Blackistone Blames Famous Alums for Woes

by **Sir Trolls A Lot** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:24 am

Fellas,

While I think we must celebrate our new found coverage in the DMN, we still must be cautious in discerning its message.

Today, Blackistone blamed the actions of legendary players for taking money when they were 18. Even though players at every competitive football school were getting paid at that time, SMU got caught for being too successful. In other words, Texas, OU, and the Aggies were mad that we outbid them. I don't blame Dickerson for taking the money, I also would have gone to a different school if someone had offered me massive financial incentive. It's not his fault he was so good that other people wanted to pay him.

In the past, Stallion and I have had our squabbles. Yesterday, he made an excellent point, why go after Dickerson? This article basically blames him for the current football problems. After all this, Dickerson will now be unlikely to become a face in the program (i.e. Earl Campbell at Texas, Archie Griffin at Ohio St.).

by **Bergermeister** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:43 am

In my opinion, Mr. Dickerson came after us. (again) Judging from previous "comments", his tune would change were, say, Darrell Jordan the coach.

by **Stallion** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:18 am

This is the most ignorant article I've ever read. First, the DMN goes and asks for the opinions of former alumni and then Blackistone ambushes the players for responding. Then the DMN prints Letters to the Editor supporting Blackistone ignoring the deluge of letters criticizing the school. It sells a lot of papers to blame SMU's ineptitude on Eric Dickerson 20 years later. Does that make any logical or rational sense when the players being recruited were not even born yet. If Yes then go ahead and pull the PLUG on the program because we're done. The SMU fan has already spoken loudly that they WILL NOT support this program as presently constituted-see 9,000 at Homecoming. That's the reality and if Blackistone is getting this sentiment from Copeland and his Litt' Buddies on this board then he needs to be gone by sundown. He just insulted the ONLY people who can save the program. THE VAST MAJORITY WHO COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM>

by **jtstang** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:33 am

I like the part where he suggests they give back the money they were paid to play. He's right, that's the least they could do.

by **Corso** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:37 am

Stallion wrote:This is the most ignorant article I've ever read. First, the DMN goes and asks for the opinions of former alumni and then Blackistone ambushes the players for responding. Then the DMN prints Letters to the Editor supporting Blackistone ignoring the deluge of letters criticizing the school. It sells a lot of papers to blame SMU's ineptitude on Eric Dickerson 20 years later. Does that make any logical or rational sense when the players being recruited were not even born yet. If Yes then go ahead and pull the PLUG on the program because we're done. The SMU fan has already spoken loudly that they WILL NOT support this program as presently constituted-see 9,000 at Homecoming. That's the reality and if Blackistone is getting this sentiment from Copeland and his Litt' Buddies on this board then he needs to be gone by sundown. He just insulted the ONLY people who can save the program. THE VAST MAJORITY WHO COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM>

Maybe I'm splitting hairs, but I didn't see it as ambushing the alumni for responding, but rather for what they said. Had they said "it's tough right now, but I'm going to give of my time and energy and money and name recognition to help make things better" than this article never gets written.

by **Stallion** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:48 am

Maybe they have enough knowledge about the reality of (clean) successful Division 1A programs to know that SMU is severely handicapping itself. Maybe its time to say "Jim Copeland is Naked". If I were James and Dickerson I would never set foot on campus again. They were sought out for their honest opinions not for their best "Cheerleading Rah Rah Fire Up You Guys" chant. There was no analysis as to whether there remains competitive issues in the program. Just the easy stab in the back for answering the DMN's own questions.

by **PonySoprano** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:50 am

Let's not forget that, thanks to Ken Pye (anybody know where he is buried? I'd like to spit on his grave), we distanced ourselves from all the pre-DP players (and all our football heritage) when we brought the program back in 1989. We totally turned our backs on those guys. Can you blame them for being somewhat bitter?

Now I hope that this can all be water under the bridge and that we can bring ED, CJ, Michael Carter, Jerry Ball, and other great Mustangs from that era back into the barn.

by **Sir Trolls A Lot** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:55 am

PonySoprano wrote:Now I hope that this can all be water under the bridge and that we can bring ED, CJ, Lavias, Michael Carter, Jerry Ball, and other great Mustangs from that era back into the barn.

