Turner: SMU on right path

ponyscott · Post by **ponyscott** » Sat May 26, 2012 3:49 pm

I don't know if you all saw this from this week from Chuck Carlton at the Dallas Morning News Sports page with that headline and his interview with Gerald Turner:

Turner: SMU on right path

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Nothing in the last five months has dampened SMU’s anticipation of Big East membership.

In an email interview Tuesday, SMU president R. Gerald Turner strongly endorsed his school’s move from Conference USA to the Big East beginning in the 2013-14 academic year. The Big East has been beset by four defections in the last year and speculation about more.

"We’re very excited about our future in the Big East," Turner said. "Rumors are just that. We must remain focused on the future, on moving forward. SMU is committed to winning in athletics and we feel we are on the right path."

In some ways, it’s an intriguing fit - a conference without a commissioner after the resignation of John Marinatto and a school that just fired athletic director Steve Orsini.

Yet, each provides what the other needs.

In the Big East’s case, the conference wanted football-playing members beyond the league’s traditional geographic footprint. Schools like SMU open up new markets and new possibilities across the country.

For SMU, the Big East, regardless of the member composition, represents an upgrade over Conference USA in both national prominence and TV dollars. A long-term Big East TV deal, to be negotiated later this year, could conservatively bring a full football/basketball member such as SMU about $11 million a year.

"Obviously, the negotiations are important to the league and its member institutions," Turner said. "The new TV deal will be important from both exposure and financial standpoints and will, we believe, create stability in the Big East."

One of SMU’s major goals throughout the realignment process was a berth in a conference whose champion automatically qualified for the BCS.

But BCS executive director Bill Hancock has said the AQ designation will be discontinued in the next version of the BCS.

Despite the decision, Turner said he still sees the Big East remaining among the nation’s elite conferences.

"While the label may change, we believe that tiers will continue to exist," Turner said, "and that the Big East will still be part of that top tier."

Interim Big East commissioner Joe Bailey agreed Tuesday when told of Turner’s comments.

"Absolutely," Bailey said. "Clearly, the conference is still going to be very competitive, no matter what. You still have an equal chance to compete for national titles. Nothing has changed from that standpoint."

The dismissal of Orsini came at an awkward time for SMU, the week before its first appearance at the Big East meetings.

Interim athletic director Tim Leonard has represented the school for three days of meetings. Discussions have included TV presentations, discussions of football divisions and a title game, and the breakdown for an 18-team men’s basketball conference tournament.

Turner pledged that nothing would fall through the cracks.

"Conference alignment issues are worked out at the presidential level, and we, as a university, will work together to make the transition a smooth one," Turner said.

"We believe most of the issues will occur later in the academic year, and the university leadership and athletic department, under the very capable leadership of Tim Leonard, are unified in our commitment to continued athletic success."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/colleg ... reregister

SMUer · Post by **SMUer** » Sat May 26, 2012 5:37 pm

OK, so what's the reason Orsini was fired so abruptly? If you want to build and expand a loyal fan base, you've got to establish trust and a message. I am seriously shocked at the silence that both the ASU scandal and this seemingly random axing have elicited from the school. These are golden opportunities to establish your message to the rest of DFW. We're about (this). It's like in the face of scrutiny we want to hide until people stop talking about us. Weak.

BigT3x · Post by **BigT3x** » Sat May 26, 2012 6:07 pm

SMUer wrote:OK, so what's the reason Orsini was fired so abruptly? If you want to build and expand a loyal fan base, you've got to establish trust and a message. I am seriously shocked at the silence that both the ASU scandal and this seemingly random axing have elicited from the school. These are golden opportunities to establish your message to the rest of DFW. We're about (this). It's like in the face of scrutiny we want to hide until people stop talking about us. Weak.

Sometimes you have to fire an employee. Doesn't matter what's coming up, doesn't matter what they do.

whitwiki · Post by **whitwiki** » Sat May 26, 2012 7:59 pm

My wife's principal was fired yesterday. She tried to tell everyone it was a "last minute opportunity" to leave for a small unknown private school.

