OMG! I'm defending June Jones....I think

[Mitch McConnell]

Far be it from me that I defend Jones, but I don't think it's a bad thing that Jones is taking a national shot at some of these kids in Florida, Ohio, etc. The worst they can do is say no.

But the base should be in Texas.

Let's also keep in mind that it is spring and it doesn't mean that every program must meet some mythical deadline to offer kids and if they don't, then it's a mess.

There are a ton of kids in this state still being evaluated. I think it's fair to call this the second tier of kids who are probably going to get offered but for one reason or another (academics, injury history, or attitude) they are not.

There could be some criteria and more evaluation before a school puts out offers. And a school doesn't want to throw offers around like its candy.

As I have maintained, it would be nice to have more of a presence in Texas. However, I think this current evaluation period should show more.

[ponyboy]

How could you possibly defend a guy who singlehandedly saved this program from abolishing football, who brings team after team back from the brink and turns them into contenders almost overnight, whose brand of football is fun to watch, whose coaching staff is notorious for its emphasis on what's best for the kids? I mean, the guy is indefensible.

[PonyKai]

I think somewhere along the lines, concerns and debates have gotten muddled. The basis of peoples' concern is that we don't have a coaching staff that can recruit to the ability we need it to. We have a single recruiter that can. From that issue, then comes the wailing over Texas offers, national offers, not viewing prospects, yadda, yadda.

It is a valid concern that the football staff, as a whole, may not be able to recruit at the level we need it to to build a perpetually successful, competitive football program. Reasonable people can disagree.

[Samurai Stang]

But the base should be in Texas.

Your plan for success is to limit recruiting to a smaller geographical area? Ah, yes, let us ignore the incredible success Jones has enjoyed in California. I would rather have excellent players from across the United States than average players that by accident of birth are from Texas.

Producing a winning team will do more for recruiting than any imagined "base" of Texas recruits.

You are suggesting a return to the Phil Bennett model of recruiting.

[Mitch McConnell]

Samurai, you're way off in terms of your interpretation of those remarks.

[Samurai Stang]

Samurai, you're way off in terms of your interpretation of those remarks.

Actually, no, I am not. You wish to limit the base (ie majority) of SMU's recruiting to Texas. I maintain that that is a ridiculous idea.

If that is not what you intended to say, then the issue is not in my reading, but in your writing.

[Mitch McConnell]

Well, for you to admit that you were ever wrong about something would be breaking news.

[StallionsModelT]

Ignoring Texas as our base for recruiting is without question a mistake. I, like the rest of you, am very impressed with the inroads we have made in California, Louisiana, and every now and then cherry picking from random states like Ohio, Florida, Oregon, etc. However, we have the most fertile recruiting ground in America literally within 200 miles of this campus. These are kids who want to stay close to home, get a world class education, and play for an NFL coaching staff. The lifeblood of our program should be Texas. Yes we can recruit out of state but Texas is where we should be making headway. Sadly, we haven't really hit an in-state home run recruit like we did last year w/ Moreland or potentially this year with Jordan Payton, Gabriel Marks, etc.

[ponyboy]

The real argument is we're not doing as well in Texas as we are in California. Granted.

[Stallion]

For the most important period on the recruiting calandar-from signing date until Spring practice started SMU only offered about 4 -5 kids in the entire state of Texas. That's pretty damn close to ignoring Texas which has 380 Division 1A signees a year. (Several prior offers had been issued last year.)

[ponyboy]

Ignoring where they come from, how do you feel about the quality of kids we are offering?

[Hoofprint]

Well, for you to admit that you were ever wrong about something would be breaking news.

Hello, Kettle ... this is teapot ...

If the top Texas kids are going to UT, LSU, Oklahoma, A&M, etc., then it makes sense to go after the highest caliber of players, no matter where they're from. The idea that we have to load up on Texas players is nothing short of foolish. We need to load up on talented players, regardless of where they come from.

[jpe747]

Let me get this strait. We have alumni suggesting that we go back to recruiting (mainly in Texas) like we did before Jones? I think I prefer the Jones method.

[GiddyUp]

Let me get this strait. We have alumni suggesting that we go back to recruiting (mainly in Texas) like we did before Jones? I think I prefer the Jones method.

Nope, but don't ignore them either. We should be doing the Ron Myer approach to recruiting (not the payment part of course). Take a private jet to every county and visit these kids. Offer them even though they are seeing Big 12 offers, what do you have to lose?

With Stallions numbers, it does seem as if the region is getting ignored or whoever is assigned to North Texas is terrible.

[goldenstang]

Nope, but don't ignore them either. We should be doing the Ron Myer approach to recruiting (not the payment part of course). Take a private jet to every county and visit these kids. Offer them even though they are seeing Big 12 offers, what do you have to lose?

With Stallions numbers, it does seem as if the region is getting ignored or whoever is assigned to North Texas is terrible.

This is pretty much spot on. I dont think anyone wants SMU to abandon California. They just want to know what the hell is going on in Texas.