The myth: Winning cures everything (Part 2)

newshound · Post by **newshound** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 12:44 pm

The price of the ticket is NOT the issue, whatsoever. It's the awareness that we are even playing on Saturday.

Again, because most casual sports fans who attend maybe 4-5 sporting events a YEAR have a perception that tickets to sporting events (plus parking and concessions) are expensive, they think for some reason SMU tickets are also expensive. When I tell people a good or even great seat is 20-25 bucks, they are stunned.

If anything, SMU should consider RAISING prices simply to raise the perceived value of the product. The price of the ticket should directly correspond to the quality of the product. But, the on-field product is not entertaining and the in-stadium experience is inadequate. Because we are in pro sports town, where the Mavs and Cowboys and Rangers really do it up right, the expectations of the casual fan are much greater. If you were a CASUAL sports fan, with no allegiance to SMU, and went to yesterday's game, would you want to come back -- even with a FREE ticket?

If you had told me that in Year 4 of the June Jones era, we'd be playing in front of 7,500 people and on the verge of losing 5 of our last 6 games (we were on the verge of that yesterday), I would not have believed it. But, I would have said, and loudly, maybe this isn't working. His team had FIVE turnovers (and are LAST in the nation in turnover margin) and made four huge special teams blunders that almost cost them a game.

The fact that they entered fall camp without a kicker is unfathomable -- and it almost finally bit them squarely in the [deleted] yesterday. For that reason alone, many coaches would come home to find "For Sale" signs in their front yard. And, the media that covers the team would be even less forgiving.

Can the President and the AD and the (thankfully) blindly loyal boosters sit in the their suites and look out the window and say, "Yes, things are moving in the right direction"? Granted, Thanksgiving weekend, a slumping team and a weak opponent are a recipe for disaster, but we are $8 million head-coaching dollars into this and I closed my eyes, reopened them and saw it as "the more things change, the more they remain the same."

Bowl berths aside (and the bowl landscape is far different than even 5-6 years ago), did you see anything from this program in the final six weeks that gives you reason to believe it might trend upward next season? This is a team that loses its entire offensive line, three of its top five receivers and doesn't have a remotely confident or groomed quarterback. And, the non-conference schedule includes TCU, Baylor and Texas A&M. Even, almighty June actually made a voluntary concession in his postgame interview that his program might take a step back next year. Huh?

TCU lost the core of its entire team and played an untested QB. They will be 10-2 with a 2-point loss at Baylor in its opener and a now baffling OT loss to us. There's no "step back" over there. That thought doesn't even enter their minds. I dare say TCU would hammer us if we played today.

Not trying to be gloom and doom here, but the reality is, the ROI on June Junes is negligible right now. And, to say "Just wait for the Big East dollars" is assuming we'll know what to do with them. It's not all June's fault, yet he should be smart enough to know that his infrastructure is rickety at best and he should demand that it change -- not demand a new field or new lights or an indoor facility. Would you want to play or coach in front of the kind of crowds we had this season? It's deflating before the game kicks off.

As for June and his performance, at the very least, I expect a well-coached, disciplined team that plays its [deleted] off. I don't mind losing. I don't expect to go 12-0. I do expect the kids to play hard for 60 minutes. I do expect the coaching staff to be professional and have a sense of urgency and to manage the game flawlessly.

Yes, it's better than it was from an outsider's view. Three straight winning seasons at SMU is a nice start. But, from watching up close, they have a long, long way to go. It can be done, but it's going to take a culture change that, after four years, may be under way but is still not yet in gear.

Just my reality check.

SMU 86 · Post by **SMU 86** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:37 pm

TCU has recruited better than we have. Also, that was a 4 star QB that replaced Dalton. I see what you are saying but TCU is ahead of us and we are a few years back of them no matter who is the coach. But we do need better recruiting all the coaches not named Klemm IMO.

MustangSTATS · Post by **MustangSTATS** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:46 pm

Lots of complaints and little in the way of solutions. Gold star ponyfans poster :roll:

2ndandlong · Post by **2ndandlong** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 2:30 pm

MustangSTATS wrote:Lots of complaints and little in the way of solutions. Gold star ponyfans poster

agreed

PonyKai · Post by **PonyKai** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:18 pm

The first step in solving an issue is getting people to realize one exists. Yeesh, step one in the AA program.

35straight · Post by **35straight** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:23 pm

Stlhockeyguy02 wrote:The first step in solving an issue is getting people to realize one exists. Yeesh, step one in the AA program.