How likely is that now? If Ball or Carter said anything, Blackistone would sanctimoniously claim that they have no right to an opinion because they got paid.

by **Stallion** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:06 am

heck we have a lot of people on this board who do the same thing when you make constructive suggestions on the direction of the program. The problem with that type of view is that you are turning your backs on the very people you need to resurrect the program. If this is a sentiment of Copeland and others on the Hilltop then it really may be time to CLEAN HOUSE.

by **Sir Trolls A Lot** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:17 am

Stallion wrote:heck we have a lot of people on this board who do the same thing when you make constructive suggestions on the direction of the program. The problem with that type of view is that you are turning your backs on the very people you need to resurrect the program. If this is a sentiment of Copeland and others on the Hilltop then it really may be time to CLEAN HOUSE.

Agreed. Any AD that would go after Dickerson has some serious issues.

Just an aside, I would have gone after James' kid hard just to have a tie in with his father. He is on ABC and Michigan got a lot of pub when Brian Griese played in front of his dad. In other words, IT WOULD NOT HAVE HURT AT ALL.

by PK » Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:58 am

Blackistone is a columist who writes opinion pieces and that was what he did today. I didn't get the impression that he was necessarily blaming these guys for our current woes so much as saying they shouldn't complain if they are not willing to help solve the problem. If you remember, the headline was "Put Up or Shut up." Dickerson was a great player at SMU, but the only times I am aware of that he has returned to campus has been when he was paid to do so, including the trip to retire his jersey number...now maybe that is standard operating proceedure in the business of football...I don't know. The real point is that here is a person who could have a definite influence on recruiting and other areas of the program and has chosen to not get involved, yet when asked about the program has nothing good to say about it. That is true of a lot of alums, but most are not the type that could make a real difference if they would get involved. Unlike past coaches, I think Bennett has made a sincere effort to get past players involved with the program. He understands the importance of that continuity and support to a program. Where Copeland fits into this picture I have no idea nor do I know whether or not he is in favor of the past players being involved or not.

Meanwhile, at least SMU football is in the spot light which should make all concerned more aware of what their contribution to the situation is and how it affects things such as public opinion of the program. That is good.

by **smuaggie** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 12:23 pm

"That is true of a lot of alums, but most are not the type that could make a real difference if they would get involved"

Agreed, but there are those that attempt to make a difference. Tired of hearing SMU being put down, Adami (old No. 70) got in line and is now back to the Hilltop to assist in making a difference!

Believe

by **PerunaPunch** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 3:08 pm

Sir Trolls/LauraBushLvr,

I assume you went to SMU, so you can't be that dumb. Blackistone didn't blame ED for the death penalty. Not at all. In fact, the DP happened well after Dickerson was gone to the pros.

All Blackistone is saying, and quite rightly IMHO, is that ED took a cheap shot at the school. It's a lot easier to criticize (like you do) than it is to roll up your sleeves and do something constructive (like many of those who post on this board do).

To reiterate my post from yesterday, imagine the positive impact if guys like Dickerson and James chose to stay involved like Forrest Gregg and others have. It would go a long way to returning the program to respectiability.

You know, the Romans learned a valuable lesson some 2,000 years ago: When you stop paying the mercenaries, you lose their loyalty. I guess that holds true to this day.

PK,

You are hereby officially nominated to read all news articles to Sir Trolls/Laura Bush in a manner that ensures he understands the authors intent. No wonder he has such a skewed perception of reality.

by **Stallion** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 3:30 pm

The fact is that it would not have made one bit of difference. Craig James is brought out for special occassions to endorse the program already. Wasn't Lance the President of the Letterman's Association. These complaints should have been loudly voiced 15 years ago when many of the "supporters" you referred to simply "rolled over" while the future of SMU football was raped. This is simply deflecting criticism from a seriously flawed Model. You Ken Pye lovers got want you wanted but now 15 years later when the "proof is in the puddin'" you want to blame people who played no part in the implementation of the Model. What is the Statute of Limitations for pathetic excuses anyway. Do you know any former strong SMU supporter who has given up his support for the program because of the DP in 1989 because I know about 10 times more than don't support the program because of its ineptitude since the DP.

by PK » Fri Nov 05, 2004 3:59 pm

Stallion, I don't think most of us average Joe Blow fans at the time of our return to the field in 1989 had any real knowledge of what the restrictions were that had been placed upon our recruiting. I think most of us thought it was all about building a team without cheating (i.e., payola) and I was one of those that thought it was a realistic possibility. But the actual restrictions put in place didn't have much to do with the cheating and the level of the restrictions that had been implimented didn't really become well known by the average fan until fan sites such as MustangManiacs and PonyFans became possible. Then with the hiring of Cavan, the more public talk about the actual restrictions we were dealing with began to come out. Up to that point, most of us thought the talk about it taking 10 years to rebuild was true and that was what we were seeing happening.

I think we all realize now what the Pye Model really was and what it has done to this program. Hopefully the last remnants of it will soon be eradicated.