Thoughts from Orsini at NYC Mustang Club Reception

[aus10fromhous10]

Thanks for all the interest in my Twitter posts during tonight’s Mustang Club event in NYC. Certainly makes the effort worthwhile.

A few things I took away from tonight, both from Orsini’s public comments and individual conversations that I had with him and others in attendance:

First, I feel bad for Orsini. Tonight was supposed to be his night, when he got to celebrate a major milestone in the university’s history. While it was that, the day was marred by a coaching controversy. I’d like to think that years from now, this will be a footnote to an illustrious athletics tradition returning to SMU, but only time will tell.

The spin from Orsini and some board trustees in attendance was that JJ was simply seeing what else was out there and once he did, SMU didn’t look so bad after all. I imagine there will be a lot of that sentiment put out there in the coming days/weeks. Orsini said to me that when he meets with JJ Thursday, “I’m not gonna hug him,” and expressed displeasure at the timing of all of this mess. The reality is the university needs to quash this ASAP and that means showing the public that everything’s fine, even if behind the scenes, other action is taken.

A lot of Orsini’s job is to be a salesman, but he was surprisingly candid in answering questions from the alumni. He kept a mostly upbeat tone in discussing the situation with JJ, but toward the end of the Q&A session, I asked him that given the overtures with Maryland in 2010 and now ASU in 2011, could we expect this to be a recurring trend with JJ—end of the season comes along and he goes out flirting with other programs?

Orsini’s initial response was that he thought JJ was frustrated at the lack of attendance at games and that’s what caused this. To which I responded, (paraphrasing): “So what you’re saying is that if more people came to the games, Coach Jones wouldn’t be out looking for a new job every year?”

That’s when it got interesting. I can’t recall Orsini’s exact wording, but his basic point was SMU is a great place to be an athletics coach and it just got better because of the Big East. SMU has things to work on, but if coaches don’t want to be here, then so be it, other quality coaches can and will replace them.

When I spoke to Gerald Ford before Orsini’s comments, he expressed some relief that JJ was sticking around—though he added that if JJ had left, it would be much easier to replace him now than it was a few years ago.

Other board trustees were not as complacent toward JJ. The wife of a board trustee/CoC donor expressed frustration at the situation. She said that after spending time with JJ, helping his foundation and otherwise developing a bond with him, the ASU debacle was “like a slap in the face.”

I imagine that this has been previously publicly discussed, but I was surprised to learn that the athletic department’s marketing staff was let go a while back because of budget constraints. Orsini said that with more revenue coming in from the Big East TV contract, the department will return and will be able to do more marketing.

Along those same lines, I asked Orsini if there is a challenge connecting with the city of Dallas because SMU is located within University Park, not Dallas. It’s in stark contrast to TCU, where (former) Mayor Mike Moncrief went out of his way to embrace TCU—which happens to be geographically located inside Fort Worth’s city limits.

Orsini acknowledged the challenge, particularly with the Tom Leppert administration at Dallas City Hall. But he added that new Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings was a guest of Orsini’s at the Rice game, and recognized the need for SMU to get more fan support from Dallas locals.

Lastly, during my one-on-one, Orsini brought up the fact that the basketball program needs to step it up. He made it clear in no uncertain terms that one winning season in five years under Doherty is unacceptable. This year will be a telling year, he said, adding that he’ll be looking at the overall results in deciding where to take the program.

[East Coast Mustang]

Cool. thanks for the coverage and hard work. we appreciate it

[SMUer]

The pieces fit the story?

[East Coast Mustang]

yea what? are you high Cox?

[Pony ^]

Nice. Thanks for the info!

Go get em Steve

[Duke Blue Blood]

Thanks for the reporting.

All seems genuine, other than June "testing the waters" and then coming back. If his agent wasn't so verbose, then I would want to believe the story. Instead, his agent saw his pay day go away and was pissed.

DBB

[East Coast Mustang]

yea what? are you high Cox?

Not at all. What seemed out of place to you? He wanted a job? Attendence sucks?

(well, ok, perhaps the "SMU didn't look so bad" part)

i dont know dude. its been a weird night for me

[LHS81]

I know the pieces fit

[Get_Some_Ponies]

Awesome work indeed. Agree that it should have been a better day for S.O.

I was also surprised by Oraini's candor...he was a good sport about questions. Helps lend some confidence that between he and the CoC's there's a crew that has the university's best interests in mind and is gonna see us through this.

[Hoop Fan]

you make it sound like this is over. Is it clear that June is not still looking at jobs? Has he recommitted to Orisini and the CoC privately? Otherwise it seems that Ford may just want to keep some rolaids in his pocket for the time being.

[East Coast Mustang]

It's been weird for all of us. Those not trying to get caught up should call it a night. I know I am. Night friends.

you're going to bed? p-u-s-s-[deleted]

[East Coast Mustang]

tell her i said hi. JUST KIDDING JUST KIDDING JUST KIDDING sorry that's inappropriatre i've had way too many this is gonna be a long night.

[East Coast Mustang]

CMF you seem legit- are you a grad school pony w/ no undergrad ties? That's cool if so. we need more like you

[SMUer]

In no way does that greener pastures story make any sense. Reading his agent's comments, this ordeal was so far beyond "testing the water" and SMU was not where he wanted to be. The comments are incompatible.

[East Coast Mustang]

CMF you seem legit- are you a grad school pony w/ no undergrad ties? That's cool if so. we need more like you

Just proves I've got you all fooled!

2010 MBA (no undergrad ties)

cool. wish we could get more people invovled like you.