Out with the old in with the new. These things happen.

jkflamebo · Post by **jkflamebo** » Sun May 27, 2012 9:27 am

whitwiki wrote:My wife's principal was fired yesterday. She tried to tell everyone it was a "last minute opportunity" to leave for a small unknown private school.

Out with the old in with the new. These things happen.

Out with the old in the new? The move goes against the grain. Orsini guided the ship through tough headwinds, and all of a sudden we throw his [deleted] off the ship? I do not buy that he is 'pursuing other opportunities'. If that was the case it would be public knowledge by now with him taking another job. I want to know what happened. Yes we all know about ASU but why fire him now?? And right after he hires a legendary NBA coach? I know this is regurgitation but we the deserve to know what's going on.

03Mustang · Post by **03Mustang** » Sun May 27, 2012 9:29 am

I have a feeling that the top donors all know exactly what is going on...the rest of us just haven't paid the price of admission.

couch 'em · Post by **couch 'em** » Sun May 27, 2012 9:31 am

The less details get leaked the more likely it is that the details shouldn't be leaked, especially on a public forum. Ask your connections privately. Otherwise time to move on quietly and don't make eye contact

Mexmustang · Post by **Mexmustang** » Sun May 27, 2012 9:40 am

It will be kept quiet only as long as the person that gave Turner the instructions takes the reponsibility to get a strong, indendent AD that is better than Orsini. It is not right that one person can ruin a man's career no matter how much he is given to the program--that is not governance.

FIVE-O-FAN · Post by **FIVE-O-FAN** » Sun May 27, 2012 10:50 am

couch 'em wrote:The less details get leaked the more likely it is that the details shouldn't be leaked, especially on a public forum. Ask your connections privately. Otherwise time to move on quietly and don't make eye contact

I have to agree.

jpe747 · Post by **jpe747** » Sun May 27, 2012 10:57 am

I admit, I don't know whats going to happen with the BE but...as for now I like what this report says. I AM VERY EXCITED about the possibilities. I think we are in the right place for our program at this point in time. As for the B12, Texas would inhibit our continued movement toward the elite. The elite is where I would like to be. Kind of like ND. There would be no chance of that around UT and the B12.

alyssa · Post by **alyssa** » Sun May 27, 2012 9:18 pm

I hope the "right path" includes making the Track and Field team a national powerhouse.
I'm still in shock at how weak the athletics (T&F) team performed at the NCAA West Regional down in Austin this weekend.
I knew it was bad but it is even worse than I thought it was.
The women's team needs a major upgrade and the men need a team.
I felt like I sat through a 0-12 football season.

In the races I watched I saw combined results go like this:
The 200m girl get 27th and 26th.
The 400m girl ran 13th and 14th.
The 1500m runner got a 33rd.
The 5000m runner placed 32nd.

CoxBizGrad · Post by **CoxBizGrad** » Sun May 27, 2012 10:27 pm

RGT probably got tired of hearing Steve O. say, "Top 25 in everything we do." Was really stupid thing for him to do in each and every media interview. RGT vs. Steve O. in a personality conflict--the person at the highest level and best title wins. Game, match RGT. Go pursue the Notre Dame AD job you said you coveted. SMU was just a stepping stone anyway. Also, Doh is available to have lunch these days. Make him buy since your great negotiations gave him $500K for the next year.

jpe747 · Post by **jpe747** » Mon May 28, 2012 4:09 pm

How about making Doh AD for the $500 he's making off of SMU anyway? (In case you can't tell that's a joke.)

ReedFrawg · Post by **ReedFrawg** » Mon May 28, 2012 11:23 pm

couch 'em wrote:The less details get leaked the more likely it is that the details shouldn't be leaked, especially on a public forum. Ask your connections privately. Otherwise time to move on quietly and don't make eye contact

Cmon now...you guys hammered tcu and patterson about not releasing exact numbers related to private drug tests. Don't be hypocritical - just pull back the curtain and air the dirty laundry. Can't have it both ways..

SMUer · Post by **SMUer** » Tue May 29, 2012 12:01 am

Papa Turner knows best huh? My how things change.