Thoughts on June handling Gilbert

[mustang1108]

I have a few problems with how June has handled this situation with Gilbert
1. Naming Gilbert that starter before he stepped foot on campus. Although we all knew he probably was going to start anyway I have a problem naming him the starter before he's even met his own teammates. Wisconsin didn't even name Russell Wilson the starter last year until a week or two before the first game. You need to say it is going to be an open competition and best player will play.
2. June's relationship with Gilberts dad. I remember reading reports about Gilbert's dad being at practices earlier in the fall. I believe June mentioned before being friends and coaching Gilbert's dad at one point when he was in the NFL. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it seems like there may be a little conflict of interest. Have any of the other qb's dads been seen around the practice field? This is not High School football where dad's come out to watch there kid and then talk with the coach after practice. I know this may seem ridiculous, but I just don't think this is something that should take place in Division 1 football.
3. It seems like June is treating Gilbert as a project and is more concerned with developing him as a qb rather than the results of the team. I think that is why he named him starter before the first real practice. He has given him so many chances. Heck he's thrown 4 TDs to 9 INTs. Not even JJ was this bad. I know the receivers have dropped balls, but I want to see more production out of Line who is clearly our best offensive player and is not being utilized this year like he has the past 2 years. I want June to quit focusing on Gilbert and to focus on what is best for the TEAM.

[skurtn]

NOTE: I'm just playing devil's advocate...
RESPONSE: Maybe he is doing what's best for the team? Perhaps he genuinely believes in GG. More importantly, what does that say about the other QBs if he's willing to keep GG in the game? I think we're just guessing here...

[LHS81]

Just from the limited playing time CP has appeared. It looks like CP has a better touch throwing the ball, than GG.

[ponyboy]

You know, you make certain promises to prospects in order to get them here. Seemed a reasonable gamble and one that will probably, though not certainly, pay off in the next 19-20 games GG has remaining in his SMU career.

[Stallion]

SMU has fallen for "the next superstar QB is sitting on the bench" argument for 25 years-its blown up in SMU's face each and every time. I got an idea-let's not let anyone play QB until their 3rd year at SMU as a Redshirt Sophomore. We'd be better off than what we have been doing for 2 decades I don't think McDermott was very good but at least he won 8 games as a SENIOR!!!!. Look we weren't going to beat any of those losses on our schedule-sorry that guys like Ponyboy and the rest of the Cheerleaders got you so worked up thinking "we're going to win 2 out of 3 games against BCS teams" when our QB had about 3 weeks to learn the Run and Shoot. Yeah right. When TCU, A&M, and Baylor outrecruit SMU for 99% of the players on your 85 man roster you are not going to be competitive with those programs very often. The best thing right now is clearly to give Gilbert and the rest of the offense a chance to settle in against teams that are not going to physically dominate SMU's personnel. Until then sit the damn freshmen QBs on their [deleted] and tell them to learn the offense. See Mike Leach

[ponyboy]

sorry that guys like Ponyboy and the rest of the Cheerleaders got you so worked up thinking "we're going to win 2 out of 3 games against BCS teams" when our QB had about 3 weeks to learn the Run and Shoot. Yeah right.

I hoped but never expected to win one of those three and end up 2-2 by this point. Final season prediction was 7-8 wins and still is.

Great points on QB though.

[ponyte]

Better yet, let’s take the only TE we have on the roster and turn him into our starting QB over the next two weeks. Hey, we did it before and I think we only went 0-11 that year. But we did have a decent back though he seemed to give up after the 50th carry of a game.

We were 59-174 over 20 years. A pitiful record. We were worse than TCU and Rice when they were at high suck tide. 3 winning seasons with a decent post season record doesn't make us the hottest team for a recruit in the nation.

[ghost]

You are forgetting one important thing......This guy was the highest-rated QB in the country and the gatorade player of the year and a proven winner at Lake Travis and had been to numerous evaluation camps of which I don't think June influenced any of that did he? He just got into a bad situation at UT with a terrible old offensive coordinator who has since been let go and became a scapegoat for UT's problems. Now he is on the SMU campus for just a short time behind an inexperienced offensive line and getting used to a new system and set of receivers against three teams from the Big 12 who have been to war. You don't give up on a guy with that kind of pedigree. You encourage him and make everyone realize it is a team game and to relax, work hard and have fun and what will be will be! We don't need the qb to try to win games all by himself. They will be fine.

