Mason may be short lived here at SMU.....

[Mexmustang]

Can't keep Mason if he wants to be the head coach at Nevada, but we could "money up" to keep him happy from DC jobs at other schools. SMU desperately needs to demonstrate a willingness to reward loyalty and performance amongst its coaching staff. Mason likes it here, and I am sure he would second guess any decision if we could prove we cared. As many "warts" as we see at SMU, other schools, including Nevada have them as well--sometimes more.

[Bergermeister]

Can't keep Mason if he wants to be the head coach at Nevada, but we could "money up" to keep him happy from DC jobs at other schools. SMU desperately needs to demonstrate a willingness to reward loyalty and performance amongst its coaching staff. Mason likes it here, and I am sure he would second guess any decision if we could prove we cared. As many "warts" as we see at SMU, other schools, including Nevada have them as well--sometimes more.

Agree. If the HC opportunity falls through, SMU needs to do what it takes - moneywise and staffingwise - to keep him on board. June has put Mason in almost total charge of the defensive side of the ball. Mason needs to be able to determine who - and who's not - on his defensive staff.

[SMU_Alumni11]

Since you didn't see the game, maybe this will help: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/12/2 ... in-hawaii/

Yeah but that win against Fresno state was so minuscule compare to all the crap we have been given. Next thing you know Aresco makes a deal with MWC for a 2 mil tv deal for merger of 20 teams...

Your problem is that you assume that nBE or MWC is our endgame. It isn't.

Believe me I hope you are right. I would never be more thrill to be wrong. However the way things are looking, and I feel conference realignment is done until may or later, we are stuck on the nBE as of now. Just how I see things. I'm worried Aresco will get a 3-4 mil tv deal make us sign our rights over and put a 25 mil exit fee to inhibit us from jumping to another conference.

[CalallenStang]

Your problem is that you assume that nBE or MWC is our endgame. It isn't.

Believe me I hope you are right. I would never be more thrill to be wrong. However the way things are looking, and I feel conference realignment is done until may or later, we are stuck on the nBE as of now. Just how I see things. I'm worried Aresco will get a 3-4 mil tv deal make us sign our rights over and put a 25 mil exit fee to inhibit us from jumping to another conference.

We are not moving to MWC at this moment because we don't want to pay CUSA exit fees, Big East exit fees, and MWC exit fees if/when we get the call to another conference. Two of those exit fees are bad enough. SMU and Houston are in the process of determining their options which may or may not include conferences that exist in the current paradigm (SMU and Houston could conceivably create a "best of the rest" conference of their own making rather than joining Big East or MWC if they don't find that they have options in ACC or PAC).

Aresco won't be able to make anyone "sign [their] rights over" because everyone in the new Big East is looking for another conference. The exit fee may be increased, but certainly not to a prohibitive amount like $25 million - again, everyone in the conference is looking for a way out. These measures would have to be voted on by the conference, and they would most certainly fail.

[leopold]

Congrats to Mason. Actually somewhat hoping he gets an offer. Not a damn thing wrong losing a DC to a HC position at his Alma Mater.

Besides, didn't I hear Jerry Glancille wants back in coaching? We've got plenty of seats available for Elvis tix!!

[Stallion]

I think those exit fee issues will be particularly important to UH. They haven't even funded their stadium yet. I just don't see the reason to write the checks

[Bergermeister]

UH: They haven't even funded their stadium yet.

The one they're tearing down or the one they're building?

[Webmaster]

We REALLY like Coach Mason. Beyond the tangibles of him being a great coach, he's always been generous with his time and very open and honest -- probably the most so of anyone on the current staff.

Prior to this situation opening up with his alma mater, Coach Mason told us that he basically intended to retire at SMU. His two caveats to that were the unstable job security of the coaching profession (if you don't like moving, it's probably not the job for you) and that if the right opportunity opened up, he might like one more run at the NFL.

Since the composition of the coaching staff is one area where there are no restrictions, I wouldn't mind opening the vault to keep Mason here. I know we pay our assistant coaches very well for a school of our size, but I think Mason has earned whatever it might take to keep him here. My 2 cents anyway.

[PonyKai]

If Mason leaves, just say no to Glanville.

[CA Mustang]

Mason one of five interviewed by Nevada: http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.co ... a-vacancy/