The One That Got Away-Paul Johnson

[SoCal_Pony]

there is a incorrect assumption that a lot of people are making. The Head Coach in College Football is pretty strictly limited in recruiting. Rules are different in Basketball. Seriously, I'm more worried about a Head Coach recruiting the right assistants than I'm worried about a Head Coach that can recruit the right players. In College Football the Head Coach is the face of the program and the closer not the guy out there chasing down the top recruits. Usually, the Coordinators as well are more supervisory than hands-on in recruiting. Its recruiting the right personnel at the other 6-7 positions that makes recruiting success. The Head Coach sets the public tone and closes mostly on campus by the way. The recruiters get the recruits to campus for the Head Coach to close.

I think this is what I find so maddening about JJ and why I am particularly critical of him.

After his success at UH, I think he carried a degree of cache that would have made him the perfect face for our program. Let his assistants do the heavy lifting. He is a decent coach who could have sat back and closed the deals. If he had done what any rational person would have expected from someone earning $2M+ and had Texas Klemm's on his staff, I am convinced SMU would have won at a minimum 1 CUSA title and would be the odds on favorite to win the AAC this year. We most likely would have defeated Tech & TCU and would be BCS bowl bound, with our only loss to A&M. That means a Top 10 ranking, even though we would be undeserving of it. Coupled with what LB is accomplishing and there would be quite a buzz about SMU right now.

But did this happen?, of course not, due to Mr. Projector Head's lazy, egotistical ways. Let the recruits come to me attitude with a Geritol staff....sure.......that's the ticket.

Very frustrating knowing what could have been if JJ had simply dedicated himself 1/10th as much as Larry Brown has.

[Charleston Pony]

there is a incorrect assumption that a lot of people are making. The Head Coach in College Football is pretty strictly limited in recruiting. Rules are different in Basketball. Seriously, I'm more worried about a Head Coach recruiting the right assistants than I'm worried about a Head Coach that can recruit the right players. In College Football the Head Coach is the face of the program and the closer not the guy out there chasing down the top recruits. Usually, the Coordinators as well are more supervisory than hands-on in recruiting. Its recruiting the right personnel at the other 6-7 positions that makes recruiting success. The Head Coach sets the public tone and closes mostly on campus by the way. The recruiters get the recruits to campus for the Head Coach to close.

I think this is what I find so maddening about JJ and why I am particularly critical of him.

After his success at UH, I think he carried a degree of cache that would have made him the perfect face for our program. Let his assistants do the heavy lifting. He is a decent coach who could have sat back and closed the deals. If he had done what any rational person would have expected from someone earning $2M+ and had Texas Klemm's on his staff, I am convinced SMU would have won at a minimum 1 CUSA title and would be the odds on favorite to win the AAC this year. We most likely would have defeated Tech & TCU and would be BCS bowl bound, with our only loss to A&M. That means a Top 10 ranking, even though we would be undeserving of it. Coupled with what LB is accomplishing and there would be quite a buzz about SMU right now.

But did this happen?, of course not, due to Mr. Projector Head's lazy, egotistical ways. Let the recruits come to me attitude with a Geritol staff....sure.......that's the ticket.

Very frustrating knowing what could have been if JJ had simply dedicated himself 1/10th as much as Larry Brown has.

good point. I wonder if JJ (watching what LB is accomplishing) looks at himself in the mirror and asks why he didn't figure that out? He might be enjoying a packed Ford Stadium week in and week out, even against the likes of Temple for Homecoming

[Alaric]

Sonny Cumbie. He's young but a great recruiter, well liked and should be a good X's and O's coach.

[CalallenStang]

there is a incorrect assumption that a lot of people are making. The Head Coach in College Football is pretty strictly limited in recruiting. Rules are different in Basketball. Seriously, I'm more worried about a Head Coach recruiting the right assistants than I'm worried about a Head Coach that can recruit the right players. In College Football the Head Coach is the face of the program and the closer not the guy out there chasing down the top recruits. Usually, the Coordinators as well are more supervisory than hands-on in recruiting. Its recruiting the right personnel at the other 6-7 positions that makes recruiting success. The Head Coach sets the public tone and closes mostly on campus by the way. The recruiters get the recruits to campus for the Head Coach to close.

I think this is what I find so maddening about JJ and why I am particularly critical of him.

