Open Letter to Rick Hart

[ebrooks11]

I'm about to email Obama and ask him about Syria. I will get back to y'all when he responds.

[RGV Pony]

I'm about to email Obama and ask him about Syria. I will get back to y'all when he responds.

Shouldn't that one be directed at SID?

[RyanSMU98]

This speaks to recruiting, to game preparation, and ultimately execution. I disagree that our inability to beat Big 12 and SEC programs is limited to these three factors. Too much to get into here.

Great letter and I also happen to agree with Hart's responses except for this one. I think he could have provided a little more depth and definitely have stated that he has spoken to Jones about recruiting and is in constant communication with him about it. Also stating that it is an issue that needs to be addressed going forward and will look into tweeking the staff so that the right people are in place to recruit against SMU's peer institutions in Texas (TCU, Baylor, Houston, Texas Tech, Rice).

This was really the only part of the response that was less than I expected, only in that I would be interested to know what he thinks falls into the "too much to get into here" line. I obviously don't carry anywhere near the weight to try to get anything more than what I got, and let's face it the letter was more a way to express some of my concerns and not necessarily directly affect change (my bank account doesn't afford me that luxury). I am impressed he read my Tolstoy-length missive and took the time to respond to it. It gives me some hope that maybe behind closed doors some pressure is being applied to the right people.

[ebrooks11]

Haven't you heard?? The SID is worthless.

[ebrooks11]

I kid SID.

[Stallion]

Tried to work my way through this entire thread, but then I turned 90 years old. A few observations:

1. The letter is one of the more articulate expressions of frustration that I've seen on this Board. I don't necessarily agree with all of it, but its well said.

2. Hart's responses might be frustrating to many, but I don't see anything he says that I can call bulls*** on. I think he's right. There is definitely a "traditional power" structure in football, both in conference affiliation (power 5 conferences) and then within the conferences themselves (Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, etc.). A few schools (typically giant state schools) have for the most part dominated this structure. That is no easy thing to break into for a small metro private because the powers-that-be have no interest in letting those types of schools in. I think what TCU has accomplished is not just admirable, its downright amazing. I can't think of any other school in an equivalent situation that has been able to build a football program that has succeeded at the highest level over the long term (flash-in-the-pan SMU of 1980-1984 doesn't count). But even so, they had to have huge breaks go their way in order to reach the Big-12 and it took 15 years of building. Among the have-nots of today's college football world, I think SMU is the best positioned to eventually pull off what TCU has accomplished. But its going to take a long time and a lot of patience.

3. Finally, I had to dredge up this line from Stallion's earlier post. So true, so true.

"Ah the Open Letter to AD

It must be September"

Miami wasn't Miami until 1980. Boston College to a lesser extent

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Yeah, but when I say an "equivalent situation" to TCU, I'm also thinking of the fact that TCU pulled it off in the BCS era as a non-BCS school and after the collapse of their major conference affiliation (which of course is also what SMU has faced). True that Miami is a relatively recent addition to the power club. But I would argue that TCU faced far greater headwinds in terms of the era in which they built their program. Had TCU built their program to where it is today while they were still in the SWC, I wouldn't give them as much credit for a very, very heavy lift. My hat is off to them.

SMU of course has been in the same boat as a non-BCS school drifting from one minor conference to another. But you also have to factor in all of the additional baggage we have dealt with since 1987 as a result of the DP. That is a unique situation to SMU that literally no other school has had to deal with. We started building this thing in earnest 6 years ago from absolute rock-bottom in all aspects (except our stadium). We can get there, but it will take longer than 6 years.

Good point about BC, although they have been up and down.

[ponyte]

I must admit that RyanSMU98's letter to the AD has really messed up my work week. Both the AD and SID have been calling me nonstop for days asking what to do.

They know I am a Ponyfans.com Super Legend with 8 red horseshoes and pretty much know how to handle anything related to SMU football.

And it gets tiring because I really did expect them to do some of the thinking and problem solving before calling me.

So I drew from my vast experience of solving the world’s problems in a doctors’ lounge (each and every day). We usually could solve any problem in about 30 minutes or less and without any evidence or for that matter a single fact.

It is incredibly easy to say we need to recruit better. It’s a heck of a lot harder to actually execute that. But that reality I didn’t share with tee AD or SID as it might artificially assuage their fears.

