We are still paying

[DiamondM75]

Just don't give up now!

We are still paying the price for some really bad decisions made over the past 10 years. I still can't put the blame on Bennett and his coaching staff. Remember, Phil inherited a program that had absolutely nothing to build on. I think he is correct in tearing the program down to the foundation a rebuilding from there. He inherited very little talent, NO, i repeat NO quarterbacks. A recruiting restriction that did not allow him to recruit JUCO's. This resulted in not having upperclassmen to build a program.

Who do we blame for our current position, let me think, still on my list is Pye, however gone for a long time, his recruiting restrictions and policies lived on far toooooooooo long, this was administrations biggest mistake. They just couldn't decide whether we wanted division 1A football or not, but the decision to remain was like everything else at SMU. This university is just too slow to make decisions, and it is not just the athletic department, it goes all the way to the top. Granted, Turner is doing good things for athletics, but was just too slow to react and respond.

Next on my list is Copeland. Jim is a great guy and also had to work within administrative restraints that have finally been relaxed, but again big mistakes were made. Why in the world did we ever give Cavan a contract extention that we later had to buy out. More money spent from a program that just doesn't have the funds to make such mistakes. I think now that Jim is really starting to come into his own, but the jury is still out and a guilty verdict could still be in the future. Be careful Jim.

Last on my list is Cavan. I know, he has been gone for 3 years now, but he really left the cupboard bare. The lack of upperclassmen is his fault and nobody elses, except for the recruting restrictions he had to work with. It just seemed that all the good recruits he was able to sign went packing to other programs or even 1AA. I don't know what was happening that really caused all this, but it is apparent, there was really bad things happening within the football program.

I am a huge pony fan and have been since the early 70's. I have ridden the high road and now the low road. Let's give this program the 5 year time span that is necessary to not only rebuild but actually to raze and reconstruct. We started this process 3 years ago with nothing but a beautiful new stadium, and believe me, bricks and mortar can not rebuild a program. Stay the course for 2 more years, after that, we will see what changes need to be made, and I hope Turner and the administration have a plan. If not, then I might have to add a few more names to my list.

[Topper]

DiamondM makes some very valid points. However isn't it understandable that we long suffering devotees have been asked to be patient for almost 20 years since the death penalty? To put things in perspective, some of the children of SMU students of that era are actually enrolling in college these days. The school wants it both ways: A big time program without the multitude of distasteful practices that come with such a program. Which will it be? As far as I can tell SMU football means very little in the State of Texas these days. It means very little to Dallas. These things are painful to say. I am optimistic about C-USA days to come BUT ONLY IF WE COMPETE ON AN EQUAL BASIS. By the way, losing the once proud track program will do very little to attract the type of quality athletes we need.

[Charleston Pony]

well, we might still have a track team if the Mustang Club generated twice the contributions it currently does, or if we put 25-30,000 butts in Ford every home game and 7,500 in Moody.

There aren't many programs that support perrenial losers (that's why I've marveled since living here in Charleston about South Carolina's support for their Gamec*o*c*k*s ...they were selling out 80,000 seats at 0-11), but SMU has a pretty "spoiled" bunch or supporters. Only the best for too many SMU alums. It's beneath them to support a bunch of losers (I'm not talking about the people on this forum, but you know your classmates...the ones I'm talking about).

It will get better. I just never imagined it would take this long. When Forrest Gregg said 10 years, I believed him!

[RGV Pony]

I think Coach Bennett has used the rallying cry, "Those that stay, will be champions." I wonder if he includes himself in that.