The Reality

[Dwan]

I have been a mustang fan for over 20 years. Like all of you I have hoped and dreamed for the day SMU would return to national prominence. When June Jones was hired and the Hawaii Bowl victory that soon followed, I thought it might actually happen. With the firing of Steve Orsini and June's lackluster approach to the program, I have officially lost faith. I have come to the conclusion that the worst thing about the DP is that the University does not want to ever be a national power in Football. They want 7 or maybe an 8 win season against terrible competition. But I do have faith that one day I can watch SMU play for a national title....it will just be in basketball. SMU has always had a man crush on Duke and given Larry Brown and the fact that a BBall program can turn on one recruit, I like our chances. I just don't think there is a real desire to succeed at the highest level in football and without that desire it will never happen.

[NavyCrimson]

You may not be too far from the truth - unfortunately.

Moreover, perhaps that is why JJ is the way he is - considering offers every year?

[Water Pony]

The Reality? Administration prefers 7 or 8 win seasons? Please? That makes no sense. There is nothing to substantiate that post, except your own private sense of reality. Turner wants to win, period. We may not like the results, but you can not invent facts.

[Stallion]

The state of the Football Program-good or bad-is the responsibility of the Head Coach-this has nothing to do with President Turner.
You want to give up now?
Just once in 25 years I want to see SMU's program run under two primary principles
1) Competitive recruiting Model (check)
2) An agressive Coaching Staff with strong recruiters who will outwork their competition (Basketball-Check; Football fail)

It became evident in June Jones very first years at SMU to those who really follow Texas college football that he had the wrong recruiting preferences, priorities and strategies and in selecting his coaching staff. Count to 3-4 and you reap what you sow. The guy can Coach-but there is another side of the equation in college football where he has failed miserably and he has not earned his salary. He's a WAC level superstar coach who won't put in the time and effort to be a nationally competitive program on a bigger stage. Probably belongs in the NFL where you draft instead of recruit-but has no where to go because the Run N Shoot is a no-go in the NFL

[Dwan]

I agree. But I feel the Administration is fine with June's approach. I think we might win 6 or 7 games and go to a bowl and they will be fine with that. Or they will be fine with a 5 win season.

[Treadway21]

I agree. But I feel the Administration is fine with June's approach. I think we might win 6 or 7 games and go to a bowl and they will be fine with that. Or they will be fine with a 5 win season.

may be true. But going to the BE 6 or 7 wins isn't going to happen. I guess that is why JJ wants a patsy OOC schedule so he only needs to win 2 BE games to get to 6 wins.

[Oliver]

I might counter "Turner wants to win" with "some very influential, wealthy, and passionate people at SMU want to win, and these people were mobilized by a guy that wanted to win more than anything, Steve Orsini"

Would have loved to see how Steve evaluated this season and if he would have started to hold June accountable for his pathetic recruiting efforts. He was a man with drive, vision, and an absolute desire for excellence at every level of the department, and while he may not have been a politician, he was headstrong and able to make changes and put us in a MUCH better place then when he arrived here.

[gostangs]

you overstate that those people (COC) were mobilized by orsini. did he have a roll? Yes. Was it he who organized it all - no.

i think Hart will be great for us. those that want an energetic young recruiting oriented coach will not have to wait very long. It may be one more year of June, but that would be the max. I think it will be later this year (hope) - but may be one more. I would be shocked if a list is not being pulled together and there arent already informal chats underway.

[SMU 86]

I agree. But I feel the Administration is fine with June's approach. I think we might win 6 or 7 games and go to a bowl and they will be fine with that. Or they will be fine with a 5 win season.

may be true. But going to the BE 6 or 7 wins isn't going to happen. I guess that is why JJ wants a patsy OOC schedule so he only needs to win 2 BE games to get to 6 wins.

Is there anything wrong with that?

[Treadway21]

Yes, and we may not get there the direction we are going unless we play 4 SFA's which I am sure would please JJ. I would like to compete for a conference championship in a relevant conference before I die. We did when I was there and with the right leadership we can again.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

"I agree. But I feel the Administration is fine with June's approach. I think we might win 6 or 7 games and go to a bowl and they will be fine with that. Or they will be fine with a 5 win season."


The administration of SMU is not concerned with a specific number of wins and losses. The administration is concerned with: (1) the athletic program getting into the black and not having to be subsidized by general university funds; and (2) the athletic program being a positive promotional and marketing tool for SMU. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a perennial 6 or 7 win football team that loses money, draws 20,000 fans per game, and gets crushed by every big name opponent it plays is not going to get us to either goal. The administration knows that as well as anyone else. And the person they will hold accountable is Rick Hart. I have no doubt that Hart will likewise hold June accountable.

[Treadway21]

Hope you are right 83.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

I forgot another important one. the administration wants the football program to be a point of pride for alumni that connects them to SMU, brings them back to campus, and most importantly inspires them to open their wallets. Again, no one gets fired up by a 6-6 team.

[redpony]

+5

[Oliver]

you overstate that those people (COC) were mobilized by orsini. did he have a roll? Yes. Was it he who organized it all - no.

I think Hart will be great for. those that want an energetic young recruiting oriented coach will not have to wait very long. It may be one more year of June, but that would be the max. I think it will be later this year (hope) - but may be one more. I would be shocked if a list is not being pulled together and there aren't already informal chats underway.

I hope Hart does well too, and have faith in him. Quite frankly, its way too early to make any judgment on his performance. He is certainly going to have some massive decisions to make..

I also hope that he is assertive and headstrong in taking this thing to the next level. I know Orsini didn't create the CofC, but I think it took his bull in a china shop method of getting things done to help create an environment that is conducive for a winning program, by creating a system that can admit and foster more at risk student athletes.

The big question is will Hart have the courage and smarts to bring in the guy that can take us to that next level. These next few years are EXTRAORDINARILY important in the development and long-term success of our program. Now is the time to to mold a national perception that sees SMU as capable of competing at the highest level.

AND THE RESULTS HAVE TO SUPPORT THAT! They certainly have not yet...