IT'S FINALLY GONNA HAPPEN! S.M.U. VERSUS SAM HOUSTON STATE!

[Dooby]

I absolutely love people criticizing the schedule for being too soft and in the next sentence insinuating that we will lose those games. That you cannot see the inherent contradiction in those two statements is hysterical. If you think there is a chance we will lose to SHSU, then you can't possibly believe we even have a chance against Texas Tech.

I could talk about this for hours, but basically you old fogies are outraged that SMU has fallen to such depths. Well, guess what. I am, too.

I would rather beat a bad team and prove we are better than them then lose to a good team and prove nothing. When we don't win a game in 2003, it made us look like the worst team in the country, but yet you are too high and mighty to play Arkansas State that won 5 games that same season.

I am not saying beating Arkansas State will return us to our former glory, but I don't believe getting our brains beat in will get us there any faster.

[SoCal_Pony]

Over 3 years ago, Jim Copeland said we would compete and win at the highest levels. Clearly this hasn’t happened. Now we will see if we can win even at the lowest of levels, D1-AA. Personally I suspect we will lose at least 1 of these ‘cream puff’ games.

Truth is I hope we lose all 3 if it will finally rid us of Copeland and the last vestiges of our failed model, but I doubt it.

And MM65, don’t apologize for one moment rooting for the Bearkats over SMU. That is your undergraduate Alma matter which is something special.

[Stallion]

What Bowl Game does the Southland Conference Champs go to anyway because I've got a good feeling that we got a 50-50 chance of going. Remember those chants from yesteryear-"Hey Hey Ho Ho-Look whose going to the the Tyler [r]ose Festival Bowl"!!!!!!!!

[PK]

No I'm trying to comprehend how a school with the history, tradition, location and reputation of SMU could possibly be dominated in the 2000s by that collection of bottom dwellers. That's the issue

Talk about an oximoron...Stallion trying to comprehend something that he has been yelling about for years. It's the Model stupid. How could you have forgtten your own mantra so quickly. The model has changed for the better in the last couple of years, but you don't recuperate from the damage of ten plus years of that model in just two seasons.

Sometimes I think you just like to hear yourself complain. If you and OP think Copeland needs to be fired, then go through the channels that will get it done. No one on this board can fire him and the powers that be either don't believe you or they don't visit this board to get your advice.

[OldPony]

PK- What makes you think I don't go through every avenue I have to get Copeland fired? I assure you that I have been for the past 6 months. Losers deny responsiblity and then reduce goals in order to being seen as achieving them. Copeland is a loser.
Dooby- I understand what you think are inconsistencies. It appears that you don't get the concept that low expectations provide low returns. Do you think SMU or SHSU gets more from recruting from this game? Do you think if SMU believes that SHSU, Ark St etc is the competitive set that we are in danger of playing down to that expectation? Do you not see that expectations have been continually ratched down under Copeland? Do you think it is a good decision to renew a contract of a guy who has averaged winning 2 games per year? Do you think a coach who goes for 2 when leading by 11 makes a good game day boss? Do you think that we should continually ignore the performance by the athletic department and not hold them to a mimimum standard (such as competeing with Rice or UTEP). At what point do you say "Clean house and bring me some people who can get the job done"? Copeland has been an utter failure and keeps his job by redefining success. Those of you who support him are like abettors for a crime.

[PK]

OP, i'm glad to know you are using other channels besides this board...I seriously doubt Stallion is. My concern would be this, if Copeland should get fired, who selects the replacement? The next problem is what is the guaranty that we can get someone better to even seek, much less accept the position. Has the model been changed enough to make the position attractive to qualified candidates. I'm not saying that taking the risk is not worth it, I'm just stating my concerns. The model has slowly been chipped away from what it was while Copeland has been here. Could it have been done quicker or more far reaching? I have no way of knowing that. All I know is that the Faculty Senate was turned loose by Pye and I'm sure taking those powers away from them has probably not been easy.

What has been the response to your "fire Copeland" efforts?

[jtstang]

My concern would be this, if Copeland should get fired, who selects the replacement?

Me. Send your ersume now.

[jtstang]

My concern would be this, if Copeland should get fired, who selects the replacement?

Me. Send your resume now.

[MrMustang1965]

Mr Mustang- You are forgiven for being excited because of your realtionship with the 2 schools and BTW I'm not saying that SHSU w9n't be competitive. That isn't my point and with continued falling expectations at SMU, we could easily lose by then.

I don't recall asking for forgiveness, OP. Whichever way the game goes, I come out a WINNER!

[OldPony]

I think I am starting to wear people down. I am at least getting them to admit that he is a failure which is step 1. I'm not talking to any real decision makers but I am talking to those who do in some instances. There needs to be a groundswell though if we are to get him out by 2006.
No real AD would want this job. Almost anyone would be better than Copland though. He can't get the necessary changes so he fires coaches to cover his ample behind. If this is his best at getting timely chnages, we need someone esle.His latest gambit of scheduling patsies was the final straw. His 'comittment' has become a joke. I wish I had access to Turner. I hope that everyone who sees Turnewr tells him that we want to win at sports and that Copeland can't get the job done.