[fornaxqt]

NOTE: I'm just playing devil's advocate...
RESPONSE: Maybe he is doing what's best for the team? Perhaps he genuinely believes in GG. More importantly, what does that say about the other QBs if he's willing to keep GG in the game? I think we're just guessing here...

Even though you are "playing devils advocate" I couldn't agree more! And to carry it further, just maybe, JJ feels, as do I, that GG is very very close to putting it all together. With a little help from his receivers this weekend we might see the talent all come together!

[fornaxqt]

You are forgetting one important thing......This guy was the highest-rated QB in the country and the gatorade player of the year and a proven winner at Lake Travis and had been to numerous evaluation camps of which I don't think June influenced any of that did he? He just got into a bad situation at UT with a terrible old offensive coordinator who has since been let go and became a scapegoat for UT's problems. Now he is on the SMU campus for just a short time behind an inexperienced offensive line and getting used to a new system and set of receivers against three teams from the Big 12 who have been to war. You don't give up on a guy with that kind of pedigree. You encourage him and make everyone realize it is a team game and to relax, work hard and have fun and what will be will be! We don't need the qb to try to win games all by himself. They will be fine.

Agree...and well said!

[Pony147]

Garrett has had FIVE different offensive coordinators in the past six years, dating back to his junior year of high school (two at Lake Travis, two at UT, and SMU). Give him some time to settle down!

[sbsmith]

Garrett has had FIVE different offensive coordinators in the past six years, dating back to his junior year of high school (two at Lake Travis, two at UT, and SMU). Give him some time to settle down!

Next 4 weeks will be prime settling down time. If he can't get it going against teams with a combined record of 2-15 then it's never going to happen for him.

[Mustangs_Maroons]

Garrett has had FIVE different offensive coordinators in the past six years, dating back to his junior year of high school (two at Lake Travis, two at UT, and SMU). Give him some time to settle down!

Next 4 weeks will be prime settling down time. If he can't get it going against teams with a combined record of 2-15 then it's never going to happen for him.

Because our barometer should always be how we perform against teams with a combined 2-15 record. smh.
We're going into a BCS conference, and we seem satisfied by thinking we're better than teams in C-USA. Our outdated offensive system and poor recruiting classes is our reality. You are what your record states you are, and we are 1 and 3 and only beat a non-FBS member. That is our reality. If we're happy with that, then JJ should stay. Otherwise, we need to bring in a new coach with a real direction that doesn't have the arrow pointing downwards.

[sbsmith]

Garrett has had FIVE different offensive coordinators in the past six years, dating back to his junior year of high school (two at Lake Travis, two at UT, and SMU). Give him some time to settle down!

Next 4 weeks will be prime settling down time. If he can't get it going against teams with a combined record of 2-15 then it's never going to happen for him.

Because our barometer should always be how we perform against teams with a combined 2-15 record. smh.
We're going into a BCS conference, and we seem satisfied by thinking we're better than teams in C-USA. Our outdated offensive system and poor recruiting classes is our reality. You are what your record states you are, and we are 1 and 3 and only beat a non-FBS member. That is our reality. If we're happy with that, then JJ should stay. Otherwise, we need to bring in a new coach with a real direction that doesn't have the arrow pointing downwards.

I agree with you about the direction (or lack thereof) of the program under June and I believe we need a better HC , but I was referring specifically to Gilbert and his prospects going forward. Most people are making excuses for him and saying he needs more time, well he's going to get plenty of time to shred some terrible competition over the next month. If his mediocre play continues I wonder what excuses there will be left to make.

[panhandle_pony]

You can say all you want about learning the system (I didn't realize until reading so many informed commentators that the R&S requires a rocket scientist at the helm), the Parade All-American rating, the relationship between JJ and GG's dad, etc., etc. But I simply think he throws a bad ball - no touch when needed, terrible accuracy and poor judgement. IMO these are issues above and beyond the excuses.