Hi, my name is 35, and I am a PonyFan.

Dutch · Post by **Dutch** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:25 pm

Stlhockeyguy02 wrote:The first step in solving an issue is getting people to realize one exists. Yeesh, step one in the AA program.

we're all in denial.

PonyKai · Post by **PonyKai** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:27 pm

I'm surrendering myself to a higher power...the Honeybadger.

SMU_Alumni11 · Post by **SMU_Alumni11** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 5:51 pm

I agree with the complaint other than we need time. 3 years of winning seasons will not change anything. The BE is an accelerant to our future attendance and performance success. TCU did everything with one coach (as much as I dont care for him) alumni being stuck in MWC (a little better conference than Crap USA. Im sure it wont be till 2015 (so long as no one shifts the overall structure of CFB) till we are noticed as a reputable football team. We need to focus on recruiting above everything else, and then keep up these schedules with Big 12. That way we are gaining viewers that randomly watch Big 12 and will take interest once we play well enough to beat them.

Charleston Pony · Post by **Charleston Pony** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:49 pm

those who have been saying that winning will bring the crowds just haven't been watching SMU football for the past 50 years.

Don't expect the Big East to change anything. Do you suppose there are enough transplanted Big East alumni in Dallas to turn out as well as say, UTEP?

SMU_Alumni11 · Post by **SMU_Alumni11** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:21 pm

Charleston Pony wrote:those who have been saying that winning will bring the crowds just haven't been watching SMU football for the past 50 years.

Don't expect the Big East to change anything. Do you suppose there are enough transplanted Big East alumni in Dallas to turn out as well as say, UTEP?

No we dont need BE fans, we need Dallas to see an up and comping team. We will be in a low but AQ conference. We will have great basketball conference. People will be excited, because maybe 4 years from now if we play well we might get invites to other places. Fortunately we have Houston to tag with us, because people like the old SWC rivals. Trust me if we show up next year or 2013, we will get plenty of fans to be here.

leopold · Post by **leopold** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:23 pm

Newshound, what's your point?

I can agree to raising the ticket prices, no complaints there.

I also agree the infrastructure is weak, but that's what happens when you start from literally nothing. If we had anything before five years ago we would have had some small smidgen of success. A pretty new stadium alone didn't help, except to lure JJ. What changes do you propose

It took TCU over 10 years of solid winning to build a fanbase that consistently shows up and recruiting classes that verge on reloading, not rebuilding - That's what happens after generations of having sand kicked in your face. When JJ has been here 10 years, we'll compare.

There has already been a ROI for Jones - more wins, improved attendance, changed perceptions, and, one can argue, a better conference as a result. What's more he's free, at least to the school, so anyone who has a problem with his salary take it up with the one's paying it, and that's not Orsini. As a result the ROI has been a large one.

So I don't understand - are you just giving your own Situation Report, or are you suggesting anything drastic?

ponyinNC · Post by **ponyinNC** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:23 am

The ROI on June Junes is negligible right now?? You have GOT to be kidding, right?

We are consistently in the top 40 recruiting (usually top 5 for all non-AQ), we have been to 3 straight bowl games, we are hopefully moving to the Big East, and we are in the running for more 4 star recruits than I can ever remember. This is all due to a large financial commitment from very supportive boosters and a commitment form the school to improve our football program.

Sure, there is much work to be done, both by the coaching staff and the AD, but to say we are no better off than 4 years ago is laughable. We all expected more this year after our 5-1 start, but be real - I think most expected around 7 or 8 wins this year. Swap out the TCU win for the navy loss and I bet we all predicted about the same results. Tulsa is good, Houston and USM are ranked...did anyone really think we'd go down to College Station and beat a ranked TAMU team?

I see issues with this team, from qb play to JJ's play calling and clock management. We need a solid marketing dept to boost attendance. But we are moving forward and have a lot of momentum as a program right now. But let's not forget where we were for the last 25 years - I sure don't miss being in the espn bottom 10!!!

NickSMU17 · Post by **NickSMU17** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:59 am

JJ was right guy at the right time...no debating it...

Not sure he is right guy going forward...

Mexmustang · Post by **Mexmustang** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 5:59 pm

Some of you guys are from the "I want it now" generation. I hope you all marry amongst yourselves, and have to suffer greatly when you wife demands a new home in Highland Park, now! When your kids want a new BMW on their 16th, now! No career development, no need to save, no journey in life, I just want it now! Grow up.