time with him....yada yada yada.

It is a forgone conclusion. Look at what happened at ttu. Successful football, no academic problems but egos got in the way which led to leach's firing. James was just a smoke screen.

Same thing is happening here. Egos are the main problem, on both sides and academics will be used as the excuse for the admin...which no one can take great issue with, just like no one could take great issue with player safety at ttu."

[peruna11]

I sure could use a coaches luncheon right about now....

[mustangbill67]

I believe Jody and kevin are longtime Dallas broadcasters. Perhaps they were the producers of the SO nixed private Coach Jones show, if this allegation is true.

[Dooby]

got this e-mail from prominant booster/genius

"This is quieting down just like Turner wanted. If jj walks away the admin can say he was compensated well but had different priorities than the admin. The admin can say we are doing everything in our power except for admitting the most marginal of students and that wasn't good enough for jj. He didn't put academics first, look at the academic problems we experienced for the first time with him....yada yada yada.

It is a forgone conclusion. Look at what happened at ttu. Successful football, no academic problems but egos got in the way which led to leach's firing. James was just a smoke screen.

Same thing is happening here. Egos are the main problem, on both sides and academics will be used as the excuse for the admin...which no one can take great issue with, just like no one could take great issue with player safety at ttu."

Nope

[cutter]

got this e-mail from prominant booster/genius

"This is quieting down just like Turner wanted. If jj walks away the admin can say he was compensated well but had different priorities than the admin. The admin can say we are doing everything in our power except for admitting the most marginal of students and that wasn't good enough for jj. He didn't put academics first, look at the academic problems we experienced for the first time with him....yada yada yada.

It is a forgone conclusion. Look at what happened at ttu. Successful football, no academic problems but egos got in the way which led to leach's firing. James was just a smoke screen.

Same thing is happening here. Egos are the main problem, on both sides and academics will be used as the excuse for the admin...which no one can take great issue with, just like no one could take great issue with player safety at ttu."

Nope

which parts?

[NickSMU17]

I do think things are progressing but if we let the admin off the hook, we will be regretting it...

[jtstang]

The fact that events have unfolded sufficient to get this in the public eye is what sucks, and of course, is typical SMU. You can downplay a blog if you want, but between this, the Ticket, Dale Hansen, Richie Whitt and the untold other sources that have been linked on this site since these kids were told "no thanks" either right before they were coming to Dallas, or after they arrived, the story is a PR black eye. And that is what sucks.

SMU should adopt the NCAA qualification criteria for athletes as its own. Jones does not strike me as the kind of guy whose going to tolerate being told one thing and delivered another. If his "three strikes" policy is being applied to the university, I wonder how many it has left before he goes elsewhere....

[Pony Grey Hair]

Big difference between TT situation and this one. If JJ leaves, the program as we know it is gone; never to come back. Those they will have run off are the ones paying the bills for athletics. SMU will become a Austin College or Trinity. The egg heads may think they won but in a few short years they will see the real results in application and donation fall off. Turner will be the only head of the Knight Commission to ever be without a mens' athletic program. What good does reform do if you kill the program.

[couch 'em]

Big difference between TT situation and this one. If JJ leaves, the program as we know it is gone; never to come back. Those they will have run off are the ones paying the bills for athletics. SMU will become a Austin College or Trinity. The egg heads may think they won but in a few short years they will see the real results in application and donation fall off. Turner will be the only head of the Knight Commission to ever be without a mens' athletic program. What good does reform do if you kill the program.

At least when we drop to DII we can get excited about the drive to Wichita Falls to watch our SMU Mustangs take on the MSU Mustangs! We can call it the Equine Cup! (I would say the Breeder's Cup...but you know, geldings and all)

[Bergermeister]

Fire Jody Dean and Kevin McCarthy. (whoever they are)

[Samurai Stang]

"This is quieting down just like Turner wanted. If jj walks away the admin can say he was compensated well but had different priorities than the admin. The admin can say we are doing everything in our power except for admitting the most marginal of students and that wasn't good enough for jj. He didn't put academics first, look at the academic problems we experienced for the first time with him....yada yada yada.