I am as frustrated as anyone about the lack of consistent performance (as exemplified by TU and RU last year). I am disappointed that we don’t have the depth to hang in with the Big Boys through more than 3 quarters. I am upset that we haven’t had a Pony Express like season since the Pony Express. I am flat mad that we make year in and year out drive killing offensive penalties and drive saving defensive penalties. And the vast majority of those penalties are stupid penalties.

Yet, for all my awesomeness, in reality, nobody with real decision making authority has ever once asked what I thought. And as, I have stated, I doubt they ever will in my lifetime. We enjoy the venue that allows us to exercise much needed catharsis. Unfortunately, without definitive facts, documented evidence and sound analysis of those facts and evidence, our opinions amount to little more than white noise.

I would love to see an argument supported with data, documented facts and sound analysis. That would get someone’s attention.

[RyanSMU98]

My bad, ponyte. Really did not intend to bring such havoc onto your time and will be sure to avoid doing so in the future.

[ponyte]

My bad, ponyte. Really did not intend to bring such havoc onto your time and will be sure to avoid doing so in the future.

[ebrooks11]

I'm about to email Obama and ask him about Syria. I will get back to y'all when he responds.

Well believe it or not Obama emailed my back. In at nutshell this is what he said.

We are bombing Syria but not using real bombs. We are dropping cell phones and Michelles school lunch program.

He also said that in the new movie about the whitehouse butler it is actually him playing the role of the butler.

He asked me if i laughed everytime i said Vladimir Putin. I said yes.

And finally he said that he really cant find his real birth certificate.

Just make sure none of this leaves ponyfans. He said the only reason he shared all of this was beause he knew how much advice the administration at SMU got from ponyfans.com

[ponyinNC]

At what point so we s**t or just get off the pot? If we are going to be small time, let's just own up to that fact and accept it. That seems to be what Rick Hart is saying in his response - that we need to just accept where we are and deal with it.

I didn't hear any plans to invest more money (in fact I heard the opposite), I didn't hear any timelines or goals or anything but excuses. Granted, Mr. Hart does not owe any of us a response and I am impressed with his outreach through email/twitter, etc. But that response made me feel worse.

I have little hope that we actually have any set milestones or goals and I think my SMU fan-dom is waning to be honest. If the admin and our own AD don't really care, why should I? I spend my time and money and interest in a program that does not reciprocate my own effort? Forget that.

I have other options for my college football teams. Yes, Clemson or South Carolina will never be as dear to my heart as my alma mater, but at least those schools actually give a crap and give something back to their fans.

I will always support the players - as they make all of the sacrifices on our behalf. But I may treat SMU as I would treat Western Carolina or Abeliene Christian - small time programs that are cute and have fans and even play games, but nothing more.

If we do not make some moves in the next 5 years, that is exactly where we will be. Where is the urgency?? I just don't see it.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

That's just it NC . . . I do think we are going to make some moves in the next 5 years. I absolutely do not advocate firing June for a number of reasons. I also do not advocate extending him beyond 2014 however. I think his retirement (on good terms and with a fine send-off) and the next coaching search are going to be watershed moments for SMU football.

[ponyinNC]

That's just it NC . . . I do think we are going to make some moves in the next 5 years. I absolutely do not advocate firing June for a number of reasons. I also do not advocate extending him beyond 2014 however. I think his retirement (on good terms and with a fine send-off) and the next coaching search are going to be watershed moments for SMU football.

I completely agree 83 - and that is what scares me. Who is going to make this decision and with what goals in mind?

Say what you want about Orsini - he ruffled feathers or whatever he did to get fired. Fine. But he had stated objectives and seemed genuinely set on reaching them. Top 25. IPF. CofC. SMU2BCS.

None of it may have worked, but at least I saw the effort and the passion. I sat next to him at the Navy game in Annapolis and he was yelling and screaming at the refs with me. It was great.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

The reason I remain optimistic is because of the huge investment we have made over the past several years. Perhaps all the desired on-field results have not yet materialized, but I don't see a commitment to be small time from SMU. Think about the hiring of June, the building of the Caldwell school, the huge (and continuing) upgrade in academic support, the modification of admission standards, improvements to Ford, increasing the athletic dept. budget, re-engaging the boosters (COC) and athletic alumni, etc. All of these things are necessary groundwork before its realistic to start seeing Ws against Big-12 opponents, big-time bowl games, etc. Orsini derserves credit for his passion and hard work, but I don't see him as the be-all and end-all of this effort.

Compared to where we were in 2007, its like night and day. I don't see all of that work just being cast aside b/c the administration decides we should just be small time after all. I see a commitment to get us to the next level.