Hart/Jones in NYC Tonight

[lwjr]

On recruiting---did he acknowledge changes needed to be on his end? Did he just reiterate that the school is not athlete major friendly rather than say he was going on the recruiting trail? I am hoping he was encouraging on his going after recruits this year.

Nothing is JJ's fault

[MustangStealth]

I give up, did he ?

Yes. But, his comments were more in the nature of sure wins.

His presentation was interesting and generally good. He didn't anger me and I was mad before the meeting.
1) He made a compelling argument that the Hawaii Bowl is the best non-BCS bowl from a player's point of view,
2) he said Hart was making great changes to improve the program, and
3) he pointed out the number of Mustangs getting drafted this year would exceed some big programs like UT.

All in, I was pleasantly surprised. He took some tough questions and had good responses.

1) I'll bet every Oklahoma and A&M player would pick the Cotton Bowl if we offered to trade with them
3) So if we had good talent, whose fault is it we only went 6-6?

[Mustangs35SMU]

He clearly thought we should have beaten TCU.

Anyone that watched that game knows TCU did everything in their power to hand that win to us and we still couldn't get it done.

[Rebel10]

1) He made a compelling argument that the Hawaii Bowl is the best non-BCS bowl from a player's point of view,

Now that is a good spin since he would have rather gone to Hawaii than the Liberty Bowl for a conference championship game. It was for him just as much as it was for anyone else imo.

[couch 'em]

So lets see:

We have more draftable players than Texas, but expected to lose to Rice

We expected to lose to academic powerhouse, athlete major un-friendly Rice, but it is lack of athlete majors holding us back?

[Bergermeister]

So lets see:

We have more draftable players than Texas, but expected to lose to Rice

We expected to lose to academic powerhouse, athlete major un-friendly Rice, but it is lack of athlete majors holding us back?

...and the beat goes on

[SMU 86]

3) he pointed out the number of Mustangs getting drafted this year would exceed some big programs like UT.

To be honest about it the Texas only graduates about 3 starters on offense and 3 on defense. SMU graduates 6 starters on defense alone and 5 on offense. So we should have more getting drafted because we have almost twice as many entering the draft. Just sayin.

[mr. pony]

I give up, did he ?

Yes. But, his comments were more in the nature of sure wins.

His presentation was interesting and generally good. He didn't anger me and I was mad before the meeting.
1) He made a compelling argument that the Hawaii Bowl is the best non-BCS bowl from a player's point of view,
2) he said Hart was making great changes to improve the program, and
3) he pointed out the number of Mustangs getting drafted this year would exceed some big programs like UT.

All in, I was pleasantly surprised. He took some tough questions and had good responses.

1) I'll bet every Oklahoma and A&M player would pick the Cotton Bowl if we offered to trade with them
3) So if we had good talent, whose fault is it we only went 6-6?

1) Yep.
2) And good question.

[redpony]

So it seems like the meeting was all 'fluff and puff' no real tough questions asked. Don't know why people go to those things.

[PonyKai]

I would say Hart's little tidbit that the Big East might not be end game qualifies as more than fluff and puff. Fluff and puff would have been boilerplate "we're committed rah rah." The Big East isn't going anywhere. There used to be a 6th ranked conference, there will be a 6th ranked conference tomorrow, and next year, and the year after. The Hoops schools aren't going to breakaway, teams aren't going to leave for the MWC, it just isn't happening. Use logic. So, when Hart publicly tips, even vaguely and generally that it might not be end-game, I would say that's noteworthy.

Better than our AD learning about a conference breakup 24 hours before it happens and our President refusing to believe it after intentionally torpedoing revenue athletics.

[JasonB]

I am still nervous about Hart. I am glad to hear that he is involved in the conference game, and that Jones seems to like him.

[Digetydog]

So it seems like the meeting was all 'fluff and puff' no real tough questions asked. Don't know why people go to those things.

Frankly, I am not a Jones' supporter and think it would be best for both sides if he left the program.

Having said that, I have to give the man some credit when it is deserved.
1) There were no restrictions on what could be asked;
2) There were a few softballs, a few hard questions and a few stupid questions/comments. He did his best to answer the questions and wasn't rude to anyone. If someone had asked about ASU (I was disappointed that nobody did), I am sure that he would have answered the question.
3) On TV, his persona drives me crazy and makes me want to throw a shoe at the TV. In person, it was a little of the same, but less so. He just has an odd way of answering questions that is baffling and frustrating.

If you (or anyone on this board) EDIT [are) a Mustang Club member, go to events like this if you have a chance. Worst case scenario, you get to say hello to people you haven't seen in years.

Did I like all of his answers: Absolutely Not
Did I like some of them: Yes.

Whether true or not, he believes that the Hawaii Bowl is the best bowl experience for SMU players available (outside the BCS). While others might disagree, he believes that it is better than the Liberty, Compass, Armed Forces, or any other bowl a CUSA team is likely to get picked for.

[JasonB]

From a players perspective, i can agree with the Bowl statement. And we have a player's coach. So it makes sense that he would take that viewpoint.

My personal take is that in the world of crazy conference re-alignment and uncertainty, June believes that the biggest pitch he can make to potential recruits is that he gets players to the pros. Which he does. So running a players-first program that emphasizes an opportunity to get to the next level makes sense in order to try and get the best recruits in here.

It is a little bit different from the bball program, which can make that pitch and also sell players that at worst, they are going to be playing in MSG for conference championships.

I don't have any information what-so-ever on that, I am just reading between the lines on his various comments he has made over the last few years.

Also, I realize the numbers are skewed this season because UT graduates so few starters, but they still are graduating players. And I believe we had more drafted than them last year as well?

[redpony]

June believes that the biggest pitch he can make to potential recruits is that he gets players to the pros. Which he does. So running a players-first program that emphasizes an opportunity to get to the next level makes sense in order to try and get the best recruits in here.

Jason- that comment might be true - but the real issue is that he doesn't recruit. He makes no effort whatsoever to get the 'best recruits' here and that has been obvious. In fact, I suspect that he is even very restrictive on letting his coaches do any recruiting. Good example - ED's nephew appearing to be headed to aTm. JMHO

[Bergermeister]

The real issue is that he doesn't recruit. He makes no effort whatsoever to get the 'best recruits' here and that has been obvious.

...seems like you've mentioned that before.