If SMU runs off the most successful coach it is had in 25 years due to academics, then football needs to leave division one. No coach or successful assistant would take a job that June Jones was incapable of carrying out due to university involvement.

SMU: where victory is running off the legendary coach.

[ender3]

I don't believe that anyone on this board truly knows the amount of tension between Jones, Orsini and Turner.
The stories are credible, but that does not mean that they are true (or false for that matter). I'm actually inclined to believe true.

"Legendary" is a bit strong for Jones, but he has a track record of success, and he is far better than any football coach that this university can hope to get to replace him without another 3-4 years of success.

All that said, (and I know that there are many on this board VEHEMENTLY disagree with me, the "you never desert your school" folks) if SMU runs him off... I'm done. I'm out, and my wallet goes with me. Yes, I've told Turner.

I am perfectly aware of how absurd it is to stake my school loyalty on a football coach. I don't care. This is worse than a "curse" (Red Sox) or "lovable losers" (Cubs). This is an organization that actively opposes winning. Last year was SO much fun, and I expect this year to be almost as good, but, at this point, I also expect it to be short-lived, a footnote to history. In 2060 I imagine that the wikipedia entry for SMU football will read "In the late 1980's SMU became the only school in NCAA history to ever be subjected to the death penalty in football. Their program never recovered."

God, I hope I'm wrong.

[redpony]

What is the 'word' from those Circle of Champions members who have footed JJ tab? Are they ready to throw in the towel and give up on SMU athletics? They are the ones who can force the issue and get Turner and SO's heads put on straight. Like others on this board I do not expect JJ to accept the lies he was told.
We are kidding ourselves if we think we will get another top quality coach to come here after this fiasco. I fully expect JJ to leave at the end of this season and none of his staff will want to be here either. Bad and sad situation.

GO PONIES!!!

[gostangs]

Sheez - what a bunch of ol ladies. Have you never been around someone who knows how to play his bosses like a fiddle? JJ is the master of acting like he is mister "too cool to be bothered" ....but he is the expert at whining to the right people to get stuff fixed that is broken - its part of the job.

If Turner responds to anything its bad PR - believe me he is on it. And JJ wil be fine. He is enjoying his 2 mil a year.

Everyone relax and lets get ready for a really interesting season - expect a slight back track on overall record due to tougher schedule while the personnel continues to improve. Also my prediction - take note by August at the 3 -4 new learning enhancement tutors and the new football player admission policy....mission accomplished

[reddevil]

Sheez - what a bunch of ol ladies. Have you never been around someone who knows how to play his bosses like a fiddle? JJ is the master of acting like he is mister "too cool to be bothered" ....but he is the expert at whining to the right people to get stuff fixed that is broken - its part of the job.

You raise interesting point. Whether JJ had this planned from the beginning.

The real problem here is not the admissions standards, whatever they might be; it is the administration not being forthright with the athletic department about the admissions standards. It is easy to make a change in the admissions standards even after significant bad PR, whining and embarrassment. However, how does the real problem get fixed, which I perceive as the administration's honesty, or lack thereof to the athletics department? It seems that the only way this problem is corrected is with significant change with the administration, which will not happen. Turner is not going anywhere in the immediate future.

To raise another idea that I have been thinking about lately. Does anyone think that the administration's sticking point with admissions standards may have something to do with potential conference realignment. Are we more attractive to a BCS conference or the MWC as a school that can boost the academic numbers of a conference instead of a school that has a quality football program. Just a though, but it does not seem outside the realm of possibility. And I know that the biggest issue with conference realignment is $, but since we don't really offer a large supportive alumni base to boost TV revenue, $ isn't one of our selling points.