After his success at UH, I think he carried a degree of cache that would have made him the perfect face for our program. Let his assistants do the heavy lifting. He is a decent coach who could have sat back and closed the deals. If he had done what any rational person would have expected from someone earning $2M+ and had Texas Klemm's on his staff, I am convinced SMU would have won at a minimum 1 CUSA title and would be the odds on favorite to win the AAC this year. We most likely would have defeated Tech & TCU and would be BCS bowl bound, with our only loss to A&M. That means a Top 10 ranking, even though we would be undeserving of it. Coupled with what LB is accomplishing and there would be quite a buzz about SMU right now.

But did this happen?, of course not, due to Mr. Projector Head's lazy, egotistical ways. Let the recruits come to me attitude with a Geritol staff....sure.......that's the ticket.

Very frustrating knowing what could have been if JJ had simply dedicated himself 1/10th as much as Larry Brown has.

good point. I wonder if JJ (watching what LB is accomplishing) looks at himself in the mirror and asks why he didn't figure that out? He might be enjoying a packed Ford Stadium week in and week out, even against the likes of Temple for Homecoming

No. He doesn't care enough.

[big foot]

Tim DeRuyter at Fresno State - Texas ties for recruiting, currently 6-0 and makes $700,000!

[CalallenStang]

Tim DeRuyter at Fresno State - Texas ties for recruiting, currently 6-0 and makes $700,000!

This is a great suggestion

[sbsmith]

Tim DeRuyter at Fresno State - Texas ties for recruiting, currently 6-0 and makes $700,000!

He'll be getting a P5 job

[big foot]

I agree that DeRuyter could be a P5, but he has only been a head coach for 1.5 years - will depend on who is looking for a new coach. Let's remember June was making $800,000 and most people would have thought he would go P5. We need to monitor the situation. I do think we should try to get someone with head coaching experience. I love Patrino, but do not think Turner would let that happen. There are some good head coaches that are struggling and might come available - Troy Calhoun (Air Force), Dana Holgorsen (West Virginia), Paul Rhodes (Iowa State), and yes Lane Kippen. But I agree the Kippen situation at Tenn. will probably keep that from being considered.

[East Coast Mustang]

We should not consider Lane Kiffin. His biggest strength was his ability to recruit- now that he's been exposed as a coach, I think that "strength" in recruiting has been neutralized.

I think we should take a long look at Willie Fritz down at Sam Houston State. He's won everywhere he's been, and obviously has Texas ties. We could save $ on his salary (currently making $250K at SHSU) and spend more on assistants who can RECRUIT.

[PonySnob]

Tim DeRuyter at Fresno State - Texas ties for recruiting, currently 6-0 and makes $700,000!

Financially, he's probably in the ballpark of what Turner is looking to pay.........

[big foot]

First of all let me say that Willie Fritz has an outstanding record, but I am not sure that now is the time to bring a knife to a gun-fight. If money is an issue then we need to take our ball and go home - the price of poker is $2MM++.
That being said I will be the first to say that money does not guarantee success.

[EastStang]

I was watching the Redskins/Bears game yesterday and saw Josh McCown play a very solid second half for the Bears. Of course it was against the Redskins defense. He left to build up his QB resume in 1AA.

[FoxRaider]

Chad Morris and Kirby Smart have both already turned down better programs than SMU.

Sonny Cumbie's name is completely out of left field but could actually be a really good hire. Little doubt he will be a successful HC someday.

Willie Fritz is an interesting name, but I'd be surprised to see SMU hire anyone over 40 this next go-round.

DeRuyter will get a better offer than SMU at the end of the year.

How about Ken Collums at Abilene Christian? 40 years old. Really, really good offensive mind (and a balanced one at that). Check him out.

[East Coast Mustang]

If you're Tim DeRuyter, is SMU really a step up from Fresno State at this point?

[East Coast Mustang]

First of all let me say that Willie Fritz has an outstanding record, but I am not sure that now is the time to bring a knife to a gun-fight. If money is an issue then we need to take our ball and go home - the price of poker is $2MM++.
That being said I will be the first to say that money does not guarantee success.

What are we bringing to the gunfight right now? A really expensive sword?

$$ doesn't guarantee success, but you can spend the $$ creatively. What if we paid Fritz something in the ballpark of 600-800k and then allocated more money towards assistants' salaries- you know, the ones who do the heavy lifting in terms of recruiting, game planning, etc?