Consequences of no long term plan...

[Pony in SA]

Sorry this is long, but here is my vent...

I watched the recent Rick Hart interview on the Pony Pride site and was struck again by the lack of plan we seem to have for athletics in general, and the fact as others have stated that we think small time insted of big time. He admitted things like we really don't have final IPF in the works (which is odd because they have solicited money from some for it), we were late to negotiate the contract with Nike for the uniforms so we didn't really have a say in what we got this year, etc. Not an indictment of Hart as he wasn't here but rather the lack of any plan by the department as a whole to get things right. Makes it harder for them to keep asking long time supporters like me to keep throwing money at the department.

I think it is easier for alumni, potential fans, and others to jump on board and support your product if they know there is a long term plan or goal they are working for. It seems we lack any compass on where we want the football team and department itself to go. Makes it hard for people to jump on the bandwagon and support. People want to know their money is an investment in something. That is why the appearance of June being a lame duck hurts everything.

I know you guys laugh at UTSA, but I was fortunate this week to attend another event with a friend of mine who is big time supporter of that program. Coker and the AD again went over their 5 and 10 year goals for the program. Outlined their 3 phase construction program for facilities, their recruiting plans, their future scheduling and why set up that way, etc. I never hear anything like this from SMU -- do we even have a 5 or 10 year plan of where we want to be ???

Here's what they are doing -- Phase 1 of construction underway and will have football lockerroom complex and practice fields done, then on to Phase 2 which will include their IPF, then Phase 3 with the 40,000 or so on campus stadium. 10 year timeframe or less, and I bet their IPF done before ours. Showing people what and when they are going to do it has increased funding for it.

Marketing - Coker does his weekly radio show on the Ticket, also does his live weekly event show from local restuarant, and is in constant contact with the area high school coaches. Always has on UTSA gear, talks about how it is up and coming university, and that they have their 10 year plan to be something special. They have local UTSA Football discount packages with several local restaurants, and their spirit groups are out to the local schools handing out t-shirts. Billboards and ads about UTSA being your local team. They are way more organized and ahead of us on this.

Recruiting - Coker and staff well liked by the Smithson Valley, Judson, Madison, etc. coaches and this season are ahead of us on 2 players we contacted. Even Marquis Warford at Madison who ran for 350 plus on only 12 carries and playing only into 3rd quarter this week who June supposedly called and also was contacted by TCU and UTSA is leaning UTSA. Says he likes what they are about and can play sooner there rather than at TCU. They are making inroads and relationships in the state of Texas, again way ahead of us on this.

Scheduling -- They have Arizona, Okla State, Kansas State, etc. coming up on schedule and plan on 2 of those type games in future with 2 other winnable ones. Coker talked about plan was to start playing those games next year after his team had 2 years under their belt and would be junior and seniors, but also they still wanted 2 other games where could make sure guys got healthy and play other 2nd and 3rd string guys to develop depth. Again, they had a specific plan. Year 3 start playing tougher out of conference games but keep 2 games so you could get your reserves time and in their coaches words "see what else you have and can develop" Again a plan for what they are doing. Even when we are losing by wide margin we keep Zach Line in and don't try to at least develop other players.

Financial - They are about 5,000 to 6,000 more season tickets than us already assuming we have little under 10,000 ourselves. Set record for start up program, first game attendance, etc. and averaging little over 29,000 this year in first 2 games against nobody teams with small fan bases. Yes, bigger school than us but they also have marketed and done things right. They did creative ticket packaging for people and companies, gave discount if you committed to long term season ti tickets, etc. Again, looking long term and looking to lock people up for many years. Don't think we have that plan either really.

Product - 5 wins, 0 losses this year with group who is mostly sophmores. Pro style offense, very well disciplned and coached team that knows how to handle game situations, doesn't waste a timeout on special teams, etc. Makes players accountable. Coaching staff with passion who at least show they want to be here. Fun to watch because they are doing things right way and even if not successful you feel like they have a plan for what they are building on.

