How far have we come?

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Not saying its going to happen, but if we won the AAC this year and played in a BCS bowl game I think some heads would explode on PF.

[mustangxc]

I think couch 'em laid down the facts pretty clearly as to why June Jones does not deserve to be fired. June Jones worst season (following the first year which was an anomally) is better than Phil Bennett's best season at SMU. While we may not be going to top tier bowl games, going bowling is sure better than the alternative. I think the biggest difference between the June Jones supporters and the haters is patience. I am with all the haters in that I want to see us become a fixture in the top 25 and going to BCS bowls. However, I believe I am more reasonable in that I realize it takes time. I am enjoying the journey and sincerely believe tht June Jones will be ready to retire sooner than later. Patience is a virtue that will serve us well in attracting a top notch coach who will see that it is possible to win at SMU and that we have an administration and a fan base committed to winning that is grateful and has reasonable expectations. We were a doormat for 20+ years enjoy being good for a few years and then when June moves on look forward to being great.

Time is a luxury we do not, repeat, do not have. He has had 6 and I would contend that in this amount of time we should be seeing clear and significant upward trending in wins, caliber of recruits, etc. But to the point, to think that we have 4,5,6 years to play around and hopefully find the right magic is naive. If we aren't making big moves right now, I am willing to bet the farm we are left out of the big dance forever.

It is already too late for the current phase of realignment, thinking that we will somehow be invited to a P5 conference in the next few seasons is extremely naive. I would argue that by the time we hired June Jones it was already too late. Acting now is simply reactionary. This is June's sixth season so we have 5 seasons of results, not 6. There will always be a way in and a way out if you play your cards right.

[East Coast Mustang]

Yes, when June retires we are doomed, doomed, doomed. There is almost no chance that we could ever find a decent coach to come to SMU. Get ready for 1 and 2 win seasons when June retires after next season.

That's not what I said, and you know it. But by all means, continue being disingenuous.

[StallionsModelT]

The SMU job is about 1000000x better today than when June took in back in 2007. If this season tanks then June will be gone. We were able to get Larry Brown after a two month search in basketball. We got June Jones after a two and a half month search in football when the program was virtually dead. We will be able to attract a very strong network of coaches that will want to be here.

[East Coast Mustang]

The SMU job is about 1000000x better today than when June took in back in 2007. If this season tanks then June will be gone. We were able to get Larry Brown after a two month search in basketball. We got June Jones after a two and a half month search in football when the program was virtually dead. We will be able to attract a very strong network of coaches that will want to be here.

I agree that the job is considerably more attractive now than it was in 2007.

Another factor to consider- wasn't RGT supposed to retire soon after the opening of the Bush Library? If so, how committed will the next President of the university be to fielding a competitive football program that can compete at the highest level nationally? If we get another Kenneth Pye that would be a disaster

[ponyinNC]

hello chad morris!

[Mustangsabu]

I think a more revealing analysis is what % of players JJ has recruited post ASU/Klemm debacle with BCS offers vs. PB during his career at SMU.

I suspect PB recruited a higher %.

JJ may be the better coach, but we also paid him 4x more than PB.

Surely NFL paychecks (realized talent) is a better gauge of a coach than BCS offers (perceived talent)

[Rebel10]

I think a more revealing analysis is what % of players JJ has recruited post ASU/Klemm debacle with BCS offers vs. PB during his career at SMU.

I suspect PB recruited a higher %.

JJ may be the better coach, but we also paid him 4x more than PB.

Surely NFL paychecks (realized talent) is a better gauge of a coach than BCS offers (perceived talent)

So why haven't we won more games with all that NFL talent some of which Bennett recruited?

[East Coast Mustang]

hello chad morris!

See, that I could for sure get on board with, but I think he will have offers from P5 conferences perhaps as soon as this offseason. He's making $1.2m (I think) as the OC at Clemson now and he's one of the best known coordinators in the country. I just think SMU would be perceived as a step down from where he's at now, but I hope I'm wrong. If we could get Chad Morris I'd be ecstatic.

[East Coast Mustang]

I think a more revealing analysis is what % of players JJ has recruited post ASU/Klemm debacle with BCS offers vs. PB during his career at SMU.

I suspect PB recruited a higher %.

JJ may be the better coach, but we also paid him 4x more than PB.

Surely NFL paychecks (realized talent) is a better gauge of a coach than BCS offers (perceived talent)

So why haven't we won more games with all that NFL talent some of which Bennett recruited?

We have, haven't we?

[mustangxc]

SMU is definitely not a step down from being a coordinator. If you really believe that then we really have regressed from 2001 when we hired PB from Kansas State.

[East Coast Mustang]

SMU is definitely not a step down from being a coordinator. If you really believe that then we really have regressed from 2001 when we hired PB from Kansas State.

Not just any coordinator, but a guy like Morris who just got a huge raise/extension and who I think will be targeting by several P5 programs if Clemson has a successful season. Again, I'd love to have Chad Morris, but I think he may have better exit options as soon as December rolls around

[Rebel10]

6 or 7 games with all that NFL talent wow. Have we been underachieving with all that NFL talent? How could TCU have less NFL players sent to the league in the past few years but more wins? We put more people in the NFL than any team in CUSA but no conference championship. Are we under coached? What happened to the Hawaii offense that was suppose to be here?

[JoeKidd]

This team is head and shoulders talent wise above PB's teams and the coaching is on a whole other level. Cavan had some talent, but coaching was lacking there as well.

[Rebel10]

SMU is definitely not a step down from being a coordinator. If you really believe that then we really have regressed from 2001 when we hired PB from Kansas State.

Not just any coordinator, but a guy like Morris who just got a huge raise/extension and who I think will be targeting by several P5 programs if Clemson has a successful season. Again, I'd love to have Chad Morris, but I think he may have better exit options as soon as December rolls around

Better enjoy this season and next then.