[MrMustang1965]

What Bowl Game does the Southland Conference Champs go to anyway because I've got a good feeling that we got a 50-50 chance of going. Remember those chants from yesteryear-"Hey Hey Ho Ho-Look whose going to the the Tyler [r]ose Festival Bowl"!!!!!!!!

Oh, come now, Stallion. You're the man with all the answers on this board and you don't know the answer to THIS question?????

The Southland Conference is in Div. 1-AA and it has a PLAYOFF SYSTEM!!! (which is what ALL college football should have instead of this BCS cr*p!) There IS no BOWL GAME in Div. 1-AA except for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME which was played last year in Knoxville, TN. It was played between James Madison University and the University of Montana in 2004 and was won by JMU.

[Dooby]

My positions on all the topics you raised are very clear. I have routinely said that I will not accept Copeland selecting our next football coach if it comes to that. What I mean by that is very clear-if Copeland cans Bennett, Turner better can Copeland. I have been saying that for more than a year. I suppose if Tubbs goes to the NCAA's in the next two years, I may reconsider that, but I don't think that is going to happen.

I don't care for Copeland. But I blame him for the things that are his fault and not the things that are not his fault. I also refuse to give him credit for the things he had nothign to do with. The scheduling is Bennett; lest we forget, Copeland 2 years ago was quoted as saying he wanted to schedule UT-blame Bennett for that. The stupid academic restrictions were not Copeland's creation and we all know it; blame him for not working hard enough to get rid of them if you want, but blame Pye for creating them.

coaching extension-I support it. And if anybody can present me any evidence that it will hav a negative financial impact on SMU if we choose to fire Bennett tomorrow, let's see it. You don't know what the terms of the extension are and neither do I. I do know that such extensions are not uncommon even in programs that are, to be kind, "underpreforming". I cited a couple of examples at the time. Should point out that both coaches still got fired before their contracts were up. I personally believe that the impact is minimal and was windowdressing by SMU to show confidence in Bennett. He had two years left on his deal and in my mind he still has two years.

That being said, I still have some faith in Bennett. Mainly because I like him (I loathed his predecesor). I also believe in Bennett because I feel I have to. We are a dog of a football team. Losing for 15 years has not given us the right to be impatient. One could reasonably argue we are a coach killer program. If we don't show patience with Bennett, we will never find anybody worthwhile to take this job. I am willing to let Bennett prove he can't coach. And that means two years in my book.

Yeah, in two years. If we don't go to a bowl with that soft schedule, then clean house. By then, it will be clear that Bennett either can or cannot be a head coach. And then, if necessary, and I hope it isn't, clean house.

[KnuckleStang]

"Hey Hey Ho Ho-Look whose going to the the Tyler [r]ose Festival Bowl"!!!!!!!!

I went to the Tyler Rose Festival once with my mom.

[PlanoStang]

I absolutely love people criticizing the schedule for being too soft and in the next sentence insinuating that we will lose those games. That you cannot see the inherent contradiction in those two statements is hysterical. If you think there is a chance we will lose to SHSU, then you can't possibly believe we even have a chance against Texas Tech.

I could talk about this for hours, but basically you old fogies are outraged that SMU has fallen to such depths. Well, guess what. I am, too.

I would rather beat a bad team and prove we are better than them then lose to a good team and prove nothing. When we don't win a game in 2003, it made us look like the worst team in the country, but yet you are too high and mighty to play Arkansas State that won 5 games that same season.

I am not saying beating Arkansas State will return us to our former glory, but I don't believe getting our brains beat in will get us there any faster.

You don't think we can lose to SHSU, or Arkie State? I guess if I say "hockey", and "miracle" in the same sentence, you start trying to figure out which Stars game I'm talking about? SHSU will probably be ranked pretty high in their ncaa division. Why risk a debacle against a
Sagarin rated #86 in "patsy" clothing? Just ask some Baylor fans around you at our game next fall about their game with UNT in Denton 1 1/2 years ago. Watch their faces turn red.

You didn't listen with your Dad (SMU 50) to Kern Tips describing walk on, and track star John Roderick running circles around Roger Staubach, and the NAVY in 63 to beat the #2 team in the nation 32-28. We went 2-8 the year before, and went 4-6 in 63. Mainly, because we beat NAVY, we got an invitation to play Oregon in the Sun Bowl.

My Dad flew PBYs in the Navy in WWII, and dropped depth charge bombs on German submarines in our Gulf of Mexico. They think they got one because of the oil they saw coming to the surface. It wasn't a confirmed kill. He wasn't rooting for NAVY, he was SMU all the way.

There is a saying in tennis that you won't get better unless you play people better than you.

I guess your pen name for your posts fits. Actually, I think ol MM65 is pulling our leg.

Seen a lot of Longview - JT, Tyler Lee games plus a Longview - Lufkin playoff game in that ol Tyler Rose Bowl....well maybe Stadium.

[gostangs]

Its not "either/or" stallion - you do all you can to fix the model and you ease the schedule so you can build some interest from fans and recruits. You have already admited in previous posts that it is the correct thing to do in the next year or so. OP is the only one still left field on this.

I say bring on the cheap wins - as many as we can get. We have all sufferred through enough beatings. In a year or two when the system has gotten more JUCO's in and Bennett recruits through to full 5th yr seniors - then let the schedule get slightly tougher. It is not that hard to figure out -even an attorney can get this one right. We should have done this 10 years ago.