Coker was only hired about 3 years ago (I think it was October of 2009) but what him and his staff have done in just 3 years is pretty amazing. I think part of it is they had specific plan on what they were going to do and they work their plan. People know what they are about and are willing to buy in. June is year 5 and many believe he is gone soon anyway, doesn't want to be here, etc., so much harder to buy in to what were are doing or even want to continue to contribute. Seems like no plan at all and our recruiting magnifies that.

I am certainly not C of C level, but have supported program for years and written plenty of checks to department as have others. LIke I posted before, when others in my section who were Lettermen and have more skin in the game than me said this year they will be done if something doesn't change the program has a problem. They need Hart to lay out a plan of what we are going to do, how to get there, etc. and start acting big time and stop being small time. If we simply can't do that because of lack or resources, small enrollment, etc. than focus on being a basketball, soccer, lacrosse school (which may be better in Big East anyway) and stop fooling the rest of us with football.

[alamocitystang]

I'm struck by the say that their coach has in directing the program. I'm not trying to be a JJ apologist, but if you are given a lot of say you might have more of a plan. You won't hear Coker complain about the schedule because he devised it.

On another note, there are just no parallels to what UTSA is doing and what can be accomplished at SMU. They may be singing a different tune after 3 straight blowouts. And I am a huge runners fan (hold a masters from there), but also a realist. I wouldn't go so far as to say that SMU could not learn anything from UTSA. No one in San Antonio feels unwelcome at UTSA games. They are San Antonios' team and no one disputes that. Some of that is a large alumni base and some of that is well-fostered community relationships. They don't have the PR nightmare of being a small college for the children of elites.

[Treadway21]

Great post, but disagree with your conclusion. The conclusion should be if this administration cannot get it done, bring in personnel that will. We cannot throw away 80 plus years of history in Football.

If others such as Biose State, NW, and TCU can do well in Football there is no reason for us not to be able to compete at the highest levels.

[Arkpony]

This depresses me because I feel he is correct.

[Pony in SA]

Great post, but disagree with your conclusion. The conclusion should be if this administration cannot get it done, bring in personnel that will. We cannot throw away 80 plus years of history in Football.

If others such as Biose State, NW, and TCU can do well in Football there is no reason for us not to be able to compete at the highest levels.

Don't misunderstand... I do not want to do away with football. Invested too much money, time, etc. and want us more than anyone to succeed. Also, don't want us at all to be UTSA -- just pointing out their approach and how it seems to be working.

I just think don't try to fool us, if you are going to do this lets have a plan and do it right. I agree no excuse for us not to compete at higher level. I just don't think we have any long term plan in place to get us there and it is hurting us with support, recruiting, etc.

[squire]

Great post. Not at all too long because of the many great points you made.
I too, saw that Hart interview on Rivals, and was surprised that the IPF was so far down the list of priorities. Given that football revenue helps fund every other sport on campus (possible exception basketball) I could not believe that Tennis and Swimming projects are keeping the IPF on the back burner.
This post is a blueprint of how to, and how not to build a football program.

[Pony41]

I think when Jones was hired he talked more about a 5 year plan. The past two years I do not recall hearing him reference his plan anymore. Even if it changes, he is the leader of the football program and should be creating a vision that players, administration and alumni can follow.

[Treadway21]

SA I understand. Good points. The good news is the fanbase has tasted some success and thet has whetted their appitite for more. I think there is pressure now to be successful and we are past the point of no return. I am not saying anything novel, but I think that our circumstances now work in favor of moving forward. I hope Hart has the guts to make some tough decisions. Being a bottom of the barrel BE team should not be appealing to our fans or to our city.

[Water Pony]

Fears of other capital projects are not an issue. Admininistration has been clear on a new Natatorium. Friends of swimming need to commit 90% of cost with the school providing the balance.

In summary, who ever can raise the funds will get the support. I would be shocked if IPF struggles to get its commitment, especially since an IPF is less expensive than a new Natatorium.

