Upset Over Some Blaming the Players

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

Fellas,

Many of us are opinionated on this board. I think it is fine if people defend Bennet and Copeland(that's what makes this board fun!!). However, in their defense many posters (Stallion, PK, Bus, Mrydal) have begun to blame the players. I think it is sad when an alumni group begins to bash the players that are leaving it out on the field. Y'all should give up your prime seats and allow people that want to see the players achieve go to the game.

Sir Trolls

[Lamont_Cranston]

Produce some evidence that these posters are speaking out against players. I've watched this board for a VERY LONG TIME but have only recently begun to post and I can't recall any time that they've done this. Let's see some proof.

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

Produce some evidence that these posters are speaking out against players. I've watched this board for a VERY LONG TIME but have only recently begun to post and I can't recall any time that they've done this. Let's see some proof.

16 posts is not a VERY LONG TIME. Are you one of the established posters that regularly ridicules anyone with new ideas?

[BUS]

Better yet. Print out these post and bring them to the BLVD. WE can go over each post and settle this.

I have not read any post from Stalliuon, PK nor me that trash our players.

Could we use bigger, faster and OLDER players. Yep. They are coming.

What we need is two new majors, NCAA recruting standards ans NO TROLL. Ha Ha

[Water Pony]

UnGentleman Trolls a Lot practices the Big Lie. Make an accusation and reject any call to substantiate it.

No class, no character. His knowledge of this Board is quite small and he is the one doing the trashing.

[Lamont_Cranston]

Produce some evidence that these posters are speaking out against players. I've watched this board for a VERY LONG TIME but have only recently begun to post and I can't recall any time that they've done this. Let's see some proof.

16 posts is not a VERY LONG TIME. Are you one of the established posters that regularly ridicules anyone with new ideas?

Bubba...you can't read. I said, "I've watched this board for a very long time but have only recently begun to post." I've been watching it since 2001, to be specific.

Pull your head out of your butt and use those two eyes that Godalmighty gave you.

[stang_fan]

All that being said, I don't think the players are blameless. I'm sorry, but even if they are young, if they have any D-1 talent the last three weeks should not have happened. You just shouldn't get blown out like that against teams that bad. I'll give them Fresno at Fresno, but the Rice and LaTech games were ridiculous. This team has really been horrible in the last 3 weeks. I don't see much effort. You can't blame the coaches and the administration for that. Are you meaning to say that just because of the formations they were in they had no chance to make any of the tackles they missed? We are not in the big 12. At least baylor has an excuse to embarass themselves (not counting that win over the ags).

[jtstang]

I won't call out any individual players, but I will say this collection of players sucks as a team. Look no further than the record.

[PerunaPunch]

The "problem" with football – one of the reasons the game is great and one of the reasons it sucks – is that football is a team sport. You win as a team and you lose as a team. The lesson of football is that you must overcome adversity, because there are too many things an individual player can’t control.

I believe, and I think that belief is substantiated from discussions with some players and their families, that some of the players have given up... on the team and on the coaches. The problem is, when an OL takes a play off, your RB gets stuffed or your QB gets sacked. When a defender slacks on a play, the opponent may go for a big gain. Your team’s success depends not only on what you’re doing personally as a player, but also what your other 10 teammates are doing.

I think that's what we're seeing on the field right now.

So although I certainly wouldn't hold the coaches, administration (or fans for that matter) blameless, I think the onus is on the players to realize that they're primarily responsible for the present lackluster performance (remember how proud we were of them after the TREMENDOUS EFFORT against Texas Tech). It's time for the team to reevaluate THEIR commitment and either step up or hang it up. And if they see one of their teammates slacking, it’s their responsibility to hold them accountable for it.

I know it's bad form on this board to criticize players, and I certainly wouldn't ever point fingers at any individual as they're all great kids by and large. But yes, I'll go on record to say it's time for the players to shoulder their portion of the blame. And hopefully they'll be willing to do something about it.

This coming weekend is Homecoming. And Tulsa is probably our best shot for another win this season. So I'm hoping that our players will buckle down and win one. Because in the end, they're not playing for the coaches, the administration or the fans, their playing for themselves and their personal pride <off soapbox>.

[Stallion]

or perhaps they are putting out the effort but are physically no match for the opposition. After 1-20 the possibility exists! But if they are a talented group of upperclassmen and they've gone 1-20. What does that say about them.

[rich_alum]

these players are not good........Anyone who watches these games and believes otherwise is not a smart person. I am tired of beating around the bush on this....call a spade a spade.

[EastStang]

They're freakin freshmen, red shirts and sophomores, they may suck now, but there is no reason they can't improve with more focus and more effort. If they think they're giving 100%, they need to try and give 200%. If they do that they will get better.

[jtstang]

They're freakin freshmen, red shirts and sophomores, they may suck now, but there is no reason they can't improve with more focus and more effort. If they think they're giving 100%, they need to try and give 200%. If they do that they will get better.

What were they last year? And the year before that? And the year before that? Has the SMU chemistry department created a perpetual youth serum we don't know about?

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

They may not br All Americans, but I thank them for their commitment to my alma mater. I think they are the victims here, it has to be hard to find this fun. I am just trying to stick up for them and let them know that some alums appreciate them.

I hope Bobby gets another hundred yards!!! Go Stangs and defeat the negativity of this board.

[Charleston Pony]

I think Punch has hit the nail on the head. If any of you have played on a losing team, you know how tough it is (at any level) to stay focused and give 100% when you are gettinghammered game after game. It would have been nice to play a schedule like UTEP put together or what Tulsa played last year and open the season with a I-AA opponenet and a SunBelt opponent. Maybe we could have chalked up a few wins and some of these guys would have started believing in themselves rather than doubting this team's ability to win. Unfortunately, we come out of the gate getting whipped by top 25 caliber programs that obviously have more talented players than we do. Over time, that just takes it out of you. Turning around a sorry program like SMU has been takes guys that have a lot of determination because for the most part, the more talented/sought after guys aren't attracted to this program. I'm encouraged by the caliber of guys coming in here despite the continuing losses. At some point it has to turn, but I agree with the statement it takes an entire roster of guys committed to turning this thing around to make it happen.

The players have to make it happen. Does coaching matter? Absolutely. Could a better coaching staff have produced more with these same guys? Probably. Would it help if SMU had more fan support? Absolutely. If we could draw 32,000 to Ford for a game with Texas State, we'd be signing them up for a game instead of OSU. Everyone is part of the equation.

Let's just hope the guys can deliever maximum effort against Tulsa. Like Punch says, when all is said and done, they are the ones who have their final record on their resume.