Rick Hart on "Division Four"

[sbsmith]

The truth of the matter is no one gives a crap about UCF and never will. That is part of being in a second tier conference- second tier opponents.

Look, I wish everyone cared about mustang football like everyone on this board, but I think it's insane to think that the general public is going to get fired up and come out in droves to see us play UCF whether or not we are 4-1. It is going to take a hell of a lot more than that to overcome decades of misery. I think everyone looks at these situations through the eyes of a die-hard and not from the average Dallas "fan".

Great point, the average Dallas fan was probably a lot more focused on the pennant-clinching ALCS game over in Arlington or the 3 Big 12 football games being played in the state on that day.

[Johnny Utah]

"New Coke" had one of the greatest marketing campaigns in terms of money spent and stratgey in the history of promotion. The only problem was, the product tasted like sewage water, thus was one of the greatest failures in the history of busniess. Why buy another billboard or spend another penny on a mickey mouse TV Ad with cheezzzy slogans, drums pounding, and one handed catches. I mean, if you are going to waste money, why not just make the entry fee into the game free, unless you want to reserve a seat.

This Hart guy sounds like a former Tulane AD who de-emphasized sports. I would love to tell him off personally. He needs it. Since he got to SMU, we have only gone backwards .Regardless of what you all think, SMU will never be known academically. If they lose D-1 Football relevance, we become another no name school....

I'm sick this BOARD BELIEVES IN HART. SAD!

[couch 'em]

I will withhold judgements for now. He talks and says nothing. Neither good nor bad. Let's see who replaces June after this year. It will be our Canary in our coal mine.

[SMU 86]

It will be our Canary in our coal mine.

Couch, could you explain where that expression came from?

[Mustangsabu]

They kept canarys down in the mines because they are very sensitive to methane (or gasses generally perhaps). If the canary died you needed to get out.

[SMU 86]

They kept canarys down in the mines because they are very sensitive to methane (or gasses generally perhaps). If the canary died you needed to get out.

Thanks.

[Cougar King]

Your AD is going to run your athletics into the ground if he keeps this up. Was Orsini the brains behind the Larry Brown hire because I doubt Hart is competent enough to have made such a move. Our AD was asked about this on the radio yesterday and he kept it short and sweet. "We intend on playing at the highest level of athletics. Nothing less."

You guys have a lot of rich donors (obviously) and more than enough cash to play at the highest level so there is absolutely no excuse why we shouldn't see you on the other side when the time comes.

[FriscoChuck]

I'm sick this BOARD BELIEVES IN HART. SAD!

I am in agreement with you. Nothing from Hart and have only moved backward. Will be interesting to see who he hired as director of marketing.

[blackoutpony]

Your AD is going to run your athletics into the ground if he keeps this up. Was Orsini the brains behind the Larry Brown hire because I doubt Hart is competent enough to have made such a move. Our AD was asked about this on the radio yesterday and he kept it short and sweet. "We intend on playing at the highest level of athletics. Nothing less."

You guys have a lot of rich donors (obviously) and more than enough cash to play at the highest level so there is absolutely no excuse why we shouldn't see you on the other side when the time comes.

I hate to say it you guys, but I 100% agree with CK. I haven't liked hart from the onset and while I do appreciate his willingness to actually speak to a lot of our issues and questions, I don't think he has the stones to take us to the next level. He's a turner yes man.

[redpony]

blackout- I said the same thing when he was hired and was roundly criticized for my opinion. SO had his faults but at least he was a strong leader with a vision on what was needed. JMHO

[EastStang]

That was AD double-speak for "we are screwed". Lots of blather, no substance. He only said, its not a done deal, but there would be changes. Sounds like we're on the outside looking in. I'm sure Hart, Turner and others are pitching as hard as they can to keep us in the game. But, they have a short deck to play from. Low attendance, middle of the pack personnel on the field, and a conference that's in a shambles will not help us. However, perhaps this might be aimed at the ODU's, Montana's, and Idaho State's of the world who now find themselves in Division 1.
My take. All of the WAC goes. All of CUSA goes. BYU, MWC and AAC are on the bubble. Of those, USF, UConn, Cincy probably in, BYU probably in, Boise probably in, AFA and Navy probably in. Rest are definitely on the bubble. Army, UCF, Temple, SMU, UH, Fresno, SDSU, Hawaii highest ranked of the rest probably. Then, Tulane, ECU, SJS, Wyo, CSU, UNM, Memphis, Tulsa.

[blackoutpony]

blackout- I said the same thing when he was hired and was roundly criticized for my opinion. SO had his faults but at least he was a strong leader with a vision on what was needed. JMHO

Completely agree. SO brought in June and LB and basically saved both programs. I don't think hart ever would have done that. I hope he can save us from being relegated to the depths of college football, but just going back to his initial comments when he came here about what his priorities were, I just don't see it.

That being said, lets hope this new divison just kicks every non FBS school out of D1 and probably the bottom dwellers (sun belt, c USA) like the SI article said. I won't hold my breath though

[mrydel]

I thought that SO was against the hiring of Brown, thus the long time from when Brown said he wanted the job and the hire. And further, I thought the fact that he did not want Brown and that Brown was eventually hired was the factor in some of the things that were said by SO that got him fired. At least this is the way I had heard it but I am a long way away from the action.

That aside, what do you Hart bashers want him to do. Did you really expect him to walk in and get us in the SEC? Who do you think he is, EJ? Personally everything I can see that he has done has been positive especially with what he has to work.

[Stallion]

I remember mrydel's version. Hart is not a football or basketball coach. An AD needs to let the Head Coach run his program for the most part. I like what he did with the young alumni and lettermen sections-that's more the role he plays in the Program. This is his first season that he could possibly have an affect on the "appearance" of the program because he was hired so late. I'm going to start judging him on what I see THIS YEAR. First "low bar"-SMU has to at least get to 10,000 season tickets.

[PK]

I thought that SO was against the hiring of Brown, thus the long time from when Brown said he wanted the job and the hire. And further, I thought the fact that he did not want Brown and that Brown was eventually hired was the factor in some of the things that were said by SO that got him fired. At least this is the way I had heard it but I am a long way away from the action.

That aside, what do you Hart bashers want him to do. Did you really expect him to walk in and get us in the SEC? Who do you think he is, EJ? Personally everything I can see that he has done has been positive especially with what he has to work.

You are correct. SO did not want to hire Brown...or at least tried to hire damn near anyone else he could...without any luck.