SMU FB Coaches Couldn't Achieve Desired Degrees at SMU

[Stallion]

I'm really getting sick and tired of some of the pansies on this board who suggest that offering a Kinesiology, Physical education or education type degree is below the dignity of an institution like SMU. ALMOST all of our coaches have degrees in these types of general studies. Phil Bennett-Education; Rusty Burns-Physical Education; Jim Gush - Education; Jerry Bennett-Education; Eric Roark-Physical Education and Recreation; Larry Edmondson-Education; Clarence James- Health Education; Chuck Faucette-General Studies, Darrell Patterson-Human Relations; Jim Vinklarek-unspecified B.S. degree. Some of you desperately need to come down from LaLa Land and deal with reality. There is nothing dishonorable about wanting to be a Coach or a teacher. Its simply a matter of removing yet another roadblock conceived by Kenneth Pye's Plan designed to emasculate the Athletic Department.

[PonySnob]

Unfortunately, the majority of the few SMU fans that exist think it is great that the school is doing it the right way. Right way for what? Having one of the worst performing programs for the last 14 years? Suffering loss after loss after loss while programs that were once behind SMU are now perennial conference contenders/champions as well as bowl teams. The only bowl game SMU seems to be in is the TOILET BOWL.

One has to wonder that if UT-Arlington starts playing football again, how long will it be before they have passed SMU on the playing field.

[Sam I Am]

The old PE degrees under new names are perfectly respectable courses of study at any school. Such a major is not a drop in standards. Rice and Michigan are ahead of SMU academically. What they can do, we can do.

[Arkpony]

Gee! I thought we all were in agreement on this subject. Maybe there is not enough controversy and arguing going on so we have to create some. Huh?

[BUS]

BUS - Graduated in 1983 with a BA in Physical Education!

My mother received a BS in Math, MS in Calculus and BS in Statistics form SMU. My father receives his BBA from SMU after WWII. I have two brothers, one with BBS the other in Phylosophy and a sister that received her degree in Voice and minored in Piano. Yes, All from SMU.

We can have a great Physical Education degree again!

[ponyNOLE]

Stallion, where are the pansies who actually whine about this stuff? I bet they could really care less how the program does, because if they did they wouldn't think of something so stupid as this. Tell them to shut up or else you'll get Craig James to run over them.

[Greenwich Pony]

I'm as big an academic snob as there is out there, and I freely admit it. I don't think any university should offer degrees in PE. That being said...

...welcome to the real world. Frankly, I was around at the time of the "troubles" and while there is no doubt some of the gentlemen playing for the Ponies were not exactly geniuses, I was never aware of any academic problems or fraud. In fact, I tutored two of our guys who played in the pros and came back to get their degrees.

We should offer Kinesiology (whatever that is) and probably a Sports Management (much akin to Arts Management) major. SMU has always been big on management. The problem isn't with the field of study, the problems occur with lax oversight. We just need to make sure that these programs have proper oversight, unlike at so many universities. If there is a university faculty I trust to watch these programs like a hawk and see that the programs are run correctly, it is SMU's. And with a good Sports Management program out there, that would be a good draw for athletes.

I also have to say, while I am not against a somewhat restrictive transfer policy, SMU's has long been way over-the-top and needs to restore a bit of logic and perhaps sanity to the way it reviews transfer credits. I don't think we should take anything, but I think SMU could be more flexible than it is.

[No Cal Pony]

I believe ArkPony is correct. Don't most of us posting here (and supporting the teams) believe that such majors ought to be considered? I think though, that we can only state our case to Copeland, Turner, and the faculty. No doubt some pressure ought to be applied to the faculty.

It seems to me the biggest hump for SMU still is finances. People around here are moaning and crying because at unc, advertising will appear at Kenan Stadium and the Dean Center. Oh poor unc. I mean, what to the folks expect when the athletic budget is over $40 million? There is barely enough funding for the system as a whole? SMU faces a tough prospect when there is not a equal situation in regard to funds. We cannot build all the facilities we would like. We cannot allow for the coaches to recruit like they may really want. Travel expenses for our teams can be high. We cannot compete with ut, michigan, florida, florida st., usc, etc. because we do not have a budget to compare. But then again, why should the ncaa care? If they wanted a system that would prove moe equitable for all its member institutions, then they would level that playing field.

In the meantime, we need to support the kids we have brought to SMU. We need to support the coaches. If you want to whine, that is fine, but how about realizing some realities?

I am in no way happy with where we stand, but I will do every little thing I can to help make a difference. This ought to be a mantra of everyone associated with SMU.

GO PONIES!

[ponyNOLE]

good post, No Cal

[EastStang]

First, I have no problem with such majors. In fact, I have always said we should have them, but I also have said, that there are plenty of majors that are available now, if we package them properly. Most business majors major in general business. What's to say that isn't a sports management major. An adept counsellor could easily guide a student in that area to the "right" courses. Second, the administration will fire back with "show us the money". You don't create majors without funding for department heads and the like. And by the way, "coach so and so would make a great department head" is not the answer. Why? Because a department head will want more money than an ordinary professor. So, guys, dig deep and restrict your donations to the University to fund a Professorship in Kinseology or for use by the Kinesology department. If the money comes in, the University has to hold it for that purpose. And if enough money comes in (about $1.5 Million), they will have an endowed chair. With an endowed chair, they will be sorely tempted to start the major to utilize that endowment and those funds. The Profs will understand that the quicker it gets started, the quicker people will go back to donating to the general fund.

[jtstang]

The majority of money to create this new major should come from the athletic department budget, since the general concensus is we need it to attract athletes. So take your pick: renovate Moody, or create PE degree?

[BUS]

I would not be so quick to say that most of the people in a PE department are athletes. When I was there, I would say we had 5 football players, two track guys, two Golf girls and maybe 3 others ( Divers/Swimmers), out of 80 or so. that would be around less than 25 %.

A lot of girls did it to coach or go into Wellness Programs. Guys that played sports in High School wanted to be coaches but did not have the skill to play on a college level. I remember people from 10 to 45 years old in the department.

[jtstang]

Don't misunderstand--I'm not predicting what the student makeup would be in the department--I think it would eventually attract non-athlete types to SMU also, it's just that it will take money to get it started. Apparently it was not needed to attract the desireable general student body when it was cut in the first place. If the reason for starting it back up is, as expressed predominately here, to bring better jocks for our money sports, then I believe the athletic department should pitch in the lion's share of the start-up money.

[PK]

I'm not sure when the PE program was deleted, but it wouldn't surprise me at all that it was at Pye's direction...much like the civil engineering department was deleted. Neither program was probably esoteric enough for him. Thankfully they have restarted the civil engineering department. I see no reason they shouldn't restart the PE program or Kinesiology if you will, it just gives all students more options. Back in the dark ages when I attended SMU, everyone had to take some PE courses...back when personal fitness was desirable. We actually may be back to that point given our population's propensity toward obesity.

[abezontar]

Aren't most of the professors from the old PE department still there (at least the ones who didn't retire), just teaching 'Wellness' now? I know that there were still some Civil Engineering professors there when I was they were just helping out with advising and the ME department (Mohraz). Wouldn't the new student recreation center be a good start for facilities for a new PE/Kinesiology (sp) department?