Perhaps we should combine the two on SMU Blvd. east of Central Expressway? Vanderbilt has a plan to incorporate a new IPF with their student recreation center, which includes a pool. A multi-use facility could incorporate a natatorium, since we already have a student rec center. Think bigger, although my personal preference is to rebuild the natatorium on the current site and connect it to the A.R. "Red" Barr Outdoor Pool.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/16174 ... r-facility

[PSCA]

The IPF comment by Mr Hart caught me a little bit surprised. I spoke with Coaches in Fall Camp and was told it was a 2 year deal and the facility would be at the parking garage right there at the north point of the soccer stadium. The facility would also include a speed (track) lab. I know plans change ... but if it was in the works, can't imagine that would alter just because a new AD came on-board.

[Water Pony]

Here is VU link. Great looking design:

http://www.vucommodores.com/genrel/042012aaa.html

[Mexmustang]

Orsini had a goal, "Top 25 in everything we do". What is Hart's goal? Is he permitted to have one?
All I have heard from him is that his family misses Tennessee and he wants to improve athletic academics (coming from someone that took a PE major from that pillar of athletic academic excellance--UNC).

That last one really got me upset. We have been crucified on that "academic cross" for 25 years. We still haven't athletic friendly majors. Here's a clue, those professors that did that knee jerk to the DP, like Pye, are all dead or retired. Any pressure claimed by our administration is largely self inflicted.

In the past four years we have lost 17 players to academics, six were DB's. I don't know if they failed because of effort or because SMU couldn't deliever a course of study that all Big 12 schools offer (even Vanderbilt and Stanford have 'special' academic programs). It really doesn't matter, other schools use that against us in recruiting.

As one of LB's recruits mother said recently, "I know he qualifies to get into SMU but what assures me he has a chance to stay?" "The other schools tell me he has no chance at SMU". Love him or hate him Orsini got fired because of the backlash he created to make academic changes and shout out when promises were not kept.

[San Antonio Mustang]

I agree with Pony in SA and Alamocitystang about what is happening here in San Antonio with UTSA. I also agree that if there is a long term plan at SMU it has not been generally discussed. I would add, though, that SMU has a more difficult task in gaining Dallas support. UTSA does not have any big competition. The nearest big program is UT in Austin and there is no professional football team in San Antonio. I am old enough to remember what attendance at SMU football games was like before the Cowboys. We did better than UTSA is doing. Our attendance suffered once the Cowboys came into existence. I would ask each of the Dallas folks who read this to answer the question can they think of 10 non SMU allums who if given the choice between going to an SMU game or a Cowboy game would choose SMU. I will be surprised if they can. I know plenty of people who are not UTSA alums but will attend their games, but if San Antonio had an NFL team they would always choose the NFL over UTSA.

What this means to me is we not only need to have long term plans, but also will have to work extra hard to attract Dallas folks. The Hart interview did not indicate to me that he understands what we need.

[birddogger]

Does this reflect a problem with the prior AD, the administration, or both?

[Pony in SA]

As usual, San Antonio Mustang is right on with good post. UTSA's position is different from SMU, UTSA is only game in town, bigger enrollment, etc. so they have some structural advantages from pure numbers standpoint.

Again not saying we need to be UTSA, just that it is clear they have a plan they are working for their program and it is having success in relatively short time. I can't think of any long term plan we are working on to try to sell to our alumni, our fans, others in Dallas, etc. I think it makes it hard to expect support if people don't know what they are buying into and June may be gone anyway soon is the perception.

Conferences will shift again probably in a few years. Perhaps if you sold a plan that we are trying to position ourselves better for that next realignment in 5 or so years and that is why we need more support, and that if you provide it you would get some perks if there is realignment, it may help. Then aggressively market Dallas that we are working to positions ourselves better for the "next move up", and hire younger coaches with passion to be here and who constantly talk the school up and recruit Texas, so that the people you are trying to reach will know you are working on the "next move up." You could sell that idea to recruits also. Marketing theme could be "moving up" as it ties into our move up to the Big East but also could be used for other better moves if it the come along.

Point is have a plan we are working on to get better. NOT just going thru the motions which right or wrong is the impression too many of us that even support the program have, and that outsiders have, which gets us no where.